Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League, Inc.

JANUARY 11, 2007

 

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 and alternates were present from the following clubs and agencies:

 

Bakerstown                               Homestead                     SAFE

Bethel Park S.                          LFSC                              TCTC

Clairton                                    McKeesport                              TCWA

Collier                                      Mt. Nebo                     West Deer

Dormont-Mt. Lebanon                    PMSC                           W PA Taxidermy

Forest Grove                              Renton R & G

 

          PFBC – not available                 PGC – WCO Gary Fujak

 

Guest Joe Mallino was introduced and presented the ACSL financial report. A question and answer period followed Joe’s report.

 

The December minutes were approved as mailed.

 

Treasurer’s Report – Joe Connors report was accepted. Fischer/Hoffman

 

PGC Wildlife Conservation Gary Fujak reported the 2^nd year/2^nd turkey tag is available on the PGC website and in the hunter/trapper digest.

 

The Unified Sportsmen lawsuit against the PGC, challenging the deer management program was thrown out of court and they cannot re-file.

The Court decision can be read at: http://www.courts.state.pa.us/        OpPosting/CWealth/unpublished/427MD05_1-10-05

Roxanne Palone favors deer baiting in 2 B. The weather was not good for deer hunting.

The Sunday hunting issue is at loggerheads. Suggested to contact your legislators with your opinion. The PGC has undercover agents in the field.

 

Legislative Report – V-Chair Mike Christeson presented the committee report.

Virginia has been added to the Reciprocity list. The importance of Virginia cannot be overstated because this state requires ‘mandatory’ training and we have been told by many that we would never have an agreement with a state with this requirement unless we acquiesced to mandatory training here in PA.

 

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Legislative continued -

The ACSL held to our positions and we found this issue was a minor one; the changes we made to the CCW law in HB1717 were substantial and helpful in this process. More states are coming! 

 

PA Anti-Gun Legislators have begun their attack on gun ownership. 13 gun control bills are being re-visited. Examples:

#1) Exceptions to the state preemption on local firearm regulation (HB2483

#5) Statewide one handgun a month limit (HB871

#7) mandatory tracing of recovered firearms from minors (HB873

The upcoming session along with all the new legislators presents unique and incredibly important hurdles for all of us.  Time is being dedicated to contact, communication and education of the gun owners of PA. If YOU come across any information or documented evidence of controversial statements of ANY Judge, Legislator or Candidate for office regarding gun control or our Constitution, please forward this information to the ACSL Legislative Committee. Delegates, please ask their club members and presidents if there are Legislative issues that effect gun ownership or their sportsmen’s clubs and contact the Legislative Committee with their concerns.  If you would like a special meeting in your area to energize local gun owners and would like to organize one, please contact Kim or Mike for further details.

If you have problems getting a LC permit, contact Kim Stolfer @(412.221.3346) Deputy Sheriff Mullen is “doing His own thing” and it appears like it is violating the law.

 

NY city’s Mayor Bloomberg has created a taskforce to make straw purchases; he claims out-of-state purchases are causing crime in NY city. Federal gundealers , the FOAC, the Liberty Coalition, have asked the ATF to investigate and prosecute this likely felonious act.

HEADS-UP to CLUBS – regarding the lead problem on club’s grounds, a copy of the EPA lead manual is available by e-mail or CD. Club delegates need to let the league know.

 

Conservation – Chairman Jack Walters gave his report, which can be accessed in its entirety at the www.ACSLpa.org website. Windpower generated in Somerset County, PA under a 10 year contract awarded to Constellation Energy and Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, will supply approximately one-third of its electricity needs and reduce energy expenditures by $20 million over 10 years.

The IRS has increased the amount employers and employees can set aside in qualified, tax-free transportation benefit plans. The pre-tax payroll deductions, up to $110 per month, can be used by commuters to pay for vanpools and transit, or the employer can pay for the benefit

 Point State Park Renovation work will ensure “Bastion’s” Protection, preservation.  A 12 foot tracery trench will be constructed to protect the Fort Pitt wall, a remnant of treasured history.

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Conservation – continued - Pennsylvania and other states have sued the Federal Government to adopt stronger energy-saving standards to increase efficiency of 20 common domestic appliances.

The Department of Energy project has revived oil production in abandoned oilfields on Osage Indian tribal lands in Oklahoma that could add billions of barrels of domestic oil production in declining fields across the continent. America has more than 218 billion barrels of by-passed conventional oil lying at shallow depths in tens of thousands of declining or depleted oil reservoirs.

 

Game – Mike Maranche reported that the Court decision on the Unified Sportsmen vs the PGC lawsuit can be read at: http://www.courts.state.pa.us/OpPosting/CWealth/unpublished/427MD05_1-10-07

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance put out a bulletin that FOX TV was carrying commercials

by the Humane Society of the US calling for the banning of trapping. Upon contacting FOX stating the hunter’s and trappers protests, FOX stated the commercials are over and they learned a lesson.

 

Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show – February 14-18, 2007

Henry Hoffman stated the Show is well filled; PGC/WCO Beth Fife will present two

deer-dressing seminars. Canvas totes will be sold to benefit youth league activities.

 

Banquet –Saturday, March 10, 2007/Harmar House; tickets are available from Joe Cersosimo (412.331.3412), please send your honoree form in by February 1.

Tickets $30.00 – deadline for tickets is March 3.

The banquet format will be different this year:

Cash bar and hors d’ouvres will begin at 4 p.m.

The Program will begin at 5 p.m. with greetings by President Mike Maranche. The Pledge of Allegiance, the Star Spangled Banner will be sung by Diane Cersosimo.

Entertainment by Cindy Speck. Bring a crowd, you are in for a fun night,

Cindy and “friend” are very entertaining.

Buffet dinner at 6 p.m. Menu: hand-carved beef, ham, chicken

                          ziti, red-skin potatoes, salad, rolls and dessert.

After Dinner: Awards presentations, Chinese auction, 50/50 raffle, prizes.

 

Unfinished Business – A motion was made and seconded (Bachy/Ragaller) to formally

request YouthDay information via a registered letter through the ACSL attorney.

Motion carried unanimously.

Motion made and seconded (Barnett/Christeson) that the ACSL reserve a table at the PA’s 1^st 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) Motion carried.

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New Business – a motion was made and seconded (Christeson/Ragaller) to present Teresa Forcier an award for the years of outstanding work on behalf of the sportsmen of PA; two  dinner tickets and the award will be presented at the banquet. Motion carried.

 

ACSL Officers and Directors, in their meeting prior to the regular monthly meeting, entertained the following motions:

 

Motion made and seconded (Ragaller/Fedorka) to suspend printing of membership cards and issuing a certificate of ACSL membership to each club; and to provide an E-file to clubs who wish to make their own membership card. Vote of 6 yes, 5 no. Motion carried.

 

Motion made and seconded (Fedorka/Ragaller) stating, if a club wants official membership cards in preference over a certificate, they can purchase them through the ACSL at .05 cents per card, to be picked up at a league meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

 

SAOVA (Sportsmen’s and Animal Owner’s Voting Alliance) A SAOVA message for sportsmen, pet owners and farmers concerned about protecting their traditions, avocations and livelihoods from anti-hunting, anti-breeding, animal guardianship advocates. Don’t give your money to PETA.

Colorado Governor Bill Owens declared PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) “a bunch of losers” and “frauds”. When asked if PETA would help feed and rescue the 340,000 snowbound herds in Colorado, they replied bluntly:

          “You’re going to save them, and then in six months they’re going to be

          killed and end up on someone’s plate. So I don’t know that it’s really the most

          noble cause.” “It’s an act of God, There’s really nothing to be done”

 

This is a quote by Reannon Peterson, PETA spokeswoman. 

 

Doorprize was won by Mike Christeson

Call for adjournment at 9:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Sara Barnett

 

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SPORTSMEN’S LEAGUE, INC.

Next meeting

February 8, 2007

6:30 p.m. Officers & Directors

7:30 p.m. open meeting

Gold Room (409) Allegheny County Courthouse