Secretarial Jottings August 2005

 Hi fellow fisho’s

Well there is a lot in this months mailing. Much for you to read and discuss with your Club, and responses required to be sent back to the National Office.  I know it’s a pain when these sorts of requests are made – but this is your Association and we are doing our best to run it on your behalf but there are times when we require some input from your end.

¨The first task is your response to the findings and recommendations of the Select Committee that was set up to review the National Champs.  We have included a composite report by Brian Palmer, one of the Committee Members, plus a schedule of the recommendations prepared from an original paper by Janine Slater, another Committee Member.  This second paper (green page) also includes the responses by the Executive to the recommendations made and are shown in a percentage form of agree or disagree.  What we would like you to do is circle a Yes or No against each of those recommendations as to you and your club’s response to each of these, and then post the form back to this office.

                What we will then do is combine all of the results received into a document that can be used to vote upon at the next AGM.

¨The second task is a further stab at getting your feelings about a proposal to phase out most of our Association Records in favour of the NZ Records that we also administer.  I said most of the records – we will still have Association Records for those species that are administered by the NZBGFC.

                This proposal has some far-reaching consequences and affects a record system, which has operated for many years. However nowdays NZ Records probably have more meaning than purely Association Records.  It also splits the men’s and ladies into separate categories where our present NZACA Records are just in an open category.

                Read through the proposal and contact me if you need any elaboration and let us know your feelings.

We would like both of these requests back to us by the 30^th.September – thanks.

We say another big welcome to a new club this month.  Hi to the members of the Kawerau Angling & Casting Club.  Their address is 10 Jellicoe Court, Kawerau (ph 07 323 6000)– so put them on your Club Newsletter mailing list and send them a welcome.  I know there are some great fishers in this club and will be competitive at champs etc.

RECORDS

                Just a wee reminder – please wherever possible get applications in as soon as practical after the fish is caught. I know you have until the end of the month after the month of catch to send such in – but if I get a record application say for June and not receive it until the last day of July there is a real hold-up while line is being tested etc. before we can get the results out to clubs.  We endeavour to have the mail-out to clubs as soon as practical after the 1^st. of the month but if we have to wait a week or two for a late line test then this holds everything up.  Thanks for your cooperation in this matter.

                There is no Record Summaries etc. included with this months mail-out. However there were a number of certificates issued for good catches – why wasn’t your Club Members amongst these? – probably because you didn’t send in any applications – whose fault is that?

Hapuku                  22.00kg                   Kahawai                 3.55kg     Snapper                 11.50kg

Kingfish                 23.85kg                   Blue Moki              5.00kg     Trevally                   8.10kg

Rainbow Trout       3.50kg                   Brown Trout         4.50kg     Salmon                     6.00kg

                Remember send in a Record Application form for any good catch whether or not it might be a record breaker because our Annual Trophies are drawn from the same applications. That fish just may get you a trophy for your mantelpiece.

Change of address for you to note.  Opotiki Surf Fishing Club is now P.O. Box 510, Opotiki ([email protected])

Postal Casting – just two clubs have sent their entries in so far – remember these have to be in by 30^th.November.

Affiliation Renewals – These are dribbling in slowly (don’t mind this as it keeps the pressure off me – haha) but remember unless your members are financial that good catch may go begging for a record or an award.

NZ Recreational Fishing Council - Have just completed their annual Conference and AGM and we are very happy to inform that our Bill Cronin was re-elected to the Board – congratulations Bill.  We are also happy that possible moves by some for a domination of the Council did not eventuate. We had written to the Council restating our believe for this important organisation to be effective it had to be seen to representing the widest possible range of recreational fishers and not dominated by any one member group.  Remember a $1 of your NZACA subs goes to the Council but we encourage Clubs, where financially able, to take out individual club membership also.   You are still a member of the NZRFC as long as you are part of the NZACA.

                This is election year and all of the Politicians made their views and policies known at the Conference.  It is up to you to sort out whom you think offers the best deal for recreational fishing and cast your candidate or party vote accordingly.  Don’t hesitate to ask them to address your Club Meetings.  Whether we like it or not politics has a real bearing on recreational fishing.

Fisheries Advisory Panels and Regional Forums - The Minister has made his selections for his Advisory Panel and there are some very good people with lots of experience and much to offer been appointed.  However we were disappointed that there was not a dedicated shore fisher amongst the elected and we have written to the Minister giving our views.

                I know a number have applied for inclusion in the Regional Forums being set up around the country. We wish you every success in this step of involvement in the important wider issues.

Our NZACA Logo – we are at present continuing a process started back in the early 1980’s and endeavouring to get our logo registered and protected. This is proving to be a long and involved process but hopefully we will get there eventually.

Promotions Officer - We are still looking for someone (could be a lady), preferably in the upper North Island, with a little spare time to take on the job of Promotions Officer for the Association.  I am very aware that there have been lots of opportunities we have missed out on in telling the fishing world what the NZACA is all about.  We should and need to be at all the boat type shows and similar.  However these take time to organise and arrange and with our very reduced numbers in the Executive at present there is nobody there available for such. – So how about it ??????????????????

There will not be a Secretarial Jottings next month as I will be away in Australia with the NZ Team at the Australian Anglers Association bi-Annual Champs.  I count it a privilege that I am able to attend but I sincerely wish that our team were a larger one.  The next Champs are in two years time so why not put that odd dollar away each week from now on with the thought of being part of the NZ Team to go over again.

                We are looking for someone who can take over from Sam Benjamin and be the link between our two associations, as Sam like, the rest of us, is getting older.  Sam will be a hard act to follow though !  So if you are a traveller and can spare the time etc. why not give this some careful consideration

Well that’s my lot for this month (and next).  You have lots to read and do in this mailing so I will leave you to it.  (Note we have shown with the Minutes the correspondence schedule so you can get some idea as to what passes through this office ever couple of months.)

Yours in the best interests of recreational fishing

                                                                                Graeme Dawber

                                                                                                Your Association Secretary