How many of you can recite our chapter's mission statement? I'll give you a hint (or two)...it's short and it's
all
about conservation.
Our mission is to Conserve, Protect, and Restore Georgia's cold water fisheries and their watersheds.
As TU national focuses on the country's cold water fisheries and watersheds, we here in Georgia are focusing on the streams and rivers in metropolitan Atlanta and throughout the State of Georgia. But what are we doing to back up this statement?
If you've been to any of our chapter meetings you'll hear a good deal about our very active participation in the Georgia Adopt-a-Stream program. Over a dozen chapter members are participating in the program that involves monthly testing at a variety of small streams that serve as tributaries to the Chattahoochee River.
As part of this effort, they test for chemical and bacterial water quality.
We also participate in the Sweep the Hooch event every April. In fact UCCTU helped initiate this important clean up event with the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and the National Park Service (Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area) in 2011. Look for sign-up details coming from the CRK very soon.
As a champion of the environment we need to do more. That's why this year, I've asked our Advocacy & Conservation Chairman, Aaron Tyre to look into organizing several stream clean ups and tree planting days on our local rivers and streams. We hope the powers controlling access to our parks will work with us to facilitate these new endeavors.
Conserve - Protect - Restore.
I hope to see you later this month at our January 23 chapter meeting where Jason Ulseth, Riverkeeper of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper will give us his annual update on our favorite river...the Hooch.
P.S. Be sure to check out Trout Unlimited President and CEO Chris Wood's State of Trout Unlimited speech by clicking HERE.
|
Tight Lines,
Ken Mock, President
Upper Chattahoochee Chapter #436
Trout Unlimited
|
|
Fly Fishing Show Atlanta
|
This February marks The Fly Fishing Show's 2nd year in Atlanta. The show will be held on Friday the 2nd and Saturday the 3rd.
The producers of the show are excited to present an amazing expo loaded with manufacturers, retailers, lodges/outfitters, guide services, local shops, a watercraft zone, celebrities, fly tying booths, seminars, casting demonstrations, featured fly tiers, authors booth, destination theater, classes with the experts and the International Film Festival (IF4). Be sure to check out the IFFF Learning Center as well.
You can purchase tickets at the door or in advance through the ticket link on the show website at
flyfishingshow.com.
|
|
January Speaker
|
Back for the 4
th
year in a row, Jason Ulseth of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper will speak at our January Meeting.
This is the one chance you'll have to hear our 'Riverkeeper' give us a complete run down on the status of the Chattahoochee River and action plans for 2018. Jason always comes prepared to answer your questions on past, present and future conservation plans for the Chattahoochee.
Be at Ippolitos Restaurant, 2270 Holcomb Bridge Road on Tuesday, January 23 from 6-9 pm for our first meeting of the year.
|
|
Revamping our Fishing Dayz
|
Fishing Dayz--no matter how it's spelled--is a morning or afternoon event where chapter members and guests can spend a few hours on a local river or stream with others to enjoy our great sport. This year we're changing up Fishing Dayz to make them more engaging and educational.
Check out what's new...
Fishing Dayz events will now be scheduled on both Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate a wider range of participants. And, we'll be holding the events every other month--not monthly. This new schedule will feature guest mentors and guides giving tips and advice. Before we fish...we learn. The idea is to have an expert or two on hand to discuss the flies and techniques required to match the river and weather conditions that day.
The first Fishing Dayz of 2018 will be held on Sunday, February 11 at Paces Mill Park from 10-2 pm. Joining us again will be the Georgia Women's Fly Fishers and members of the Roswell High School fishing club. We'll also be inviting the teachers participating in our seven Trout in the Classroom schools. It'll be a fun day of fishing, BBQ, and lessons (casting, knot tying, fly selection).
Check out the rest of our Fishing Dayz schedule here:
April 6-8
Fern Valley (36 spots) SEE ACCOMPANYING ARTICLE
June 2
Jones Bridge Park
August 5
Island Ford Park (Summer Family BBQ)
October 6
Ellijay Lake Fishing
December 2
Callaway Gardens
|
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP
|
As announced in the last Newsline, our January chapter
meeting will also serve as a Special Meeting of the Chapter Membership to hear and vote upon a change in procedure for our By-Laws involving the requirements for writing, signing and issuing certain checks or warrants.
Currently the last sentence of Article VI, Treasurer, Section 7 of the By-Laws reads, "All checks or warrants in excess of an amount set annually by the Board of Directors and for the disbursement of funds of the Chapter shall be signed by the President and counter-signed by the Treasurer."
New wording is suggested as follows:
"For all checks or warrants for items exceeding an amount set annually by the Board of Directors and for the disbursement funds of the Chapter that have not been previously approved in the annual budget, the Treasurer shall provide written notice of the amount and purpose to the member of the Executive Committee."
Our Treasurer, Mark Romzick will review this change and then we will ask for a vote to approve the change.
|
|
UCCTU 2018 Social Media Initiative
|
Is UCCTU on social media? You bet! And, we're all going to hear about how we're doing it and what our messages say.
Starting in January, our Communications Chairman, Connor Reynolds, will be addressing our social media initiatives and how we get our news out to the general public.
Connor will also show us the UCCTU Facebook and Instagram sites where we've been very active posting our activities and upcoming events.
|
|
2018 Resolution? Get Volunteering!
|
Maybe this will be 'your year' to volunteer. We have many events scheduled for 2018 and our committee chairs could use some help. Please think about joining them this year. If you'd like to join one of our committees, just contact one or more of these committee chairs:
Advocacy/Conservation: Aaron Tyre
Education: Cullen McClure
Fundraising: Denny Desmond
Membership: Jim Owen
Programs: Charlie Bennett
Events: Open Position
Trout in the Classroom: Jim Byrd
|
 |
We are currently looking for someone to raise his or her hand to assume the role of Events Chair to organize our Fishing Dayz events and oversee our two chapter trips.
Also, Jim Harvey could use some help conducting fishing events with members of the Roswell High School Fly Fishing Club: [email protected].
|
|
Sale Table Open at January Meeting
|
The Sale Table introduced at the September meeting was a big hit with members. Gear donated by a former chapter member sold quickly and helped raise money to fund our many chapter activities.
If you have an extra rod, reel, vest or other item that you'd like to donate, put it on the table with a price tag for the amount you'd like to see it sell for. All monies generated from the sales will go into our general chapter fund for educational and conservation activities.
Clean out your fishing
supplies before each chapter meeting.
|
|
TIC Release
|
Our Trout in the Classroom program held two releases on January 11 at Jones Bridge Park in Fulton County.
Fifty-five students from the Tapestry Public Charter School in Doraville attended the first release followed by 11 students from the Connections School of Atlanta. It was a rainy day, but the students had a great time releasing and watching their 130 trout swim off into the Chattahoochee River. During the time the students raised the trout they named many of the fish and there were mixed emotions as they wished "Bruiser" and many others farewell.
About half the students from these two schools are autistic and most learn by doing. After releasing the trout members of the chapter spoke to the students on various topics related to the river, conservation and fly fishing. Bill Malloy provided a history of the river and a conservation message on how to protect this precious resource. Bob Schmitt and Jim Hardy discussed a healthy stream/unhealthy stream exhibit while Jim Williams covered fishing knots and fly rod rigging. Bill Lott discussed water sampling and analysis that is done on the Chattahoochee by the chapter and Jim Harvey conducted casting lessons. Channel 2 News also covered the event. You can view it on our chapter website in the Trout in the Classroom section.
The chapter's TIC program now stands at seven area schools participating in the growing of rainbow trout -- from eggs to fingerlings over several months. Future plans include adding three additional schools.
|
|
2018 Dream Trip Tickets Now on Sale
|
Raffle tickets will be available at upcoming meetings. Tickets are sold at $10 each. All UCCTU Board members have a supply of tickets. Buy your tickets soon so you won't be disappointed when they are gone.
As in the past, the Dream Trip is a two-person, five day/six night fishing adventure at a private cabin in Island Park, ID, near the west entrance of Yellowstone. The trip includes:
- food and lodging
- a float trip on the Madison River
- choice of a Winston BIII-x or Sage ONE 4,5 ,6 or 7 wt. rod
- fly reel with Scientific Angler line
- box of flies (5-7 dozen)
- $500 in travel expenses
- and much more
Also, there are many runner-up prizes for custom rods, trips and flies.
The winner will be drawn at the Georgia Foothills Chapter's annual banquet in March in Helen, GA.
All proceeds from the raffle benefit the Council's many
projects including the annual Georgia Trout Camp.
Buy your tickets at chapter meetings.
|
|
Trout Camp 2018
|
|
Both of our two spots at Trout Camp are now filled. However, if you know of a young person wanting to go, read this brochure and get your application submitted ASAP--there may be openings from other chapters or cancellations. Rules and regulations for Trout Camp attendees are detailed in the brochure. Click the image for a larger view.
|
|
|
|
Be Safe and Check the FLOW Before You GO!
|
Call
770-945-1466
, or toll free at
1-855-DAM-FLOW (1-855-326-3569)
, for the Buford Dam water release schedule. Or visit their
Hydropower Generating Schedule
website for release times and amounts for the current day.
|
New members since our last issue of Newsline are:
| Jason |
Archer |
| Douglas |
Burton |
| Micah |
Coleman |
| Michael |
Dickens |
| Gary |
Dukes |
| Scott |
Ernst |
| Deborah |
Gault |
| Callen & Jeff |
Hall |
| John |
Howard |
| William |
James |
| Bob |
Jolly |
| Jeff |
Kling |
| Byron |
Lambert |
| Andrew |
LaRocco |
| Mike |
Martinez |
| Bill |
McLendon |
| Sam |
Orkin |
| Tom |
Powers |
| John |
Raper |
| Stephen |
Sadoti |
| Brian |
Saunders |
| greg |
seever |
| Edward |
Smith |
| Garreth |
Stover |
| Trey |
Swalm |
| Jack |
Tribble |
| Richard |
Vornholt |
| Molly |
Wagner |
| Kurt |
Wassenar |
New members, be sure to join us at our next meeting!
Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at
Ippolitos Roswell. Dinner/happy hour starts at 6 pm and "business" starts at 7 pm! Be sure to bring some cash if you want to buy some raffle tickets for great prizes.
As always, all proceeds go to UCCTU activities and conservation efforts!
|
|
SweetWater Brewery Stocks the Hooch Photo
Gallery
|
Click the photo to view more...
|
|
April Fishing Dayz at Fern Valley!
|
Once again the good folks at Fern Valley on the Soque will be hosting our April Fishing Dayz event. As in the past, this is a three-day event spanning Friday, April 6 and running through Sunday, April 8. There are six sessions - two per day with six anglers on the river each session. See the full event agenda and other details by clicking on this link:
FERN VALLEY APRIL FISHING DAYZ
|
One of the greatest benefits of TU membership is the opportunity to connect with other passionate angler and conservationists, to exchange fishing tips, boast about your latest catch or stream rebuilding projects, share ideas about conservation and perhaps form a new friendship or two.
Now, you will be able to connect with an even broader group of fellow members via TU's new online community. So, watch your inbox for messages from the Trout Unlimited Online Community and join the conversation.
|
|
Bring Equipment to the Meeting
|
Don't forget to bring new or gently used fishing gear to our monthly meetings for our ongoing "Donate Gear to the Vets" program. So far we've received some great items including rods, reels, boots, fly tying materials, a rod building kit and much more.
Also, bring any unwanted magazines and books to share with other chapter members.
|
|
Embrace-A-Stream (EAS) is a matching grant program administered by TU that awards funds to TU chapters and councils for coldwater fisheries conservation. Since its inception in 1975, EAS has funded more than 1,000 individual projects for a total of $4.4 million in direct cash grants. Local TU chapters and councils contributed an additional $13 million in cash and in-kind services to EAS funded projects, for a total investment of more than $17 million.
To donate to the Embrace a Stream Program click
Here.
|
|
Be a Trout Unlimited Ambassador
|
|
Next time you are out on the river, in the parking lot at Jones Bridge, or in a business meeting and the subject of Trout Fishing comes up -- hand the interested party one of your UCCTU Chapter Cards.
Pick up extra cards at the monthly meeting.
|
|
Click the Photo to See the Story
|
|
|
| Kelly Galloup using a couple of interesting dubbing loop techniques |
|
The Executive Committee of the chapter completed its review and update and the Board has approved a 5-year Strategic Plan for the chapter.
The first Strategic Plan developed for UCCTU covered the period from 2012 through 2017. The new plan covers 2018 to 2022. Check out the plan Here. |
When you buy a new car or renew your tags, consider getting a Georgia TU plate and help support this important wildlife effort. Go
Here for more details.
|
TU offers a free, one-year trial
membership for veterans. It's only
offered for a new TU membership and cannot
be used for a renewal.
The requirements are that the individual is a veteran and is involved with our
chapter's Veterans Service Partnership program.
The veteran will receive all the benefits of a paid membership and the satisfaction of knowing they're a part of a growing community of individuals who enjoy angling and want to keep America's rivers cold, clean and fishable now and in the future.
If you know of a Veteran interested in Trout Unlimited and becoming a member of TU and our chapter, have them get in touch with Cullen McClure: [email protected].
|
Don't forget to pay your 2017 UCCTU Voluntary Dues
Here
.
Contact Fulton County's DNR Officer Mark Puig if you see any poaching or violations while you are out fishing.
Hotline: 800-241-4113
Check out our Chapter Website at
UCCTU.tu.org and leave comments in the Shout Out box. Recommend it to your friends.
Social Media:
Visit our information packed UCCTU
Facebook
and
Instagram
pages. Don't forget to share us with your friends.
|
|
 |
|
