March Minutes

Mountain Bridge Chapter – Trout Unlimited

Board Meeting Minutes

Date:​​​ March 3, 2025

Location:​​Stax Omega

Time:​​​ 6:30pm 

Members Present:​Tom Theus, Steve Genta, Keith Stinchcomb, Dave Armstrong, Paul Glasser, Ben Clauss, Tim Brandt, George Derziak, Jim Belle

• TU National – ​TU Eastern Rendezvous scheduled for April 25-27 in Shepherdstown, WV.

▪ TU National Online Town Hall March 4th at 8:00pm to discuss the impact of Federal funding on conservation efforts.

• SCTU Council

o SEWE was a great event.  Tom Theus made several new contacts.

o SCCTU – Next meeting March 15th hosted by the Saluda River Chapter in Columbia.

o A joint fund-raising effort between all 3 SC TU chapters is being discussed.  It would be a raffle.  Possible prizes are being discussed/pursued.

• Treasurer’s Report

o No significant transactions of donations to discuss this month.

• Membership – Current membership holding at approximately 500.

• Conservation Initiatives

o Ben is pursuing a meeting with the Greenville Water Commission.  Some initial mention of possible conversion of an unused waste water treatment facility to a hatchery is being bantered about.  Funding will be necessary.

o Ben had a lengthy discussion with Dan Rankin of SCDNR. $50,000 in Federal funding for the brook trout restoration project has been put in hold, impacting a number of additional funding sources that would contribute once Federal funds are received.  Also discussed the recent fish study on the Chattoogaand possible next steps.

o Upstate Forever Awards Luncheon April 22nd

• Trout In the Classroom

• Release dates at Table Rock State Park are scheduled for March 11, 25, 26 & 27.

• A fishing outing with the Christ Church Episcopal School Trout Fishing Club was held on February 27th with 11 8th grade boys, 1 8th grade girl and three faculty members.  The outing was a success with several fish landed.  A second outing for the balance of the club members is scheduled for March 14th.  Karl Ekberg from Chattooga River Fly Shop is assisting with the outings as well.

• Sharri Duncan has resigned from the program.

• Communications

• A follow-up email to the survey will be sent to all members in the next few days.  Feedback received and comments from the board will be included along with another link to the survey foradditional members to utilize.

• A number of survey respondents indicated possible interest in board participation.  These members are being contacted for follow-up.

• Dave Armstrong will compose a short synopsis of the Pig Pen Creek project for submission to Trout magazine.

• Tom has a connection for possible inclusion of the above story in American Fly Fisherman magazine and Grey’s Sporting Journal. 

• Upcoming Speakers at General Meetings

- March 18 – Callie Freeman – Stream Entemology

• Fishing outing to the Raven’s Fork in Cherokee, NC scheduled for March 24th.

• A riverside clean-up on the Chattooga and Chauga coordinated by the USFS is scheduled for Saturday April 5th.  Volunteers are to meet at the Highway 76 Chattooga River Access parking lot at 9:00am.

• Ken to pursue possible Helene recovery volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

▪ Meeting Adjourned

April Minutes

MBTU BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 7, 2025

Call to Order, 6:41 pm, Tom Theus

Minutes Approved, Steve Genta, Ken Baerwalde 2 nd , unanimous approval

Update from National TU: Paul McKee said that $80 million in frozen government funds

have been restored.

SC Trout Unlimited Update: A joint chapter fund raising event, probably a raffle, is being

planned. So far donated prizes are a G. Loomis fly rod ($800 from WLS member

Travis), and a trip to Argentina with a $500 reserve from Frontier Travel Service.

Treasurer Report provided by Tim Brandt.

A motion to buy storage insurance was made Ken Baerwalde, 2 nd by Steve Genta, vote

to approve was unanimous.

TIC Releases were made at Table Rock SP today. Steve Genta

Conservation, Ben Clauss: Naturaland Trust must transfer North Saluda River Project

property to SCDNR. Greenville Water is converting some of their facilities into trout

hatcheries for the N. Saluda River. There will be brook trout habitat restorations on four

Lake Jocassee tributaries. The Embrace a Stream Grant is close to completion.

Membership meetings: It was proposed that we have none in July, August, and

December

Upstate Forever luncheon on April 22

Casting Clinic at Dodson Fly Fishing on May 31

Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.

Date:​​​May 5, 2025

Location:​​Stax Omega

Time:​​​6:30 p.m.

Members Present:​Tom Theus, Ken Baerwalde, Steve Genta, Paul Glasser, Ben Clauss, George Derdziak, Steve Duda, David Groseclose, Amy Holstein

• Call to Order – T. Theus

• April 7, 2025 minutes approved

• Welcome/Introduction – T. Theus

o Non-board members in attendance:  George Derdziak, Steve Duda, David Groseclose, Amy Holstein

o T. Theus - motion to add Steve, David and Amy to the bod – approved

o Next general meeting May 20th

o let Tom know of any trips…the Loomis fly rod & Argentina trips – Sept/Oct timeframe

• SCCTU Council Update

o Next Council meeting held in Spartanburg July 12th 

D. Grossclose asked if conservation efforts are TU based; T. Theus commented get v. little money from National TU; Chapters fundraise

Greenville Water is planning to retrofit former waste water treatment facilities to hatcheries near North Saluda

• Treasurer’s Report – T. Theus

o Current balance $71,659.67

• Conservation Update – B. Clauss

o Eastern brook trout Jocassee Gorge project – MBTU has committed to 300 hours of assistance – in what capacities tbd   (date May 19th)

o S. Duda believes this project will take 1.5-2 years to complete and involve shocking studies, clean-up, restoration efforts – expected to begin in July

o Estatoe project – will involve repairing 900’ buffer under Duke’s transmission lines – contractor evaluating May 20th– expected to commence this fall

o Dan Rankin/SCDNR, produced 40 pg report on all the projects would like to target for Appalachian brook trout

o DNR has substantial funds to purchase property for catch & release water, or anything conservation related – let B. Clauss know of potential sellers

o Goal is to raise $ 100-250K - T. Theus/B. Clauss have list of potential donors and will solicit member donations; K. Baerwalde working on solicitation letter to specific donors

o These would be non-capital gain & write-off donations

o S. Duda will reach out to Melanie Ruhlman of Save our Saluda - all homeowners group, for funds

o QR code on catch & release signs

o Poaching – call for everyone to add DNR Hotline to their phone; DNR staffing limitations presents major challenge to police waterways

• Board member position

o VP position – urgent need to fill; board member voting in September

• Veterans

o organization put in 90 hours; 87 veterans & first responders served

o Save the 22 banquet, 400 attendees - April 19th – silent auction/raffles- few thousand $ in items

• Speakers/Outings/Events

o T. Theus proposed either swap meet or casting clinic before general meeting on May 20th – consensus was for casting clinic

o A. Holstein will promote on Instagram/contact Everette to post on website

o E. Watanabe will send 3 e-mail blasts

• Membership Update

o K. Baerwalde noted we have approximately 500 members – a slight decrease since**

o P. Glasser has contact through Greenville Newcomers – MBTU volunteer op synopsis & QR code for free 1 yrMBTU membership will accompany request to be added to their volunteer listing

• New Business

Social Media – A. Holstein

o On April 12th, A. Holstein & T. Theus viewed TU social media presentation

o Standout points:

o Utilize all means of social media possible

o Need for content to post – request at all general meetings mb’s take photos and short (5-10 sec, slow/steady) videos to post on Instagram

o We are missing large subset of people by not utilizing Facebook/A. Holstein working with TU and Matt Williams to reset our Facebook page

Meeting Adjourned

Last Meeting: July 14, 2025 at 6:35 PM

• Motion to accept the minutes was approved. 

National Updates 

• Southeastern rendezvous will be in Black Mountain, North Carolina in April. • Next general meeting is September 16th. 

• Meetings in September 16th, October, and November. 

South Carolina Council of TU Meeting 

• Meeting held July 12 in Spartanburg. 

• Ken Keith, Steve Genta, Steve Dunna Duda attended. 

• Discussion about a joint fundraiser for each chapter. 

• Auction items will start September 1st and run for 30 days. 

• Bidding to start 20-30% above the reserve. 

• Auction Items: 

• Two trips to Argentina. 

• Trip on the Bighorn. 

• Kingfisher Lodge in Montana (3 nights and 2 days). 

• G. Loomis rod (retail value ~$800). 

• Hardy saltwater fly rod (value ~$1500). 

• Premium fly tying bundle (details to come). 

Fundraising Split 

• Randy Martin got the Hardy fly rod because the rep for Hardy is on their board.

• The fundraiser will be split four ways. 

• Hope to raise $20,000 and split it four ways ($5,000 for each council). 

Minimum Dollar Value of Donations 

• Trip reserve: Bids to start 20% above reserve (e.g., $6,000 trip starts at $7,200). • Retail value of trips ~$11,500. 

• If reserves aren't met, the second-highest bidder can match the winner's bid. 

• G. Loomis rod, Hardy Rod, premium fly tying package, and Max's one day donation will  start at 20-30% above retail value, but have no reserve. 

• Additional donations of lower-priced items are welcome. 

Feedback on the Council 

• Keith: "I thought it was educational. More, more to learn about what's going on at  national than anything else." 

• National is in the red and was flagged in 2023 for a yellow flag audit from the IRS. • Flagged again in 2024 for lacks in internal financial controls. 

• Net loss of over $4 million each year for the last two years. 

• CEO makes $490,000. 

• Feedback from state councils goes to National. 

• Mike Waddell is on the national leaders Council and gives them feedback. 

Treasurer's Report 

• Tim Swansel's last report. 

• $38.95 earned in interest. 

• $250 in donations went to conservation. 

• $65 from raffle. 

• $500 donation via PayPal from James Bozen from Clover. 

These notes were taken with Minutes AI (https://myminutes.ai)

• $150 check from somebody. 

PayPal Account 

• There are three bank accounts set up on PayPal, one of which is the TIC. • PayPal took a $10 fee from the Trout in the Classroom (TIC) account. • The fee should be taken from operations and transferred back to TIC. • There's a miscellaneous account with $10 in it that hasn't been used recently. • The suggestion is to close the account and put the $10 in TIC. 

Board of Directors 

• Tim is still on the board of directors. 

• "As far as we know, no money's missing. Good job." 

Trout in the Classroom 

• Last year, there were four schools involved. 

• Belton, Honeyapath is out because the contact's role is changing. 

• An environmental science teacher there might be interested. 

• Contacting the principal to see about keeping the program there. 

• Sterling Middle School is also not participating this year. 

• Green Charter School may be coming back. 

• Keith is setting up a meeting with them on Friday. 

• Keith has a contact at Spartanburg Day School. 

• Someone will talk to a school at their church that has a middle school. • Two attempts to reach out to 19 middle schools yielded no takers. 

• The program is targeted at sixth and seventh grade. 

• Byrnes High School wanted to participate but wanted the tank set up at the teacher's  house. 

• The program involves setting up a 55-gallon tank, providing equipment, and starting the  tanks in early November. 

• Eggs are added in December, and the fingerlings are released in March/April. • Kids do daily recordings for the tank. 

Fly Fishing Activities 

• A retired school principal shared his experience with fly fishing activities in his school  district. 

• A fly fishing class expanded over a few years, involving around 400 students. • They organized trips and activities, including fly fishing during school hours. • One of the schools started a fly fishing club this past year. 

• They did equipment sessions, fly tying, and casting clinics. 

• They took the kids to the Chattooga River with the help of Carl from Chattooga  River Fly Shop. 

• Severe Middle School has a fishing club. 

• Central High School had a Pennsylvania program. 

• Out of 19 schools contacted, only about three responded. 

• A donor has given a check for $2500. 

• There is currently $3 and a lot of equipment. 

Fishing Club 

• The only expenses associated with the fishing club were leaders and flies. • Thousands of flies have been donated, so they didn't spend a lot of money. • Last year, they got $725 back from the DNR for chemicals and filters. • Glenn, one of the donors, offered to talk to the principal of Burns about the fishing club. 

Conservation 

• Working with Frank on Jocasty Gorge brook trout restoration, including four streams with  the DNR. 

• They hope to start the end of July or the first week in August. 

• When done, they will have restored seven to nine miles of trout water. 

• Brook trout restoration on the North Saluda River is supposed to start in December,  waiting on land transfer from Natureland Trust to the DNR. 

Saluda Basin Plan 

• Mike was going to reach out after Wednesday this week. 

• The North Saluda River comes right out of the lake and is "the purest water in South  Carolina." 

• They're going to do a quarter of a mile of restoration. 

• Four years ago, it was going to cost $120,000, and they committed $20,000. 

Volunteers 

• They have 13 committed volunteers with agreements signed. 

• They need 40 man days as part of their donations. 

• Carl posted information on his list of contacts and got 19 positive responses. • The Saluda chapter is going to donate $5,000 towards the project. 

Right Creek 

• There were questions about why the DNR is going to kill wild rainbows in Right Creek to  put in brook trout. 

• The goal is to expand the range of the brook trout. 

• There are questions about endangered species that may be in there, so it's been  delayed. 

Fish and Conservation 

• The speaker questions the practice of killing one species to benefit another, especially  when wild fish are involved. 

• The speaker mentions a plan to shock fish and pick them up in buckets, but questions its  effectiveness and potential harm to other species like Hellbenders, which are now  classified as endangered. 

• Right Creek is anticipated to be the biggest challenge for the project. 

• DNR is working on access to the area, with a team of young DNR employees working on  cutting a trail. 

Vice President Position 

• The primary job of the vice president is to find speakers. 

• John Conits was previously scheduled to speak but had to cancel due to a threat of a  winter storm. 

• The speaker suggests reaching out to John Conits again and mentions another  potential speaker, a guide named Sherry fishes with. 

Veterans Program 

• The veterans will be going on a three-boat float trip with trophy water guides in June,  specifically on July 18th or 19th, spending two nights at Paw Paws Lodge and fishing one  day with Justin and the guides. 

• The veterans organization they work with has put in 190 hours serving veterans, with six  events and 87 veterans and first responders served. 

Speakers and Outings 

• Steve Dubois, a guide and member of mbtu, has volunteered for the Jake Cassidy Gorge. • Dan Burns from Orvis will speak in October about Yellowstone. 

• Debbie from DRO will speak on November 18th. 

• Melanie from Save Our Saluda and Kevin Howe have volunteered to be speakers. 

One Fly Event 

• The One Fly event is planned for October, potentially in the middle of the week. These notes were taken with Minutes AI (https://myminutes.ai)
• The event will likely be held at the South Mills Brewery. 

• The rules: participants must declare one fly they will use, and only fish caught with that  fly are eligible for the tournament. 

• The event is a small fundraiser, typically raising about $400-$500. 

Picnic 

• There's discussion about reviving a picnic at Herman Walker's farm on the Saluda River. • Dave will be asked to contact Herman to see if he'll host the picnic in October. 

Weekend Fly Fishing Event 

• Could be held in November or September. 

• September might be cooler. 

• Pickens County location is about 30 miles away from a veterans event. 

• Suggestion to combine the fly fishing event with a veterans outing at a place with  water. 

• Still hoping to get on the Greenville Newcomers list to attract new members. 

Membership Report 

• As of July 1, there were 491 members. 

• Four new members joined in June. 

• 25 memberships expiring in July. 

• Membership is staying around 500. 

• Difficulty attracting new, younger members. 

Public Relations and Marketing 

• Dave Armstrong will write a letter to Matt Williams to get the password to the Facebook  account. 

Bylaws Review 

• Several areas of non-compliance with current practices were identified. 

• Monthly membership meetings are stated to be on the third Monday of the month  in the bylaws. 

• Monthly review of financials is required but not being done since Gary left. • President has to co-sign all checks over $300 with the treasurer. 

• Term limits for treasurer should be enforced to prevent long-term control. 

• Procedure to change the bylaws requires informing members 30 days in advance of a  vote. 

• Ken will do the overview of the financials. 

• David Close had knee surgery on the 9th. 

Expenditure Approval 

• For expenditures over $300, the president needs to approve. 

• The president (Tom or whoever) needs to email the treasurer approving the check  issuance. 

• A plan will be written up and reviewed by Dave. 

September Meeting and Officer Nominations 

• In September, new officers will be nominated. 

• The September meeting should include: 

• Presentation by the board on the chapter's accomplishments, future plans. • Review of the financial situation. 

• Addressing officer elections. 

• This addresses the survey feedback requesting more information about the board's  activities. 

Rock Hill Subchapter (Alternative Engagement Group) These notes were taken with Minutes AI (https://myminutes.ai)

• Craig Jasper is interested in starting a group in the Fort Mill/Rock Hill area. • TU uses the term "Alternative Engagement Group" instead of "subchapter." 

• This group would target current members in the area who don't participate in current  activities. 

• Operating procedures for TU Alternative Engagement Groups will be sent to the board  for review. 

• TU wants to maintain oversight to prevent a "rebel organization." 

• Members must be South Carolina residents. 

• Vision for the group includes: 

• Spring cleanups. 

• Teaching people how to fish and tie flies. 

• An email can be sent to members with Frank's contact information for those interested in  the new subchapter. 

Meeting Setup 

• Set up a meeting place and time, and "we'll put the word out." 

• They will market the meeting and representatives from their chapter will attend. • Goal is to get a potential roster together. 

• They can come down and help when there is a big deal. 

Logistics 

• Target Portville, Port Mill. 

• 30 days lead time is needed to set something up. 

• Meeting place not yet determined. 

• Places like this or public libraries are options. 

• Libraries usually have AV and don't usually charge. 

• Libraries usually have parking. 

Wrap Up 

• Find a meeting place and they will market it. 

• Meeting is adjourned. 

Roll Call 

• Members present: 

• Keith Stinchcomb 

• Steve Genta 

• Ken Beall 

• Jasper Ray Jasper 

• Paul Glasser 

• Tom Theus 

• Steve Duda 

• Jim Bell 

• Frank Panabaker 

• Tim Brandt (new vice president) 

• Recording stopped. 

August 4, 2025. 

• Members present: Dave Armstrong, Ben Claus, Sam Claus, Paul Glasser, Ken Bearwald,  George Duziak, Jim Bell, Keith Stinchcomb, Tom Fegus, and Steve Duda. 

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes 

• Corrections to the minutes: 

• Online auction: "the second highest bidder can match the winner. So that is  correct. So there would be two winners." 

• Treasury report: Tim Brandt, not Tim Swanson. 

• Creek spelled with R versus W. 

• Motion to approve the minutes passed. 

TU National Updates 

• Southeastern Rendezvous will be in Black Mountain, North Carolina, March 13-15, 2026. • Next General meeting is September 16th. 

• South Carolina Council TU updates online auction, multi chapter, and also the Council  will participate. 

• Approximate starting date will be September, running for 30 days. 

• Participants will have a Zoom meeting with event group Wednesday night. 

Treasury Report 

• Expenditures for the veterans trip in July. 

• Received annual South Carolina license income: $560. 

• Received two conservation donations in July: $101 and $500 (came through PayPal, so  $489.56). 

• Donations were not tagged to a specific project. 

• One check to Mountain Bridge for conservation. 

• The last three or four donations were specifically for the Joe Cassidy project. • Amounts: $150, $100, $500, and another amount to be confirmed. 

• Sub-account can be set up for the Joe Cassie Project. 

• Normal expenses: Mailchimp, new member packets, Malden Senior Center. • Operations (including veterans): $24,600. 

• Conservation: $40,000. 

• Total at the end of July: $67,909.81 (about $600 less than June). 

• Public storage is a topic again. 

• South Carolina financial information is in. 

• Tax filings are at.990 is done. 

• Waiting for South Carolina reports to be approved to renew raffle and sweepstakes  permits. 

Annual Spending 

• Veterans program: $8200 spent this year (mostly fishing trips and a veterans first  responders event). 

• Trout in the Classroom: roughly $2,000 per year. 

• Received $725 reimbursement from the state this year. 

• Meeting location: $300 per year. 

• Other expenses: around $3,000 for general stuff. 

• $25,000 donation for the North Saluda (now over $26,000 due to interest). • Other conservation balance is just under $15,000. 

Conservation Money and Snorkeling Program 

• There will be more conservation money coming this fall and into next year. 

• There will be another expense coming up with the U.S. Forest Wildlife Service for the  snorkeling program. 

Kickoff Meeting and Green Charter 

• A kickoff meeting in Columbia is scheduled for August 27th with the three chapters in  the DNR. 

• There was a good meeting with Green Charter, and they are waiting to hear back from  them. 

Lost Teacher and New Participants 

• One teacher was lost, but he was "marginally engaged" and didn't do much. • They are continuing to try and get more participants. 

Jocaste Project and Volunteers 

• The Jocaste project keeps getting delayed, and they are still waiting on funds. • They have 20 volunteers now. 

Jim Banister and Upper Saluda 

• Jim Banister had a family matter come up, but he is still happy to come and give an  update. 

• Steve and Mac sent a note about the Upper Saluda, and Mac will get back to them with  an update. 

Upper Saluda Technical Assistance and 319 Projects 

• Melanie gave an overview of what they've been doing and all their 319 grant money. • They are delayed on getting some NRCS grants. 

Cherry Creek and Partnering Opportunities 

• Cherry Creek is a tributary to North Saluda. 

• Melanie is going to reach out to people if they're interested in a field tour in the fall to  visit some new sites. 

Climate Change Coordinator and Greenville Swamp Rabbit  Conservation Event 2026 

• Jeff Olsen, the climate change coordinator, wants them to do something, but they are  waiting for an email to figure out what it is. 

• Ben has a handle on the Greenville Swamp Rabbit Conservation Event 2026. 

Southeastern Wildlife Expo 

• The speaker feels that conservation organizations participate in the Southeastern  Wildlife Expo as a way to sell tickets. 

• It costs $2500 to have a booth at the event, which guarantees the ability to sell 100  tickets for $25 each. 

• Mike Waddell suggested sending money to the Southeastern Wildlife Expo, an event in  Charleston that gets 50,000-60,000 attendees. 

• A motion was made not to participate in the event at a level that requires financial  commitment, and the motion passed. 

U.S. Forest Service Kids Scarfing Program 

• The U.S. Forest Service is requesting $5,000 for Airbnb to house volunteers from  Virginia Tech who are skilled in the kids scarfing program. 

• The speaker will try to find private money to support Keith Whalen and the program. 

• The program is for elementary-age kids, primarily city kids who have never been out in  nature. 

• The speaker believes it is a great program and wants to stand behind Whalen, as the  U.S. Forest Service is essential for trout restoration. 

Adirondack Canoe Donation 

• Scott and Sharon, former TU members, are donating an Adirondack canoe due to Scott's  early onset Alzheimer's. 

• The canoe is worth $3,000, and Sharon will split the proceeds with the organization. • The organization stands to make $1,500 from the sale. 

• A new canoe goes for $3,600. 

Raffle Items 

• A person will bring fly boxes and a fly rod to the meeting to be part of a raffle. • The speaker notes that they are getting low on raffle items. 

Low Cost Raffle and Future Sales 

• The club has higher-priced items like rods and reels. 

• Suggestion to have a night early next year to sell accumulated fly-tying materials and  wet metal. 

• Sam may be able to help put it on Facebook Marketplace. 

September Elections of Officers 

• According to bylaws, elections for officers are to be held in September. • Positions open: president, vice president, secretary. 

• The current president will stay on until the first of the year. 

• A blast will be sent out with positions that are open. 

• Bylaws also call for a discussion of initiatives for the coming year. 

Veterans Program 

• The club had four or five successful outings. 

• An outing with trophy water guides in July included six veterans. 

• Funding will be submitted to the Anderson Foundation in September for 2026. • Other chapters do not have a veterans program. 

Speakers and One Fly Event 

• September 16th: Steve Dubois 

• October 21st: Dan Burns from Orvis, Debbie from Dro. 

• One Fly event is October 8th at DRO. 

• The event usually gets about eight or ten people and raises about $400. 

• Participants can fish anywhere in South Carolina or North Carolina, except private  water. 

• Ends at 4:30 at Mills River Brewing Company. 

One Fly Event Details 

• One fly can be repaired. 

• Participants get a tape measure. 

• If the fly is lost, the participant can still fish but can't measure fish for the tournament. 

Picnic and Alternative Outing 

• The picnic is canceled. 

• Ken has offered to host an outing at his lakeside mansion for board members and special  invitees. 

• Ken will send an invite to the board members with available dates. 

• The outing will be rain or shine. 

Greenville Newcomers and Furman 

• Greenville Newcomers idea is dead. 

• Furman has a volunteer list, and Steve Gross teaches fly fishing there.

• The club could try to get involved with Furman. 

• Travelers Rest may have a Newcomers list. 

Greenville Newcomers 

• Speaker believes that Travelers Rest is getting more than their fair share of growth. 

Membership Report 

• 483 members 

• 3 new members in July 

• 16 expiring in August 

• National is two months behind on cashing checks for credit card. 

Social Media 

• Jim Bell: There was no problem with the Facebook account. 

• The issue is that since Dan left, nobody knows enough about social media to do  anything. 

• Sam Claus is going to be the new social media person. 

• He is in grad school at Clemson. 

• He works for TR Unlimited in their water stewardship program. 

• Everett will help Sam learn the website. 

• Any email to the Google account comes to the speaker. 

• Sam's contact info will be shared for people to send ideas and photos. • Sam will be a big help with the open online auction starting September 1st. 

Communications 

• Mike Floyd, editor of Gray's Sporting Journal, is interested in the Joe Cassidy project. • Dave will write an article for submission to Gray's once the Joe Cassidy project is done. 

New Business 

• Update on the subchapter in Rock Hill: 

• Craig Home has contacted some folks and there is interest from about a half a  dozen people. 

• The email list should be used to advertise the subchapter. 

• The subchapter in Spartanburg never got off the ground. 

Old Business 

• The address for the chapter needs to change to the new treasurer's address. • It has already been changed on the bank accounts. 

• It needs to be changed on the website. 

• The PO Box was given up because the bill wasn't paid. 

• The treasurer is not thrilled about using their home address. 

• They may go to the post office to see what the current deal is. 

End of Meeting 

September 2, 2025 at 6:37 PM

Board Meeting Start

• The board meeting commenced on September 2nd, 2025.

• Those present: Dave Armstrong, Steve Genta, Tim Brandt, David, Ken Beargall, Paul

Glasser, Tom Theus, and Ben Claus.

• The minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

General Updates

• Southeastern rendezvous, Black Mountain, North Carolina, park, Sturton through the

15th.

• Next General meeting is September 16th.

• Steve Dubois volunteered at Wright Creek and will be there tomorrow.

Rock Hill Chapter Briefing

• Paul and Ken met with the Rock Hill chapter and had 17 guys from Toronto Unlimited, and

two non-members attend.

• The next meeting is September 23rd at the Bass Pro shop in Rock Hill.

• Several members want to attend the November 15th Adopt a Highway event and fish the

Salute.

• Tom will attend the meeting on the 23rd.

• The Rock Hill chapter is in contact with TU National and has a copy of the charter.

• Two people tried to join TU using the QR code but the link was not working.

• Doug Agee at TU National was unaware of the problem.

• Beverly Smith was notified and said she would have her guy work on it.

• TU national had changed the address.

• TU national is starting a new program to get younger folks to join.

• There is an option to join for half the cost ($17.50) the first year, but the chapter loses

the rebate.

• A man named Craig spent over $100 of his own money for refreshments.

• The board will decide if they want to reimburse him.

• The Rock Hill chapter meeting is on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8.

Presence at New Chapter

• It's important to show support by making a face presence.

• There is a possibility that they'll have their own chapter in a year or so.

Joe Cassidy Gorge Project

• The first two days of the Joe Cassidy Gorge project were done.

• Pictures were sent to Mike Floyd, editor of Graves magazine, who is interested in

publishing an article.

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities

• Sampling is September 9th, posted on Instagram.

• US Forest Service Kids snorkeling program is September 15th-26th, posted on

Instagram and Facebook, and they are looking for volunteers.

• Volunteers should contact Keith Whalen.

• November 15th is the next roadside cleanup.

• Easter Tower stream restoration, repair, and buffer planning is planned for December/

January.

North Saluda River Restoration Project

• DNR is waiting to get ownership from a private landholder.

• The water is the purest in South Carolina and holds rainbows and brown trout.

• Money has been allocated for the project, but costs have likely doubled.

Ken's October 23rd Fishing Outing in Jambalaya

• Personal invite to Ken's October 23rd fishing outing in Jambalaya.

• There will be fishing, trimmings, two kayaks, a paddle board, a canoe, and a little John

boat.

• Bass fishing tournament from noon until 4 PM.

• Attendees should arrive no later than noon.

Online Auction

• The online auction goes live September 6th.

• It's important to send the auction invitations to other people in your network.

• They stand to gross $20,000-$25,000, which will be split four ways.

Treasurer's Report

• As of 8/31/25, the budget is down to $57,884.

• There is $4,882.78 left in conservation.

• Authorization is needed to move $118 from operations to make it $5,000.

• $15,000 was committed for the Jocastity Gorge project.

Financials and Donations

• The council was sent $10,000 and needs another $5,000.

• A motion to authorize a transfer of $118 to the Conservation Fund was passed.

• A big donor has "tapped out" for the year but is expected to make a donation in January.

Annual Financial Report and Charity Registration

• The annual financial report for the last fiscal year was submitted.

• The organization is registered as a charity until August 15th, 2026.

• A raffle permit from the state has not been obtained yet because last year's raffles did

not exceed $900.

Headwaters Bamboo Rod Donation/Raffle

• Headwaters Bamboo offered a bamboo rod at 50% off, with a free reel and floating line

(total retail value of $800-$900).

• The rod would cost $300-$350.

• A motion was made and passed to hold a raffle with 50 tickets at $20 each.

• The raffle will require registration due to the value of the prize.

• The options for the rod are a seven foot nine five weight (Henry's Fork model,

$600) or an eight foot six five weight (McKenzie, $700). The decision was made to

go with the longer one.

Reimbursements

• A reimbursement of $100 is needed for something purchased for Rock Hill.

Trout in the Classroom

• The Trout in the Classroom program hasn't started yet.

• The annual meeting in Columbia is coming up, possibly at the end of September.

• Classes usually start in October.

Conservation Chair Drive

• There are open slots for the chair drive.

• The link to the sign-up sheet will be sent out.

• There are concerns about overwhelming volunteers with too many requests.

• A suggestion was made to post on Facebook and Instagram to look for

volunteers.

These notes were taken with Minutes AI (https://myminutes.ai)

Other Conservation Efforts

• Ben will be in Missoula/Idaho and will attend a TU meeting to gather information.

• A grant was submitted to Ben's company, with a "decent chance" of receiving money.

Determination Letter

• Jeff Yates provided a determination letter.

• The letter should be put on Google Drive.

• The time frame for the grant is unknown, but it should be "sooner than later."

September Meeting

• Steve will be the speaker.

• There will be a rundown of accomplishments and future projects, as required by bylaws.

• An invitation will be sent out again on September 16th.

• They are looking for officers, specifically a VP of AI.

Resignation and Veterans Outing

• The speaker is resigning by the end of the year.

• The veterans outing program is viable, with an outing at DRO on the 19th and 20th.

• Randy Beery said they will be funded for 2026, between $10,000 and $15,000.

Plaques and One Fly

• Need to schedule a blast for September 23rd or 26th.

• Two plaques need to be made.

• One Fly is a fishing tournament with a $35 entrance fee.

• It takes place at Davidson River Outfitters.

• Participants can fish any non-private water in South and North Carolina.

These notes were taken with Minutes AI (https://myminutes.ai)

• Participants must declare one fly to use all day.

Membership Report

• There are 474 members with two new members.

• David will email the new members to welcome them.

• David will also remind people who need to renew their membership.

• Add to the email a list of volunteer opportunities.

Website and Social Media

• Need to put a QR code on the website that links to the auction.

• Social media is running on all eight platforms.

• Ben's son, a math graduate student at Clemson, is managing social media.

• Discuss adding a "fisherman's word of the day" to the Instagram.

• Send Ben's contact information to discuss this.

Article Publication

• The speaker hopes to write an article for publication in Gray's or TU magazine.

New Business: Land Purchases and Fundraising

• A generous donor has offered matching funds for land purchases that support trout

habitat in the upstate, up to $20,000.

• The speaker outlines a three-pronged approach:

• Send a letter to the general membership seeking information on trout habitat land

for sale in the upstate.

• Send a fundraising letter to the general membership, similar to the one David

Armstrong created for Matthews Creek.

• Approach potential major donors ("whales") after pre-approaching them to gauge

their interest in supporting land conservation for trout habitat.

• Ben is the generous donor offering the dollar-for-dollar match.

Meeting Adjournment

• The meeting is adjourned after 55 minutes.

Item descriptionOctober 6, 2025 at 6:41 PM

Upcoming Events and Announcements

• TU Southeastern rendezvous in Black Mountain, North Carolina, August 13th-15th.

• Next general meeting: October 22nd at Downtown Library (new location).

• Rock Hill subchapter is up and running, potentially needing seed money for a speaker.

Conservation and Restoration Projects

• Sampling has been cancelled for 2025.

• United States Forest Service Kids Snorkeling Program: September 15th-22nd, impacted

by bad weather.

• East SAO stream restoration buffer planning in December/January.

• North Saluda restoration project: waiting on land transfer, expected early next year.

Treasurer's Report

• Significant events impacted the budget, including a $10,000 donation to the state for

restoration.

• Conservation and veterans budgets are nearly exhausted for the year.

• CD matured and was terminated; funds placed in general conservation due to potential

need within three months.

• Discussion about allocating remaining funds, including $500 for TIC (Trout in the

Classroom) and $2,000 for conservation.

• "My suggestion would be to put 5 tic and put 2000 in conservation because then

at least we have, you know, something back in our conservation budget."

• Motion made and seconded to follow the treasurer's recommendations for fund

allocation.

Third Grade Contact

• The third grade contact reached out to Jim and the speaker via email.

• The contact stated that they want to participate, but will not be able to this year.

Green Charter

• There is hope that Green Charter will be back on board next year.

• The goal is to add back up to six for 26, 27.

Grant

• A grant is pending.

• The speaker is hedging appropriately.

Trout and Classroom

• A school is coming back to the program.

• The new teacher training was always in Columbia, which was a long drive, but this year it

is in Clemson.

• The teacher is now going to do the program this year.

• There is hope for positive feedback from Green Charter and a couple other schools.

Recognition

• P. Steve and Bruce did the program for a long time.

• There is a question of whether they should be recognized for their service.

• Gary was recognized before he left.

Upcoming Event

• The following people are coming to the event: You, Mike, Jeremy from Camperdam, and

Bruce.

• Keith and the speaker will also be attending.

• Carl usually brings one or two other people.

• DNR will be there, and they will do fly casting and fishing.

• Hopefully, fish will be put in a couple of days before the event.

Grant Approval

• They have been approved for $9,500 and will probably get a check in September or

October.

• The money will be sent to Trout and Council, and then they will reimburse it.

• A question was raised about whether to send the council $5,000 more if they don't need

it yet.

• The speaker will talk to Chuck about it.

Next Council Meeting

• The next council meeting will be November 15th in Cleveland, South Carolina.

• It will be at the Cleveland Library from 9:30 to 12:30.

• There is no Clemson game that weekend.

Adopt the Highway

• The speaker will not be at Adopt the Highway.

Conservation Update

• Ben is giving an update on conservation.

• Help is needed for October.

• There are 24 volunteers on the list.

• So far, there have been six folks participate for a total of eight days, five hours.

• The goal is $300 for band days.

Trip to Emory

• Speaker went to Emory with Haley.

• Speaker says it was fun and beautiful.

Acquisitions

• Matt said they're working on six acquisitions, only one of which would potentially involve them.

• They're trying to buy one of Terry Creek.

• Right now it's not very good.

• How much? $70,000.

Bob Schmidt

• Speaker talked to Bob Schmidt about the green water.

• Nothing really new there.

• They're still working on their hatchery and development and a couple different

strains and testing.

• They still hope to get that cranked up there.

National Meeting

• The national folks met.

• There's a lot of money out there for restoration.

• $70 million.

• That's all for North Carolina, South Carolina.

North Carolina Fish

• Speaker asks if anyone knows what North Carolina is doing for fish.

• "Just say we only got one hatry."

• Speaker hasn't heard anything, but suspects they're not in the Davison River.

Acquisitions Letter

• Y'all saw a general letter.

• Reach out to the members if anybody knows of any trout, primitive water in the upstate

of South Carolina.

• Please contact myself or Ben.

• The next step will be to send a general letter out that we are looking for matching funds.

• Ben has offered to match a certain amount.

• Once we get an acquisition, we will target specific people with a letter.

Adirondack Canoe

• We're trying to help out.

• They're still members of TU.

• Waiting on a Word document poster to send to the members.

• Asking for a minimum of $1,000.

• Retail value is $2,500.

Open Positions

• Still got open positions for president, VP, Secretary of communications.

• Ben Claus has stepped up and he's our social media guy.

• He's doing the best job since Dan was here.

Upcoming Events

• Veterans had an outing September 19th.

• The DRO was a good turnout and funding for 2026 is looking good.

• October 12th, Upstate Forever is having their annual meeting.

• Landrum Elk Police Farm, Landrum, South Carolina.

• From 2 to 5pm.

• You have to be a member to be invited.

• Dan Burns will be our speaker on October 22nd.

• October 8th is One Fly.

Casting for Recovery

• Paul spent yesterday helping the Casting for Recovery people.

• The guys gave 13 women, pretty sick, three hours of fishing.

• They put in 400 pounds of fish in that private.

• Casting for Recovery has an auction going on now.

Casting for Recovery

• To donate, look up "Casting for Recovery" online.

• Donors get X number of free tickets and prizes.

• The organization has enough support to host two events a year.

One Fly Event

• Six people are signed up.

• Tom said he paid.

Fly Fishing Discussion

• Paul discovered a new secret about fly fishing.

• Lydia from Headwaters was catching fish with a little catas with a copper bead.

• Paul switched to the copper bead and started catching fish.

• It was cloudy, and copper is supposed to be for sunny days.

• One person recalls fishing for Browning and switching to the bead color the trout

preferred.

• Paul watched a woman catch four fish on four casts with a streamer.

Chapter Business

• The next reservation for the Library is November 25th.

• November 1st and 2nd is Everything Outdoors at a historic farm.

• October 23rd is an event that Ken is organizing.

• The speaker needs to know who is attending.

• It's from noon to 4.

• Roadside cleanups are November 15th.

• The next council meeting is at Cleveland, South Carolina Library.

• David designed posters for the online auction.

• The speaker thanks David for his work as membership chair.

• Social media is handled by Everett and Sam.

• A DNR Saltwater officer is asking for swag for K-12 kids.

• The speaker suggests koozies.

Southeastern Wildlife Expo (Seaweed)

• It takes place around the middle of February.

• The speaker got three sponsors and donations from attending Seaweed.

• Trips to Argentina

• Fly tie material

• Bighorn Kingfisher Lodge on the Bighorn

• Bighorn Kingfisher Lodge sent their reserve of $1600.

Southeastern Wildlife Expo

• It has been going on in Charleston for years.

• One can book a reservation at the Marriott right across the street from the expo.

Library Location Change

• The previous location had issues such as being asked to move before setting up, piano

lessons and wardrobe in the meeting room, and tables not being set up.

• The assistant manager of the previous location was also associated with Malden Theater,

which was moving into the room.

• The new location has free parking after 5:30 PM and excellent AV.

• Fundraising work and raffles are not allowed at the new location, and only bottled water

is permitted.

• A sign can be put up to entice people coming to the library to attend the meeting.

New Location

• The new location may be more centrally located.

• To reserve the new location, one person has to be present with a Greenville Library card.

• A library card can be obtained on the spot.

• Someone volunteered to be the designated person in place of the speaker for the first

night.

• The new location will be closer for people from Travelers Rest.

Fish Stocking

• Fish stocking will be on Halloween, October 31st at 9:30 AM at Doug Mountain.

• Wear a mask.

Meeting Time

• The blast will go out tomorrow with all the information.

• The start meeting time is 6:30.

• The time is changing because of daylight savings time.

• If people want to go back to 7:00, they can.

December 1, 2025

New Member Introduction and Vote

• Travis Capps introduced as a potential new member and communications coordinator.

• He has a background in the Marine Corps, gamma radiation, and as a plant manager at Holly Carburetor.

• Motion to vote Travis in as communications coordinator was made, seconded, and passed.

Meeting Roll Call and Minutes Approval

• Roll call was taken: Travis Kap, Ken Gwald, Tim Bryant, Ben Claus, Dave Armstrong,

Steve Duda, David Gross, Keith Stimscomb, Tom Jim Bell, and Paul Glasser were present.

• Motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded, and passed.

TU National and South Carolina Council Updates

• National conservation agenda discussed, aiming for grassroots input.

• Members to present project ideas to Mike Waddell and speaker by February for presentation to the national board.

• South Carolina Council updates:

• Three chapters in SC, meeting every four months, rotating hosts.

• Chattooga chapter hosted last month, next meeting in March hosted by Columbia chapter.

• Online auction raised $10,000, split four ways between council and three chapters.

2026 Goals

• Finish Jocasse Eastern Brook Trout Project land purchases.

These notes were taken with Minutes AI (https://myminutes.ai)• Create a new chapter in Fort Mill.

• Start the North Saluda River Restoration project.

• East to toe stream restoration river and planning.

Treasurer's Update (Keith)

• Spent a few hundred dollars on TIC equipment.

• DNR may reimburse for equipment purchases, unlike previous understanding of

only reimbursing for consumables.

• Received $245 from one fly tournament and $107.21 in miscellaneous conservation

donations.

• $5,000 from the conservation fund will go to the fund.

• Balance of contribution to the Jocaste project.

• Optimism for a donation from Raymond James to recharge conservation funds.

• First $1,000 for land purchases received.

Keychains and Vanity License Tax

• Keychains have been a top income generator from the vanity license tax.

• Approximately $30,000 generated over five or six years.

• Council will split it four ways.

• Speaker will get a price on keychains.

Keychains as Marketing Tool

• Keychains with a picture of the vanity tag and a link to the DMV have been the best

marketing tool.

• They hand them out at meetings.

• They ran out of them in the last year.

• There seems to be a correlation between the keychains and revenue.

These notes were taken with Minutes AI (https://myminutes.ai)Keychain Details

• The keychains have a link to the DMV, not a QR code.

• They bought two or three thousand keychains in the past.

• They split the cost of the keychains, and they get a decent return.

• The payback number is definitely less than what it once was.

License Plate

• The license plate generates about $5,000-$6,000 a year.

• The only means of getting that out is word of mouth.

• The price per plate is $65-$75.

• They priced it not at the top tier, but probably up in the top quarter.

South Carolina Environmental Law Project

• They gave them $500 last year.

• They received a thank you letter dated October 11, 2025.

• Motion to donate $500 to the South Carolina Environmental Law Project.

• All in favor.

Trout in the Classroom

• Three of the four schools' tanks are looking good.

• The fourth school's tank is not coming around.

• They are going to the hatchery on Thursday morning to pick up the eggs.

• The new DNR person said that they can submit for equipment.

Reimbursements and School Programs

• Becky has submitted everything for reimbursements.

These notes were taken with Minutes AI (https://myminutes.ai)• Columbia is down to about 8-10 students this year, while Chattuga River has a similar

number.

• There are some good prospects for next year, including people who came in too late to

participate this year.

• Burns High School is experiencing a nitrogen issue, but they are working on it. In the

meantime, eggs can be placed at other schools.

Conservation Acquisition Fund

• Mac is working on five different properties, but none seem to be a fit for cold water

fisheries.

• Mac appreciates the initiative and the support from partners.

• A tax identification number hiccup caused a delay, but $7,000 is expected to come in.

Brook Trout and Partnerships

• Wright's crate is still being worked on, but there are no dates set.

• Bob Schmidt is no longer with Greenville Water, so Jim Banister has been contacted

regarding the hatchery initiative.

• Upstate Forever's annual Green Forever meeting is on April 21st, and participation is

planned.

Social Media and Vanity Tags

• A Florida State student studying marketing is available to volunteer with social media

efforts.

• Ben's son Sam, a graduate student at Clemson, is doing a terrific job with social media

and has aspirations of working for TU National.

• The suggestion was made to start using social media to promote vanity tags.

Asbury Hills Situation

• The last update was that they wanted to increase their sewage discharge allotment, but

it's unknown if their permit was renewed.

These notes were taken with Minutes AI (https://myminutes.ai)• Melanie with Save Our Saluda may have more information.

• The permit status should be available on a new site, indicating whether the request for

an increase was approved.

• An engineering study was funded, but the ultimate outcome of the permit is unknown.

• A check between $10,000 and $15,000 is expected in December to fund the organization

for next year. Randy Berry, Mrs. Anderson's daughter, runs the foundation and said "we're

good."

Speakers and Outings

• Josh, who worked for the government, said, "it looks like we're good."

• Patrick Weaver, a guide and teacher from Brevard, will be the speaker on January 1st.

• The next roadside cleanup is February 14th, and the next fishing outing is on the 10th

with 11 people signed up.

• Upstate Awards are February 13th-15th, and the Southeastern Rendezvous is March

13th-15th in Black Mountain.

Swamp Rabbits

• Swamp Rabbits is the local hockey team in Greenville, and January 10th is conservation

night.

• Discounted tickets are available, and another email will be sent out mid-December with

details.

• Participating in the formal program would have cost $2,500, which was deemed not a

good use of funds.

Membership Report

• Membership is down to 444 members, a decrease of 17 from last month.

• "Almost all organizations, their membership is down by 30%." Charitable giving is also

down.

• TU national was reluctant to remove people from chapter memberships, leading to suspect numbers.

Ducks Unlimited is successful because they raise product to the local chapters and have no lobbyists.

Demographics and Membership

• Speaker used to write a bi-monthly article for Spartburg Herald and interviewed the

regional manager for Ducks Unlimited, who stated their cost administration was 3%.

• There seems to be a lack of interest in getting volunteers.

• The typical TU member is 67 years old and white male.

• In the mid-80s, it was said that organizations need to reach out to minorities.

Membership Goals and Participation

• Speaker questions if the goal is to have as many members as possible or a small group

of active people.

• Gross numbers don't help, the focus should be on participating individuals.

• Conservation, trout in the classroom, and veterans programs are more important than

membership drives.

• Social media exposure could help increase membership.

Open Board Positions and New Business

• Still looking for a VP.

• The Chattuga chapter is having a fly tie night at a brewery once a month and they're

getting 20-25 people.

• A brewery location on Stone Avenue called Other Lands has a private room that could

hold 12-15 people for fly tying at no cost.

• Cabela's has a room that will hold 20-30 people and is free to use, but it is currently

being remodeled and won't be available until the springtime.

Library as Meeting Location

• The library looks fantastic, but to reserve a room it has to be done exactly 60 days out. The downside of the library is that no money raising can be done there.

• Other Lands has a private room.

• The library facility is wonderful and the lady that runs it is outstanding.

• No snacks, but water is okay.

• Equipment is on the ground floor with plenty of free parking and handicap ramps.

• Greenville is a good location because a lot of people in and around Greenville might not

have been driving down the mall.

Rod and Reel Auction/Raffle

• Need to figure out how to publicize the rod and reel.

• Authorized to do auctions, but need to be registered for raffles, which they are.

Fly Tying Supplies

• Steve Hilbert gave a lot of fly tying supplies, including 30 vices, cases, and feathers.

• Need to sort out the supplies.

• Consider a place to sort the supplies, possibly the garage.

• "It's a crap fest."

Adjournment

• Adjourn the meeting.

• Have a happy Christmas and see everyone in January.

• Meeting adjourned.

Conservation Meeting