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Hot Topics!

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Events for the week of October 18 and Our Next Chapter Work Day on November 7 (Updated October 17, 2020)

We are hopeful that we might get back to a more normal chapter meeting schedule in September but it depends on how the governor decides to reopen the commonwealth.  See chapter calendar for any official event schedules.  The COVID-19 guidance might change any of our scheduled events so check back frequently.  I will keep the COVID-19 restrictions for the workday until advised otherwise.

• October 16, Friday, 9 am to October 18, Sunday, 10 am, Boy Scout Order of the Arrow.
• October 23-25, Friday to Sunday, Cub Scout Pack 1777
• October 24, Saturday, AHG VA 3130 Girl Scouts, Archery side for camping and other scout events for this one day event
• October 24, Saturday, 9 AM,  Project Healing Waters
  

Next Monthly Work Day, Saturday, November 7, 2020 (modified schedules in red due to coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions) and other changes  These might be altered so sometime before September 5 check back for refinements

Standby while we assess changes for November. As soon as we determine what can be done we will post it here.  It is important to maintain social distancing and masking requirements as much as possible while inside the chapter house.  Wash hands and use hand sanitzer.

• Saturday, grounds maintenance tasks begin at 8:00 AM  refreshments will be served on front porch.  Masks are advised inside the chapter house and members should be careful to be socially distanced as best as they can..
  
• Saturday, Adopt-a-Highway roadside pickup event  The big news is that we have taken over the roadside pickup for our own Herndon Road so there will be no need for a convoy like what we needed to do for our old site. Tammie Pasterak has taken over for Bill Hudson as the lead for the Adopt-a-Highway program.  She conducted a roadside pickup on October 3 in our new roadside assignment.  She has announced that the chapter will extend the pickup another month this year weather permitting.  So, on November 7, meet Tammie Pasterak in the chapter parking lot at 8:30 am to walk to the site.  IMPORTANT:  Review the safety requirements on the Conservation page.
  
• Saturday, 9 AM, Prospective Member interviews and new member orientation.
• Saturday, All-in-One badging photos between 9:30 AM to 12 noon. The photo sitting will be first come first served.  If you are replacing a badge (no need for a photo) there will be a badge reissued for a fee of $10 using your archived photo.
  
• Saturday, 10 AM, training session for clay pigeon thrower on shotgun range (range 4) 15 minute tutorial and demonstration (if demand exists; please advise if you want an orientation.)

Note: Firearms ranges closed until workday is complete.

No other events are presently planned, however, it is always prudent to check with the official chapter calendar for any last minute changes.

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Scouts Retire American Flags (Posted September 24, 2020)

In a private ceremony at the chapter on the evening of September 22, Troop 171, Boy Scouts of America conducted a solemn ceremony to retire worn and damaged American Flags.  In accordance with the Flag Code the flags were prepared and burned in our fire pit near the pond.  Ashes from the fire will be interred in our flag cemetery.

   

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The Fish are Coming (Updated September 30, 2020)

Thanks to the generous monetary donations from our members, the pond will be stocked with rainbow trout on Nov 19th after the water temperature cools to the safe level for stocking.
Trout fishing is “catch and keep” only, i.e., there is to be no releasing of caught trout back into the pond. There is a daily limit of four rainbows per angler. After an angler catches (and keeps) four fish, he/she must cease fishing with anything that would (reasonably) catch a trout.  A member may bring in two guests per visit.  We are asking that after November 19th that the guests be registered in the kiosk used for registering guests for shooting on the range.  Use the clip board for registering shooting guests but annotate that the guests are registered for fishing only.  Guests are allowed three visits before they will be asked to apply for membership.  Also, there will be a clipboard at the “fishing shelter” near the fire pit for you to report name, date, and number of trout caught.
And a general reminder about trash: There has been an increasing amount of line, hooks and other trash around the shoreline of the pond. Please do not litter! As a reminder, the fire pit is not a trash can and is there for burning wood for warmth and nothing else. If you brought it in, please take it out and dispose of at home.

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Ernie Meier Memorial Trapshoot (Posted September 13, 2020)

See the Activities tab  for a brief article on the event and a special scoop on a more extensive article submitted to the IWLA national organization for publication in the next National Magazine, "Outdoor America."

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New Members Inducted in September Business Meeting (Posted September 5, 2020)

At the September Business meeting of the chapter there were a number of new candidates for membership introduced and elected to membership.  The following photo of another large group is pictured here on Saturday, September 5, 2020 after their orientation.      

Chapter Board Electees Installed at Membership Meeting on September 3

(Posted September 3, 2020)

As a result of an election held at the August membership meeting, the elected officials were formally installed this evening for their 2021 term.  The President of the Virginia State IWLA organization, Ernie Padgette, visited the chapter to preside over the oath of installation.  The new officers and board directors elected are pictured below.

Barbara Pritchett is Elected to the National IWLA National Hall of Fame  (Posted August 8, 2020)

Barbara Pritchett, Secretary of the Fredericksburg-Rappahannock Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, Inc. was recently elected as a member of the IWLA Hall of Fame. At the August membership meeting of the local chapter on August 6, Ms. Pritchett was presented with a plaque signifying her election.  Ernie Padgette, the president of the Virginia State Division made the formal presentation.  Each year there are only 5 Hall of Fame awardees nation-wide.  An article in the Izaak Walton National magazine, and a press release about this prestigious election is forthcoming.  Congratulations, Barbara, the chapter is proud of you.

August 2020 Chapter Membership Inductees  (Posted August 8, 2020)

We had a total of 6 family and one individual members added to the chapter roster on August 8, 2020.  The chapter welcomes our newest 13 members.

Trap Shooting at the Chapter - Ernie Meier Memorial Trap Shoot - August 15 (Posted July 25, 2020)

As August is National Sports Shooting Month, the Chapter is hosting an event befitting the National theme and in honor of a shotgun enthusiast and range 4 supporter, Ernie Meier. As you might be aware, Ernie passed away earlier this month and we are dedicating this trap shoot to his memory. The event will be held on Saturday, August 15, at the Chapter, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  The event will be held on our shotgun range and we will devise some means to schedule shooters so everyone will not show up at the same time to shoot.

For the event, the range will be configured to allow the launching of up to four and maybe five clay targets at once—making it exceedingly challenging.  The Chapter will provide both the shells and clays for the event.  If any shooter cares to attempt to shoot consecutive clays for an award, the chapter has “IWLA 25 Straight” patches to award to those members that can shoot 25 straight clays without a miss.

This is an event for chapter membership but as we would like to use it for the recruitment of prospective members, each member may invite one non-chapter member to participate.  Remember, the chapter is providing all the shells and clays for the event.  The chapter will also offer food and beverages at a nominal cost for participants to enjoy in between flights.

In order to properly arrange for the event, please let us know if you plan to attend.  To register, simply provide your name, the shotgun gauges that will be shot for yourself and a guest if you bring one to one or all of us (Jamie Branham, Sandy Stanford and/or Jim Lloyd).  You may find our contact email addresses at the Contact Us page.  We will establish a schedule and procure the clays and shells to serve the registrants.  There is no entry fee (as said above, the food will have a reasonable price).  Just come and enjoy it.

This is the first attempt at hosting an event like this but we are sure it will be fun for all.

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Annual Election of Officers and Half the Directors on August 6 at 7 PM  (Posted July 25, 2020)

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Dirkland Talley Awarded the Annual Justice Tobin Award for 2019 (Posted July 11, 2020)

See News Tab for details

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New Temporary Traffic Pattern at the Chapter (posted May 2, 2020)

The Temporary traffic pattern will remain until a fence has been erected within the next month..(updated July 18, 2020)

Starting Sunday, May 3rd at 3 PM a section of the road through the Chapter will be changed due to construction work starting for the new steel pavilion on the morning of May 4. The alternate routing will run through the parking lot to the range 1 entrance road and back out to the main road through to the back part of the property.  This alternate routing will remain this way until the job is completed. This could take up to 3 weeks depending on the weather.

This temporary alternate routing of traffic will be marked clearly so there should not be any confusion. As is always expected, please observe the posted speed limits.

If you have any questions about this matter please contact Herbert Pritchett at 540-786-7711.

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Issued 4 All-in-One Badges and Inducted 3 New Members for July 2020 (posted July 11, 2020)

On July 11 we issued 4 All-in-One badges which did not account for nearly 10 badges that have been issued as temporary badges without photo.  These will need to be taken at the August meeting or the access to all temporary badges will be suspended until a proper All-in-One badge with photo is prepared.  This is normally done one month after a member is oriented.

Summary... if you have an orange temporary badge or a blank white temporary badge you need to come on August 8 to have your photo taken and have a permanent All-in-One Badge issued with photo.

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New Members Inducted July 2020

Darrell Ferrell Pavilion Razed to Make Way for Larger Structure (posted March 20, 2020)

The main pavilion at the Chapter (named for one of its long-time and prominent members, Darrell Ferrell) was razed on March 13, 2020, in advance of a renewal project that replaces it with a larger, modern metal constructed building that will serve multi-purposes. You can see the former pavilion in the photo above.

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The Concrete Pad for the New Pavilion has been Poured (posted May 31, 2020)

This week at the chapter saw more progress on the new pavilion project with the construction of the forms, the installation of steel reinforcing rods and the pouring of the concrete for the floor.  The next step will be for the steel structure to be fabricated at the manufacturing facility.  Measurements of the slab will guide the fabricators into making the final precise pieces to be brought on site and erected.  We should see this started in the early weeks of June.

Revised Schedule for Adopt-a-Highway Roadside Pickup for Remainder of 2020 (posted July 11, 2020)

Bill Hudson had announced that the chapter will resume Adopt a Highway activity on April 4 (our next chapter workday).  Scheduled dates for pickups included chapter work days for the months of April, May, June, August, and September. (None scheduled for July).  It has not happened as planned due to the COVID-19 virus!

Bill actually did lead a pick-up in July.  He was able to finish a good share of our assigned highway but not able to complete a full sweep.  He remarked that the trash was not near as bad as he expected especially since it had been since last fall since we had done a pick-up.

Due to the circumstances he has modified the schedule to include the August workday, the September workday and, possibly, the October workday.

See our Conservation page for details including important safety requirements.  Bill Hudson will provide a safety brief just prior to the scheduled pickup events at the parking lot in front of the chapter house.

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The 2020 National IWLA Convention (Posted February 1, 2020)

Read more at the National Convention page.  The convention has been canceled due to COVID-19 impacts.

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Interested in Our Apiary? (Posted March 7, 2020)

Go to our conservation page to see a newly created information sheet.  If you are interested in becoming more expert on beekeeping contact Bryce Hanson at 001513bah@gmail.com

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Beekeeper Photos posted (Posted December 6, 2019)

Go to the Conservation page to see several photos of our Chapter Apiary Volunteers as they work to put the apiary into winter hibernation.

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Chronic Wasting Disease Information of Interest to Members (Posted December 31, 2019)

Rainbow Trout waiting to be caught at the Chapter Pond (Updated December 1, 2019)

It should be good fishing at the pond.

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Chapter Receives Two National Awards at Most Recent Convention in Des Moines (Posted August 4, 2019)

Your chapter was recognized twice at the 2019 National Convention.  See National Convention tab.

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New to Fishing or Do You Want to Become More Proficient? (Posted August 3, 2019)

An excellent place to start is the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries web page where you can do everything from purchase your license and read about the regulations as well as learn much about the art of fishing. Become a more educated angler then grab your pole and tackle and come out to the chapter to practice what you learn.

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Fredericksburg- Rappahannock Chapter Board 2019 Elections  (Updated September 7, 2019)

In accord with the chapter's bylaws, each year around June, the current officers and, in alternating years, half the directors are canvassed for their desire to be placed on the ballot for the next year's term.  This year, all incumbents canvassed expressed a desire to again compete for their elected positions. The election was held at the August membership meeting of August 1, 2019.  While there was barely a quorum of members at this mid-summer meeting, the election was held and all incumbents were re-elected to their positions.  All officers will serve an additional year and each of the re-elected directors will serve for 2 additional years.  Those individuals that were on the slate of candidates ballot can be viewed in the Member login area of this web site or here.  These electees formally took their offices at a swearing in ceremony at the September membership meeting on Thursday evening, September 5.

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The Power of Change (Posted April 10, 2019)

The Power of Change recently awarded our Chapter with funds for our Honey Bee conservation effort.  If you are in the REC service area enroll today at the Power of Change web page to allow REC to make grants like this to worthy programs like ours. 

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Notice: New Trash Policy for Ranges (Posted March 16, 2019)

The Chapter has instituted a new policy for trash disposal at the ranges.  Simply, if you bring any material into the range areas, to include targets, temporary target stands, cartridge boxes, food or drink, etc., you are to remove it from the property and dispose with your personal household waste.  You may leave bullet casings in the supplied bucket (not on the ground) and lead in the berms.  That's it.  Details of this new policy were distributed by an email reminder on March 15.

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Passcode for the Member Login Page has been changed for 2020

(Posted March 1, 2020)

All members should have received an email reminder from the Social Media Manager indicating the new 4-digit passcode that allows members to access the Memberhip Only page  The old pass code has been replaced and will no longer work.

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Draft Membership Meeting Minutes for November have been Posted for Review by Chapter Members  (posted November 5, 2018)

Go to the Member Login page to access and read the draft minutes for the recent membership meeting,  These will be offered for membership ratification at the next monthly  membership meeting
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Also note that last month's minutes were read and ratified at the recent meeting and those minutes and many others are also found in the same Member Only web location.

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Do You Plan to Host an Event at the Chapter?  (updseted May 16, 2020)

The Chapter is an amazing asset if any member want to host an event on the premises.  If you have an intent to host a group, make sure you do some advance planning and contact the Chapter's Event Planner, Herbert Pritchett.  Earlier in May, we updated the Chapter's House and Ground Rules and at the same time established a requirement for anyone desiring the use of the Chapter to access, download, read and complete the Request for Use of Chapter Premises.  This document outlines requirements for use, releases the Chapter from liability and assures the requester the full knowledge of the Chapter's expectations.  The document can always be found midway on the Facilities page.  Please submit your completed application to Herbert Pritchett at email at hwpritchettsr@yahoo.com well in advance of the anticipated use so that you are assured of permission to use and no conflicts with other events.  Always look at the Chapter Calendar when planning.

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See the News Tab for Several Recent  "News" events  (Posted June  22,  2018 )

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See Conservation page for the latest Adopt-a-Highway report  (posted April 3, 2019 )

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New WiFI Communications Capability at Our Chapter   (updated May 6, 2018 )

The long awaited change from our previous Internet supplier to Comcast Business has been accomplished.  We now have a high speed Internet, TV and telephone.  If you want to access wifi at the Chapter you may use our guest access network line by setting up your device to receive the signal (you may find the credentials in the Member Only Login page). This access was fixed on May 6 so now it should work easily for all.

Our new phone number, accessible at phone boxes outside the Chapterhouse, at the tool shed and a remote phone in the kitchen, is 540-412-9330.  You can make outgoing and incoming calls.  The bell does not riing loudly for incoming calls outside and if no one is close by do not rely on it being answered if it is an emergency.  The previous phone service was limited to outgoing 911 and was "copper wire"; this new phone is VOIP and can be used for any local dialing which is especially useful for those members that do not have good cell phone service at the Chapter.

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Our Chapter Apiary is in the Local News (posted April 15, 2018 ) 

See article

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Chapter Awarded Monetary Grant from Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (posted March 28, 2018 ) 

See the Conservation tab for more information.

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Spanish Speaking Person Sought

Greg Raines indicated at the March Membership Meeting that the VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is asking for volunteer Spanish interpreters for a class they will be holding for children.  Anyone interested may contact Greg at 540-287-2628  (A text message works best).

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We Now Have a Work Van for Facility Maintenance Chores  (posted March 18, 2018)

Thanks to the efforts of one of our members, we have a vehicle that we can use for chores around the Chapter and to support our activities off-site. The Chevrolet E3500 van looks and runs like new and was donated to the Chapter by Dominion Electric.  The decals were added so that we can be visible in our community and project our image of Conservation and community service.  The van will become very useful in July when we need to transport cargo to the site of the National Convention we are hosting in Fredericksburg.

  

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Project Healing Waters Social Media Sites  (Posted August 3, 2017)

Members may learn more about Project Healing Waters by accessing the web sites at http://www.projecthealingwaters.org/programs/locations/virginia/   or the more detailed information on the Fredericksburg Facebook page of Project Healing Waters 

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Archery Ranges (posted June 15, 2017)

Members are reminded that the Manahoac Bowmen organization operates an archery range which is inside the woods beyond the flag pole on the west side of the pond.  No IWLA member is allowed to use that range for archery purposes without the permission and guidance of the Manahoac Bowmen.  There is a series of ranges for use by IWLA members to the right of the Bowmen's building.  It is situated between the Shotgun Range and the Bowmen's building.  There are several shooting lanes of varying distance for targets primarily for arrows with field points.  Archers shall not be using broadhead arrow tips on any target not designed for their use.  If you are not familiar with this prohibition please reference the Chapter's range rules.  If you do not understand the basis for the requirement, do not shoot broadhead arrows without consulting someone in charge of the Manahoac Bowmen organization. Shooting broadhead arrows at targets meant for field points damages the targets severely. Broadhead arrows are razor sharp and designed to rip and tear flesh.  If shot into a target meant for field points they can easily break off and present a very severe hazard to anyone left with the task of repairing the targets.  Violators of this prohibition will be severely penalized.  Again, do not use broadhead arrows unless you know what you are doing.  The person or persons that shot these arrows into field targets obviously did not know what they were doing or were maliciously/willingly damaging property.  Please direct any questions about the archery ranges and range requirements to Eugene Slagle at eugeneslagle@gmail.com.  You can obtainin additional information about the bowmen organization at their web page.

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Assured Access to Advanced Health Care Directives  (posted April 6, 2017)

At the April Chapter Membership Meeting, George Lear reported to the membership the existence of a service that the Commonwealth of Virginia provides to its citizens.  This service is a secure website that can be used to store important documents that protect your legal rights and ensure your medical wishes are honored if you are incapacitated and unable to manage your own care.  The database of Advance Directives at this website is held in a confidential and secure site, protected by the most up-to-date web and database security standards. All information submitted is used only by authorized individuals and kept completely confidential. If you are interested in learning more about this service you can obtain all the information and subscribe by linking here.

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Free Money for the Chapter (posted February 11, 2017)

If any of our members (or anyone else for that matter) shop using Amazon Smiles, it takes just a few adjustments of your account to have the Amazon company donate a percentage of the sale to the account of the Fred-Rapp Chapter at no cost to the member.  The percentage is small but just in the last quarter the Chapter has earned nearly $10 through this no cost feature of Amazon.  See our Donations tab for access to the steps to make this happen for the benefit of the Chapter. Or learn more about Amazon Smiles and how to use this feature by clicking here.

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Lost and Found (reposted May 1, 2018)

Several items have been found at the Chapterhouse:

• A set of small keys
  
• A very nice electronic camera found at the Chapter several years ago.
• A pink, black, and blue woman's scarf left in Chapterhouse on December 5, 2015

Send an email to newsletter@iwlafred-rapp.org describing your lost item and we will figure out a good time to get the item back to its proper owner.

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Some of our Fish at the Chapter Pond were Tagged and will be Tracked if reported  (updated October 20, 2019)

Our Chapter Pond manager, Joe Webb, has started a fish tagging program at the pond at the Chapter grounds.  About 60 bass have been caught, tagged and released in a one month period several years ago.  This program will help to assess the health of our fishery.  If you fish at the pond and catch one with a tag on the left side of the dorsal fin make sure you take note of the tag number.  Tagged fish are still being caught. You can go to the fish tagging website to see the history of the fish and add your own notations: Go to the main web site front page at fishtagger.com. Key in the full Tag ID printed on the tag and click Go. You will now be brought to a web page displaying the tag's history. Please add your new catch information here by clicking Add. You will be asked for information regarding your catch such as angler name/e-mail, fish type, weight, length, location caught, date caught, and any comments. You should print out and take a Fish Tag Log Sheet with you when fishing in order to record this information for entering into the computer after fishing. Please also send Joe an email to let him know you had caught and reported a fish that has been tagged. 

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