PFSC Resolutions

To Be Voted on at the Spring 2008 Convention

in Scranton, PA March 28 – 30, 2007

#1) PFSC CONSERVATION RESOLUTION

RECEIVED: 09/10/2007

SUBMITTED BY: Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Association

CLUB SECRETARY: David E. Bittner

APPROVED BY NORTHAMPTON CO.

TITLE: Protection and cultivation of Delaware River Shad Population

WHEREAS: The object and purpose of the Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Assoc. is that of protecting the Delaware River Shad, the Delaware River, its tributaries and the Delaware Bay, and to increase the annual runs of the American Shad; and

WHEREAS: The American Shad runs in the Delaware River Watershed have greatly decreased in numbers over the past decade; and

WHEARAS: Attempts to re-establish the American Shad run in the Lehigh River have met with very limited success; and

WHEREAS: The Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Assoc. seeks to involve citizens, schools, sportsmen’s clubs, conservation organizations, state, intra and interstate agencies and federal agencies in the resolution of American Shad migratory problems and increasing spawning shad populations to self-sustaining levels throughout the Delaware River Watershed.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the PFSC endorse the Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Association’s suggested Delaware River Basin Shad Restoration Plan which includes, but is not limited to, the following actions and recommendations:

1. Commercial bay and recreational fishing harvest and egg-taking be reduced and the ocean intercept moratorium be continued until self-sustaining shad population goals have been met or exceeded.

PASSED: 22 yeas, 15 nays

2. Creation of an American Shad Stamp ($ 5) to generate funds.

PASSED: 23 yeas, 17 nays

3. Netting, tagging and telemetry shad studies for shad passage evaluation on the Delaware, Lehigh and Schuylkill Rivers and their tributaries.

PASSED: 23 yeas, 15 nays

4. Establishment of a “Shad in Schools” program to connect young people at all school levels to Shad Restoration like the highly successful “Schools in Schools” Potomac River Basin program.

PASSED: 26 yeas, 14 nays

5. Immediate re-establishment of spawning shad goals for self-sustaining populations by 2010.

PASSED: 24 yeas, 14 nays

6. Removal of Easton, Chain, Allentown and Cementon dams on the Lehigh River and their replacement with pumping stations similar to the successful pumping station furnishing water for the Riegelsville-New Hope stretch of the canal.

PASSED: 21 yeas, 18 nays

7. Improvement of attraction flows for successful shad passage at Easton, Chain, Allentown and Cementon dams on the Lehigh River until the dams preventing shad passage are removed.

PASSED: 23 yeas, 16 nays

8. Increased shad fry releases for at least a five-year period until 2012.

PASSED: 24 yeas, 13 nays

9. Re-allocation of resources and re-emphasis to the Delaware River Basin Shad Restoration Plan to include a full-time Fisheries Coordinator (PFBC) to work closely with the Delaware River Fish and Wildlife Cooperative.

FAILED: 18 yeas, 19 nays

10. Transfer of seined shad at the base of Easton and Chain Dams on the Lehigh River in tanks with aerators, to above the Allentown an Cementon dams until the Lehigh River dams are removed or the attraction flows at the fish passage facilities at the Allentown, Chain and Easton dams are satisfactorily established.

FAILED: 17 yeas, 23 nays

11. Reduction of walleye and muskellunge fry and fingerling stocking in the Lehigh River below Allentown.

FAILED: 7 yeas, 28 nays

12. Increase the striped bass and other predator possession limits and lower size limits until self-sustaining spawning shad populations are established.

FAILED: 9 yeas, 29 nays

13. Recommend that Governor Rendell (PA) connect Governor Corzine (NJ), Governor Spitzer (NY and Governor Minner (DE) to the endorsement of the Suggested Delaware River Basin Shad Restoration Plan so that the 20 million+ people that live within an hour and a half of the Delaware River Basin can enjoy its significant benefits today and in the future.

PASSED: 23 yeas, 16 nays

Read the PFBC Response to Resolution #1

#2) PFSC CONSERVATION RESOLUTION

RECEIVED: 10/3/2007

SUBMITTED BY: Sportsmen’s Association of Greenburg

CLUB SECRETARY: David A. Colecchia

APPROVED BY WESTMORELAND CO.

TITLE: Using a portion of the sales tax to fund natural resource protection

WHEREAS: The Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish Commission are responsible for contributing $1.4 billion dollars to the Pennsylvania economy

WHEREAS: An increase in license fees contribute to a decline in total licenses sold within the state of Pennsylvania

WHEREAS: For years the federal Pittman-Robertson Act has dedicated tax revenue to fund state wildlife agencies while enabling These agencies to maintain their independence

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Inc. on behalf of the Sportsmen’s

Association of Greenburg encourage the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania

Fish Commission work with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to dedicate a portion

of the sales tax to fund natural resource protections in order to prevent a further decline in

license sales

RESOLUTION PASSED: 23 YEAS, 18 NAYS

Counties that voted yea: Adams, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Centre, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Indiana, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Somerset, Sullivan, Westmoreland, Member-At-Large, PA Chapter NWTF

Counties that voted nay: Armstrong, Berks, Bucks, Cambria, Clarion, Lancaster, Lawrence, Mercer, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Perry, Susquehanna, Washington, Wyoming, York, PA Trappers Ass., Pheasants Forever

PGC Response to Resolution #2

From a staff point of view we would assuredly support receiving a certain percentage of the sales tax.

#3) PFSC CONSERVATION RESOLUTION

RECEIVED: 10/10/2007

SUBMITTED BY: Nescopeck H & R Club

CLUB SECRETARY: Donald Beck

APPROVED BY LUZERNE CO.

TITLE: PFSC terminating affiliation with NWF

WHEREAS: The Pa. Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs is affiliated with the NWF (National Wildlife Federation), and

WHEREAS: The National Wildlife Federation is espousing aims and goals of the United Nations, and supporting that body’s agendas which include population and global gun control, and

WHEREAS: The NWF has published a proclamation of supporting population control, which means support of such organizations Planned Parenthood and others supporting abortion procedures, and

WHEREAS: Affiliation with NWF requires their approval before PFSC can affiliate with any other national organization, and

WHEREAS: NWF has adamantly refused to open their financial records which reveal organizations that are supporting them financially, and

WHEREAS: NWF Board of Directors meetings are closed to the public, and

WHEREAS: The above mentioned actions by NWF reflect upon PFSC by it’s affiliation with NWF,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Pa. Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs terminate their affiliation with NWF until such time as NWF abandons it’s above mentioned policies.

RESOLUTION FAILED: 13 YEAS, 27 NAYS, 1 ABSTENTION

Counties that voted yea: Adams, Butler, Clarion, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, Mercer, Potter, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland, Wyoming, PA Trappers Ass.

Counties that voted nay: Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Cambria, Centre, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lebanon, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Perry, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, York, Member-At-Large, Pheasants Forever

Abstained: PA Chapter NWTF

Read the NWF Response to Resolution #3

#4) PFSC CONSERVATION RESOLUTION

RECEIVED: 10/12/06

SUBMITTED BY: HIDDEN VALLEY SPORTSMEN’S CLUB

CLUB SECRETARY: BILL WAUGAMAN

APPROVED BY MERCER CO.

TITLE: Extend the age requirement for Junior hunting licenses to age 18

WHEREAS:

1. Loss of young sportsmen and sportswomen is an ongoing problem we face especially in the late teen years.

2. Youth, up to age 18, are generally living at home under the financial responsibility of their parents or working at minimum wage jobs.

3. Parents on limited incomes coping with the many and demanding expenses of everyday life do not need the added burden of having to purchase multiple Adult Hunting Licenses and tags to keep their older teens involved in our chosen way of life.

4. The loss of revenues to the PGC would be insignificant and in fact maybe increase due to increased numbers of licenses sold to the age bracket of 17 and 18 year olds.

5. Support for this proposal was unanimous and enthused in Mercer County.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

The PFSC encourage and promote to all its affiliates, the PGC, and the Legislators the creation of a Bill and Legislation extending the age requirement of Jr. Hunting Permits to the age of 18 from the current 16. These additions would still be governed by all the rules that currently apply to our sportsmen and sportswomen of age 16. The hope of this is to increase and continue participation of more 17 and 18 year olds in our heritage of hunting.

RESOLUTION FAILED: 5 YEAS, 36 NAYS

Counties that voted yea: Columbia, Mercer, Sullivan, Westmoreland, PA Chapter NWTF

Counties that voted nay: Adams, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Centre, Clarion, Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Indiana, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Perry, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Somerset, Susquehanna, Washington, Wyoming, York, Member-At-Large, PA Trappers Ass., Pheasants Forever

PGC Response: Resolution #4

Hidden Valley Sportsmen’s Club – Mercer County – Extend the age of Jr. Hunters to 18 from 16 to lower the costs of the license in hopes of increasing the number of 17 & 18 year old hunters.

The concept of changing the junior license to 18 met with considerable resistance from the staff. They are driving at that age and the license is still cheaper than a tank of gas. It was generally believed that the cost of a license would not be the reason they would stop hunting. It is only a $14 difference in the basic license.