The
The TIBF May monthly meeting was
brought to order 7:00pm., Western Marine,
April 16, 2009, TIBF minutes approved.
Treasurer Report-Tammy Shuyler
Youth Report-John Lancaster
Conservation Report-Steve Jones
Communication Report-Steve Day
Tournament Report-Bruce Flesher
Old business
New business
Survivor fund and State/TBF dues verbage to be added. Also, officer election amended for November nomination, vote in December and change January 1.
1) Location
search update: Steve Jones is handling. Appears choices are narrowed down to Holiday
Inn-Airport, or
2) Format will be sit down dinner.
3) Ticket cost: Individual $70 which will include State/National TBF Dues, dinner, 1 big item raffle ticket, 20 regular raffle tickets. Couple $100 which will include state/National TBF Dues, dinner, 1 big item raffle ticket, 20 regular raffle tickets.
4) Dinner menu: Beef, Chicken, Fish. This may be reduced to just two items.
5) Raffle tickets can be purchased separately. Those will cost $10 and will not need be present to win. Regular raffle items can be purchased at the banquet and will need to be present to win. Update: Steve Day will design and create raffle tickets and deliver at the June TIBF meeting.
6) Big ticket item suggestions: Gunsafe; ATV; Pellet Stove; Big Screen TV or other ideas. Update: Hobi Kayak is willing to meet clubs at an outdoor location to demonstrate their product. Bruce is talking with them for potential big ticket item.
7) Regular raffle item suggestions: All kinds of retail services and merchandise. Don’t forget the Ladies as well as non-bass fishing guests.
8) Banquet sponsor with minimum $500 cash or merchandise donation will receive recognition.
9) Schedule: 5:00pm. Start-No host Bar; 6:00pm.-6:20pm. Guest Speaker; 6:30pm. State Team Awards; Following awards, dinner will begin. There will be a PowerPoint presentation during dinner.
10) Each TIBF member club is asked to provide one (member) as a raffle runner during raffle event.
Meeting adjourned 9:15pm.
Background
Invasive aquatic species cause billions of dollars of damage
nationally every year to fisheries, recreation, and water related
infrastructure. Zebra and quagga mussels are potentially the most destructive to
aquatic ecosystems and they are currently found less than 130 from the
House Bill 213 creates an invasive species fund for the purpose of preventing the introduction and transport of invasive aquatic species in the state. The fund will be developed through the collection of sticker fees for all motorized and non-motorized watercraft. The exception being non-motorized inflatable craft less than 10’ in length. Out of state boats are also required to have the sticker. An emergency provision in the bill requires implementation upon the Governor’s signature in order to address the invasive species threat for the 2009 season. The bill was signed in April 2009 Idaho Department of Parks and Rec and Idaho Department of Agriculture are quickly trying to implement the program for the 2009 boating season. Distribution of stickers to venders around the state and educating the public about the program is still developing.
Senate Resolution 109 also passed the legislature this year requesting a declaration of emergency to address the threat of zebra / quagga mussels to the state. The resolution requests that the Idaho Department of Agriculture use emergency funding in order to prevent the introduction of invasive aquatic species into the state. This funding would bridge the funding gap of the sticker program until the invasive species fund is developed.
Program talking points
·
Every year zebra / quagga
mussels are kept out of the state delays the costs of fishery and
infrastructure damage to the state and the
·
Every year we can keep them out gets us closer
to a possible effective treatment to kill them.
Trials are currently going on in
·
The effects of zebra / quagga
mussels on salmon in the
· Due to the emergency clause in House Bill 213 things have had to be enacted quickly. Stickers are currently available online, through the mail, and will be available at all Parks and Rec offices by May 22nd. If stickers are purchased online, print your receipt and this will serve as a proof of purchase of the sticker. If purchased through the mail, copy your application and/or check and that will serve as a proof of purchase. DO NOT keep from boating if you haven’t received your sticker. Have your proof of purchase with you and get out and enjoy the fishing.
· Distribution of the boat stickers is currently being expanded. Stickers should be available throughout retailers that wish to participate in the program in the very near future.
· Enforcement of the sticker program will be conducted by Idaho Fish and Game and other state, federal, and county marine patrol officers.
· The Invasive Species Fund: The fund will be used for prevention, education, and survey for invasive aquatic species.
o
Prevention:
o Education: Education is essential to make the boating public aware of the AIS threat to the state. Billboards, boat ramp signage, PSA’s and print media are planned to help educate the public on how to prevent the spread of AIS.
o Survey: Survey is critical for the early detection of AIS. Though very limited, there are some options for eradicating zebra / quagga mussels, but the populations must be detected early on.
I appreciate TIBF’s interest in
the program. I look forward to working
with you in the future to help prevent the spread of AIS to protect the waters
of
If you have any questions about the program or would like more information please contact Tom Woolf, Aquatic Plant Program Manager 208-332-8564, twoolf@agri.idaho.gov