Volume 7
Issue 8

  THE HELP STOP POACHING TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 1-800-831-1174. CALL BETWEEN 7am and midnight, 7 days per week.

When: August 8, 2002
Where: Piccadilly Cafeteria, Johnson City Mall, on N. Roan Street
Program To be announced
Program: 6pm-7: 30 pm Board Meeting (members and guests welcome) 7:30pm program

OVERMOUNTAIN CALENDER OF EVENTS

August 2 Deadline for home delivery of August Newscaster
8 Monthly chapter meeting with outdoor program
10 South Holston River clean up
14-18 TU National Convention Portland, Maine
23 Deadline for submitting materials for September Newscaster

September 6 Deadline for home delivery of September Newscaster
12 Annual meeting for election of new officers
28 Roan Mountain Burleson clean up

*Date to be announced later

Public Relations - News Stories

Danny Sells, our public relations chairman, requests all of you to give him any information of interest to the chapter (stories, fishing results, human interest items, etc.) and information for TV, radio and newspapers of interest to the general public. Phone 423-477-3689.

MINUTES OF TU BOARD MEETING ON JULY 11, 2002

1. FOLLOWING DISCUSSION OF THE LACK OF SUCCESS IN RECRUITING CHAPTER MEMBERS WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS FOR 2002-2003, JIM DAVIS CONCLUDED THAT PLANS NEEDED TO BE MADE TO CLOSE THE CHAPTER FOLLOWING THE SEPTEMBER MEETING. HE APPOINTED A COMMITTEE INCLUDING HIMSELF, CHARLES GIBSON, CHARLES MARTIN AND BOBBY VIERS TO DEVELOP A PLAN THAT COULD BE PUT IN PLACE TO CLOSE THE CHAPTER CONSISTENT WITH NATIONAL TU PROCEDURES EFFECTIVE FOLLOWING THE SEPTEMBER CHAPTER MEETING UNLESS LEADERSHIP FOR THE CHAPTER IS IDENTIFIED.

2. AS A RESULT OF MEETINGS WITH THE LAND OWNER AND HIS FARMER IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THE WORK INVOLVED IN THE EMBRACE-A-STREAM PROJECT ON BUFFALO CREEK. BILL BEAZELL WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON DEVELOPING AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL FOR A DIFFERENT PROJECT AND GET IT DEFINED. ONCE A NEW PROJECT IS DEFINED WE WILL NEED TO CONTACT NATIONAL TU ABOUT REVISING THE GRANT BEFORE PROCEEDING.

3. PARTICIPANTS TO ATTEND THE JOINT TVA/TU MEETING AND THE TU COUNCIL MEETING ON JULY 20 AND THE TENNESSEE COMISSION MEETING ON JULY 24 & 25 WERE DISCUSSED. BILL BEAZELL INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO ATTEND BUT REQUESTED THAT OTHERS PLAN TO ATTEND AS WELL BUT THERE WERE NO VOLUNTEERS. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THESE MEETINGS WERE DISCUSSED AND FINALIZED. IT WAS AGREED THE MOST IMPORTANT MEETING WAS THE TVA/TU AND THE TU COUNCIL MEETING AND BILL WILL TRY TO RECRUIT SOMEONE TO GO WITH HIM TO KNOXVILLE ON JULY 20 TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS.

4. PLANS FOR ASSISTING IN THE SOUTH HOLSTON CLEAN UP ON AUGUST 10 WERE DISCUSSED. REGISTRATION, ASSIGNMENTS, BAGS, AND GLOVES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE WEIR DAM PARKING LOT BEGINNING AT 8 AM. CHAPTER MEMBERS WILLING TO HELP WITH THE CLEAN- UP SHOULD MEET AT NOON AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CLEAN-UP UNTIL 3 PM WHEN THE PICNIC, MUSIC AND PRIZES WILL BEGIN AT OBSERVATION KNOB PARK. ALL CHAPTER MEMBERS ARE URGED TO HELP WITH THIS CLEAN UP AND ATTEND THE PICNIC.

5.JAMES CHANDLER REPORTED ON THE CURRENT BALANCES IN THE CHAPTER BANK ACCOUNTS.

Treasurer's Report

The chapter's bank account balance is $2,088.15

Fishing Program

Thanks to Bob Biermaum for a great guide trip to streams and lakes in the Rockies and Sierra Mountains that he had fished in past years.

South Holston Lake and River Cleanup

Bring your family to the 10th annual lake and river cleanup and enjoy a free (for some trash pickup) social and picnic, prizes and live country music. This year our chapter's river pickup will start at noon on August 10 at the Weir Dam. At 3 pm we can move to Observation Knob on South Holston Lake for the party from 4 to 7pm. If you want to pickup in the morning, registration will start at 8 am.

Todd Burleson Memorial Roan Mountain Cleanup

Joe Byrd, an avid trout fisherman and professional builder of fine and beautiful bamboo fly rods, has announced that he will build a 2 piece, two tip rod as a prize to be given away at the cleanup.

Where we went wrong

The old Cherokee chief sat in his reservation hut smoking the ceremonial pipe, eyeing the two US government officials sent to interview him.

"Chief Two Eagles," one official began, "You have observed the white man for many years, you have seen his wars and his products, you have seen all his progress, and all his problems."

The chief nodded. The official continued, "Considering recent events, in your opinion where has the white man gone wrong?"

The chief replied, "When white man found the land, Indians were running it.

No taxes
No debt
Plenty buffalo
Plenty deer
Plenty large trout
Women did the work
Medicine man free
Indian men hunted and fished all the time."

The chief smiled, and added quietly, "White man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that."

TU NATIONAL DUES INCREASE

We have been notified that TU will be increasing membership dues. They claim this increase was driven by rising operating costs and expansion of programs and staff.

Regular $35 Sponsoring $100
Family $50 Century $175
Senior and Student $20 Business $200
3 year regular $90 Conservation $350
3 year family $100 Life $ 750
Family life $850 Magazine only $15

EASY MONEY

Please renew your National TU membership through the Overmountain Chapter. The chapter receives $5.00 for each renewal and $10.00 for each new membership. We send it to National TU. Make your checks payable to TROUT UNLIMITED and either give to James Chandler, our treasurer, or mail to him at:

304 Countryshire Court
Kingsport, Tn.37663
Be sure to include your renewal notice or new membership application.

If you sign up a new member, instead of mailing their check to National TU, give it to James Chandler. Also, we can use this easy money.

RIVER AND STREAM PRIORITIES

Watauga Tailwater-Margie Stratton and John McKee-Boat access in Elizabethton

South Holston Tailwater-Bob Viers-Weir Dam flow and silt

Patrick Henry Tailwater-John Krutak and Andy Hale-Pollution
Doe River-Bob Bierbaum-Cleanup

Hampton Creek-Bob Bierbaum-Protection of fishery

N. and S. Indian Creek-Elaine Walker and Foster Levy

Doe Creek-To be filled

Laurel Fork Creek-To be filled

Beaverdam Creek-To be filled

OFFICERS AND BOARD-OVERMOUNTAIN CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED

President & Chairman of Board-- Jim Davis --423-378-3880
Secretary-Charles Gibson --423-239-9655
Treasurer-James Chandler --423-239-5065
Immediate Past President-Charles Martin-423-245-4966

Board Committees
Oct. 1999-Sept. 2002 term Tom Hensley Membership - Don Kreh
Elaine Walker
Bill Beazell
Foster Levy
Communications - James Chandler
Bill Beazell

Oct. 2000-Sept. 2003 term James Chandler Program - Bob Sherrill

Oct.2001-Sept. 2004 term Bob Sherrill Resources - Bill Beazell
Charles Martin
Public Relations - Danny Sells
Oct. 2001-Sept. 2002 term Danny Sells
Bob Viers Web Master - Ken Chase

Honorary Member-Marcia Carter

Financial - Charles Martin
Development

RIVER AND STREAM WATCH TEAM LEADERS

S. And N. Indian Creeks - Elaine Walker and Foster Levy
Watauga tail water - Margie Stratton and John McKee
South Holston tail water - Bob Viers
Doe River - Bob Bierbaum
Hampton Creek - Bob Bierbaum
Doe Creek - To be filled
Patrick Henry tail waters - Andy Hale and John Krutak
Beaverdam Creek - To be filled