Meeting Attendees
Tom Vanderputten Ted Larrison Jim Mauck Mike Beachy Jim Reed Jim Mock Wayne Andrews
Meeting Minutes
- The meeting minutes for July 10, 2024 were approved.
Fishing Reports
- The Little Elkhart has browns everywhere. Mike counted a dozen in the Meadow on Tuesday 7/9
- Water is low and clear. Best fishing dry flies at first light.
- WATER TEMPERATURE WARNING: Night temperatures are 70 degrees, when fishing if you are planning to catch/release do not fish above 64 degrees (at this temp the trout will be too stressed)
Treasurer’s Report
- The combined balances in Everwise and Interra at the end of July 2024 was $ 25,665.43
- Outing Income: Raffle Checks $350, Raffle Cash $1,607, Square $ 1,210, General $ 2,137
- $ 350 was donated to Rowan Bannwart, see next entry below.
Rowan Bannwart
- Rowan is a North Liberty 14 year old participating in the Kalamazoo Valley TU youth camp.
- LECTU is sponsoring Rowan at the camp with a $ 350 donation for waders.
Cobus Creek County Park
- Sherry Plank sent email asking about progress (No progress at this point)
- Mike contacted Tim Scott of SJRVFF to see if they would take over this project. John Law was the original stream restoration manager.
Middlebury Old Mill Park (reprinted from July Meeting)
- Mike spoke with Tom Enright about doing some habitat work at the Mill Park.
- The city has a large pile of logs ready to go.
- Mike has completed preliminary measurements for the stream restoration.
- The next step will be submitting an application to the state for approval.
Summer Work Days
- August 3 workday has a big turnout of volunteers. The majority of the work was completed.
- August 17 workday will complete the project, and August 31 will not be needed.
Reel Recovery Update
- Due to a request from the Reel Recovery Executive Director there will be a Special Retreat held in Middlebury (The Essenhaus) on September 23- 25 (Monday to Wednesday).
- The National Reel Recovery will provide the funding. LECTU will provide the needed Fishing Buddies.
- Ted and Tom reported that the Retreat currently has 9 participants registered for the Retreat
Middlebury Riverfest
- The Riverfest is scheduled for Saturday August 24th.
- The event this year will be in the afternoon/evening (3:00pm to 7:00pm)
- LECTU will be present Mike Beachy, Larry Beachy, and Tom V will attend.
Kalamazoo TU
- Kalamazoo Chapter has a youth camp on the Au Sable in 2025, and has asked LECTU if we have any interest in participating. The decision was tabled until a future meeting.
- Kalamazoo also inquired about a donation to their Salmon in the classroom project in Stevensville.
LECTU (IRS Filing Status)
- LECTU received an email from Quentin Collins at National Trout Unlimited.
- Due to a bookkeeping error LECTU was inadvertently reclassified from a Public Charity to a Private Foundation. This caused a major issue with the IRS and TU National.
- REVISED: Keith and his nephew an accountant have filed the necessary paperwork required for a Private Foundation 501 (c) (3) in order to prevent our loosing Not for Profit status. The next steps are to remedy the situation altogether by getting back to a Public Charity 501.
Library Key Pickup
Wayne, Keith, and Mike have been listed by the Library being able to secure a building key for our monthly LECTU meetings. One of them will pick up the key prior to Wednesday of the meeting.
LECTU Meeting Place and Date
- Middlebury Library in downtown Middlebury IN.
Next Meeting – Wednesday – September 11, 2024
Tom Vanderputten – LECTU Secretary