| ALLEGHENY COUNTY SPORTSMEN'S LEAGUE, INC. | |
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MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 8, 2002 |
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| Opening | |
| President Harry T. Lewellen
called the monthly meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance
and Conservation Pledge were given in unison. A moment of silence was
observed in memory of Don Pritchard. The ACSL and many people lost a true
friend, fellow sportsman, and dedicated worker in conservation and youth
programs. During his eleven year membership, Don served as a Director of
the League, and Chairman of YouthDay and Banquet Committees. There are no words to express the sorrow we feel; we will miss him. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife Audrey and her family. Clubs and Agencies attending the August meeting: BAKERSTOWN-BUCEK DORMONT-MT.LEB.-BUZARD PITCAIRN/MNRVL-HOFFMAN BETHEL PARK-WALTERS FOREST GROVE-CERSOSIMO RENTON-GIRDICH CARRICK-SLAVONIC LOGANS FERRY-LIBERTO TCWA-CONNORS CLAIRTON-MARANCHE MT.NEBO-FISCHER TRI COUNTY-SPARROW CORAOPOLIS-VENNERO N.BOROS-BAKER W.DEER-BAGALEY PA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION-WHEALE PA GAME COMMISSION-FUJAK The July minutes were approved as mailed |
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| COMMUNICATIONS/CORRESPONDENCE | |
| Becoming an
Outdoors Woman brochure. Date-Sept. 20-22, Camp Saginaw, Oxford, PA,
Chester County. For more information, phone 717-705-9350 or E-mail
pa.bow@state.us Citizens Committee
for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms-petition against bullet tax. Guest Daniel P. Buzard was introduced as a delegate of Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen's Club. |
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| Pennsylvania Fish &Boating Commission | |
| WCO Mike Wheale reported on the
snakehead fish being prohibited in PA. This creature can live out of water
3 days and travel across land, eating everything and measuring 3 ft. Boating under the influence accidents has totaled 10 thusfar. Deer Creek upper end is dry due to development. Mike stated he will be retiring in June of 2003. . |
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| Pennsylvania Game Commission | |
| WCO Gary Fujak distributed a
"Hunting in Southwestern PA" brochure. A peregrine falcon nesting on unit
1 at Three Mile Island has produced 3 chicks. A falcon banded in 1977 was
injured while pursuing a pigeon in Sharpsburg. Driveway sealant on its
talons was injested; causing its' death. Muzzleloader season - Oct. 19-26
with muzzleloader long gun legal; 24, 25, 26 junior, senior, disabled and
active-duty military can hunt with their choice of firearm for antlerless
deer. Crossbow change - disabled can use crossbow in regular and extended seasons. |
FISH AND CLEAN STREAMS |
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Frank Sparrow stated he and several conservation people walked
the Deer Creek stream (about 1/3 of it) and found it dried up; while 300 yards
upstream new digging is going on. Photos have been taken for DEP Enforcement and
this problem will continue to be researched. It appears the Deer Creek Mall project will be accepted. There will be more public meetings in the future. September 4, 2002 a public will take place at the new David L. Lawrence Convention Center at 10th and Fort Duquesne Blvd from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Open house and registration to speak will be from 4-6 p.m. The Corp of Engineers is holding this public hearing to gather comment regarding the permit application request from sand and gravel operators to dredge material out of the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers. There is one endangered mussel identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife in Pool 8 of the Allegheny River and 2 endangered mussels in Pool 9. You can view the complete public hearing and permit request at http://www.Irp.usace.army.mil/or-f/02-m3pdf. If you can't make the hearing, the public comment period ends Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002;; so you have until that time to send via postal mail your comments regarding this matter. Sent written correspondence to: Albert H. Rogalla, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District Moorehead Federal Building, 1000 Liberty Ave.Pgh. PA 15222-4186 ASTOS (Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show ) dates are yet undecided. |
C O M M I T T E E S |
| Sporting Arms and Information & Legislation | |
|
Mike Slavonic stated that as reported last month, the Brady
Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the PA Million Mom March, the PA Chiefs of
Police Assn. and Pennsylvanians Against Handgun Violence and Ceasefire PA have
joined the lawsuit in support of the PA State Police. Since that date, the
Million Mom March of Allegheny County have disbanded-signaling a huge drop-off
of support for additional gun control legislation. *September 11, 2002 is the likely date for the PA Supreme Court hearing on the PSP Lawsuit. We have now recieved word from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that they could not fit our appeal into the schedule for our case to be heard in Pittsburgh On September 11, 2002. There is the remote possibility that the case may be heard in Harrisburg in November, but that is doubtful. The next time the court will sit in Pittsburgh will be in March of 2003. Reciprocity (HB2386)the ACSL is in close contact with the NRA in helping them put together legislation to be introduced in the Senate. The FOAC is endorsing Mike Fisher for Governor. Keep watching www.foac-pac.org for further info. Jim Slinsky has gone national and will include the ACSL Legislative Committee in interviews and discussions in the future. August 17 an NRA election volunteer workshop will be held at the Palace Inn/Monroeville. Coffee and donuts at 8 a.m. and workshops begin at 9 a.m. Special Addition to the Legislative Committee report: Game Committee Chair, attended the Ed Rendell/sportsmens meeting on July 17. The gun issue was on the table but Rendell is vague on the 1 gun a month issue. He stated if elected, he may ban the governor's sportsmen's advisory council or restaff it. Project Exile-watch for it to be in the news. Rendell states he does not want to take away anyones guns. His statement overheard by Jon Lott, scholar on gun control/concealed to carry-"I just can 't say publicly what we want to do, we have to take these things slowly". Truth is, Rendell can't shoot straight on guns. |
CONSERVATION |
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Health Secretary Robert S. Zimmerman announced that West Nile
Virus has been detected in 12 birds in 9 PA counties. Crows, Blue Jays, hawks
and owls can carry this virus The Pittsburgh Zoo has been commended for its'
recycling efforts. The zoo composts about 3,000 cubic yards of manure per year
and the compost is reused at the zoo. For more info. on recycling, call
toll-free 1-800-346-4242 or visit DEP through the PA Power-Port at
www.state.pa.us. Fuel cells convert chemical energy directly into electricity and heat with no combustion. They are like large, continuously operating batteries that generate electricity as long as fuel, such as natural gas, is supplied. |
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| GAME COMMITTEE | |
| Committee Chairman Mike Maranche stated that the PA Habitat Alliance, the Audubon Society Heinz Endowment, the McClean Foundation; many foundations support the Gary Alt deer studies. | BANQUET |
| 3/8/03 - a speaker is being considered. The committee will begin making plans and asks that the clubs furnish photos of their clubhouses and activities for the evening program. | |
| ALLEGHENY SPORT, TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR SHOW | |
| Henry Hoffman had no report. | Youth Day Saturday July 27, 2002 |
| Frank Sparrow reporting a successful event. The youth and volunteers were exceptional and the workshops ran extremely well. Frank thanked all who took part in the program, from the parking to the clean-up, everyone gave their best. The PGC print, "Foxtail Pheasants" raffle ticket was not sold; therefore another raffle will be held at the banquet in March. | New Business |
| a discussion on scholarships and plaques was tabled until the September meeting. | Treasurer's Report |
|
Joe Connors, Treasurer, presented his report. A motion was made
and seconded (Hoffman/Slavonic) to accept the report as Joe presented it. MOTION
CARRIED. The monthly doorprize was won by Buddy Savage of the PA Gun Collectors Assn. |
Adjournment |
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Adjournment was called for at 9:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sara Barnett, Exec. Secretary |
Special Meeting Notes |
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PLEASE NOTE - if you have an E-mail address - and would like the minutes sent to your E-mail, send it to Mike Slavonic at acsl@nauticom.net.
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Next Regular Meeting |
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Next meeting Thursday, August 8, 2002 GOLD ROOM - COURTHOUSE 7:30 P.M. SEE YOU THERE! |
*** ANNOUNCEMENTS*** |
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Nominating Committee |
| President Lewellen asked Tom Vennero, Frank Girdich and Jim Liberto to serve. A report will be given at the September meeting. | |