The Mountain Bridge TU Board meets monthly:
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
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.
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