Announcing Arkansas’ First:

Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA) Meeting

      “Rod & Reel”     “Catch & Release”    “Alive and Well”

To:

Formation, Adoption and Ratification

(All present and joining will be Charter Members)

If you cannot attend and want to consider being a member, inquire (below contact) and a packet will be sent to you.

First Tournament in March 2008 and at different locations throughout the State and year.  Next year, other states too.

Russellville, Pope Co, Arkansas, Feb 16, 2008 – 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

(5-7 p.m. Cracker Barrel or IHOP)

AGFC, West Central Regional Office, 1266 Lock &

*     *     *     *     *

Between Russellville and Dardanelle on

(Going South on Hwy 7 after leaving Russellville, Lock & Dam Road turns right at the 2nd traffic light before the  RR Tracks)

(Going North on Hwy 7 after leaving Dardanelle and crossing the Arkansas River, Lock & Dam Road turns left also at the 2nd traffic light.)

  The AGFC is located on the right just before the lock and dam.

*     *     *     *     *

Further information: Email lee_fields_1999@yahoo.com, or

Home: 479 331-0399 or Cell 870 577-7289

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      Lee Fields          Lee Fields          Lee Fields           Lee Fields           Lee Fields

  479 331-0399     479 331-0399     479 331-0399      479 331-0399     479 331-0399

   Feb 16, 2008      Feb 16, 2008      Feb 16, 2008       Feb 16, 2008       Feb 16, 2008

February 16, 2008

Talking Paper – Initial Meeting

Special welcome to you all to the initial meeting of the proposed Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA).

Today will prove to be the milestone for the association for competitive catfishing in Arkansas this year, and other states as well in future years.

My name is Lee R. Fields of Pope County, born and raised in Russellville, and I “luv” to fish for “cats!”  I’m the one and only that you can blame for being here, because over the past few years and talking with many folks, I’ve recognized the need for our proposed association.  I must emphasize again as stated in previous correspondence and conversations, that this association is a “we thing” and not an “I thing.”  Therefore we’re soliciting your input accordingly, as I’ve only included the basics and have already received some valuable input for some of our proposed members.

If you can hold your questions until later, we’ll probably cover the subject and discuss sufficiently.  If not, then we will at the appropriate time. The following must be by majority voting (two thirds of our regular/charter membership):

1.  We must first review for adoption and ratification

of the Constitution and the Bylaw “to be legal tender” (a deliberate assembly under Robert’s Rules of Order) and a valid association with the annual dues amount.

2.  We must agree upon the rules and regulations, not

only for our regular tournaments, but the Classic at the end of the year too.

3.  We must agree upon the forms that we’ll be using.

4.  We must adopt the association patch that I’ve

developed, or come-up with a different one.

5.  We need someone or know someone with the expertise

in computer skills for website designing and actually develop and administer our website even if we have to pay for the service.

6.  We must establish our tournaments (when and

  where).  In this regard, I recommend Lake Dardanelle

  first as our first tournament because we’ll learn a  

  lot especially with Eric Pratt (INTRODUCE) at the

  helm handling the weigh-in pavilion.

7. We must elect our first board of officers, and

  appoint committees.

VOLUNTEERISM IS THE HEART OF THE ASSOCIATION

  Bottom line and my predictions:  I accept and know that we’ll have “growing pains” this first year and therefore we’ll just have to adapt and overcome.  I predict that in less than five years we’ll own most if not all the records in the different species of catfish.

  Let’s get started!

Asking that you complete the application form (as in a sign-in roster) at this time, if you are considering being a regular/charter member, or an associate member.  We’ll explain the difference shortly, but for example, if an associate, then we’ll line-through Charter and write-in Associate.  If at the conclusion of today’s agenda and you decline to become a member, then you need not submit the application.

LeeFields2/16/08

Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA)

(Registered)

501c(7) & Tax ID   

Vol

M o n t h l y   N e w s l e t t e r

Our Motto:

“Rod and Reel, Catch and Release, Alive and Well”

*****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****

FLASH – FLASH – FLASH:  “A live-well is not required!”  See the enclosed “Revised” Rules and Regulations.  A container or tub large enough to accommodate a large cat will suffice; and, you can return during the day to check-in that cat and return fishing until the tournament ends.

Thanking you all that attended our initial meeting on February 16, 2008, as announced in our condensed email version in our first newsletter of January 16, 2008 (not sent to all).  Thanks also to those of you that are proposed members that wanted to attend but could not because of prior commitments or other understandable responsibilities.  Special thanks to Lt. Mike Mills of the AGFC West Central Regional Office in Russellville that allowed us to utilize their facility for the meeting, and Bob Limbird of the AGFC fisheries division that gave us the live-well tank on a trailer orientation on its function and operating instructions.  The live-well tank is available to us on a loan basis during tournaments whereas there are no live-well tanks to release the “cats” after weigh-in. Eric Pratt of the Lake Dardanelle State Park is commended for the informative tour or their facilities with explanation of procedural rules and traditions during tournaments.  My ‘ol truck is perfect for this task to pull the trailer to our tournaments.

Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA) (Registered)

Monthly Newsletter, Vol

Exciting things happened cohesively at the meeting and all proposed members were proactive and positive in their approach to the association.  As a result, the minutes of that initial meeting are at enclosure one.  The primary purposes of the meeting were achieved:  (1) The Constitution and Bylaws were adopted and ratified and acceptance of the rules and regulation and association forms (as changed).  (2) The association patch/burgee was approved and available “at cost” for $6.00.  (3) The Board of Officers was selected. (4) Some appointments and selection of committees were conferred.  (5) Tournament dates were discussed.  (6)  We also reviewed, approved and passed-out copies of the top ten Robert’s Rules of Order that we’ll be using at membership meetings couple with the explanation of the object of the rules of order, the parliamentary process, and, the use of Standing Rules as opposed to the Constitution and Bylaws couple with the rules and regulations.  Robert’s Rules of Order will prevail to the extent of orderliness, but not to the extent of losing our sense of harmoniousness.  Notwithstanding, should a meeting go askew, there is a provision whereas a regular/corporate member may call for a “Point of Order” and stop the meeting from furthering getting out of order.

Thanks to the concerted effort of our board of officers and especially Ben Purtle of McRae, our Treasurer, we are now registered in the State of Arkansas as the Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA), a 501c(7) association, and, we have our Tax ID number!  We are legal in every respect, and we will have a disinterested person to conduct a review of our financial posture in November that will be presented at our December General Membership Meeting.

The rules and regulations for the regular tournaments for 2008 are at enclosure two and have been modified significantly thanks to the astuteness of David Harrison of Locust Grove.  In addition, this is an excerpt from the Constitution (Purpose) and Bylaws (Article III – Member, Section 2, B. “Associate members shall be spouses, children under the age of 16, legally common-law, significant others, relatives or prospective members. They shall pay no dues.  They may attend meetings as observers, and accompany their regular members in tournament boats as observers if meeting all legal requirements but without fishing, assisting the tournament fisherman, or perception of impropriety.  They shall have no other membership rights or responsibilities.” 

Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA) (Registered)

Monthly Newsletter, Vol

Association membership may also be extended to anyone deemed worthy of recognition by the board of officers.

Tournaments: (Registration will normally begin one hour prior to starting time and run for 45 minutes).  Launching time will be determined by 30 minutes before sunrise for day tournaments, and 30 minutes before sundown for night tournaments.  Check-in times will be determined at different locations primarily due to circumstances at those locations.

Our first tournament will be at Lake Dardanelle hosted by our association on April 13, launch time 5:40 A.M. at the Weigh-in Pavilion by a steering committee member in ten (10) seconds interval.  For the first tournament, launching position will be drawn by a “numbered chip” during registration.  You must be checked-in and your numbered chip must be placed on the scoreboard beside your name prior to the tournament’s expiration which is 3.00 P.M.

May’s tournament will be on the Arkansas River with launching from No. Little Rock.  Date, launch site and times will be in next month’s newsletter.

June’s tournament will he at Lake Norfork, and hosted by Tim Partin on June 7 at the Hwy 101 Grocery & Bait, Gamaliel AR 72537, 870 467-5223 or 866 746-5596, Hwy101grobait@hotmail.com , website: www.101groceryandbait.com .  Lake Norfolk has a rule that live (and therefore cut bait) must come from Lake Norfork and can only be purchased at an authorized bait shop.  Of course worms, liver, artificial lures, or etc. is not included in that legality.  Next door to Tim's business is the Hickory Hills Resort, 3553 Hwy 101 North, Gamaliel, AR 72537, 870 467-5255, website: www.hickoryhillsresort.net .  They have six cabins fully furnished and have already agreed to give us a ten percent discount, so give Greg & Donna Meng a call if you’re interested in staying in a cabin singularly or consolidated with others.  Tim’s grocery and bait shop opens at 5:00 A.M. 7 days a week, and serve breakfast sandwiches, coffee and rolls, etc., and will prepare you subs to take with you.  Tim is becoming an ACA member.  There is also a restaurant a few blocks away.

July’s tournament is looking towards Bull Shoals and will be announced along with other tournaments as well in future newsletters as they materialize.  We expect to have a regular

Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA) (Registered)

Monthly Newsletter, Vol

monthly tournament April through October this year.  The Classic Tournament for those qualifying will be on November 1st at Lake Dardanelle.  Future years’ regular monthly tournaments will be nine a year from Feb-Oct with the Classic in November.

Our combined Annual General Membership Meeting, Awards Ceremony, and Banquet will be scheduled in early December to preclude a possible conflict with other festivities.

On behalf of our President, James Freeman, and the other board of officers, committee chairs and myself, we hope this monthly newsletter will be beneficial to you and will keep you informed.  We welcome constructive criticism and your valued input for your newsletter.  The Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA) is in its infancy of only one week, and we expect growing pains but will endeavor to adapt and overcome adversities.  To the proposed members, I have written and/or conversed with most of you.  We hope that you are elated with our purpose (motto) and are optimistic in joining us and actively participate in our association’s activities.

“Volunteerism is the heart of the Association.”  We have vacancies for chairs of the Membership, Publications, Research/Historian, Building and Grounds, and Public Relations committees as well as members of those committees.  Also, The Nominating Committee is also available and this committee elect their own chair.

We are first and foremost thrilled that we have the potential of becoming a household conversational item because we are family oriented, and, believe that we’ll take every species of catfish records in the coming few years!

Lee R. Fields

Lee R. Fields

Coordinator/Parliamentarian

Acting Publications Chair

Enclosures As stated

235 Buck Point Trail

Dover AR 72837

H: 479 331-0399 - C: 870 577-7289

Arkansas Catfishing Association ACA ®

(ACA)

              TM                      

                                                                                                      501c(7) & Tax ID

Vol

Our Motto:

Rod and Reel, Catch and Release, Alive and Well ã

TM

NOTE:  Your patch may also be sewed onto a pennant and therefore be our burgee and flown on the boat possibly on the bow denoting our association, or the association steering committee may order a burgee pennant at minimal cost from a known source (more later). Your feedback is solicited.  Remember, this is a “we” association and not an “I” or your board of officers.  The patch is a little large for a cap, but may be sewed-on.  We recommend a blue cap (without a logo---that’s hard to find now-a-days).

Page Setup:  Word 03,1 inch.  top, bottom, left & right margins body w/ Courier New, 12 pitch:

President’s Message:  The adoption and ratification of the Constitution and Bylaws with a board of officers of our now chartered Arkansas Catfishing Association ACA ® under the auspices of a 501c(7) association with a Federal Tax ID in less than 30 days is exemplary to say the least!  Having the distinct honor of being your first president, my promise to you is that I will strive to provide you with the best support possible.  I and your current board of officers welcome and commend all members for being responsive and joining our cohesive association in sporting catfishing.  For our proposed members and those that will follow, you can be assured that we are “here to stay” as an association and not as a commercial enterprise.  You may however, hear about sponsorship in whole or in part, and that simply means that we will gladly accept goods and services for our members especially at tournaments.  Hosting means that one of us or an affiliation will make the necessary arrangements at our tournament sites.  We are fortunate in that the AGFC is supporting us in every aspect possible, the same as they are with other groups as well.  Volunteerism is the very heart of our association and I encourage all to join a committee as the chair or as a member.  One of our members favorite expression is “anybody, everybody, somebody, nobody” meaning that anybody/everybody could have, somebody should have, but nobody did.  Asking that we all just “pitch-in” and do what has to be done, when it has to be done.  Our motto of “Rod and Reel” – “Catch and Release” – “Alive and Well” is further supplemented by true ethical behavior in every respect of our sporting and friendly-competitive catfishing.

  Our association is respectively that “an association.”  I hope that we can refrain from using the word “club” in reference to our association.  We need to maintain our family oriented, cohesive and friendly-competitive association with the highest of integrity and therefore precluding any adverse publicity beyond our control.  We are sure that adversity will be voiced by some, but we’ll just consider the source and continue our pursuit of our Constitution-Purpose.

  Request that you be proactive and address major concerns or issues to me or any of our board members, but administrative matters pertaining to this newsletter to Lee Fields who is your acting Publications Chair.  If there is a better writer among our members, Lee will gladly relinquish the “Acting Chair” and voiced that he would be a volunteer to be on your committee if you so desire.  In this regard, this Newsletter #3 is the most important and complete newsletter thus far and is intended to “set the standard” for future newsletters in tune with Robert’s Rules of Order, but deviating slightly from the Writer’s Guide and therefore becomes our own template and formatting.

We can either “fish or cut-bait” and I intend to be with you by fishing “on the water” with rod and reel in hand!

James Freeman, President, 2008/9, 870 810-3294, big_vato98@yahoo.com

Membership information:  Regular (annual) membership dues are $20.00.  For an ACA Application Form, Constitution and Bylaws, the Rules and Regulations, and, local conditions and information (Newsletter Vol 1 – No. 1) contact the ACA President James Freeman of Pocahontas 870 810-3294 big_vato98@yahoo.com , V-Pres John Freeman of Pocahontas 870 758-0190 john_p_19@yahoo.com  or Juan Diaz of Pocahontas, 870 758-0039 fmdiaz_01@yahoo.com , or the Coordinator-Parliamentarian Lee Fields of Russellville 479 331-0399 leefields@centurytel.net .  Tournament fee is $50.00 with 80 percent payouts for up to four places with 13 or more boats.  Optional Big Catfish is $20.00 with 100 percent payout.

Our approved “rather large” association patch/burgee is available “at cost” of $6.00: Blue outline of the State of Arkansas, white background, A C A in blaze orange at the top. ROD & REEL, CATCH & RELEASE, a blue catfish and ALIVE & WELL embroidery in blue.  The $6.00 may be added to your membership application and one will be sent to you postage free separately by Lee Fields or they will also be available at tournaments.

FLASH – FLASH – FLASH: We have been invited to have a tournament at Lake Millwood and Lake Earling in SW Arkansas near Ashdown and Magnolia August 23 & 24.  The lakes are (happily for us) overstocked with blues and channel catfish (not flatheads – catch and release those guys) and the AGFC would like to reduce their numbers and we are glad to oblige.  The daily limit is 10, but at these lakes they are doubled and therefore we can catch 20 a day.  Because we are a 501c(7) association we are required to have at least one charitable tournament a year and this has been the one selected.  Although our motto (in part) is “Catch and Release” we can deviate from that by the Standing Rules especially in view of the charitable event. In reality, the tournament will be an entire weekend tournament because the lakes are near each other thereby precluding additional travel expense and energy conservation.  We will process the catch and package with dry ice at the end of the day and donate to the needed as determined by Hope in Action, Hope, Arkansas. These lakes should prove fruitful for a return trip August 22 & 23, 2009, with donation to the Salvation Army in Texarkana, Arkansas.  We have a 225 gal. plastic tank with an AC aerator to keep the fish alive until we can process at both lakes.

*    *     *     *     *

E X T R A – There is no tournament fee and no payoff because this two-day tournament is our one required “charitable” tournament as a 501c(7) association.  We will provide all the labor and freeze bags and process the fish so bring your skinning and boning knives and boards (hammer, nails and pliers), or whatever you use.  Bring additional ice chests if you have one or more, and we can obtain dry-ice from Kroger’s if you can (reimbursement by the association with receipt).

Lake Millwood (Little River County) Not part of Lake Millwood State Park but 2 miles away) (http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/millwood/

Contact Information : 1564 Highway 32 East, Ashdown, AR 71822 - millwood@arkansas.com  870-898-2800

2008 Date:  August 23.

Directions: From Ashdown on U.S. Hwy 59&71, take Hwy 32E towards Saratoga, and turn left (North) on Farm Road 317 straight into Yarborough Landing.

From I-30 at Hope take the exit U.S. 278 and an immediate left on State 73 towards Saratoga and 32 west and right (north on Farm Road 317 straight into Yarborough Landing.

Launch sites:  Yarborough Landing (is not part of the park)

Times:  6:00 A.M. local until 3:00 P.M.

Facilities:  Various motels, RV park, tents, camps. Ashdown.

             The landing has a new pavilion and will serve

             breakfast all day plus meals, ice, and “lots of

             baits” specially ordered for our tournament.

Bait shops:  Yarborough Landing Marina, Dave Meredith

             870 898-2346, will open for us at 4:30 A.M. to sell

             all baits that we request for those of you that

             need, especially when you run-out of bait with all

             those catfish that you’ll be catching!

             Catfish consignment of gear to the Marina for us.

NOTE: Understand that Lake Millwood is not very boating friendly.  So you may want to consider underwater stumps, logs and debris. Quote in part from the 7/24 Outdoors – Wed, Mar 5, 2008, Mike Siefert Millwood Lake, GSvc@aol.com :  AGFC Millwood Lake Fishing & Conditions Report Channel Cats: Bite remains consistent and steady w/the current in Little River over the past couple weeks. Channel Cats, from 3-8 pounds each for the past several weeks, are good.  Good Channel Cats have been caught over the past couple weeks, using cottonseed mill cakes, cut baits or chicken livers.

More information will be provided in the July issue of our newsletter.

Lake Earling (LaFayette County) – Lake Earling Park

2008 Date:  August 24

Directions: From Magnolia, take U.S. Hwy 371 SW 26 miles to

            Taylor and turn right on Hwy 19 over to Hwy 53 and

            to Lake Earling Park

Launch sites:  Lake Earling Park (lower East side of the lake)

Times:  6:00 A.M. local until 3:00 P.M.

Facilities:  Public ramp

Bait Shop:   A-1 Sporting Goods, 7250 Hwy 53, Taylor AR 71861

             870 859-2277.  About 4 miles past the park with the 

             above directions.  Will open for us at 4:30 A.M. to    

             sell all baits that we request for those of you

             that need, especially when you run-out of bait with

             all those catfish that you’ll be catching!

Shad 3 pounds for $3.00 (about 50). Night crawlers, silver and orange minnows, and, goldfish.

             Catfishing gear available for those that require.

More information will be provided in the July issue of our newsletter.

“Planned” Tournaments:

Pre-registration is allowed (see 2008 Rules).  Registration will normally begin one hour prior to starting time and run for 45 minutes.  Launching time will be determined by the earliest time possible commensurate with the local tournament location and conditions.  Check-in times will also be determined at different locations primarily due to circumstances at those locations. These are the expected tournaments with all the available information at this newsletter release date and time:

April 13 – Lake Dardanelle in Russellville “our first tournament” will be at Lake Dardanelle hosted by our association. Registration at 5:00 A.M. and launching time at 5:40 A.M. at the Weigh-in Pavilion next to the Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitors’ Center, 100 State Park Drive.  A steering committee member will launch boats in ten (10) seconds interval.  For the first tournament, launching position will be drawn by a “numbered chip” during registration.  You must be checked-in and your numbered chip must be placed on the scoreboard beside your name prior to the tournament’s expiration which is 3.00 P.M.

Directions:   I-40/State Hwy 7 South, cross over I-40 overpass, turn right immediate first light. Follow along Lake Dardanelle going straight through the first light, and turn right at the next light (sharp turn) onto

Membership information:  Regular (annual) membership dues are only $20.00.  For an ACA Application Form, Constitution and Bylaws, the Rules and Regulations, and, local conditions and information contact the ACA President James Freeman of Pocahontas 870 810-3294 big_vato98@yahoo.com , V-Pres/Acting Treasurer John Freeman of Pocahontas 870 758-0190 john_p_19@yahoo.com  or Juan Diaz of Pocahontas, 870 758-0039 fmdiaz_01@yahoo.com , or the Coordinator-Parliamentarian Lee Fields of Russellville 479 331-0399 leefields@centurytel.net .  Tournament fee is $50.00 with 80 percent payouts for up to four places with 13 or more boats.  Optional Big Catfish is $20.00 with 100 percent payout.

Our approved “rather large” association patch/burgee (front page) is available “at cost” of $6.00: Blue outline of the State of Arkansas, white background, A C A in blaze orange at the top. ROD & REEL, CATCH & RELEASE, a blue catfish and ALIVE & WELL embroidery in blue.  The $6.00 may be added to your membership application and one will be sent to you postage free separately by Lee Fields or they will also be available at tournaments.

Also, we now have a decal by mlrdesigns@sbcglobal.net (above).