Minutes

Tuesday 18th September 2007

Time	Open - 6:40 pm Close - 8:20
Venue	Mt Isa Bowls Club
Present	George Fortune, Brigitte Sharp, Gary Cook, Marcus Michielin, Peter Schmidt, Greg Langley, & Mike Poppell. George had proxies from Russell Corrigan & Helen Burns.
Apologies	Russell Corrigan, Helen Burns, Brian Atherinos, Alan & Betty Regeling, , Ross Thinee, Mark Van Ryt, Pat Fennell, Steve Farnsworth, Andrea Volpi, Vivian Haenfler & Steve Jeffery.

Minutes	Discussion	Action / Follow-Up
Pass Minutes of Previous Meeting	Marcus moved we pass the minutes of the previous meeting. Greg seconded. All in favour, none against.	Previous minutes passed
Business Arising from Previous Meeting	Quote for sound system received. Treasurer asked for quote to be scrutinised by another member for quality and second quote.	Brigitte to pass onto Bob Street.
Secretary’s Report	Helen did not attend meeting. George did not have correspondence list. Any queries on mail in/out can be forwarded to George for follow up.
Treasurers Report	Balance: Treasurer tabled balance sheet. No questions from floor. George noted the $100 donation from Gail Bishop at Nifty’s Takeaway. The $100 was Gail’s winnings from the Mount Isa Show 1st prize in the Professional Photography section. George is drafting “Letter to Editor” to mention Gail’s support and also support from community in general. Bills to be paid were tabled. Carpentaria Newspapers $25.19 for ads, Tool N Tackle $31.50 for equipment. Peter moved that the bills be paid. Greg seconded. All in favour, none against.	Payment of bills passed.
General Business	Fishing Classic: George had received an e-mail to report Novas progress but did not have it available for the meeting. Five sponsors including Mount Isa Water are now on board for the Classic. TV ads aired over last two weeks. A request was made for the air time schedule for the TV and radio ads as there has not been much seen or heard by members present. Concerns were raised about communication between MIFSG, Nova and sponsors. At 6 weeks out from the event not many sponsors were on board. Also follow up contacts have not been made. George said that Nova was doing follow ups with sponsors in the coming week. A question was raised at the number of sponsors on the sponsor list that Nova had (23) George had given Nova a full list of sponsors from the last 4 years. Merchandise: Stubby coolers with pictured background will be ordered this week at $445 plus freight. Cloth Patches of MIFSG logo have been ordered 500 patches at $1.45ea plus freight ($740) George had quotes for shirts for prizes at the comp but found out at the meeting that MIW had ordered 150. Information from Nova required about what MIW intends to do with those shirts. Pending information on shirts, Greg Langley moved that MIFSG pay for 75 shirts at $48 each to have as prizes and helpers shirts for weekend. Brigitte seconded. All in favour, none against. Question rose again on communication between Nova and MIW, George annoyed at lack of feedback on shirt issue and will take up matter with Steve Sutton.	George gave apology for lack of information for an update and will forward Nova’s e-mail as an up date. George will ask for ad schedules. George will follow up with Nova on the total number of sponsors and ask why there are only 23. George to follow up through Nova, MIW intent for shirts. Also apparent communication failure. Passed
	Gulf Forum Karumba: Members are invited to attend the Gulf Forum in Karumba on the 10th November 2007. The forum allows MIFSG input into the decisions that affect our region with regard to stocking. It is a good opportunity to meet with other stocking groups in our region and see what issues are affecting them and assist each other if possible. There is also the opportunity to visit the GBRA facility and ask about the Barramundi breeding process.	Any interested members can contact George Fortune or Mark Van Ryt to get more information on the Gulf Forum.
	Angler Education: E-mail received about Level One Angler Education Instructors course in Brisbane. Mark Van Ryt, who handles MIFSG Angler education, informed George that a course will be held in Townsville and Mark will get back to MIFSG with details.	Will wait for feed back from Mark.
	Fisheries Management Advisory Committees (Freshwater MAC): Nominations being called by DPI&F for positions on committees that develop policy and procedure in our local fisheries. Mark Van Ryt is the MIFSG representative and will be asked to continue in that role.	Mark will be asked to represent MIFSG on Freshwater MAC’s
	Member’s Year Round Fishing Comp: No feed back from Ross Thinee on status of Member’s Year Round Fishing Comp. George will follow up with Ross.	George to contact Ross and get feedback from members
	Boat Raffle: Almost half the boat raffle tickets have been sold. The raffle “break even” point has been passed and all funds raised are now “fish in the dam” More help is needed from members to get all the tickets sold. George will send out a roster via e-mail and start ringing members for help to sell tickets.	All members support with selling of tickets is still needed & would be greatly appreciated
	Hatchery Project update: Funding from the Xstrata Community Grants has been deposited into the MIFSG account. George is following up order and transport of shed. As the Recreational Fishing Community Grants Program funding had come in less $8000.00 till project is acquitted there is a $4000.00 shortfall in the Hatchery Project Account to place an order for the Recirculation Systems and Monitoring Equipment. George asked for a commitment from the MIFSG to transfer $4000.00 from the MIFSG Working Account to the Hatchery Project Account so the order can be placed. George explained that MIFSG does need to show more commitment to the Hatchery Project in monetary terms as there has already been over $100,000.00 in grants approved so far. These grants require that MIFSG contribute in terms of auditing, promotion and financial input. Brigitte moved that the $4000.00 be moved from Working Account to Hatchery Project Account; Gary seconded. All in favour, none against.	Any MIFSG member who has done a Business Plan or knows anyone who can do one is asked to contact George please. Passed
	Barramundi for tagged fish at Fishing Classic caught by Neville Jackson. One fish was 95cm the other is 90.5cm. George is looking after them at the moment. Quite a few barra being caught already this year which bodes well for the Fishing Classic after the die off in winter. George has 30 Redclaw crayfish that will be used for “yabby racing” fund raising and fun. Thanks to Rory and Mark Jones who collected the crayfish. George was supposed to table a quote to purchase a sound system but left it at home. Brigitte would like a second quote. George will give the quote to Brigitte for follow up.	George to follow up with Bob and Brigitte.
	Feedback was given on the request and reply to and from Mount Isa Water in relation to a three phase 32A outlet to be installed at the top pole at the Black Rock picnic area. MIFSG had asked twice in the previous two years but had been refused on the grounds that MIFSG would be the only beneficiaries to the installation. MIFSG then acquired the gear equipment to get it installed ourselves and asked MIW for permission to install it. MIW proposed that we pay half the installation costs. George sent a letter back stating we had the gear, all we need is permission. George then spoke to John Lawson at MIW and found out an induction is required to perform work at Black Rock picnic area. As Mikkelsen Electrical Contractors had the inductions, George approached Mikkelsen to install the equipment as a community service. At short notice Mikkelsen was unable to reply as yet and the equipment was left with them. The meeting was asked that MIFSG commit to pay 50% of the installation costs ($370.86) regardless of Mikkelsen reply. Peter moved that we pay the 50% cost. Mike seconded. All in favour none against.	Passed
	The way MIFSG deals with the Major Sponsor for any of the Fishing Classics was discussed as we don’t seem to be able to get any solid commitment from any sponsor until late in the year. General discussion indicated that we should be more proactive in our approach next year to get commitment earlier.
	A special mention was made about a $100.00 donation from Gail Bishop at Nifty’s Takeaway. Gail is a good supporter of MIFSG and should be congratulated and thanked for her continuing support of MIFSG. A thank you letter will be drafted and sent for Gail. A “Letter to the Editor” at Carpentaria Newspapers will also be drafted mentioning Gail and the good support we get from our community.