A Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club meeting was held at the Wahpeton Community Center from 7:30 to 8:30 PM.
Attendees: Jerry Oren, Brad Glarum, Greg Gerou, Abby Heitkamp, Kelly Carlson, Cindie Van Tassel, Curt Mund, Paul Oehlke, Paul Sinner, Nathan Rausch, Mary Rausch, Randy Bostrom (guest)
Motion-Second-Carried (MSC) – (Paul S, Abby) to approve November 21, 2019 meeting minutes as corrected.
- Correction to Nov minutes should have indicated J&K Marine instead of T&S Sanitation
President’s Report
- RRASC received a Special Achievement award for R3 Efforts at the NDWF state convention – R3 refers to recruitment, retention, and reactivation
Treasurer’s Report
- $51,626 check book balance
- Approve financial report – MSC Curt, Cindie
Parks & Rec Report
- ND Game & Fish:
- Abby present at the NDWF state convention
- Looking at applying for a grant for Kidder Recreation Area to rip-rap the shoreline; $7500 grand and $2500 club match
- Wayne has applications ready to go for dock maintenance at Mooreton Pond; $1000 grant with some club match
- MSC Jerry, Cindie to submit grants
- Dick Bell application – MSC Cindie, Paul O
- Landowner signs available; some have NWTF logo on them
- Habitat, Hunt, Harvest, A Women Caring for the Land Event will be held March 5 in Ft Ransom from 9AM-2PM
Smoker
- Committee has not had a follow up meeting yet
- Would club want to make a donation to St. Johns Mardi Gras for use of kitchen for Smoker?
- Discussed purchasing an item for the kitchen, such as an industrial can opener, or other item needed – Greg G reached out to the church to see what needs they may have
- Possible dates being researched, Fri 10/23 or Sat 10/24
- Zoo Boo would be 10/30 and Halloween on 10/31
SE Area Sportsmens
- Vern and Curt attended – talked about doing a fundraiser but nothing has been decided – discussed CWD in western ND – Hankinson’s club coyote bounty began January 1 – Richland County Pheasants Banquet scheduled for March 4
Junior Wildlife Club
- Archery was tonight’s event; 20 youth attended
Scholarships
- Brad shared that NWTF has scholarships for high school seniors whose families are members of NWTF or youth are part of the JAKES program – scholarships are for up to $500
Club Contest Additions
- Nate Rausch had pheasant tail of 23 1/2”
- Mary will be consolidating the submissions received
- April Club Awards Banquet will be held April 16, location will be announced soon
- Greg G has talked to a couple of potential speakers; Cindie is working on catering
- 5:30 Social, 6:15 Supper, 7:00 Presentation
Public Relations
- Reminder to send pics to Becci and Abby to post on Facebook and the club’s website
Recruitment Committee
- Abby has other commitments so we are looking for someone to head up this committee – if interested, please let the club know!
2020 Budget
- The Board met last week to go through the budget
- Wayne will send out a revised worksheet with changes to a couple of categories
- MSC Brad, Cindie
NWTF Richland Renegades Banquet
- Brad asked if RRASC would like to purchase a sponsorship ticket again this year.
- Last year the club paid $500 for a sponsorship
- MSC Cindie, Jerry to spend $500 again this year: sponsorship itself is $270, the remaining $230 will go to the JAKES program
- At the state NWTF meeting, it was decided to make a $1500 donation to Twist of Fate
Other News
- Ladies Rooster Roundup (Abby) – 11 women from 3 states (ND, MN, WI) participated – 16 roosters were harvested – NAVHDA donated time and dogs – will be looking at getting more help next year to move things around
- Barnes County Wildlife April 4, Big Spenders Banquet in Valley City
- NDWF quarterly meeting will be held prior to the banquet
- Pollinators Planter / Wild Grasslands
- Abby is looking into seeds/styles of grassland in and around the Wahpeton area – the local conservation office is supportive of this
- It is a little expensive; approximately $500/acre
- Would also have to work with the city; State has interest in supporting this state wide, per John Bradley
- Feb 5 will be a work night to repair rods for the February 15 Neil Heitkamp youth ice fishing derby – planning for 300 youth
- Twin Town Archery matching grant request of $500 – MSC Cindie, Brad
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Calendar of Events
- March 19 – 6:00-7:00 PM – Jr. Wildlife Club, Build Bird Nest Box, Comstock Shop
- March 19 – 7:30-9:00 PM – Member Meeting, Community Center
- April – 5:30-9:00 PM – Jr. Wildlife Club, Birding Field Trip, Prairie Wetlands
- April – 7:30-9:00 PM – Club Awards Banquet, Location TBA