Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League, Inc.
14 DECEMBER, 2006
The monthly meeting in the Gold Room, Courthouse began at 7:30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance and Conservation pledge were given in unison. Delegates, junior delegates, and alternates were present from the following clubs.
Bakerstown-Bucek LFSC – Barnett Police – Felice
Bethel Park S. – Walters McDonald – Stolfer Renton R & G – Girdich
Braddock – Mazik McKeesport – Christeson SAFE – Fedorka
Clairton – Maranche Mt. Nebo – Fischer TCTC – Tutolo
Collier – Ragaller Millvale – Sparrow TCWA – Connors
Dormont/Mt.Leb. – Yanchak PSLC – Brown West Deer – Bagaley
Forest Grove – Cersosimo Penn Hills – Pritchard WPA Tax. – Fundy
Homestead – Caldwell PMSC – Hoffman
PFBC – WCO Furlong, Svetahor PGC – WCO Dunkerley, Fife
Approval was given to November minutes as mailed.
Treasurer Joe Connors’s report was accepted without question.
Correspondence - CCRKBA request for funds.
PGC Wildlife Conservation Officer WCO Beth Fife reported the Commissioners meeting scheduled for January 21 – 23, 2007. 1 p.m. Sunday public comments will be taken.
Bear harvest this year took 2nd place at approximately 3100; 1st place 2005 at 4164.
The poachers caught in Crawford County were 5 out-of-staters from Tennessee. Deer baiting is legal in 5 counties after Christmas. All counties are around Philadelphia County, in highly
populated areas.
WCO Doug Dunkerley spoke of land exchanges in Warren and Greene County. Consol. Coal buys the farms, removes the coal via long-wall mining; then donates the property to the PGC. So far, 350 acres have been turned over to the PGC for hunting, wetlands, etc. Several acres were exchanged in Shanksville and given to the 9/11/01 memorial .
PFBC – WCO Larry Furlong stated trout seasons: Southeast 3/31/07; Southwest 4/14/07.
Emil Svetahor shared the PFBC Annual Law Enforcement Report: District 2034 will be combined with Allegheny County and split 3 ways among WCO’s Martha Mackey,
Larry Furlong and Bob Wheeler. More information will be included in future newsletters.
Most violations in Allegheny County were no licenses.
Page 2
Legislative Report – Chairman Kim Stolfer and V-Chair Mike Christeson presented their report: HB2563 (Concealed Carry while hunting) and 2134 (Social Security Numbers on Licenses) were passed by the PA Senate. HB2563 provides any hunter pursuing Title 34 activities to legally carry a concealed firearm, including semi-automatic firearms. This does not allow hunters to use these firearms to harvest game with them; they are ONLY for self-protection. HB2134 would remove requirement that Social Security Numbers be submitted when applying for recreational licenses such as hunting or fishing licenses. Instead, you would submit your driver’s license number upon application.
A total of 12 states have been signed to reciprocity agreements. Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming.
The PSP’s admission that they are struggling to handle the volume of background checks, has prompted the Legislative Committee of the ACSL to eliminate the PSP from conducting background checks on citizens, and moving it to the National System.
HEADS-UP to CLUBS – the Millvale Sportsmen’s Club has had a complaint filed against them for lead contamination. Suggestion that everywhere you have lead contacted ground, a Ph meter be used for the acidic content. A proactive approach – heavy spreading of lime over the areas where lead shot falls. The Violence Policy Center/Assault Weapon Ban Creation Group, is offering free legal council and free attorneys to any group that wants to file a complaint against sportsmen’s clubs anywhere in America. An attack on our heritage is obvious. A record in your meeting minutes that you are addressing this issue is important.
Biodegradable clay birds have high-acidic content.
U.S. Senators Santorum and Specter worked hard to get the abandoned mine land reauthorization, giving millions in the next fifteen years for PA to address acid mine drainage and high-wall safety issues View this entire report at www.acslpa.org.
Conservation – Chairman Jack Walters gave his report, which can be accessed at the www.ACSLpa.org website. Conergy AG solar power company will locate their North American headquarters of its financial subsidiary, voltwerk, in Pennsylvania. The move will create up to 50 engineering, financing and management jobs and up to $100 million in clean energy deals over the next three years. Pennsylvania is a key American market for clean energy investment.
The nation’s first coal gasification-liquefaction plant is being built in northeastern PA. The facility will use waste coal to produce 40 million gallons of clean-burning diesel fuel yearly.
$3 million in Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants will help reduce dependence on imported oil.
Page 3
Game – Mike Maranche reporting HB2134 that eliminates your obligation to disclose your SSN when purchasing a hunting license; your SSN is still activated within the state computer system, in application to the “Deadbeat Dad” database. This can be considered a “Band-Aid” approach to the problem.
Environmentalists, anti-hunting and anti-gun groups have filed suit against the California Fish and Game Commission and the state Dep. Of Fish and Game for failing to enact a ban on the use of lead ammunition by hunters in CA.These groups are attempting to scare wildlife managers with unfounded claims of health threats to hunters.
Public Relations – Dave Bagaley reporting on the safety posters. If your club has a safety posters, please notify the ACSL. A poster contest is being considered whereby youths, 9-15, submitting 8 ½ x 11 safety posters would be eligible to win a prize at the YouthDay program.
Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show – February 14-18, 2007
Henry Hoffman stated that the Show is being finalized and will likely be at the ExpoMart for several years. A “tote bag” with the league logo is being considered to be sold at the show.
Banquet –Saturday, March 10, 2007/Harmar House; tickets are available from Joe Cersosimo (412.331.3412), please send your honoree form to Sally by February 1.
Menu: hors d’ouvres (4 p.m.) Program (5 p.m.) Dinner (6 p.m.) hand-carved beef,
ham, chicken, ziti and red-skin potatoes, salad, rolls and dessert.
Entertainment: Cindy Speck, talented ventriloquist.
Banquet Committee will meet Monday, January 8, 7 p.m. at Sally Barnett’s home!
New Business: PA’s 1st Friends of the NRA Fund Raising Banquet, 2/10/07 4 p.m.
Stratigos Banquet Center, 131 Colonial Manor Rd., N. Huntingdon, PA (Rt.30)
Phone Sally at 412.793.4437 or Audrey at 412.793.5076 for more information.
Doorprize was won by Bob Mazik, Braddock Sportsmen’s Club.
Call for adjournment at 9:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Sara Barnett
ALLEGHENY COUNTY SPORTSMEN’S LEAGUE, INC.
Next meeting
January 11, 2007
6:30 p.m. Officers & Directors
(budget discussion)
7:30 p.m. open meeting
Guest Joe Mallino