Whitinsville Fish & Game Club - Fall 2020 Newsletter

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Whitinsville Fish & Game Club, Inc. Newsletter Fall 2020

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Message from Our President

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Updates - Committee Chairs 3,4,5 Update On Abutting Land Sale 5 Projects, Now & Later

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Message from Board of Dir.

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Picture Gallery

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Message From Our President Dear Members, It's no secret to our members that this has been a tumultuous year, and this horrible virus has affected all of our lives in so many ways. As Club President I can particularly see how it is affecting our Club and all the members who make up our club. Our members and our activities are our lifeblood, and with members and guests not attending our non-events this year, our budget is strained as can be expected. Our hope and prayers is that we can return to a somewhat normal real soon.

That being said, every cloud has a silver lining. We truly see our club as progressive and moving forward in spite of Covid-19. The downtime has motivated us in many ways. We have accomplished many repairs and improvements that in normal years could not have been accomplished. We have had members who are out of work able to kick in many work hours working on seemingly dozens of projects at the club. Many members have contributed both in hours given to the club as well as financially, which helped us tremendously in completing many projects. We are moving at warp speed compared to normal years, with no end is sight to the accomplishments. Once we get the go ahead from the authorities, my personal goal is for the Club to host a "members night" in some sort of way to both show our members what we have accomplished, and offer a thank you to the many members who have watched our back by contributing work and funds to our club. This will be an event at no cost to the members, encouraging full participation so that we can re-introduce members to each other.

We still have lots to do, so if you see an email asking for work party participation, please oblige us and offer even one our two hours to the Club. No amount of help is too small or goes unappreciated. A mountain is built with small grains of sand and all help is appreciated the same way.

I am truly proud and humbled to say that this year has been very rewarding for me personally to see our members step up like they did, especially when so many people have turned tail in life this year. I want to thank our Members for making this year a very accomplished year for me and for the Club.

Thank you for your continued Membership.

Best Regards,

Matt Burbank, President Whitinsville Fish & Game Club, Inc.

Lower Kitchen Roof Replacement We Are In The 21st Century!

Dead Ringer!

After years of seemingly endless attempts and constant defeats, we are now in the 21st century as we have finally convinced Charter Spectrum to install Internet and Phone to our Club.

It took an act of Congress and lots of arm twisting, however our members can now engage wifi on their phone, tablet or laptop at the Club.

Wifi password is on the wall in the Club adjacent to the heating thermostat near the kitchen serving window.

Matt Burbank with a “good lean” on the 4x4 for new Horseshoe Pit lighting. Geno Guilmain has spearheaded this new project.

Magic Smoke!

It’s no secret that our clubhouse has been shut up tight for so many months this summer.

First Covid and then Lightning!

Seems the lightning let the “magic smoke” out of the circuit board in our card-key system, burning it to a crisp. Good news! It’s fixed, thanks to Rob Sweetman. However your old card-key does not work with

this new system, and Tom Shilale, Membership Chairman must program a new card for you. Please find Tom to make arrangements by emailing him at WFG.Membership1@gmail.com or finding him at the club during dues renewal days which are emailed to you announcing the dates he will be at the club. You must turn in your old card to get a new one, or see him otherwise.

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Reports & Messages from Committee Chairmen Archery

by Eric Brisbois, Archery Chairman The last couple of weeks members cleared and chipped some trees on the archery range and made space to put out more 3D animals that had been in the basement for years. We put about 30 critters together and there's still more to do. Thanks to Matt Burbank and Steve Squrizzero for spearheading this project, and those who gave their time and effort to do this.

Pond

by David Conroy, Pond Chairman This year was a very slow year at our beloved pond. Due to COVID our spring derby was cancelled, and the stocking was minimal. We did put a decent quantity in, putting in smaller fish so that more would be available for members to potentially catch.

These smaller trout are also much more tolerant to temperature changes than the bigger fish and had a good chance to last longer should conditions get tough.

Membership

by Tom Shilale, Membership Chairman Now is membership renewal time. Good news is you can now renew online using a credit card, see MailChimp club’s newsletter for more information. Because of the Corona Virus there is no work hour fee assessment for members this year. If you have work hours accrued

Gators in Douglas? Great 3D Range!!

Conditions got tough. The pond is at the lowest I have seen it since I have been a member. There is no inflow or outflow at this point in time and the oxygen levels are very low. We need rain badly. The temperature of the water is just now dropping to trout habitat, the shallow water was over 70 degrees at the deepest point over the summer. With those conditions, any trout left over 12" would not have much of a chance. So it is a good thing we decided to stock lightly with smaller fish. Rain will come, and the pond will soon be up to it's cool, flowing, trout

they will carry over to next year.

Membership renewals at this time are coming in better than expected. Also, there is a lot of interest from people who are inquiring about joining the club. If you know someone interested in joining now is the time for them to join.

After September 9, the club house and bar are usually open on Sundays but due to the Corona Virus the club

ready self and we can hopefully get some action going for our members again. 2021 will hopefully be a banner year. We plan to put some special fish in for the ice derby and spring tournaments. If in the area, be sure to say hello to our newest member currently living in the pond. With the low activity, a beaver has made itself a lodge on the far shore. Be safe, and fish constantly.

Clearing Over-Growth

Beaver Before

Beaver After!

house and bar remains closed making in person membership renewing more challenging. We are planning a once a month in person renewing at the club house, watch for dates in the club’s newsletter.

Virus Free !! Convenient Online Renewal at www.Renew.WhitinsvilleFishAndGame.com

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Trap

by John Muratore & Steve Shohan, Trap Chairmen

Trap was devised hundreds of years ago as a means for hunters to practice and improve their upland bird shooting skills. Today it has morphed into one of the most popular shotgun shooting sports.

Rifle/Pistol

by Paul Dubois, Rifle /

Pistol Chairman Greetings All, I have a few items to share with members and friends. I would like to thank all members for their dedication and hard

Pheasant

by Art Simms Pheasant Chairman The 2020 pheasant stocking is on! We will be stocking birds on the dates below.

Pheasant hunting is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, and hopefully, get off a couple of shots. And, we can participate in this

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Come visit our recently renovated trap facility.

Now heated and airconditioned for year round shooting.

Straight trap or more challenging “wobble” is exciting and addictive.

Get that old scattergun out of the closet and join us for a fun and challenging experience.

work for the overall benefit of the club. This past week, grass has been cut, weed whacking has been done. The pistol range has been widened and lengthened. Berms got pushed up and new back stop has been installed.

Thanks to all who helped with labor and for the use

great activity while social distancing and following state guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety. New hunters are always welcome, and we have a great veteran crew that is always willing to help out those that are new to the sport. If you have any questions regarding the hunt, or you’re interested in helping to stock the birds,

Come See Our Comfortable Trap House. Air Conditioned, Heated and Ample Seating for Shooters.

of a front end loader.

Looking forward, I am now working on upgrading existing targets and installing more modern new targets. Best wishes to all stay safe and be happy!

Sincerely, Paul Dubois Rifle/Pistol Chairman

e-mail me at simsart@charter.net.

Some things to keep in mind: Hunting begins at 8:00 AM on stocking days (dates below). Limit of 2 birds per day. Hunters must possess valid MA hunting/sporting license Hunters must wear a hunter orange hat or cap. Sign in before you hunt, and record

Many improvements to the Pistol and Rifle Ranges. Here the Pistol Range is widened and base added to support the berm.

birds harvested (there’s a notebook in the mailbox in the parking lot) Here is our 2020 Pheasant Schedule: Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Enjoy!

We’re on the Web!

www.WhitinsvilleFishAndGame.com

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Treasurer’s Corner

by Richard Boucher, Treasurer

With the mandatory safeguards of Covid 19 happening the past few months, the bar and club being closed, no event income coming in, people may be asking how are we doing financially?

Tetreault Land Conservation

by Rick Kohn, President, TLC Inc.

An Update from TLC Inc with respect to the filing against the Tetreault Estate.

On August 11th . TLC was informed that Today the Court published its written decision allowing the

2020 Digest

by Geno Guilmain, Vice President

All of us had a very difficult time in 2020 due to the Covid-19 including the Club. So when we had to close the doors temporarily, some members decided it was a good time to do repairs and much needed renovations.

To date we have installed a new floor in the clubhouse.

We have repainted the walls and trim in the Clubhouse.

We have repainted both bathrooms and repaired the men's room ceiling.

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Due to the: 1) the extremely generous donations of time, equipment and materials, for the club projects, 2) decreases in this year’s monthly expenses of about $500/mo. ($6000 for the year) , and 3) income from trap, also from new and renewing memberships, I am glad to report Whitinsville Fish and Game

Club is presently in sound financial shape.

The October treasurer's report is showing a little over $35,000 in the bank.

Even with the end of the year, fixed budgeted expenses (utilities, etc) and planned expense (Pheasants, etc), the club should still have a comfortable surplus at the end of the 2020 fiscal year.

This also places the club in a good fiscal position at

the beginning of the 2021 fiscal year.

Thank you, for your continued support Richard Boucher, Treasurer.

motion to dismiss the complaint in the Tetreault matter. The basis was, failure to file suit within the short statute of limitations.

The original complaint contained documentation that identified commitments from an Estate Trustee, Which alters the Statute of limitations.

On August 21 TLC’s legal firm issued the following correspondence:

“Plaintiff’s Motion to Amend or Alter the Judgment; Plaintiffs Memorandum in support of It’s Motion to Amend or Judgment; and Plaintiff’s Motion to File

Second Amended Complaint.”

We are currently awaiting communication concerning the motions filed.

Regards, Richard Kohn President, TLC Inc. www.TLCConservation.org PO Box 1111 Douglas Ma 01516

We removed the antiquated walk-in cooler and updated with a new one.

We have recently built a large walk-in closet in the basement so we can move a lot of the overstock out of the kitchen.

We also have done lots of other repairs in and around the building.

This information is just to give everyone an update as to what has been happening a the club while it has been closed.

Thank you.

Sincerely, Geno

Projects Planned for 2021 Replace degraded Beverage Coolers at Bar Replace old style lighting in building with LED energy efficiency lighting, in cooperation with Mass Save.

Efforts to reduce building energy use by updating as time and budget allows.

Window Dressing, Dining Hall.

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Message From the Board of Directors

By Paul Boutiette, Chairman, Board of Dir. As stated earlier and to no one’s surprise, Covid-19 has been devastating to our Club and to our Schedule of Events this year. We depend heavily on events as

we are a non-profit and our event revenue stream has dried up for the most part.

The only silver lining is that our expenses have naturally slowed due to the closed clubhouse. However some expenses go on such as land and building taxes and license costs. We still have to pay for power as well as snow plowing, etc. If any members have the means and

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the will, feel free to contribute a little extra in your dues renewal to help the cause. So far 25% of on-line renewals have donated extra money to the cause. We sincerely appreciate everyones’ help.

Every little bit goes a long way! This virus will pass.

At this time the Board of Directors wishes to thank all the Members who went to bat for the club this year in

Photo Gallery of Our Club

Now!! Beat Covid! Renew Your Dues Online: www.Renew.WhitinsvilleFishAndGame.com

contributing their skills and long hours in working on and at our Club. We have achieved more goals this year than in many past years. Literally over a thousand man hours were put in to our club and it shows!! Accolades to all who gave in skill and sweat. We could not have done it without you!

Thanks to All!!

Now!! Keep Socially Distant And Renew Online!! www.Renew.WhitinsvilleFishAndGame.com