THE PRESIDENT’S SHELLBOX:  Roger Davis

This will be the last newsletter to be mailed to the general membership because it will be available on the web site.  In the future the newsletter will be mailed to those who call Bobbie Davis at 724-832-1582 saying that they need the newsletter sent to them by mail.

Hello Youngwood Sportsmen’s Association members. I hope the holidays were enjoyable for all of you and this New Year is better than last year’s. This newsletter and all future newsletters should be on our web site. Also, please pay attention to the bulletin board at the gate and on the porch of the clubhouse for notices.

The officers and trustees you entrusted to run your club in 2009 were not apposed for 2010. They will continue to run your club and inform you of pertinent information via the monthly meetings, newsletter, the bulletin boards and the web site.

YHEC begins their weekly training sessions in February. Read more in the YHEC session of this newsletter; and please remember these youth practice every Sunday on the small bore, and muzzle-loader ranges, and their sporting clay tower. Please be considerate and accommodate them, as this is the only day they can practice. If you can forego using the ranges from 1:00PM to 4:00PM on Sundays it would be greatly appreciated. Remember, no automatic weapons or firing on the ranges. Semi-auto weapons and firing are permitted, but please be considerate of other shooters.

Many Pheasants were harvested during the Pheasant season and we hope our fields provided good cover and food through the winter and will provide nesting sites this spring. We will be releasing some hens with the hope of propagation, with left-over roosters, in early summer. Thanks to Jim Young and others for delivering the five shipments of pheasants. The lake will be stocked again this spring. I will be taking care of the lake activities until a lake chairman is found. Anyone interested please contact me. More on the stocking dates later in this newsletter.

Please remember to close and lock the gate when you are entering and leaving the club grounds. It has been left opened more times than I can count and this may invite non-members to use your club.

Stocking dates, work parties, range closings, HTE classes and other events that didn’t get included in this newsletter will be mentioned at the membership meetings and will be posted on the bulletin boards and web site calendar.  When you see someone using the club facilities, do not hesitate in asking them to show you their membership card. The number on their membership card must match their gate key. If someone can’t produce a membership card or/and these numbers don’t match contact an officer or trustee and report them. Gather as much pertinent information as you can i.e. name, license plate number, etc. The club boundary needs re-posted. Anyone interested in helping please contact me or Clyde Trout.

Remember your club needs you. Join a committee, volunteer to help stock Trout and Pheasants, participate in property postings and work parties, donate your time or make a financial contribution and remember join the NRA.

FIELD CAPTAIN’S CORNER:         Tom Boord

Due to the recent snowfall, we delayed the brush and tree cutting and range work. As we schedule this work and work parties notices will be placed on the bulletin boards and web site calendar. I was informed that quads are running on the twenty acres that border route 119. All club members are reminded to report any violations to an Officer, try to get the license #, color, make and day and time.

LAKE NEWS:                                        John Hare

The Trout stocking dates will be April 16^th, April 30^th, May 21^st, and a fall stocking on November 12^th.  There will be a catfish stocking on June 11^th.  Fish stocking times are approximately 5:30PM.  Remember there will be no fishing after the fish are stocked on May 21^st until after the fishing derby has concluded on May 22^nd. The Youth Fishing Derby will be on May 22^nd; registration at 7:00 AM, fishing 8:00 – 11:00 AM, lunch and prizes 11:00 – 12:00PM.  For further details and to register see the bulletin boards, web site calendar or contact Roger @ 724-433-4175. If there are any changes to these dates or/and time it will be mentioned at the membership meetings and posted on the bulletin boards and web site calendar. Anyone wishing to chair the Lake Committee or help with the youth fishing derby please contact Roger Davis @ 724-433-4175.

TRAP COMMITTEE:                       John Martin

In September, we competed another successful year of shooting and competition.  We’re very proud of the fact that our Twi-Night Trap Team was able to once again finish in first place in the 25 week TWI-Night League (three years in a row) and we are gearing up now for the start of  the competition in March.

There’s always room for more shooters.  We shoot the League at 5 different clubs (Ruffs Dale, Connellsville, East Huntingdon, Youngwood, and Hecla) on a rotating basis on Thursday evening starting on March 18, 2010. John Martin is the Trap Committee Chairman.

For this year we have scheduled 6 registered ATA shoots.  February 20, March 27, April 17, Jun 13, and July 18.   ATA members can register singles, handicap and doubles targets.  The cost to shoot will be $16.00 for 100 targets. Registration will be 10:00am and end at 2:00pm.  We shoot practice on Sundays at 10:00am and Tuesdays at 6:00pm and everyone is welcome.  Price is still $2.50 per round.

For more information call John Martin at 724-396-7929, Roger Davis at 724-433-4175 or Fred Perillo at 724-837-5516.

WOMEN ON TARGET:          Samantha Pedder

There will be another Women on Target event this year. It is scheduled for May 15^th.  All ranges will be closed on May 15^th till 5:00PM.

YHEC News:                                    Tom Polansky

On behalf of the YHEC participants, their parents and coaches we would like to thank the club for their continued support. For those not familiar with YHEC (Youth Hunter Education Challenge) it is a NRA program intended to promote firearm safety and to introduce young people to the shooting sports. Starting February 28^th and continuing for thirteen weeks the participants will practice 3-D archery, Sporting Clays, 22-long rifle, muzzle loader, wildlife ID and hunter responsibility on the club grounds. Then in June the participants will compete at Scotia Range in State College PA with other YHEC participants from across Pennsylvania.

As of this writing we have 20 returning participants and 10 new ones with no open spots. Should you wish to participate you must be at least 11 years old, be a club member and have passed your hunter safety exam by the state competition.

Since there are currently no spots open for this year you can be placed on a waiting list for this year as well as next, just contact Tom Polansky to be placed on the list. Once a participant completes a year in the program their spot is held for the following year.

For information, please contact Tom Polansky (724-864-3285) or Larry Pedder (724-834-5366).

CLUB MEMBERSHIP:                     Ken Carlson

Unpaid Memberships:

After March 1, 2010, unpaid memberships will be removed from the club membership roster and renewal costs will be membership fee plus $5 late fee penalty until June 1, 2010.  After June 1, you will be required to sign up as a new member at the cost of membership plus the cost of the initiation fee.  All renewals who wish to receive a new pin by mail must include an extra $1 with their dues.

Lifetime Memberships:

Persons who have been regular members in good standing in the association for ten (10) consecutive years up to their 65^th birthday and have attained the age of sixty-five (65) or older shall be eligible for lifetime membership.  You must be a paid up member for the year you become 65.  An eligible member must submit a letter to the board of directors verifying that he or she has met the requirements for lifetime membership.  Remember, LIFE membership is not automatic.  You must apply to the board via previously mentioned letter.

For further information on memberships, call Ken Carlson at 724-925-3610.

WILD GAME DINNER:                    Pete Hawley

The game dinner was held Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the Roosevelt Hall in Norvelt.  Lots of good food, 50-50’s, raffles, live auction, Chinese auction, and door prizes that include a 4-gun giveaway are on the dinner ticket.  Next year’s game dinner will be n March 5, 2011.  Tickets are $20.  Tables can be reserved for parties of eight (8).  For information and tickets call Pete Hawley at 724-925-7165, Ken Carlson at 724-925-3610 or Bobbie Davis at 724-832-1582.

REMINDERS:

·         Please wear your pin and carry your membership card while you are at the lake and/or involved in any other club activity and any time you are on the club grounds.  You will be checked.

·         When you put your third game fish on your stringer, YOU ARE DONE FISHING.

·         If you release fish, don’t handle them.  Cut the line or use pliers.

·         For your safety and the safety of others, there is no parking beside the lake or on the road.  Parking is in the club parking lot ONLY.

·         You are only allowed 1 rod (hand line, tip-up, etc.)  at the lake.

• No ice fishing unless the ice is at least 4 inches thick for obvious safety reasons.
• Pennsylvania Game Commission regulations and laws apply to all club members when hunting and trapping and shooting on club property.
• Non-members are not permitted to use club property except during “open to the public” events.

If you see someone doing something wrong, please say something to them and report them to an officer or trustee.  You, as a member, have that right!!!

CLUB CONTACTS:

The clubhouse phone number is 724-925-8131.

If you have an urgent message, contact one of the officers, trustees or committee persons below.

Our Website:   www.youngwoodsportsmens.com

Officers for 2009:

President:        Roger Davis              724-433-4175

Vice Pres:        Dale Close                724-838-1510

Secretary:        Mike Spychalski       724-424-5501

Treasurer:        Bobbie Davis             724-832-1582

Field Capt:      Tom Boord                 724-925-1852

Trustees:          John Martin               724-396-7929

                        Fred Perillo                 724-837-5516

                        Bob Mull                     724-331-9884

                        Carl Rossman              724-309-3275

Past Pres:         Clyde Trout               724-925-8054

Committees:

Game Dinner   Pete Hawley              724-925-7165

Hunter Educ:  Roger Davis                724-832-1582

                        Carl Rossman              724-309-3275

Newsletter:      Carl Rossman            724-309-3275

Membership:   Ken Carlson               724-925-3610

Lake:               Roger Davis                724-832-1582

John Hare                  724-961-0956

Pheasant Stk:  Clyde Trout                 724-925-8054

NRA:              Bobbie Davis               724-832-1582

Ranges:

Rifle & Small Bore     Bill Petrakis    724-423-7329

Pistol:              Mike Spychalski          724-424-5501

Trap:                John Martin                   724-396-7929

Archery:          Matt Wilson                  724-925-6829

Tractor:            Tom Boord                   724-925-1852

Shotgun/Muzzleloader  Myron Hay     724-838-1941

                        Alan Crossland               724-331-9844

Youth Programs:

YHEC:            Larry Pedder                   724-834-5366