Indiana Catfish Association

ICA Results - Business Meeting: - Dec. 5th, 2009

We held our 2009 business meeting on Dec. 5th, at Gatti's Pizza in Martinsville, Indiana
A big 'Thanks" to them for hosting our meeting. We had only 8 people in attendance of which 6 were voting members. Everyone grabbed a bite to eat and then we began.

Our Treasurer/Secretary, Paul Meyer, opened the meeting with a treasurers report. He passed around the bank statements and told us where we stand financially for the start of 2010. He also passed around our DNR tournament permit paperwork. We are all set with the DNR. Paul deserves a cudos for all the behind the scenes work he does. He keeps the club running. "THANK YOU" Paul

We then discussed the proposed schedule. It was proposed to change the tournaments to all day time. After discussion a vote was taken and it was voted down 1 vote for all day tournaments and 5 votes against. After further discussion the schedule that was proposed including the start times and day/night tournaments was approved by a vote of 6 for and 0 against. Please check the schedule page on the site for the 2010 schedule. There were no changes to the points, pay out or constitution.

We then moved on to proposed tournament rule changes. This took the bulk of the meeting time. In no particular order, here are the changes some of which are very minor and were made just for clarity. I have included the rule numbers below with the rule changes....

6. 7 rod and reels allowed in boat. Only 6 in use at any time. (vote - 5 to 1)

7. No Trailering boats allowed. All entrants must launch from designated ramp. No shore fishing. (vote - 6 to 0)

12. No alcohol is permitted during event or weigh-in. (vote - 6 to 0)

15. Must not be on the water after noon before night tournaments and after midnight before day tournaments. May launch 3 hours prior to start but stay in sight of the ramp. (vote - 4 to 2)

21. All protest must be made within 30 minutes after weigh-in before pay-out in writing. Disputes will be settled by event director and tournament committee. (vote - 6 to 0)

22. In the event of a tie, the team with the most fish will place higher. If still tied, the team with the largest fish will place higher. (vote - 6 to 0)

The next item was the officer election. All nominations ran unopposed and thus were elected by a vote of 6 for and 0 against. We wish to welcome our new and returning officers for the upcoming 2 seasons. they are...

President - Mike Mitchell
Vice-President - James Halcomb
Treasurer/Secretary - Paul Meyer
Tournament Director - Rick Floyd
Fund Rasing Chair - Mike Bonavita

The incoming president then took the floor talked of things that the officers and members can do to help improve our organization. Things such as ensuring tournaments start on time, welcoming and introducing new members, a more professional appearance, better control and acquistion of sponorship, obtaing more door prizes and give aways, all members to print schedules and place in their local bait shops, having more photos of tournaments (Mike Bonavita agreed to by our photographer) and having a table set up with our banner before each tournament.

I then asked the assembly for permission to upload tournament videos on yuotube and to create a facebook page for the ICA. All thought it was a good idea. I then wanted to know what I could do to make the website better. The verdict was to add more graphics and pictures and make the updates in a more timely manner. It was also decided to send email event reminders and a quarterly newsletter to all on the email list. The reminders will go out 8 days before an event.

I then asked a non member of his first impression of the web site and its' content. He spoke of it needing more pics of the fish at the tournaments. He also questioned the "Classic" qualifications of having to fish 7 of 8 tournaments to qualify. Our members discussed it and the thoght was that if we change it to 6 of 8 tournaments to qualify, it would help tournament participation especially at the end of the year. It was brought to a vote and approved 5 to 1 to make it 6 of 8 tournaments to qualify for the "Classic".

We next discussed adding set dates for the Business meeting and the Awards dinner every year and adding them to the schedule. It was decided that the business meeting will be held the first Saturday in December every year and the Awards Dinner the first Saturday in Feb. every year. This should eliminate any confusion on when they take place and hopefully increase participation at our meetings. With that being set, the meeting adjourned...

We would like for everyone to be sure to go over all of the rules and the points system and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.....

Thanks to all in attendance for your time and dedication.