President — Ken Mills, 13004 W H-40 Hwy, Rudyard, MI 49780; phone: 906-478-6631
Vice President — Lloyd White, 2739 W M-28, Dafter, MI 49724; phone: 906-632-6071
Secretary — Jim Neitling, PO Box 171, Kinross, MI 49752; phone: 906-495-5233
Treasurer — Mark A. Spencer, N4552 Spencer Lane, Moran, MI 49760; phone: 906-292-4779; e-mail: spenfurs@lighthouse.net
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $21
• Junior (16 & under) with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $16
Complete membership application on first page of
association section and send dues to:
NGLFH Secretary
Jim Neitling
PO Box 171
Kinross, MI 49752
SECRETARY’S REPORT
The season is rapidly approaching and it hasn’t stopped raining since the beginning of September. I am trying to figure out if float sets and drowning sets will work on coyote and fox. With this much water around, they just might work.
We had our convention and it was once again a great convention. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. There were a lot of dealers and some great demos being put on by some of our members.
We had our General membership meeting at the 4H building at the fairgrounds. There was a lot of business that was discussed. Mark Spencer “the younger” gave a report on the trapper education program. They had a train the trainer program in Escanaba and 9 individuals were trained. 8 of them were from the U.P. and 1 was from the Lower. There is going to be an education course next month Sault Sta. Marie. Mike Anderson is in charge of the program. The courses are listed on the DNRE website. There was one put on in Rapid River but no word on how many attended.
The mink study that was conducted last season was a success. The participants should be receiving patches for their participation in the study. I don’t know when you will get them. You will just have to wait and see. The researchers want to study the mink in the Lower all the way from the bridge to US 10. If you want to participate in the program, contact Mark Spencer. You can drop off the bags at the fur pickup sites.
We have a scholarship recipient and her name is Lauren Davison.
We will be ordering new jackets so if you are interested in one, they will be available in the near future.
We will be having our trapper’s dinner again but no date as of yet. We will also be renewing our Fur-Fish-Game subscriptions to the local schools. This also includes schools in the Lower. There will be at meeting with the DNRE on the 23rd of October. They will be discussing the 2 different definitions of snares in the trapping guide. There will be a discussion on the loop size. I just report the stuff.
There was a change to the by-laws passed at this meeting. I will just give the gist of the change.
We will be doing a treasurers review by some one appointed by the board instead of a review done by an auditor. We can no longer get just a review by an auditor because the states that if we use an auditor, we have to have a full audit and this will cost upwards of $3,000. We can not afford this.
There was a presentation of awards. The President’s Award went to Ralph DeGesie, the Trapper of the Year went to Richard Clark, and the Mark Spencer Lifetime Achievement Award went to Lloyd White. When you see these recipients, congratulate them on a job well done. The choices were once again given to people who put a lot of time and effort into promoting trapping.
Well, the elections were held for officers and we will still have the same old farts serving another term and that includes me. Ken Mills – President, Jim Neitling – Secretary, Sprague Mudge, Gary Reid, and Paul Davison – Directors.
The following dates are our upcoming meetings. October 20th, 2010 meeting in Rudyard, January 19, 2011 in Gaylord, March 16, 2011 in Rudyard, May 18, 2011 in Rudyard, July 20, 2011 in Gaylord, September 16, 2011 at convention, October 19, 2011 in Rudyard. The meetings are at 7:30 p.m. and in Rudyard will be at the Luther Church and in Gaylord at the Northland Sportsman Club.
Just got a note from Trapper & Predator Caller. They are changing their renewal forms. They look a little different and will tell you to send them to me now, not 3 months from now. That is actually better; because some of you wait too long and miss issues. If you are a lifetime member just send $12.00 for the magazine. They won’t tell you that.
We’d like to thank the following businesses and individuals that helped to make our convention a success:
Southeastern Outdoor Supplies, Dunn Knives, North American Fur Auction, Larry Pratt, Paul Dobbins, Mark W. Spencer, Mid Michigan Trappers, Clayton Smith, Mark June, F&T Trading Post, Dwayne & Geri Ulman, Pines Fur, C&B Trapping Supplies, Brian Riske, John Chagnon, Arlo Hamel, Bob Steinmetz, U.P. Trappers Supply, Paul Grimshaw & Sons, Fur Harvesters Auction, Rex Wolfsen, Joe Goodman, J&K Fur Exchange, Clark Willowtree Supplies, Griffin Beverage, Ken & Fayda Mills, Blackies Blend, George & Kathy Morse, Lawrence Harris III, High Country Lures, Imre Byrant, Sy’s Fur Shed, Richard & Phyllis Scheall, Walt Smith & Carol Foley, Tami Lundborg, Gene & Vera Harrison, John Graham, Kyle Kaatz, Scott Burton, Furs by Fritz, Mark A. Spencer, Eleanor Donnelly, Larry Finch, Jr., Sterling Trap Co., Gary Revord, Otter Creek, Rick Arduin, Tom Willis, Gary & Lynda Reid, J&K Fur Exchange, Paul Warner, Jim Neitling, Lloyd White and Numerous Tailgaters.
Sure hope we haven’t forgotten anyone. Things got pretty hectic for awhile and we may not have gotten all the names.
It’s off to my shop to build some floats and drowners for the upcoming coyote and fox season. Hope you all have a good and safe season and may the prices be high.
— Jim Neitling
