Volume 8
Issue 10

Next Meeting:
When: November 13, 2003
Where: Cams Catering, 203 Highpoint Drive, Johnson City
Program: "Bamboo Fly Rod Building" by Joe Byrd

NOTE: There will NOT be a December Meeting!! We will resume the monthly meeting on January 8th, 2004.

MINUTES OF OCTOBER BOARD MEETING

1. Treasurers Report---Cash/General Fund $1,010, Embrace-A-Stream Fund $7165, Stream Cleanup Fund $275, Tom Carson Memorial Fund $1100, Total $9550.

2. Bob Viers reported that TWRA and TVA had agreed to meet with TU representative to visit an additional site on the South Holston tailwaters for possible designation as a protected trout spawning area. Their visit will be to determine if suitable shoreline habitat is available to support the growth of trout fry.

3. The Embrace-A-Stream Project on Buffalo Creek is ready to proceed pending selection of a contractor to do the work.

4. Information about states which require special testing, licensing, or fees for commercial fishing guides was discussed. The board decided additional information was needed and planned to approach TWRA contacts to assess the need and interest in moving forward on this issue.

5. Ken Chase introduced the new Membership Chair, Perry Rindfleisch, and new Board member, Randy Ratliff.

6. The next meeting of the board is scheduled for November 3rd at 7pm at the Eastman Credit Union in Downtown Kingsport at 200 E. Main Street.

OCTOBER MONTHLY MEETING

George Grant, Mountain Sports, Ltd., Bristol, entertained the Chapter members and guests with a superb Halloween Story. He had everyone on the edge of their seats during the program. If you haven't heard George's version of the Sweeny Todd story and see him demonstrate the tying of the Sweeny Todd fly, stop by the Mountain Sports shop and see him. A special thanks to George for such an entertaining evening!

Also thanks to Foster Levy and Elaine Walker for discussing the status of the North Indian Creek Embrace-A-Stream project at Limestone Cove in Unicoi County. They highlighted the need for maintenance work to improve the streambank and signage at the site. A workday will be planned to improve the site.

TROUT UNLIMITED PUBLIC RELATIONS TRAINING

Gary Barrigar and Ken Chase attended Public Relations in Townsend, TN on September 13th. John Ross, author of TU's 100 Best Trout Streams, facilitated the training. A Communication Plan was developed and will be discussed at a future meeting. If you would like to be involved with this effort, give Ken a call at 975-0357 or email: chasekr@xtn.net.

Prisoners Help Us
By Bill Beazell

In the past the Chapter has done several cleanups on Beaverdam Creek. We have also seen work crews from the Northeast Correction Center performing cleanups.
In April, Ron Harrington, Beaverdam Stream Watch Leader, and Bill Beazell decided to write Howard Carlton, Warden at Northeast. He asked Sgt. Bill Williams, in charge of work crews, to get in touch with us and in early May he did.
On October 13, a group of nine inmates and their overseer, Tom Gentry performed the cleanup, along with help from Ron Harrington, Bob Sherrill and Bill Beazell. We picked up about 40 bags of trash, with bags and gloves provided by TVA. This was in the seven mile length of the Wild Trout section. The USDA Forest Service will dispose of the trash.
In talking with Sgt. Williams, we discovered that he runs eleven work crews, who respond to a variety of public needs from cleanups to building churches. We certainly appreciate their effort and will be able to count on it in the future.

TUTV NEW SEASON

The new season of TUTV began on Sunday October 5th at 12:30 pm EST on OLN. The first episode featured Tim Linehan fishing on the Animas River in Colorado and will highlight (or lowlight) how the Animus has suffered from historical mining damage and how the local Trout Unlimited chapter, in partnership with the Southern Ute tribe, are working hard to protect and enhance the river. The November schedule for the TUTV season goes as follows:

Carmans River, Long Island, New York. Sunday November 2nd.
Wood River, Idaho. Sunday November 9th.
Lamar River, Yellowstone Park. Sunday November 16th.
Lower Clark Fork River, Montana. Sunday November 23rd.
Rio Grande, Colorado. Sunday November 30th.

To view the TUTV schedule on line go to: http://www.tutv.org/2003_broadcast_schedule.html

LINES TO LEADERS

Lines to Leaders is a monthly summary of key Trout Unlimited National events and action items. To view the current information, go to: http://www.tu.org/volunteers/lines_to_leaders.asp

TODD BURLESON MEMORIAL STREAM CLEANUP

The ninth annual Todd Burleson Memorial Stream Cleanup was conducted on the Doe River and tributaries in Roan Mountain, TN on September 27th. The 62 participants represented Elizabethton High School (half of participants), local churches, Roan Mountain Citizens Group and 16 Chapter members. A family style picnic followed the cleanup. One hundred eighty bags of trash and litter were removed from the streams. TVA provided the bags and gloves. Bob Bierbaum was the lucky winner of a bamboo fly rod built by Joe Byrd. Joe was a long time friend of Todd's and graciously donated the rod.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS

During the September monthly meeting the following slate of officers was announced:

Ken Chase, President - October 2003 - March 2004
Bob Viers, Vice-President - October 2003 - March 2004
Charles Gibson, Secretary - October 2003 - September 2004
Don Kreh, Treasurer - October 2003 - September 2004

A special election will be called in March 2004 to elect a President and Vice-President.

During the October meeting, Perry Rindfleisch was elected Membership Chairman and Randy Ratliff was elected as Board member.

NEW MEMBER REBATE SYSTEM

Chapters can now offer a year's TU membership for special rate of $17.50. The offer is for new members only (cannot be used by previously expired or archived members). New members can join by mail or can join on the web @ www.tu.org/intro

For the chapter to receive a rebate of $15 from the $17.50, the new member must include the Overmountain Chapter number (492).

If you would like for the Chapter to forward the application, make your checks payable to TROUT UNLIMITED and either give to Don Kreh, our treasurer, or mail to him at:

Don Kreh
Treasurer
1721 Rock Springs Rd.
Kingsport, TN 37664

RIVER AND STREAM WATCH PRIORITIES

The following members are watching our streams for problems resulting from pollution, sedimentation or abuse of the resource. If you would like to be part of one of the stream watches, please send an email to: info@omtu.org or contact one of the below listed leaders.

Watauga Tailwater-Margie Stratton and John McKee-Boat access in Elizabethton
South Holston Tailwater-Bob Viers-Weir Dam flow, silt and spawning beds
Patrick Henry Tailwater-John Krutak and Andy Hale-Pollution
Doe River-Don Kreh-Cleanup
Hampton Creek-Bob Bierbaum-Protection of fishery
N. and S. Indian Creek-Elaine Walker and Foster Levy
Rocky Fork--Elaine Walker and Foster Levy --TWRA Lease
Doe Creek-Jere Houser--Water removal
Laurel Fork Creek-Gary Barrigar - Lack of fish
Beaverdam Creek-Ron Harrington - Clean up, Stocking and monitoring
Buffalo Creek -Ken Chase - Pathegons, development and siltation