1) PACK’S March monthly meeting opened with about twenty members and two new members or first timers present. PACK welcomed Tim Cagle and Rick Dickerson to the group
2) Adrian announced a new initiative to get members certified as ACA Basic Kayak Instructors. This involves taking the Basic Kayaking Course itself, then following up with Instructors Development Workshop and Instructor Certification Exam. The Basic Course is a one-day course for $75 and Instructor classes are two days for $200. Southwest Paddlesports is offering the Basic Kayaking Course on 19 April at Lake Woodlands. There is a tentative instructor course scheduled for the weekend of May 31, but 5-6 minimum are needed for the course.
3) Admin announcements were made to ensure members were up to date with ACA dues, ACA member numbers, ACA waivers and PACK dues.
4) Get your trip descriptions in to Adrian or webmaster, Bruce Behrens.
5) For Sale – Jim Richards has a friend’s set of Large Hodgeman Waders for sale for $50
6) We talked about the fog at GISP and Dana Cove and how Brad, Tim and Buzz were the lone fisherman to bring home any fish. We saw what low tides and strong winds could do to a kayak launch sight. There was no water at the end of Sportsman’s Road causing us to cancel the Melager Cove /Starvation Cove trip a few weeks ago. I briefly explained my 15 mile saga at the Buffalo Bayou Regatta. But the highlight fishing report came from Jim Richards who just got back from the Everglades, along with Jason, Craig and Bob. Snook were everywhere large and small. Even the calm back lakes of the everglades can come to life if snook, red fish and fishermen falling out of their kayaks are splashing about.
7) Our confirmed sponsors for PACK Cup so far are American Rod Smiths, Bay Flats Lodge, Scotty, Otter Box, Laguna Rods, Castaway Rods, Marsh Rat Rods, The Orvis Company, MarineLock, American Canoe Association, Bass Pro Shops (maybe), REI, Stohlquist, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, Hook-n-line Maps, North Lake Conroe Paddling Co, NRS, Paddling.net, Hook1, Creative Feathers, Temple Ford Outfitters, Stake-out Stick, Ray Crawford, and Norton Lures,
PLEASE REMEMBER TO THANK ALL OF OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF PACK AND GIVE THEM YOUR BUSINESS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
8) If you can’t make the Shoalwater Weekend trip on March 29 March you can join Adrian in volunteering for the TRASH BASH. The Nature Conservancy and Scenic Galveston are teaming up to clean up the area around Swan Lake and Virginia Point. Waterborne trash-picker-uppers are needed. Call or email Adrian for more information.
9) Our guest speakers for the evening were Lalise and Greg Mason from Scenic Galveston. They spread out a huge map and explained the origins of Scenic Galveston in 1992 from a group fighting against big ugly billboards to where they are today – a great organization whose main goal is habitat conservation. Today SG owns more than 2500 acres of emergent inter-tidal salt marsh and coastal prairie along both sides of I45 before you get to the causeway. As more funds are raised through donations, corporate sponsorship and grants more land acquisition is planned to safeguard and preserve habitat for wildfire, birds and fish.
10) To close the meeting we were able to give out 5 door prizes from Scotty, Otter Box and MarineLock.
Upcoming Speakers and Events
April 12: REI Kayak Demo Days
April 15: PACK Speaker - Scott Null from Shimano
April 19: Black’s Reef-Bolivar Day Trip
April 19: Basic Kayak Course at Southwest Paddlesports
April 25-27 Aransas Pass – Lighthouse Lakes – Weekend Trip
May: Speaker Open
Adrian Ramos
2008 PACK President
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