President — Steve E Colvin, 2000 SB Rd, Barboursville, VA 22923; phone: 434-996-6067; e-mail stvcolvin@aol.com
Vice President — John Bedwell, 210 Fairway Lane, Wytheville, VA 24382; phone: 276-620-5145; e-mail: sinkthemink@hotmail.com
Membership Secretary — Dickie Craig, 2714 Knollwood Dr., Staunton, VA 24401; phone: 540-886-3937; e-mail: ddcraig9@gmail.com
Recording Secretary — James G. Covais, 10401 Moore Ct., Spotsylvania, VA 22553; phone: 540-760-9694; e-mail: jcovais@comcast.net
Treasurer — Thomas Teague, 2920 Cross Keys Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801; phone: 540-564-1930; e-mail: thomasteague@verizon.net
General Organizer — Glen Mabe, 211 5th St., Luray, VA 22835; phone: 540-860-2634;
e-mail 19612004@yahoo.com
Training Coordinator — Ed Crebbs, 175 Waldrop Rd., Gordonsville, VA 22942; phone: 540-832-2708; e-mail: edcrebbs@yahoo.com
NTA Director — John Coakley, 1188 Turkey Knob Rd., Quicksburg, VA 22847; phone: 540-335-6088
Membership Options:
• 1-year membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• 2-year membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $38
• Junior (under 16) with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $10
• Lifetime membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $250
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
VTA, Membership Secretary
Dickie Craig
2714 Knollwood Dr.
Staunton, VA 24401
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
I would like to thank the past board members for all the hard work they have done. I also would like to thank those who voted for me. I look forward to working hard for the VTA membership. I would like to have an open line of communication with everyone for suggestions, complaints and ideas.
By the time you receive this report, the new coming board will have had an informal meeting (Dec. 12) to introduce ourselves and talk about ideas and suggestions, so we can be prepared to take office and get the wheels rolling. I would like to see us work on the bylaws, code of ethics, promote trapper education, membership drives and do raffles on state and district levels to raise money for the VTA.
I would like to see the VTA purchase a nice trailer for public events with the VTA name and Web site displayed on it. I know other members have great ideas also, I am open to any. We are also looking for someone to take over the VTA newsletter.
If you have any suggestions or volunteers, please give me a call. I look forward to hearing from anyone and everyone 434-996-6067 or e-mail stvcolvin@aol.com.
Good luck trapping.
— Steve Colvin
OUTGOING VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Hello Trappers,
The season is finally upon us again. As soon as it stops raining and weather turns colder, I’m going to get started. I apologize for not sending anything for several months, but to be honest, I really haven’t had anything to report until now.
We just finished with the second annual Girl Scout Trapping Weekend. We only had seven girls this time, but I’m pleased to report that one of them did catch a red fox. We had a great time and the girls learned allot. We had a drawing for a coyote pelt that was donated by Steve Colvin, and for the young lady that caught the fox, she was presented the trap she caught it with and a fox trowel donated by Gene Wirt. I would like to thank my dad, Ronnie Perdue, Dan Settles, Gene Wirt, Mike Fies and CPO Greg Funkhouser for their help with this program. It could not have been the success it was without them.
As some of you might know, I am gathering donated equipment to dedicate to this program and to Trapper Ed as a whole. My ultimate goal is to get a small enclosed trailer equipped with about 25 buckets — each with two traps, two anchors, a sifter, a digging tool, a kneeling pad, a stake driver and lure. This equipment will be strictly for educational purposes and not private use.
I already have about 30 traps, eight sifters, four drivers, seven buckets, two 3-in-1 digging tools and some other miscellaneous items. These items were used in the program this year, and we did fine. Items mentioned were donated by Steve Colvin, Scott Painter, Bob Newberry, Gene Wirt, Dan Settles and myself. If anyone has anything they would like to give, please let me know.
As you know, I didn’t run for an office this year. I would like to say Thank You for the opportunity afforded to me to serve as Vice President for two terms. It was truly an honor and a privilege to do so. I will fully support and work with the newly elected EB and wish them well with the many challenges they will face.
Dan Settles, D3 Director asked me to let you know that he will be giving up his position due to personal reasons. I have expressed my interest in the position. If anyone else in D3 would like to have it, please contact Dan or Steve Colvin. If I can help with anything in the future, please feel free to contact me.
Thanks Again.
— Mike Perdue
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Hello from S.W. Virginia. Trapping season is in full swing and I hope everyone is having a great time laying steel.
I would first like to thank everyone who took the time to return their ballot in the VTA election. I think we have chosen some great and driven officers and I look forward to serving with them the next couple years. I have spoken with Steve a couple times and I am very excited about his enthusiasm toward serving as your President.
Our membership is down slightly from years past for whatever reason. I would like to challenge everyone to sign at least one new member. There is strength in numbers and the more people you have speaking, the easier it is to be heard.
On a final note, I would also ask that everyone become involved with your local district. If you are not sure what district you live in or who your director is, there is a map and a list of directors on the VTA Web site. If you are still not sure, you can call me or shoot me an e-mail and I will find out for you.
I look forward to serving as your Vice President. If you have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to contact me or any of the officers. We would love to hear any suggestions on how “we” can make the VTA a better and stronger organization.
— John Bedwell
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT
Hello fellow trappers and Happy New Year! I’m Dickie Craig, your new VTA Membership Secretary. First, let me give a big thank you to our past membership secretary, Norm Mullins, for a job well done. I’m optimistic that by sharing ideas and working together, we can keep our VTA membership growing.
So let’s make 2010 a year of growth and I will give this position my best effort. I’m honored to serve on the VTA board.
— Dickie Craig
RECORDING SECRETARY’S REPORT
Hi all, and greetings from Fredericksburg. In January, I will be starting my second elected term as recording secretary. I thank you all that voted for me and I hope not to let you down.
That being said, it is with deep regret that I must pass the editor slot for our Newsletter to someone else. Although it has been fun, I simply do not have the time to give to keep the newsletter at the same level that it was when it was given to me by Winston Marshall. The new board has not found anyone to take the job yet; so if you are interested please let someone know. It is not a difficult job, it is just time consuming.
With regard to the new board; this is a very exciting time in the VTA. The new president Steve Colvin has some great ideas to take the VTA forward. Under his leadership, I know we will become the organization that we need to be.
Until next time.
— Jim Covais
GENERAL ORGANIZER’S REPORT
Hello trappers. By now, trapping season is in full swing. I know fur prices are down so competition for fur should be low. I use these times to learn how to trap animals that I’m not proficient at trapping.
This is always good to take non trapper or new trapper trapping. I had the pleasure of taking a new trapper to check my line with me in November. I was really hoping to catch a few critters. I caught a red fox a ’yote and a few ’coons. I also had to opportunity to help him out on some snaring issues.
The VTA will have our annual fur auction in Fischersville on March 13 again this year. The only changes will be you have to be a member of the VTA to sell fur. Details will follow in our next report. The sale will run much like it has the last two years. As always, we will need all the help we can get. It takes a lot to put on the sale.
If there is anything I can do to help anyone, please call me at 540-860-2634. Until next month, may your traps be full.
— Glen Mabe
DISTRICT 4 REPORT
I hope everyone had a joyful holiday season and all your traps are full.
When the time comes to sell your fur, consider all your options. Ship it to N.A.F.A., FHA Inc. or another fur buyer. Better yet, bring your fur to the VTA fur auction. Date and place for the auction will be published later. Check the VTA Web site or the Trapper & Predator Caller.
The VTA elections are over and the new officers will need your support. The VTA also needs our support. Sign up a new member and renew your membership. If you know someone that let their membership expire, try to get them to rejoin or let me know their name and I will call them.
Any District 4 VTA members that are past, or present military service personnel please contact me.
— Bill Price
DISTRICT 8 REPORT
Our newly elected Executive Board will assume their duties on the first of January, but they went to work early to address the needs and goals of the association. They met last month to pave the way for their tenure and beyond. The Board contacted the District Directors asking for input and suggestions to improve our Association – improving communication between the Executive Board and the districts is a great start in itself. If you have ideas/suggestions you would like to submit for consideration, either send them to me for forwarding or contact a member of the new Executive Board directly.
The mild temperatures at the start of the season gave us some concern about our early catches being prime. Normally, we don’t set for land animals until the gun-deer season is over, but we had a couple of non-target raccoon visits to our November ADC beaver job. We were pleased and somewhat surprised to see that the hides were in good condition. Unless the fur market shows sign of recovery, we’re contemplating tanning our harvest and selling locally rather than giving them away to the furriers.
Our district covers a large area with nine counties and while it’s easier for me to continually host our meetings in Spotsylvania, it’s a long way for some of you to drive. I’d like to make it easier for you by bringing the meeting closer to you and reducing some of your driving. Please keep a lookout for locations we can setup a grill, some tables and seat 20+ people. We don’t need anything fancy, a shade tree or two and toilet access will suffice.
I hope you all are having a great holiday season with family and friends.
— Art Foltz
DISTRICT 10 REPORT
Greetings all. Wishing you all a happy and productive new year. Where does the time go? We are now in the last year of my elected term. Come fall, we’ll have an election for a new director, assistant director and treasurer. So ponder that as the year passes and think about holding one of the offices. I am going to be out of commission again for a while. Let’s simply call it a relapse.
While I’m out, our Assistant Director, Bruce Rich will have the helm. He did a great job last time and I’m sure he will again this time. Kevin Cornwell has scheduled a Basic Trapper Training Class for Jan. 9, 2010. It’s going to be at the Boy Scout’s Building in Purdy, VA. I don’t have an exact address for GPS or Mapquest. I’ll have to refer you to Kevin Cornwell for specific information; 757-621-5063 or cornwellswildlifecontrol.com. Please, if you are available, come assist with the training.
‘Til next time.
— Rob Brewer
