Call to order by President Greg Gerou at 7:30 p.m.
Attendance: Kelly C, Greg G, Greg B, Curt M, Chuck H, Josh B, Brad E, Cindie V, Kevin M, Jerry O, Rich T, Becci T, Melissa S, Brad G, Leroy S
Minutes: (No changes noted.) MSC (Curt/Kevin) to approve October 17
Board of Directors Reports
President
- Digital Guru Service Contract for Laptop – President, Treasurer, and Secretary to review and decide on coverage
- NDWF Shooting Sports economic impact statement – hunting opportunities bring a lot of income into the state, especially out-of-state hunters
- Board of Directors to review bylaws and have recommendations for early 2025. Areas to review: investments, property ownership, reimbursements, membership.
- Board of Directors to schedule a Budget Planning meeting before the January 2025 meeting
- Dick Bell Catfish Tournament & Carp and Sucker Derbies needs a chairperson. Did not hold in 2024.
- Develop plans to utilize the Outdoor Heritage Fund grant for specific RRASC projects – will provide the rules and possible list of options to the club.
- Carcass and Hide Dumpsters are in place at Tractor Supply and Blazer Express through December – thank you Rich for organizing. NDWF will share the cost of the deer carcass dumpster again this year. Need the invoice from T&G Sanitation to submit. There is still a need to check into a camera for next year – once again there were a lot of wasted animals left in the dumpsters.
- Mooreton Sportsmen’s Club pass-through grant from NDWF
- NDWF grant for $1,000 for the Ladies Rooster Roundup
- Darren Johnson Memorial check ($24) from Joe and Renee Speidel – he was a local guy who really liked the outdoors
- NDG&F R3 grand follow-up has been sent, and need to send receipts also. We were approved for $3,000.
- Fall Hunt discussions
- The cost of pheasants is going up, need a plan to best utilize the purchase of birds
- Consider working with the Hankinson Club to have a single youth hunt
- Each hunt purchased 100 birds. RRASC had 5 hunters and Hankinson had 12 hunters.
- Ladies Rooster Roundup and Band of Brothers also purchased birds.
- The RRASC helps cover the cost of the birds for these hunts. $4,500 this year. MSC (Brad G/Rich) to approve to pay Chuck for this year’s birds
- Consider less birds next year – only 2 per youth signed up?
- Jawaski Auto Creation donated fishing rods – open water and ice rods
- Grant applications – NDSCS Clay Target ($500), Wahpeton NASP Archery ($1,500) approved prior to the meeting
Vice President
- There is a discussion about having the NWTF shooting trailer at the Wilkin County Fair this year.
Treasurer
- $150 Jr Tax, $125 smoker, $375 gun buyback (smoker), $1,477 Trigger Sports (smoker), $120 each for smoker bartenders, $1,117, $425 KBMW (smoker), $472 Daily News (smoker), $1,258 Econo (smoker), $385 Zoo donation, $4,500 Chuck (hunt pheasants), $220 Econo (smoker), $88 Econo, $520 Manock (smoker), $79.70 smoker, $580 Abby (hunt)
- $104,001.96 checking / $7,000 cash in safe / $10,805 Thrivent
- Starting to scan in 10 years of receipts to save digitally.
- All funds have been moved to the First Community Credit Union account. BMO is officially closed.
- Need to work with Becci to set up our new bank account to accept payments through Square account.
- Donation from May Hoefs for $300
- Thank you Greg for all the hard work keeping all the club finances organized.
- MSC (Rich/Cindie)
General Committee Reports
Jr. Wildlife Club
- November 21 meeting was canceled due to a lack of sign-ups
- January 16 – Darkhouse spearfishing and decoys
Scholarship
- One scholarship approved for the year so far. Rich will contact them about attending our Spring Banquet to receive.
Public Relations
- Zoo Boo was October 26. They had a record number of people (2300+) and many out-of-town people.
- Please remember to share your photos with the club (redriverareasportsmen@gmail.com) and follow and share our social posts.
Sportsmen’s Smoker – Thank you to everyone for all their help!!!
- We have a great profit again this year and all the help was great. Having the guns with Trigger helped their business with people trading up for more expensive guns. Next year will be trying fewer games, we need to make sure to have more volunteers available to relieve workers. The 2025 event is on October 18.
Seasonal Committee Reports
- Ladies Hunt Recap – 10 participants, and they all had a good time. Total cost $4,419.98 (other than the birds). After $4,400 in grants and donations only $20 cost to club.
- Heitkamp Fishing Derby – February 15. There will be a rod repair night coming up before.
Internal Club Contests
- Rich 5×5 buck with multiple 1” stickers (adult)
- Charlie Smith 4×4 buck (youth)
Other Group Events
- Richland Wildlife Club on December 7 in Hankinson
- Richland Renegade Toms Banquet on February 7. Tickets will be available starting in December.
Good of the Order
- Thank you from the Band of Brothers and Twist of Fate
Meeting adjourned at 9:01 p.m.