Genesee County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs

Present: New York Bowhunters Inc., Genesee Conservation Foundation Inc., Oatka Fish and Game Club Inc., S.C.O.P.E.-Genesee County, Northwoods Sportsmen’s Association, Alabama Hunt Club Inc., Sportsmen’s Coon Hunters Association, Bergen Rod and Gun Club Inc., Genesee County Fish and Game Protective Association, Batavia Rod and Gun Club Inc.

Guest Doug Worthington and Chris Rice (Orleans County Youth Trap shooting)

Meeting called to Order at 7:32 by President Larry Allen

• Motion to approve minutes of October, 2010 as distributed by Paul Hofmaster (Alabama Hunt Club Inc.) and second by Larry Hilderbrant (New York Bowhunters Inc.).  Motion carried.
•  

Treasurers Report by Angelo Steffenella

September 29^th to October 26^th, 2010.

• Motion to accept report for audit by Chris Lamb (S.C.O.P.E.-Genesee County) and second by Gil McBroom (Bergen Rod and Gun Club Inc.)   Motion carried.

Correspondence:

News of NYS governors, firing of NYS DEC commissioner Peter Grannis and appointment of acting DEC commissioner Peter Iwanowicz.

Old Business:

NYSCC board of Directors passed a motion opposing the swap of any of the John White Management Area land.

Chris Lamb state that Assemblymen Daniel Burrling and Stephen Hawley will get behind lowering age to handle a firearm to 10 years of age.

New business:

Chris Rice presented information on Scholatic Clay Target Program and a youth Trap league in Orleans county and trying to expand it into other neighboring counties.  One such program is AIM an academic program with membership in the American Trap Association (ATA) that requires a $25 registration, coaches must participate in NRA training school and another the SCTP which is popular in several areas.  This program has a 15$ application fee for youth, State and National championships.  The Orleans Clay Crushers (youth program) began 4 years and currently has 26 children shooting in the program.  They shoot ATA registered targets and compete in state shoots.  They shoot late March to August with practice on Sunday afternoons for youth only.  The currently are hosted at the Barre Rod and Gun Club.  The have a wall chart for dry fire exercises.  The youth bring two boxes of shells and their sponsors provide tow boxes of shells and offset cost for the Youth.

Gill McBroom states that Bergen Rod and Gun Club will be hosting a Turkey shoot November 14^th.

Ken Alfes brought up the fact the Genesee Fish and Game Protective Association at Godfrey’s Pond are discussing a Genesee County Hunting and Fishing Day celebration for 2011 and wants to know if the Clubs and Federation would like to get behind and support this event.  There will be a November 12^th meeting of the Genesee Fish and Game Protective Association.  Talk it up at your clubs and find out if they can support and participate in this endeavor, so that we can determine if we can participate in a Genesee County, National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebration.

Election Day is coming up and need vote for the best candidates that support second amendment and sportsmen activities.

Roger Rada, Discussed the NYS DEC plans to make the Moose River Pains wilderness only.  This would close down areas that are currently available for the public to camp along the road.  This will make it inaccessible to the aging population.  DEC has done nothing to maintain roads and many other areas are being affected similarly.  Our (Genesee County Federation) position is we need the state to put money back into maintaining these roads and push fees to hikers, canoe-ers and birdwatchers that are using these areas but not contributing to their maintenance.

Ken Alfes mentioned he has application in for SCOPE membership and they are working for Concealed Carry in Genesee County.

Genesee County Raffle

Total Tickets sold 267 tickets for $1335.00 income.

Expenses:

Printing                                   $     54.00

Red Osier gift certificates       $   100.00

Rife and scope Lou Lang to finalize.

Winning tickets drawn from a barrel by President Larry Allen.

First Prize 30/06 rifle and scope - Dennis Schrieber 127 Burnt Mill Rd. Churchville, NY

Second Prize $100 gift certificate Red Osier restaurant-Pat Mooney 1 Jefferson Ave, Le Roy, NY.

• Motion to adjourn by Lou Lang and second by Ken Alfes. Motion carried.

Next Meeting at Godfrey’s Pond on November 30^th at 7:30 PM

NYS Public Hearing on the DEC

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
SUBJECT: Impacts of the 2010-11 State Budget on the Staffing Levels and Programs of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
PURPOSE: To review the DEC’s implementation of the State Budget, staffing levels, and the impacts on State environmental programs
ALBANY
Thursday
November 18, 2010
10:00 a.m.
Hamilton Hearing Room B, 2nd Floor
Legislative Office Building
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is responsible for conserving and improving New York’s natural resources, managing the State’s fish, wildlife and marine resources, and controlling water, land and air pollution to enhance the health, safety and general welfare of the State’s residents. The State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2010-11 State Budget provides over $1 billion for the environment. The purpose of this hearing is to review the DEC’s implementation of programs funded through the SFY 2010-11 State Budget, staffing levels and the overall impact of the Budget on the State’s environmental programs.
Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation. Oral testimony will be limited to ten minutes duration. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Robert K. Sweeney
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Committee on Environmental Conservation

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM
Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the impacts of the 20010-11 State Budget on the Department of Environmental Conservation to be held on November 18, 2010, or who wish to submit written testimony, are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, e-mail or fax it to:

Michelle Milot
Principal Legislative Analyst
Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation
Room 520 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248

Email: milotm@assembly.state.ny.us

Phone: (518) 455-4363
Fax: (518) 455-5182

I plan to attend the public hearing on Budget Oversight to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on November 18, 2010.

I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to ten minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports.
I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.
I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required: _________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
NAME: _____________________________________________________________________
TITLE: _____________________________________________________________________
ORGANIZATION: ____________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: _________________________________________________________________
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DEC bumping & layoffs to start

Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 3:17 PM

Subject: Reduction in force (layoffs)

At this morning's DEC Executive staff / Regional Director / Division Director meeting, we were further briefed on the current status of DEC's layoff plan:
- DEC Executive staff met with Union representatives last Friday (11/5) afternoon and discussed the current status of DEC's workforce reduction plan.

- DEC's plan has not been finalized, but should be submitted to DOB this afternoon (11/8) or tomorrow morning

- DEC will send out letters to affected staff and potentially affected staff (via seniority and horizontal/ vertical displacement (ie "bumping")) by the end of this week or early next week. These letters will be hand delivered to staff by Division Director, Regional Director or staff supervisor. Individuals will have one week to respond to the letter.

- DEC is using the "one choice" method, based on seniority and the assumption that an affected (or potentially affected) individual will accept a "displacement" (move to another location/ position) instead of a layoff. In a nutshell, individuals will receive a letter that indicates their position is targeted (or may be via displacement by someone with greater seniority) and they have a choice to accept the layoff or accept the horizontal (or vertical) position indicated in the letter (ergo the "one choice").

- Staff receiving a letter will have one week to respond to DEC personnel indicating their choice (lay-off or other position).

- Based on the responses to the one choice letter, there may be other scenarios that will play out (e.g. if a more senior person opts for retirement or a lay-off instead of the other position), and these may be discussed via telephone or other more rapid communication with DEC Personnel Office.

- On December 10, all staff affected by the layoff will receive a letter confirming such.

- All staff being laid off will be off the payroll effective cob 12/31/2010.

Additional points:
- No one at DEC has actually gone through this layoff/ bumping scenario before (certainly not at this scale) so we are proceeding very cautiously and double-checking to make sure that affected/ potentially affect individuals are properly notified, and no one is unnecessarily being notified

- All DEC staff were asked in Spring 2009 to confirm their seniority from the seniority list provided by Civil Service and there has been few new hires since that time

- Anyone questioning their seniority should contact DEC Personnel and discuss

- For each targeted position, there are approximately 3 letters being sent out due to seniority and horizontal/ vertical bumping scenarios. Therefore, for the approximately 150 targeted positions, approximately 400 - 450 staff will receive a letter.

This is a most difficult time for all DEC and other New York State agency staff. The uncertainty with these workforce reductions and who / how individuals will be affected coupled with the recent loss of staff via retirements and the pending Holiday season pose significant challenges to us all. Now, more than ever, we need to be supportive of each other.

I have tried to disseminate this fairly widely to DFWMR staff, but please share with others I may have missed.

Doug

Douglas Stang
Assistant Director
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources
New York State Dept. Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, New York 12233-4753

Mike Nozzolio is given Patriot award

POLITICO: Maffei-Buerkle update in NY-25 - Maggie Haberman - Maffei-Buerkle update in NY-25

I shoot quite bit and have beat the other fella by as much as a thin line~

POLITICO: Maffei-Buerkle update in NY-25 - Maggie Haberman - Maffei-Buerkle update in NY-25