Meeting Attendees
Tom Vanderputten Ted Larrison Jim Mauck Mike Beachy Mark Holcomb
Meeting Minutes
- The meeting minutes for October 9, 2024 were approved.
Fishing Reports
- During November Brown are migrating. Water is low and clear… 2 methods working
- 1) Dark micro jigging leach-hanging motionless or twitched next to cover
- 2) Indicator nymphing a heavy tiny 16-18 bead head into deeper troughs (Corson Park)
Treasurer’s Report
- The account balances at end of October were $ 25,842.39
- Mike spoke with Keith to discuss the Chapter status and the possible Chapter dissolution.
Middlebury Old Mill Park
- Mike spoke with Tom Enright (Middlebury Parks) about putting this project on hold until the status of the LECTU Chapter is resolved.
Reel Recovery 2025
- The Reel Recovery Retreat is scheduled for June 2,3,4 2025 (Monday-Wednesday).
- The Budget will be approximately $8,500 – $9,000
- Ted Larrison has submitted several grant requests for funding.
- LECTU will also donate and assist in additional fund raising.
LECTU (IRS Filing Status) (reprinted from August)
- 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.
Quentin Collins TU National (reprinted from August)
- Mike spoke with Quentin and LECTU is still a nonprofit, however a “private foundation”.
- To return to a Public Charity we need to shut down the chapter and restart with a new Chapter Number.
- Since LECTU lacks the necessary volunteers to staff all positions (Officers, Board Members, Etc.), the possibility is the dissolution of the LECTU Chapter.
- Quentin counseled Mike that this situation is not unusual and offered TU assistance.
- When a chapter is dissolved all assets are transferred to TU National as well as liabilities. Therefore all obligated funds or future event funds would be utilized for those earmarked obligated projects. LECTU needs to start fundraising (Raffle Season) soon, and can legally do so (filing as 990PF).
- OPTIONS: New and Old guys step up and fill recovered positions and actually participate in volunteer activities or the Chapter shuts down and use our funds for Reel Recovery.
Quentin Collins TU Update(reprinted from September)
- Mike sent email to Quentin to implement the Chapter Leadership revitalization process.
- LECTU needs to fill (3) Board Members and (4) Officers. In addition more volunteers are needed to handle various annual activities.
- The next TU Financial Report is due Spring 2025.
- There will be a new LECTU Chapter number, and new Tax ID number.
Mark Sedotti
- Eric Graham has asked if LECTU is interested in participating in sponsoring a day with Mark Sedotti.
- This would be in partnership with SJRVFF and KVTU.
- The program would be fly casting, fly tying, and various presentations. Lunch would be included.
- The cost would be $ 500 per club, and open to membership.
- Possibly October 2025 at the Elkhart Conversation Club
- Attendees will have a charge to cover rental and lunch
3RFF
- The Fly Show is going to be Saturday Feb. 8, 2025
- LECTU will need 3 people, 2 at the booth and 1 fly tier
- Mark and Ted will attend the booth. Mike will tie flies. Chase Spaw may also attend.
Fundraising / Outing
- Outing Date will be Saturday May 3, 2025 at Riverbend Park.
- Mike has started the process of getting a signed reservation agreement. This is required to obtain a Raffle License from the State of Indiana.
- The Grand Prize an Orvis H-4 9ft 5wt Rod with a Mirage Reel. The expense will be $1,000 and LECTU will hopefully sell $ 3,000 of tickets.
- In addition LECTU will have a Silent Auction and a Garage Sale Table.
- The Guest speaker is tentatively Hank Paterson
H.A.M. Project
- The Habitat Access Management ham distribution for December.
- Mike will order (6) five pound hams for distribution.
- Mike and Tom will distribute the hams the week of Dec.16th to 20th
Chapter Status Update
- Mike is still in touch with Quentin Collins for the TU chapter revitalization efforts.
- Mike sent an email asking for volunteer leaders to step up.
Library Key Pickup
Wayne, 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 – December 11, 2024
Tom Vanderputten – LECTU Secretary