Nominating Committee Report

Next months, we have the opportunity for our voices to be heard through the VTA election process. The VTA bylaws have very specific requirements regarding the process so please take the time to read the ballot submission rules (listed on ballot) so your vote will count. The positions that will be decided by election are; President, Vice-President, General Organizer, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Recording Secretary, and NTA Representative. The duties and responsibilities of each position are listed in the Association bylaws.

The Nominating Committee will mail ballots to all voting VTA members by August 31, 2009. The completed ballots must be returned to the committee no later than September 25, 2009 by mail or placed in the ballot box at the entrance of the 2009 VTA Convention or delivered in-person to a Nominating Committee member. Regardless of the delivery method, all ballots must be sealed in the return envelop to be counted. The Nominating Committee will count the ballots and certify election results no later than October 15, 2009. The new officers will assume duties on January 1, 2010.

All lifetime and regular memberships are considered voting members of the VTA. A current membership is required to receive a ballot so accordingly ballots will not be mailed to members whose membership expired in August 2009 or before. We realize many of you renew your memberships at the Convention and hopefully many new members will join our ranks. To accommodate those, the Committee will provide ballots and envelops to our Membership Secretary, Norm Mullins, to handout as people renew or join the Association. After completing the ballot and sealing it in the VTA Nominating Committee return envelop, it can be placed in the ballot box or hand-delivered to a committee member.

The Nominating Committee is comprised of two District 7 members; Mike Brookover and Phil Ballard and two District 8 members; Art Foltz and Jim Longo. The committee’s duties are; to prepare the slate of candidates for the Board of Directors, ensure all candidates are qualified (members in good standing), mail ballots to voting VTA members, and count and certify election results.

You may not personally know all of the candidates so a biography was requested from each candidate to assist you in your voting decisions. The decision to accept a nomination is a decision of personal sacrifice and commitment so please take the time by phone, mail, or in-person to thank every candidate for offering their time, services, and dedication to our Association.

2009 VTA Officer Candidates
Positions	Candidates
President	Steve Colvin
President	Willie Ernstes
Vice-President	John Bedwell
Vice-President	JR Bowling
General Organizer	Tony Jonas
General Organizer	Glen Mabe
Treasurer	Scott Dean
Treasurer	Winston Marshall
Membership Secretary	Dickie Craig
Recording Secretary	Jim Covais
NTA Representative	John Coakley
NTA Representative	Larry Kline

I’m thirty seven years old; I come from three generations of trappers. I have been involved with trapping as far back as I can remember. Trapping is my passion I realized this as soon as I caught my first muskrat as a child, and began handling the fur my dad caught and bought. The best times of my life have been on the trap line with my dad, and in the old fur house listening to other trappers. I actively trap the fur market, live market, and nuisance and with God permitting I plan on trapping for the rest of my life. Trapping is how I make my living.

Hello, my name is William “Willie” Ernstes, I live in King William, Va. I’m the 9^th district director, 1^st District training coordinating director, Trapper training instructor, Hunter education instructor (20 years), past President of Virginia Catfish Assoc. (7 years), a cat fishing tournament society. I presently hold a USCG Officers Mariner License (UOPV,” six pack”).

I’m 62 years old, have trapped for 40 plus years. My first experiences at trapping, was with my father and a neighbor trapping muskrats on Goose Creek, just out of Leesburg, Va. Their where no local buyers, fur was wrapped in butchers paper and sent to Sears, a letter of credit from Sears, was returned, and usually used to buy school clothes.

I’m a traditional trapper, meaning I trap, flesh, and market my hides. I keep bees, collect honey bee swarms, sell my honey, mostly to regular customers. I fish for big cat fish, my biggest landed, 62#. I’ve had two cat fish fries at past conventions, donations where given to VTA trapper education fund, minus cost of plates, oil and condiments.

I wish to be President of our association, I would like to see our association return to its past numbers and, I resolve to try to get everyone going in the same direction. We have a rift between our traditional trappers and the fox pen live trappers. I presently sit as chairman of a committee, to address this discussion, and the possible options that may help resolve these differences. There will be a report and recommendation at the next convention.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time at the VDGIF (Richmond) public meeting forums, both in support of fresh water fishing and trapping issues. I’m one of those that put my time and energy into what I believe in, not just talking about.

Elect me and I’ll do, all I can do, for the present and the long range future of our association. - Thank You, Willie

Hello from the hills, My name is John Bedwell and I am running for the office of Vice President. I live in Wytheville with my wife Cyndy and my three children-Madison, Aaron and Lauren. I work full time for Norfolk Southern Railway which really puts a pinch on my trapping time but you know we trappers always manage to find a way. I am an active member of district 1 where I currently serve as treasurer. I have had a life long love of trapping and believe that we all must stick together to preserve this right that we have all grown to love. It would be a pleasure to serve as VTA Vice President. If you have any questions or comments feel free to call me @ 276-620-5145 or e-mail @ sinkthemink@hotmail.com. Thanks, JOHN

My name is James R Bowling J.R. Most people who know me call me "JR". I was born and raised in Covington Va and lived there till I turned 17 at which time I joined the U.S. Navy and served as a Navy S.E.A.L from 1985-1989 was planning on making a career out of it but was medically discharged after being shot in the knee in 1988. After military I came back to VA met a woman and moved to GA. How did that go u might ask and I would have to say NOT TO GOOD. Moved back to VA in 1993 started my own business and joined the Boy Scouts as an adult leader. I cannot have kids myself so used this as a way to mould our youth. I then got back into trapping and joined the VTA and took over position of District 2 Director and still hold that position. I now work as an auto mechanic and still devote all the time I can into the youth and Trapper Training.
Teach Children how to HUNT, FISH, AND TRAP and they won’t mug little old ladies.

I am Tony Jonas and I am running for the office of General Organizer of the VTA.
I am 49 years old and live in Rural Retreat Va., I have been a VTA member since 2000. I have trapped for nearly 30 years. I have watched the changing times and saw many changes in the VTA I feel maybe not be for the better, and would like to see the VTA grow and change in ways to get it to being a trapper's association of the members and for the members.

- Served on the fur sale committee which set up the auction sale that we now use

- Worked organizing and running the annual convention and fur sale the last 2 years

Hello! My name is Scott Dean and I live in Elkton, Va. in the Shenandoah Valley and I am running for treasurer. I think most of you guys know me and know that I support all legal trapping. If I am elected I intend to continue to support all legal trapping in this state and have no intentions of anyone’s rights being taken from them or changed. I would appreciate your votes at election time. Thank-you, Scott Dean

My name is Winston C. Marshall, and I reside in Powhatan County. I grew up on the family farm in neighboring Cumberland County. My trapping career began in February 1998 when I had a one week recess from college. I caught a few coons and opossums and immediately made plans for the following season. The college I attended had an optional January semester in between the fall and spring semesters. This schedule allowed me to hunt and trap from mid-December through early February for the next three seasons. I trapped those three seasons like there was no tomorrow.

I gained interest in serving within the VTA to help promote and preserve trapping in Virginia. I started as District 6 Director and served for approximately two years. Next, I was elected to the Recording Secretary position on the Executive Board, which I served from January 2004 through December 2007. Also, I was the editor of the Virginia Trapper newsletter during those four years. Aside from recording meeting minutes and editing duties, I was involved in attending meetings with other organizations, drafting trapping language for general assembly legislation, securing sponsorship for general assembly legislation, and many other VTA duties.

Now, I am a candidate for Treasurer to serve on the VTA Executive Board. With your vote and support, I will work hard the next two years to perform my duties as Treasurer and promote and preserve trapping in Virginia. I believe with my passion for trapping and my past VTA officer experience that I am qualified for the position of Treasurer. You can contact me at Winston C. Marshall, 2080 Red Lane Road, Powhatan, Virginia 23139, or (804) 598-0617.

I am Richard ("Dickie") Craig and I reside in Staunton, Va with my wife, Diana. We have married for 27 years and combined, we have 6 children and 8 grandchildren. I retired from DuPont in 2001 with 38 years of service. Currently, I am working part-time as a driver for Mancon out of VDOT, and have my own business, Craig's Nuisance Animal Control. I also bought and sold furs for 10 years. When time permits, I bowhunt, trap and fish. My wife and I attend our grandkid's sporting events, Lee High basketball, and Staunton Braves baseball games. We travel thanks to two wonderful friends who own several timeshares. We attend and are members of Christ United Methodist Church. Having been a trapper for 49 years and wanting to stay united with fellow trappers in Virginia, I am running for the position of membership secretary.

After due consideration of the many issues facing sportsmen and trappers in particular on both the national and state level, I have decided to place my name into nomination for NTA Representative representing the Virginia Trappers Association.

- To faithfully represent the interests of the trappers of Virginia and uphold the fiduciary integrity of the NTA.

- To work with the Officers and Directors of the VTA to maintain a positive working relationship with the VDGIF and the State Legislature.

- To work with the leadership of the NTA to monitor and address actions of Federal land management agencies, the U.S. Congress and animal rights activists that may impact our trapping heritage.

- To promote ethical trapping practices in cooperation with our State Wildlife Agency and private landowners.

- To assist in our Trapper Training Program in the interest of instilling a positive interest in trapping in our young people and acceptance by the general public.

- To provide timely reports in the Trapper and Predator Caller and in our VTA Newsletter in order to maintain understanding of NTA programs and national issues.

- Wildlife Biologist, retired from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with over 30 years of Federal Service.