2006 Minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PSCLA Planning Committee Minutes
 
Dates of Minutes included below:
11/16/2006     10/10/2006     9/14/2006     3/16/2006     2/9/2006     1/11/2006    
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Minutes of 11/16/2006

Castanea Fire Hall

6:30 PM

 

The following officers were present / absent:

Pres. Martin Salinas – P
 Director Ron Kephart - P
 Director Tom Livingston - A
 
Vice Pres. Dan Paolini – P
 Director George Conklin - P
 Director Sid Mentzer - P
 
Treasurer John Green – P
 Director Doug Sellers - A
 Director Mike Walker – A
 
Secretary Chris Fox – P
 Membership Chair Dick McKinney – P
Martin Salinas has assumed the Presidency and Dan Paolini has assumed the Vice Presidency as of this meeting.
 
Treasurer’s Report by John Green:

John Green gave the Treasurers report with a balance of $. A copy is available to any member upon request. Please contact Treasurer John Green.

Membership Committee Report by Dick McKinney:
Dick McKinney reported that membership is not available.
 
Old Business:
1.   Dues Mailer:

A 3 x 5 postcard is to be sent by the end of this year to former members reminding them that their dues are in arrears. Sid Mentzer made motion to accept, George Conklin 2nd. Vote was unanimous-aye.

2.   Girard Township Meeting:

The Girard Township meeting is December 18th as 7 PM. Dick McKinney and Martin Salinas will attend.

 
New Business:

1.   PSCLA Logo:
A new PSCLA logo has been chosen but still needs some refinement.

2.   Craig Miller:

Craig Miller, a local attorney, has given invaluable services and time to the benefit of PSCLA. Ron Kephart made a motion to purchase a $100 gift certificate for a local restaurant. George Conklin 2nd. Vote unanimous-aye.

3.   Camp Membership:

This has been a problem that has arisen for the last few years. One member of a camp, usually the secretary, will join PSCLA and represent any number of other camp members. PSCLA seeks a resolution to represent these unseen camp members only to boost membership numbers. It has been decided to make a commitment to present any number of ideas at the next general membership meeting in the spring.

4.   Wood permits:

Once again PSCLA has discovered the non-uniformity of state regulations. In some districts the window for permits is two weeks, in others it may be a month. Additionally in some districts a permit may be obtained on line, while in others you must travel to the district office. We would like to see this time frame expanded and also have the freedom to cut wood adjacent to our lease. This issue is to be revisited at the next director’s meeting.

5.   PSCLA Booth:

PSCLA is interested in representing our organization at various sportsmen’s shows and other outdoor venues. We would only be interested in establishing an information booth at the one to two day shows.

6.   PSCLA Credit Card:


President Salinas stressed the need for a PSCLA credit card. It must be noted that the office of President can only spend up to $300.00. Any more than this amount needs to be approved by the directors and officers. Ron Kephart made motion for President Salinas to investigate and acquire two credit cards. Dan Paolini 2nd. Vote unanaimous-aye.

7.   Topographical Maps:


President Salinas would like to purchase topo maps for use by the directors in finding and visiting lessee’;s camps. Chris Fox made motion for Martin to find out prices to be presented for the next meeting, Dick McKinney 2nd. Vote unanimous –aye.

8.   Computer woes:


John Green stated that he needs the 2003 version Office program for his computer. Ron Kephart made motion to purchase the needed program(s), Chris Fox 2nd. Vote unanimous – aye.

9.   Newsletter:


A contact name should be inserted for those wishing to purchase PSCLA apparel.

10.   New Directors:


President Salinas was made aware of the need to reassign districts to the new directors. He has pledged to do so.

11.   Next Director’s Meeting:


Next directors meeting will be in January instead of December. Additionally, President Salinas will make a list of dates and times for director’s meetings for the coming year and will email said list to the secretary.


12.   Dick McKinney stated that he remembered something.

Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM. Have a great Thanksgiving and a safe opening day. See you all next year!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Minutes of 10/10/2006
Castanea Fire Hall
6:30 PM
 
The following officers were present / absent:

Pres. Ron Kephart – P
 Director Martin Salinas - P
 Director Tom Livingston - A
 
Vice Pres. George Conklin – P
 Director Dan Paolini - P
 Director Sid Mentzer - A
 
Treasurer John Green – A
 Director Doug Sellers - P
 Director Bob Palermo – A
 
Secretary Chris Fox – A
 Membership Chair Dick McKinney – P
 


Treasurer’s Report by John Green:

John Green gave the Treasurers report with a balance of $. A copy is available to any member upon request. Please contact Treasurer John Green.

 

Membership Committee Report by Dick McKinney:
Dick McKinney reported that membership is 1424.
 
Old Business:
1.   Lesses/members with problems:

When a problem arises, lessees/members are urged to document them by taking photos, listing details and facts, recording names to better help PSCLA understand the nature of the problem.

2.   PSCLA still needs a comprehensive statewide list of all lessees.

Director Sellers agreed to contact legislators Adam Harris and Jake Corman about this list. DCNR refuses to supply this list on the grounds that it will violate an individual’s right to privacy.

3.   Property taxes on lessees cabins:

There are no services provided, lessees cannot vote in the district where the cabin is located, in effect, lessees have no voice. Dir Doug Sellers said this is not a fight we can win, PSCLA needs to focus our attention on camp lessee issues.

4.   Need nominations for officers and directors.

5.   Decals:

A fresh copy of the logo is needed. The job was contracted out and there is no update as of 10/10/06.


New Business:

1.   Director Bob Palermo: Is he still a director or not?

2.   John Green:

Director Doug Sellers tried to contact John to ascertain his intentions as to whether he will continue as treasurer.

3.   Bylaws Motion:

At the next general membership meeting on 10/29/06, we need a motion from the floor to “set aside the bylaws regarding replacement of directors every two years to allow those who want to serve to be reelected and run longer terms than the bylaws call for.”

4.   Slate of nominations:

President - Martin Salinas, V.P.- Dan Paolini, Secretary - Chris Fox, Treasurer - John Green, Director - George Conklin, Director - Ron Kephart.

5.   PSCLA Commitments:
Need to find out where Jerry Christ and Sid Mentzer stand on their commitments to PSCLA.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
 

Minutes of 9/14/2006

Castanea Fire Hall
6:30 PM
 
The following officers were present / absent:

Pres. Ron Kephart – P
 Director Martin Salinas - P
 Director Tom Livingston - A
 
Vice Pres. George Conklin – A
 Director Dan Paolini - A
 Director Sid Mentzer - A
 
Treasurer John Green – P
 Director Doug Sellers - A
 Director Bob Palermo – A
 
Secretary Chris Fox – P
 Membership Chair Dick McKinney – P
 


Treasurer’s Report by John Green:

John Green gave the Treasurers report with a balance of $. A copy is available to any member upon request. Please contact Treasurer John Green.

 

Membership Committee Report by Dick McKinney:
Dick McKinney reported that membership is 1425.
 
Old Business:
1.   Girard Camp Tax:

Martin Salinas and Dick McKinney will attend the Girard township meeting and report their findings at the next director’s meeting on Oct 10th.

2.   Waterline Fee:

State leases require that lessee’s should pay a fee of $25 every ten years yet some lessees are required to pay this fee every year. President Kephart is going to insert in the newsletter that lessees should pay this fee every ten years per your lease.

3.   Boat Docks:

Unless a lessee from the Delaware district approaches PSCLA with a proposal for DCNR, this issue is considered to be closed. This will be included in the newsletter.

 
New Business:

1.   Next Director’s Meeting:
The next director’s meeting will be moved to October 10th, 6:30 p.m. at the Castanea Fire Hall.

2.   Nomination of President:

Ron again stressed the need for a nomination for president.

3.   Next Mailer:

This will include a message from President Kephart, the minutes from the May general membership meeting, Martin’s report, map to the meeting site, and a membership application. This will be sent to both current and past members and all state legislators. Newsletters sent to past members are to be stamped with a red “Dues due”.

4.   Governor’s Outdoor Recreation Commission:

This is a commission to study the outdoor heritage of the Commonwealth. PSCLA would very much like a seat on this commission.

5.   Meeting with Dr. Jim Grace:

President Kephart has contacted Dr. Jim Grace and requested an impromptu meeting to occur sometime in October.

6.   PSCLA Decals:


Due to member demand, PSCLA decals will be ordered but first artwork must be accomplished. Five thousand decals will be ordered.

The next director’s meeting is October 10th, 6:30 PM at the Castanea Fire Hall meeting room. Member are invited and encouraged to attend. Contact any officer/director for directions.

Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Minutes of 3/16/2006
Castanea Fire Hall
 
The following officers were present:


Pres. Ron Kephart – P
 Director Martin Salinas - P
 Director Tom Livingston - P
 
Vice Pres. George Conklin – P
 Director Dan Paolini - P
 Director Sid Mentzer - A
 
Treasurer John Green – P
 Director Doug Sellers - A
 Director Bob Palermo – A
 
Secretary Chris Fox – P
 Membership Chair Dick McKinney – P
 
Treasurer’s Report by John Green:

     John Green gave the Treasurers report.  A copy is available to any member upon request.   Please contact Treasurer John Green.
 
Membership Committee Report by Dick McKinney:
     Dick McKinney reported that membership is 903.

Old Business:


1.   Mailer:

     After heated discussion a motion was made by Martin Salinas and seconded by Chris Fox to send out 5000 mailers for the upcoming general membership meeting. The motion carried with 4 ayes and 2 nays. It was also decided to send only one application out for the year, in the fall newsletter. George Conklin stated that the mailer is on track with regards to printing/mailing dates and content.

2.   Website:

     Tracey McCloskey is now updating and maintaining our website. When KCnet took over the website they revamped it and deleted some of the color schemes and changed some other items. Martin Salinas is going to work on getting these changes reversed.

3.   We are now incorporated.

4.   Legislative response:

     The following legislators have been contacted: Kerry Benninghoff, Dave Levdansky, Matt Baker, Adam Harris, Jake Corman, Mike Hanna, John Siptroth and Dan Surra. Five letters have been sent to DCNR secretary DiBerardinis concerning the lack of communication between DCNR and PSCLA.


New Business:


1.   Garbage Assessment:


     A member that has a leased site in Stewardson Township contacted PSCLA to complain about a $60 a year assessment he must pay for municipal solid waste. PSCLA has decided to argue this on the basis that the member is a seasonal user and not a permanent resident. Martin Salinas, Dick McKinney and Sid Mentzer will attend the next Stewardson Township meeting in an attempt to have this corrected to the lessee’s favor.

2.   May Meeting:


     The next general membership meeting will be on May 21st at the Castanea Picnic grounds. Dick McKinney has reserved the grounds for this day. Fellowship will start at 10 am and the meeting itself will commence at 1 pm. As usual, free hot sausage sandwiches and drinks will be served. There will also be inexpensive items to be given away and sold. To this end Dan Paolini made motion to allow Martin Salinas $600 to acquire these items. Chris Fox seconded. When put to a vote the results were 7 ayes with 0 nays.

3.   Shaver’s Creek:

     Chris Fox is to contact this facility and determine the price and availability of a bird of prey demonstration to be conducted at the May 21st general membership meeting.

4.   Travel to Harrisburg:

     PSCLA has been provided with a list of dates when lawmakers will be in session. A list will be compiled of the legislators we would like to meet with and discuss items such as water right of way fees, Delaware boat dock situation and DCNR’s lack of communication with PSCLA. Other items may be added. April 25th, a Tuesday, is the target date.

5.   Computer:

     Ron Kephart has established an email address for the office of President. It is contact@pscla.org.


The next director’s meeting is April 13th, 6:30 pm at Castanea fire hall social room. Any PSCLA member is welcome and encouraged to attend. Contact any director/officer for directions.

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Minutes of 2/9/2006
Castanea Fire Hall
 
The following officers were present:

Pres. Ron Kephart – P
 Director Martin Salinas - P
 Director Tom Livingston - P
 
Vice Pres. George Conklin – P
 Director Dan Paolini - P
 Director Sid Mentzer - P
 
Treasurer John Green – P
 Director Doug Sellers - P
 Director Bob Palermo – A
 
Secretary Chris Fox – P
 Membership Chair Dick McKinney – P
 
Treasurer’s Report by John Green:
     John Green gave the Treasury Report with a balance of $_____.  A copy of the treasurer's report is available upon request.

 
Membership Committee Report by Dick McKinney:
     Dick McKinney’s membership report stood at 776.
 
PSCLA presented a new Compaq laptop computer to be used in the office of president. The cost was $798.00. It is to be passed on to the incoming president.
Old Business:

1.  Website:

     It has been over a year since the website has been updated. Tracey McCloskey was retained to update the webpage and revive the question/comment field of the website. The secretary shall email Tracey the minutes of the last two general membership meetings to be posted on the website and changes in officers and directors. The question/comment field of the website is to be reviewed with Martin and Chris deciding what will be posted.

     Tracey is also sorting members by zip code. A set hourly rate of pay for her is to be determined.

2.  Mailer:

     Ron stated, rather forcefully, that he is in dire need of help in completing the next newsletter. George was asked to assume the duties for the next six months of assembling the newsletter to which he agreed.

3.  Legislative response:

     Ron discussed his correspondence with Rep. Siptroth concerning the Delaware boat dock problems.

4.  Director Areas:

     DCNR has redistricted its areas of the commonwealth and PSCLA has followed. Directors shall be responsible for the following districts:

     Tom Livingston: Rothrock, Sproul, Tuscarora.
     Sid Mentzer: Tioga, Loyalsock, Susquehannock.
     Bob Palermo: Weiser, Wyoming, Lackawanna.
     Dan Paolini: Delaware.
     Martin Salinas: Tiadaghton, Elk, Moshannon.
     Doug Sellers: Bald Eagle, Michaux, Buchannan.
     Ron requested that each director contact the appropriate state forester in each district and establishes which districts have annual lessee meetings and/or mailers.

New Business:

1.  Doug Sellers mtg w/Reps:

     Doug met with Reps. Adam Harris-R, Jake Corman-R and Jake Corman’s aide Jim Eckard. Doug ‘s presentation concerned the declining relationship of PSCLA/DCNR, non-uniformity of DCNR’s rules and regulations statewide, and the breakdown of personal dialogue between Dr. Grace/Mike Lester and PSCLA Both Representatives agreed a problem exists within DCNR and pledged to help PSCLA. Both have contacted Reps Mike Hanna-D, Matt Baker-R, Kerry Benninghoff-R and Dave Levdansky-D in the hopes of alleviating our problems with DCNR. They are to contact Rep. Jay Siptroth-D. Doug requested another meeting in a few weeks to give these legislators more direction.

2.  Leases Lost:

     The commonwealth owns 41 cabins and maintains rental agreements with interested persons. Recently a lease was in such a deteriorated condition that DCNR condemned the cabin. The renter was offered another site or could have sold the rental agreement but declined. PSCLA’s questions are: why doesn’t DCNR hold their state owned cabins up to the same standards lessee’s are held to? Why didn’t DCNR inspect this cabin on a regular basis such as lessees are subjected to?

3.  Travel to Harrisburg:

     PSCLA is going to pursue one of two approaches. The first is for each director to garner 1-2 reps from their districts. The second is to use the zip code sorting route and choose the reps that represent the most constituents. Both Mike Hanna and Matt Baker will be contacted to establish the best date and time to travel to the capitol.

Dick McKinney will reserve the Castanea picnic grounds for the spring general meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Minutes of 1/12/2006

Castanea Fire Hall

 

The following officers were present:

Pres. Ron Kephart – P
 Director Martin Salinas - P
 Director Tom Livingston - A
 
Vice Pres. George Conklin – P
 Director Dan Paolini - P
 Director Sid Mentzer - P
 
Treasurer John Green – P
 Director Doug Sellers - P
 Director Bob Palermo – A
 
Secretary Chris Fox – P
 Membership Chair Dick McKinney – P
 
 

Treasurer’s Report by John Green:

     John Green gave the Treasurers report with a balance of $_____.   A copy of the treasurer's report is available upon request.

 

Membership Committee Report by Dick McKinney:    

     Dick McKinney reported that membership is 656.

 

Dick McKinney and John Green are to send postcards to all previous members urging them to rejoin.

 

A motion was made by Doug Sellers to purchase a new computer for the office of president. Doug stipulated the computer is to be passed on to the incoming president. Sid Mentzer seconded. Martin Salinas suggested a cap of $800.00 be placed on the purchase of said computer. The motion was put to a vote and the group all voted aye.

 

Old Business:

 

1.   Delaware Boat docks:

 

     Ron Kephart sent a letter to Rep. Siptroth, D-Pike Co, explaining the problems and roadblocks PSCLA  has encountered with DCNR. He also asked for Rep. Siptroth’s help in this matter. As of this time Ron has received no response. He is to contact him on the 13th.   The House Energy and Natural Resources has oversight of DCNR. Dan Paolini suggested contacting both the majority and minority chairs.

 

2.   Water line right of way fees:

 

     This guideline was adopted into DCNR with no set fee last year. PSCLA has still not given up on this issue.

 

3.   PSCLA is to become incorporated.

 

     Ron Kephart presented the paperwork at this meeting and will complete the transaction.

 

New Business:

 

1.   Ron Kephart sent out a list of new meeting dates and times for 2006. For those of you who did not receive this list I will restate them here.

 

Feb    9th     6:30 PM  Castanea

Mar    9th     6:30 PM  Castanea

Apr    13th   6:30 PM   Castanea

May   11th   6:30 PM   Castanea                                                  


May   21st  11:00 AM  Picnic Grounds

Jun     8th       TBD        Castanea

Jul    1st         TBD        Castanea

Aug  6th         TBD        George’s River Lot

Sep  14th    6:30 PM    Castanea

Oct  1st       1:00 PM    Castanea                                                    


Oct  29th     1:00 PM    SoClinCo Sportsmen’s

Nov 16th     6:30 PM    Castanea

Dec  14th    6:30 PM    Castanea

 

2.   Ron would like to redistribute districts that directors represent to lighten the work load placed upon him.

 

3.   Dan would like to see PSCLA renew efforts to abolish the school tax on leased sites.

 

4.   Dan also wanted to explore the possibility of employing an executive director to lobby for PSCLA. Ron disagreed explaining that to be effective, the exec director would have to be hired as a full time employee which PSCLA’s treasury cannot afford. Martin suggested a different tact. He wishes to establish a database of members sorted by zip code. PSCLA would then contact these members with a  postcard. The post card would have the member’s legislator’s name and address pre-printed, also to be included would be a short summary of the current problems faced by PSCLA and a request for the legislator to contact, in this case John Siptroth, about the boat dock problems. Other struggles that PSCLA faces may also be included. John Green and Dick McKinney agreed to start this process. Note, the words were flying fairly quickly during this discussion. If I misunderstood or stated something incorrectly about this process, please inform me so that I may send a corrected version and also to correct my notes.

 

5.   PSCLA has decided to send a delegation to Harrisburg and meet with legislators in the hope of applying political pressure on DCNR. A date for this excursion will be announced later.

 

6.   Martin wants to obtain topographical maps of the state so a director can identify where a member’s leased site is when problems arise.

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.