Article #1 . . . BFC Holiday Party - At The Spice of Life Events Center, beginning at 6:00 PM!

Article #2 . . . President's Message - Payback

Article #3 . . . BFC Board Elections Results

Article #4 . . . Thanks Paul by Bob Bush

Article #5 . . . AFFTA Fly Fishing Expo January 4, 5 & 6 by Bob Bush

Article #6 . . . Fly of the Month "Fall Foam Caddis" by Ron Donahue

Article #7 . . . BFC Calendar for Winter 2007


NOTE: Please join us at our Holiday Party, December 5th.

This is my 24th President's Pool and it seems strange that this will be my last. During my tenure I've never written about fishing trips, how to/where to, or funny incidents. It's always been about chapter business, participation, donations requests, or projects and events. This was a conscious decision on my part because I'm concerned that many BFC members have lost focus or don't understand what the organization is about.

While the BFC offers its active members a chance to get together and have fun, it's not a social club. It's a TU Chapter offering those who care about fisheries a local, on-the ground opportunity to make a difference. Everything your Board does or tries to do is pointed in this direction. 

Why do a handful of the members spend so much time trying to make the Boulder Flycasters more than a monthly gathering to talk about fishing or a annual visit to see what kind of a bargain can be had at the annual auction?

Its called payback. This means that it's your turn to step forward and take the place of others who have spent countless hours and dollars to improve our fisheries. Your license fees, TU dues, and patronage of fly shops doesn't get this done! We are very lucky to live in a state with a proactive organization like Colorado Trout Unlimited. Their work on the frontlines would not be possible without active members of TU chapters across Colorado.

During the last 24 months I've talked about why meeting the payback obligation is important. As time goes on, I sincerely hope more of our members are compelled to respond.


Paul

It is with mixed emotions that I write this article today about my fishing partner, Paul Prentiss, as he moves out of the position of president of Boulder Flycasters. It seems only yesterday that we were returning from a week trip, fishing in southwest Colorado. We were discussing the need to, in our humble opinion, revive Boulder Flycasters. For the past few years, it seemed to us, that BFC was losing members and the meetings weren't "exciting enough" to draw new members and we thought we could help.

The best way, we thought, was to run for board positions and see if we could make a difference. The talent on the board was there! So, adding more enthusiasm, along with a great amount of volunteer time from all board members and some new blood, just might make a difference.

Paul became membership chairman and we, along with the other members of the board, began the long road to make Boulder Flycasters, a chapter that can make a difference. Paul was elected president two years ago and with his leadership, we've accomplished a number of important projects that helped BFC retain it's status among state chapters. The one single accomplishment that really stands out from the rest is the Rogers Park DOW Grant. Paul made the presentation pitch to the DOW that clinched the award for BFC in the amount of $129,000.00 for conservation work we'll be doing. 

For all the great things our club has been doing, it's because of the leadership of the board of directors. I'd like to say that the membership in general was a big help in making this happen but with the exception of Roger Svendsen and his committee (note: many of them are board members), we didn't get much help!


Photo: Paul (left) and Bob (right) enjoying a day on the Big Horn!

It's been a great ride but we may be at a crossroads. I'm feeling that our members may be taking the BFC Board for granted. Paul needs a well deserved rest for all the work that he's done. I personally know that he spends 20 hours per week or more on BFC and CTU business. Sounds like a job to me!

We need some new blood, new energy, to keep up the work that has made Boulder Flycasters what it is today. Chad and Allen have stepped up and became board members and we're so grateful that they did. Both are relatively new to BFC. Chad has been a member a couple years while Allen has just a few meetings under his belt. We have a number of veterans who simply let the elections slide. As a result, we are short board members and what's more unnerving, we don't have a president with Paul taking a well deserved rest!

We cannot run the chapter without a president. A president is the key officer for each chapter and is the contact BFC member to our CTU governing board. At the last board meeting, we didn't have a board member agree to become the president, so we're in a jam!
I'm hoping that we'll get this resolved soon! In the meantime . . .

Please let me know if you'd like to join our board as we can vote in more board members to shore up our leadership! Lets keep our chapter a player on the road to completing the Rogers Park project and all the other fine projects we're trying to accomplish.

Bob Bush

December 5th Holiday Party

January 9th Local Icon, Ken Iwamasa, Fly Tyer innovator and world angler!


General Meeting: Doors will open at 6:00 PM. This meeting will be held at the Spice of Life Events Center, 5706 Arapahoe Avenue (in the Flatirons Golf Course Complex).