Minutes of the Spring 2025 Meeting of the Wintergreen Sporting Club, March 29, 2025

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PDF of the 03/29/2025 WSC Minutes

Wintergreen Sporting Club
March 29, 2025 Spring Dinner Meeting Minutes 

The meeting was called to order at 5:38 PM by WSC President Jim White

President’s Remarks: The success and growth of the club continues, evidenced by this banquet being sold out for the first time. Also, during the past year we have recruited new leaders for four of the six interest groups, replaced the Webmaster, and elected a new Secretary.

The video shown on the screen tonight, highlighting some of the many events the club enjoyed over the past year, was prepared by Wayne and Mary Lou Mortimer. There have been more full-club activities and more group events this year, we are financially stable, and our membership stands at 399 paid members and ten lifetime members. The present position of the club is excellent.

        I.            Secretary’s Report

The minutes from the Fall  2024 meeting were previously posted on the website for review and comment. There were no additions or corrections. A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes as posted. There was unanimous approval.

      II.            Treasurer’s Report

Membership

·       The club currently has 399 members.

·       As of the Fall 2024 meeting there were 419 members. Sixty-five members did not renew.

·       As of the Spring 2024 meeting there were 326 members, so we are up and down a bit.

·       The number of current subscribers to WSC media is 835.

Financials

  •  The fiscal year runs from December 1st to November 30th.

  • The bank balance at the start of the fiscal year (Dec 1, 2024) was $15,781.

  •   The current balance is approximately $15,069.

  •   Income from dues = $8,325.

  •   Spring Dinner tickets raised $1,880 and the expenses for the dinner are expected to run about $2,700.

Membership Cards

·       Membership cards are available if you would like one. See Jerry after the meeting. On the reverse side of the card is a list of stores/suppliers who have given the group discounts in the past. We are in need of an enterprising volunteer to visit these establishments to verify their continued participation and if possible, drum up additional ones. We also have WSC hats for sale for $10.00 each.

 

A motion was made and seconded to accept the Treasurer’s Report as given. There was unanimous approval.

     III.            Introduction of New Members-

All new members were asked to stand and introduce themselves and indicate which activity(s) they are interested in pursuing.

   IV.            Old Business

·       In February each of the Group leaders presented a budget and we approved them. We also approved all the administrative expenses.

       V.            New Business

·       Thanks to Wayne and Mary Lou Mortimer for the video they put together with pictures taken from some of the events the club hosted during the past year.

·       WSC recognized three members who are moving on from positions with the Club, each will be presented with a $50.00 gift certificate from Iron and Ale. The members are:

·       Mike Capps – former Archery Club leader, for six or eight years

·       Charles Batchelor – former Webmaster, designed our webpage, set up the mail server, and maintained them for approximately 12 years.

·       Doc Pullen (Robin Pullen) – former Secretary for 6 years, and social chairperson for many years. Ron Cote is accepting the gift certificate on her behalf.

    VI.            Interest Group Reports:

Archery- John Morgan, Lead

·       The group had their opening session on Tuesday with a good turnout with four new individuals joining in. Thanks to Peter, Mark, and Paul for helping to make things run smoothly and for being a great support system to assist all the archers.

·       Going forward, on Tuesdays the first sessions will be starting at 10:00 am for newcomers and beginners, and the second session will begin at 11:00 when the regular members arrive, and we move the line back to ten yards. This year to help motivate the archers we are using a rating system which assigns stars for different scores. Beginning around 11:30 there will be some friendly competition for those who wish to participate. A handicap system will be developed which will help folks stay motivated.

·       We also have the field system and thank you to Peter for being instrumental in keeping it maintained. So, for compound shooters and depending on the level of interest we will be hosting that one day a month.

·       The targets are undergoing some rebuilding and thanks to Mark for undertaking this massive effort.

·       Once a month there will continue to be a Saturday session and John is happy to arrange those on an ad-hoc basis.

·       John gave Mike Capps and Charles Batchelor big praise for how instrumental they were for him and his archery career here at WTG and without them he would not have become an instructor and been able to help support this organization.

Biking- Chris Corish, Interim Lead

·       Two months ago we had a planning meeting at 3 Notch’d and twenty-four bikers attended. Great turnout! Chris stressed that he was going to need help leading this group and five folks have already offered to lead rides this year. He likes this model going forward and encourages others to consider leading a ride.

·       For the ride yesterday at Piney River there were twenty riders. The folks who are going to lead other rides are:

  •        Larry and Karen Reagan for the Chessie Ride on 4/25

  •        Richard Greenlee for the June ride at Jackson River Trail

  •        Dave Meadows for the mid-July Monticello Ride

  •        John Dedden for the August Lynchburg  Heritage Trail

  •        Dennis Bryant for the Yorktown/Jamestown overnight trip  October 10-11th

  •        Thank Mary Lou and  Wayne again Creeper Trail

Boating- Bill Faulkenberry, Lead

·       Several trips are planned this year. On May 21st it will be the Rivanna River, which is a beautiful float. Those Rivanna River folks will also run a canoe trip for us on the James River in July which will also be of a fishing trip. The James is great for small mouth bass . In June they are collaborating with the Twin River people out of Buchannon and that is also down the James River. In August they will do the Jackson River.

·       There may be some additional local trips on the Tye River for folks who have canoes. Also, at Lake Monacan we have five kayaks you can use. We have paddles and life jackets available. If you want to use the boats let Bill know and he will get the paddles to you.

·       The group may also do additional day trips to some local lakes and more will be coming about those.

·       You may have noticed the replicas of twelve meter yachts displayed here. This activity is organized by Michael Brownley who races remote control sail boats on Lake Monacan. Please see Michael after the meeting for more information.

Fishing- Ron Coté, Co-lead

·       The group had $6,800 for the Fall stocking. We stocked $5K worth of trout in December, and just last month we stocked $1,800 worth of yellow perch in Black Walnut Pond. Both of those waters were prepped 3 years ago when we stocked 15,000 minnows in seven of our ponds with the plan that each year we will create a new fishery.

·       We will have a joint stocking next February in collaboration with WPOA. They contribute $1,250 dollars as do we – which allows us to put another $2,500 worth of trout in the trout pond.

·       We will have a trout tournament this year on May 17th – where you are allowed to use any bait you choose so we can get the trout out of the pond before the hot weather arrives.

·       We are also proposing to have a bass tournament on June 28th. As with the trout tournament there are no fees to participate, and prizes will be awarded.

·       The group will be putting trees back in the ponds again for habitat for the fish. We are looking for volunteers for this effort so please see Ron after the meeting if you are interested.

·       We will also be starting water analysis using some equipment we purchased last year to check the oxygen levels of the water.

Fly fishing – Chris Corish, Co-lead

Fall fly fishing lessons

·       We will have spring and fall classes much like we have done in the past 3 years. We had an indoor class last Friday attended by twenty people and taught by Al Simpson and Mike Fisher.

·       We had the first beginner class yesterday at the trout pond taught by John Tani. It was sold out. Another beginner class will be offered April 23rd at the trout pond – it is also sold out.

·       There will be a non-beginner class – more of a Casting Clinic  - held April 4th in John Tani’s back yard. Al Simpson and John will help you improve your casting skills and there are four slots still available for that class.

Conclaves

·       There are three types of conclaves: happy hours, educational, and hosted conclaves. The first one this year will be an educational one on April 24th at Iron and Ale.

·       There will be three happy hour conclaves and two hosted conclaves this year. We had a hosted conclave last year on the mountain at the Greenlee’s house and it was very well accepted, and we will have another one this year hosted by Marvin and Susan Moser  on August 29th. There will be a hosted Fall conclave on October 23rd at Rob and Marlene Thacker’s house.

·       The 3rd Donors Conclave is scheduled for May 23rd at Marty and Bonnie’s house.

·       More information for all these events will be forthcoming.

Hiking: Wayne and Mary Lou Mortimer, Co-leads

·       The first year leading the Hiking Group was successful. All hikes were well attended with several people attending multiple hikes. Most importantly, we did not lose any hikers.

·       For 2025, we have twelve hikes planned with three already completed (New Years Day Hike, Valentine's Day Hike, and Crabtree Falls Hike)

·       Future hike highlights for this year include a combo bike/hike multi-day excursion with a stay in Abingdon, VA. Bike ride includes the Virginia Creeper Trail, and the hike will be in Grayson Highlands State Park (with wild ponies and beautiful mountain vistas). Another highlight is a hike this Fall to McAfee's Knob (near Roanoke, Va). This is the most photographed location on the AT (and shown in "A Walk in the Woods" movie).

·       Mary Lou: Webpage:  The webpage has been updated for 2025, and a new event calendar is added on the homepage which shows all events planned for the next few months.

Shooting: Jim White, Co-lead

Pistol and Rifle

·       We shoot pistols and rifles. Next month we are going to start shooting (and plinking) while moving from station to station on a timed basis. This is something new we are trying, and we will be seeing a demonstration of this next Saturday.

·       The group has grown from about six to eight participants when Jim started to be about thirty-six participants now.

 Shotgun- Jerry Gress, ED Dillingham

·       The shotgun group meets and shoots trap and skeet every Friday. A round of trap costs $5.00 or $4.00 if you are a member of the Rivanna Pistol Club.

  VII.            Event Committee

Jim recognized the hard working team that made the banquet possible.

Jim requested a show of appreciation and there was a round of applause for:

  •        Alice Kaarh

  •        Lenlee and Chris Corish

  •        Corrine and John Morgan

  •        Wayne and Mary Lou Mortimer

  •        Renee Mecheski

  •        Cecile Ravenscroft

  •        Cindy and Mike Yurewicz

  •        Yann and Dale

 VIII.            Dinner

The caterer for tonight’s dinner was Iron and Ale. The menu consists of a choice of one entrée, Chicken Cordon Bleu, or Chicken with Mushroom Gravy. The sides are: salad bar, herb roasted small potatoes, mixed vegetables, a variety of desserts.

Adjournment: Jim adjourned the meeting at 6:22 PM.

Submitted by Cecile Ravenscroft, WSC Secretary.