Fly Tying Group
Initial Board Meeting
July 31, 2007

(first posted June 17, 2008; last updated June 17, 2008)

Minutes of meeting 7/31/07 Livingston, Montana 2007 Conclave

Present: Bob Wilshire (presiding), Al Beatty, Gene Kaczmarek, Steve Jensen, Donna Luallen (standing in for Wayne, as previously accepted by the others), Darwin Atkin, and David Nelson.

Absent: Wayne Luallen, Bruce Staples, Chris Helm, Herb Kettler

David offered to take the minutes, and the offer was accepted.

Bob apologized for a possibly mixed message concerning the FFF leadership’s (Van, the CEO, and Bob, the COO) vision for the group. The genesis involved a FFF Board of Director’policy statement that the FFF’s primary mission is education. This prompted Van and Bob to implement this policy with the formation of a fly tying group. They initiated this by contacting a “quorum” of Buszek winners and asking for suggestions of addition interested members. The goal was to be more than just improving Conclave tying, but to bring leadership overall to tying the way that the Casting Group has improved casting. Their overall vision is to bring worldwide leadership to:

(1) casting
(2) guiding
(3) tying
(4) rod building
(5) literature and books

The Casting Group started years ago and is going well, with certification and an elected Board. The Guides Group started a year ago, initially had an appointed Board, but this Conclave elected their first Board and are going well. They have made the determination that they will not do certification. The leadership now want to implement leadership in tying.

With respect to tying, their vision includes bringing leadership to and improving:

(1) Conclave tying
(2) Tying at the international, council, and club levels
(3) Tying as Teacher Intiative
(4) Framing
(5) Archiving

The Fly Dresser’s Guild in the UK has approached the FFF and stated that they look to us to lead worldwide flytying.

There was a general discussion of fly tying certification, and all present stated that they were against it, each for a variety of reasons, including the impossibility of tying certification and the desire to avoid the infighting that certification would bring. The group agreed that certification would not be a goal of the group.

Al noted that the FFF is the only group that can fulfill this vision.

David asked how this related to the other fishing organizations.

Bob stated that he has a great relationship with the TU leadership, and that there is no conflict here. They are primarily a cold water conservation organization, and include under their umbrella all kinds of fishing. We are only fly fishing and include “all fish, all waters”, but restrict ourselves to flyfishing. TU looks to us to provide primarily education. There is no conflict. The American Museum of Fly Tying in Manchester, VT, is a collection-based museum concentrating on NE flies, and that he has a good relationship with their head, Bill Battles, and there is no conflict here. The Kushner Museum also has no conflict with these goals.

Bob asked the group if there was a general support for their vision, and would we like to provide advice about their vision. The group agreed to adopt the vision and strategic plan as stated, and Donna asked what is the next step.

Bob suggested that we appoint a initial, transitional Board, with terms to expire in one year, at which time the duties would be taken over by an elected Board. He suggested that we choose members who are willing to WORK and start forming committees to get the work done.

Steve and Gene emphasized that any elected Board reflect all Councils, and the consensus was that each Council be given the opportunity to participate, but not to stop if a Council does not respond to requests for participation. There was general agreement.

The possible members of the transitional Board were discussed. Chris Helm had declined to participate at the present time, as he is too busy, but is interested. Darwin declined, as he felt he would not be able to participate as much as might be desireable. Initially, appointments were accepted by Al, Steve, Gene, and David; and in absentia by Bruce, Judy, and Wayne. Donna suggested that Wayne would like to be involved but does not have the time to be as active as Bob indicated would be needed, and suggested to add Herb instead of Wayne. Each nominated member present accepted the nomination, and an appointed, transitional FFF Fly Tying Board was created, with the formation of an elected Board in one year. Bob asked for the members to choose an interim chair; no one volunteered, Al suggested David, all seconded the nomination, and therefore David as drafted as interim chair. He accepted on the proviso that all the members answer their email and do the committee work needed to make the group successful. All agreed.

A vision statement was formulated and accepted: The new strategic plan by the FFF (as stated by the Board of Directors and implemented by the FFF CEO and COO) is that the FFF should bring worldwide leadership to:

(1) Conclave tying
(2) Tying at the international, council, and club levels
(3) Tying as Teacher Intiative
(4) Framing
(5) Archiving
(6) Certification is not a goal of this group, and that the group is against certification of fly tiers.

The group agreed to meet again at 5 pm Friday, and the meeting was adjourned.

This minutes is based on my notes at the time of the meeting and is respectfully submitted to the group for acceptance.

Signed,
David Nelson

Minutes were approved by the Board, August 2007.