OPTU Board Meeting

3/25/09

El Charro Restaurant, Swan and Spdwy

Attending
Clay Hernandez
Jeff Collins
Roger McKee
Stan Vanagunas
Lauren Lucas
Mickey Fletcher
Scott Koktavy
Mike Mehrer
Robin Marsett
Larry Narcus

The meeting was called to order by Clay Hernandez at 6:00PM

1- Sportsman’s Warehouse: Mickey Fletcher reported that visits to the OPTU booth last weekend was minimal. It was agreed that we would not participate in the event in the future. It was also agreed that the Tucson Meet Yourself might be a venue worth attending at the next event.

2- Workdays: Jeff Collins reported on scheduled workdays. They will be posted on the website. Several are planned by TU AZ for the Pinelenos project in March and April. OPTU has workdays at Burro Creek with the AZ Elk society June 12-14. Robin Marsett is arranging a Healing waters clinic for wounded soldiers June 22-26.  The White Mtn workweek is scheduled for July 10-19. August workdays will be held 8/7-8/9. Workdays in Sept will be 9/11-13. The last 2008 workdays will be 10/10-10/12

3- Banquet review: Clay Hernandez opened a discussion about the value of the Banquet. He suggested based on the reduced financial results of the 2009 banquet we should consider other options for 2010. Many ideas were raised including a picnic format, perhaps in March. Another idea suggested was the Christmas party format. Silent and Live auctions could continue to be included as well as guest speakers, flycasting demos and training and fly tying. An action plan will be developed at future meetings.

4-Website: Clay asked for comments on the website. Stan Vanagunas offered to prepare a proposal for improvements to make the social and fishing aspects of OPTU activities more evident. Robin suggested that videos such as John Murphy has prepared could be added by using links to YouTube. Scott suggested that Google Earth is also a hyperlink resource. Follow up with the webmaster and John Murphy was discussed .

5- Healing Waters: Robin Marsett briefed the Healing Waters Program status to date.  The trip for the soldiers from Ft Carson is on for the 22nd to the 26^th of June.  The Durango Silverton Narrow Gage Rail Road has donated 25 seats for a trip to Cascade Creek on the 24^th and the Iron Horse Inn has donated four rooms for free and reserved five double occupancy rooms at $50 per night.  The Marsetts will provide lunches for the troops and mentors.  Robin still needs volunteers to act as mentors on this trip.  Clay Hernandez suggested OPTU might be able to defray some of the costs for lodging etc for volunteers.

Robin will be presenting a Project Healing Waters briefing to the Warrior Transition Company at Ft Huachuca on Friday 27 Mar 09.  This may lead to a program of fly tying, casting and fishing within the local (SE Arizona) area.  He will brief the developments of this potential program as they occur.

6- Family outing: Several board members suggested that we once again schedule a family outing. Jeff Collins reported that although 2007 outing was only attended by five families, the venue at Dead Horse Ranch was a very desirable location and should be considered for the future. A second outing/ location was proposed at Winn campground. Promotion may be the key for these outings. An action plan needs to be developed.

7- OPTU national meeting: Jeff Collins moved to send OPTU President Clay Hernandez to the the meeting in Traverse City, MI. Lauren Lucas seconded the motion. After discussion, the motion to pay expenses for the trip was passed unanimously.

8- New Business: Speaker Day. Mike Mehrer proposed to initiate an annual event (possibly semi-annual) inviting nationally or regionally known fly fishing authors and experts to the event.  Ed Engle, Jason Borger, and Whitey Kuebler were mentioned as potential speakers. Discussion followed with all being in favor of the idea. Follow up is pending.

With no further business to conduct, Clay Hernandez declared the meeting adjourned at  7:15 PM