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IANRC Conference
Great Falls, Montana
April 24-26, 2005
Conference Minutes
Great Falls, Montana
April 24-26, 2005
Conference Minutes
Conference Attendees
|
Debbie Lewis, President – Montana Candy Henderson, Exec Sec, IANRC Aaron Hurd, Regional Dir., Delaware Darryl Kublik, Regional Dir, Alberta Mitch Lane – Utah Kevin Clader – Montana Mark Rankin – Kansas Ron Ollis - Ohio Kipp Duncan – Minnesota Tim Moody – Ontario Mike England – Georgia Grant Wright – Manitoba Chris Simmons – Maine James Herndon – Nevada Josh Thomas – Kentucky |
Scott Thrasher, Vice-pres, Maine Rob Young, Regional Dir, Arizona Ron Bailey, Georgia (Retired) Tim Noga, New York Marilyn Jahnke - Wisconsin Dale Minnicks – Alaska Joe Cales – Indiana Gary Strickland – Florida Bruce Nachtigall – South Dakota Jeff Ginter – British Columbia Liz Schwall – California Eric Harper – Colorado Bill Schaller – North Dakota Frank Lawyer – Citizens Against Poaching (Idaho) Mike Fields - Kentucky |
Business Meeting, Sunday, April 24
President Debbie Lewis (MT) brought the meeting to order and asked Executive Secretary Candy Henderson to present Association business.
Candy received suggested by-law amendments from Tim Moody (Ontario). Tim asked for meaning clarification on some of the articles. Article IV – Membership, 3. Associate Members, was discussed in detail. Meeting members unanimously agreed to add additional verbiage to this article and present to all members at the general meeting for a vote. #3 of Article IV presently reads:
“Individuals, businesses or organizations may become an associate member upon approval by the member agencies or organizations. Associate member will have no voting rights.”
The additional verbiage would be added to the end of the last sentence and shall read: “Associate members will have no voting rights nor hold an elected office.”
Section 4 of Article IV (Honorary Members) was also discussed and meeting members unanimously agreed to present both Dave Croonquist (Colorado – retired) and Ron Bailey (Georgia- retired) to all members at the general meeting as Honorary Member inductees.
Candy Henderson presented the Association’s Financial Statement. Proceeds from last year’s conference in Texas netted $8,064. This boosted the Association’s bank account balance to $29,801.09 as of April 19, 2005.
Debbie Lewis asked for suggestions for Association improvements.
Darryl Kublik (Alberta) requested stronger consideration of an international toll-free Report-A-Poacher telecommunications network.
Ron Bailey (GA) and Rob Young (AZ) encouraged all meeting members to present IANRC information to their supervisors, Chiefs, and Directors. With the support of these individuals, state and province delegates may receive the financial backing needed to attend IANRC meetings, maintain their membership, and gain valuable networking information to enhance their individual programs.
Mike Fields (KY) recommended placing an IANRC booth at major sportsmen events.
Dale Minnicks (AK) recommended contacting local sportsmen organizations within each state and province, advise them of our mission and ask for their support.
Chris Simmons (ME) advised he had contacted most of the New England states to support “Operation Game Thief”. Most of his contacts were state Chiefs and he received overwhelming support.
Debbie Lewis asked for volunteers to hold the offices of Mid-west and Southeastern Regional Director. Marilyn Jahnke (WI) volunteered for the Mid-west position and Mike England (GA) was recommended to hold the Southeastern position. Both will be presented for a vote during the general meeting.
Darryl Kublik (Alberta) encouraged all attending to give their Chiefs a copy of the conference minutes and discuss information received during the conference that may enhance their individual programs.
Next year’s conference will be in Maine hosted by Scott Thrasher and Chris Simmons. Debbie asked for meeting delegates to consider hosting the 2007 conference.
Debbie Lewis adjourned the business meeting.
General Meeting, Monday, April 25
Montana’s Enforcement Chief Jim Kropp greeted conference members and welcomed them to Great Falls. He gave background information on Montana’s law enforcement program and legislation. A segment of “Wildlife Journal” was also shown highlighting Montana Game Wardens.
Rob Young (AZ) presented information on his “Bad Boys” radio report. Since 1990, a local radio station conducts a live broadcast with Rob. Rob discusses the details of solved bad boy arrests. This is free advertisement of Rob’s TIP program. (See “Playing dirty” handout).
Debbie Lewis (MT) presented Montana’s database system for tracking calls from informants. The information is then emailed to wardens through a secure web site. TIP information includes GPS coordinates. (See TIP –MONT Regional Violations Summary).
Bruce Nachtigall (SD) and Darryl Kublik (Alberta) gave a presentation on Public Service Announcements. With the assistance from a PR office, these announcements are usually free and can be made generically to broadcast in other states.
Barb Harris (MT AG’s Office) gave a presentation concerning confidential informants and search and seizure. Several MT court decisions were discussed. There was discussion among meeting members about different court interpretations of anonymity and confidentiality.
General Meeting, Tuesday, April 26
Mr. Spence Hegstad (MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks Foundation) discussed various avenues of fundraising. Mr. Hegstad has raised 2.5 million dollars for the Foundation. Funds have been raised through specialty license plates, cookbooks, “Partners in Life Program”, and artwork to name a few.
Bruce Nachtigall (SD) presented an overview of a public survey conducted on his state’s TIP’s program. 1676 surveys were returned. (See enclosed survey results).
Moderator Marc Scow opened the floor up to all members to discuss their particular program concerns. Concerns listed were:
Judges imposing stricter sentences
Suggestions:
Publicize those judges who poorly support Game and Fish cases
Set up a meeting with judges during their training sessions to ask for support
Alternative funding sources
Suggestions:
Sell wildlife art on EBay after purchasing rights to print
Contact federal agents concerning percentage of restitution on coop cases
Penalty assessment on convictions
How to get the phone answered more
Suggestions:
Use of part-time college students
Retired officers
Forward calls to private individuals on contract
Maintaining program consistency through change (high turnover rate)
Suggestions:
Allow employees to “get foot in the door” to gain experience for higher level job
Program promotion
Electronic / computerized information management
Suggestions:
Gain system information from states with programs in place
Reducing unnecessary calls
Suggestions:
If automated, give caller only two options – press 1 for general info, press 2 for violation calls
1-800 numbers that work outside a state or province
Suggestions:
Contact local telecommunications company
Association Business
By-law Article IV – Membership, 3. Associate Members was presented to the membership for acceptance. Mike Fields made a motion for acceptance, Tim Noga second – motion passed.
The nomination of Ron Bailey and Dave Croonquist as Honorary Members was presented to the membership for acceptance. Tim Noga made a motion for acceptance, Eric Harper second – motion passed.
Scott Thrasher and Chris Simmons (ME) discussed next year’s conference in Maine. They are considering holding the conference mid to late June - possibly in Portland. Several members requested including the Wildlife Violator Compact and technology as agenda items next year.
Mike Fields (KY) graciously accepted hosting the 2007 conference possibly in Lexington, Kentucky.
The official nomination of Scott Thrasher for President was presented to the membership for acceptance. Rob Young made a motion for acceptance, Ron Ollis second – motion passed.
The nomination of Mike Fields for Vice-president was presented to the membership. A motion was made – Dale Minnicks second – motion was passed.
The nomination of Candy Henderson for Executive Secretary was presented to the membership. Dale Minnicks made a motion for acceptance, Tim Noga second – motion passed.
Rob Young advised his audit of the Executive Secretary’s bookkeeping was satisfactory. The membership agreed with Ron Bailey’s continuation on the Association’s bank account to sign checks for Candy.
Debbie Lewis passed the Association gavel to Scott Thrasher.
Meeting adjourned.