July 30, 2001
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Watch out for the Left-Fielder!
By the time you read this, most of my term as Chapter President
will have passed, but there will still be some things "in the works"
that should happen before I turn the gavel over to President-elect Bob Ross.
While I'll mention these below, I also want to digitally encode a few words for
the purpose of looking back on the past two years, in hopes of keeping our
"institutional memory" up to date.
Two years ago when I wrote a short bio to
accompany the election notice when I ran for President-elect.� I said something to the effect that
organizations like PA AFS depend greatly on volunteerism, and need people who
are willing to "step up to the plate, and see how far they can hit the
ball". I hope that the membership feels like all of us on the Excomm, over the past two years, have swung the bat well
for the PA Chapter. I want to review briefly some of our Chapter's recent
accomplishments, and point out that they represent the collective efforts of
the Excomm, the presenters of programs and workshops,
the leaders and members of the PA Chapter TWS (The Wildlife Society), and you
(our members), for without your support and attendance, efforts by the Excomm would all be in vain.
First, the contributions by Don Knorr
(Exponent Inc.), Ben Hayes (Susquehanna
University), Jim Gracie (Brightwater Inc.), and the folks at USGS Northern
Appalachian Research Laboratory (Jim Mead, Bob Ross, Dale Honeyfield,
Harold Kincaid, and Kristine Playfoot) are to be
commended. As the presenters for our "regular" spring and fall
technical meetings over the past two years, the Chapter owes these folks our
collective "Thank You!" for helping to make our regular meetings a
worthwhile professional as well as social experience. The good turnout at NARL
last November was especially gratifying, for it signaled that members ARE
willing to move away from the central PA-State
College area that has long been the
geographic focal point for Chapter activities.�
This message should be heard by the future organizers of Chapter events!
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE cont.
Second,
a rundown of recent Chapter accomplishments would be incomplete without
mentioning the contributions by Renea Ruffing (PSU), Rick Spear (PFBC), and Tim Stecko (PSU), in putting on the first Chapter-sponsored
fish ID and taxonomy workshop. Held last September just before the annual
social, the workshop provided the attendees (about 20 as I recall) with an
overview of Pennsylvania's darters and sculpins.� I regret
to announce, however, that planning for our second workshop, targeting the
cyprinids of Pennsylvania's Atlantic Slope drainages (Delaware, Susquehanna, and Potomac basins), has
run into scheduling snags, so a decision was made to drop the August date and
attempt to reschedule sometime later. We will probably not be able to retain West Chester State University as the meeting location, but
will seek another venue in the southeastern/central part of the state, which
will represent another step toward geographic diversification in Chapter
activities.
Third,
our growth in membership and successful fund raising activities (e.g., sales of
new hats, spring meeting raffle proceeds), have allowed the Chapter to
financially support a number of recent initiatives. These include a donation to
the Tim Copeland fund (Tim, a grad student at Virginia Tech, was a former
Chapter member diagnosed last year with leukemia; latest reports passed around
at April's NE Division meeting are that he's doing well). And, in support of
the National AFS membership drive, the Chapter is offering "door
prizes" of a student and a professional membership at both the annual
social and this year's fall meeting, to members who do not presently belong to
the parent society. We have announced a "travel award" to be given to
the winner of a "best student paper/poster" contest to be held at the
Spring 2002 meeting.�
The award is meant to support attendance at the National AFS meeting in Baltimore next year, although
substitution of another meeting of regional or national scope will be allowed.
Our goal is to foster exposure to the wealth of learning and networking
opportunities provided by meetings such as the National AFS, which may not be
so near to Pennsylvania again for quite some time.
(We will need to keep in mind that at the time we announced the award, the Excomm envisioned having another joint meeting with PA TWS;
more on this issue in a moment).
And
since the end of one's term is the perfect time to hand out kudo's,
I want to thank Past-president Andy Shiels for his
planning and leadership in getting our new hats prepared and distributed for
sale.� Andy also played a big role in
organizing the field sampling methods workshop that preceded our joint meeting
with PA TWS.
I've
saved a rundown of what I think is our best accomplishment for last.� Of course I'm referring to the successful, and
I think mutually beneficial, joint meeting between PA-AFS and PA-TWS. The
"riparian zone" theme, and day-long sampling methods workshop that preceded the plenary and contributed paper/poster sessions,
were the perfect catalysts for bringing the two memberships together. Having
heard nothing but "good vibes" from everyone I've talked to about the
meeting (and that includes our Excomm members who had
to help out with the arrangements!), I went to some lengths over the past
several weeks to see if there was interest in having a joint meeting again next
year.� Things seemed to be moving in that
direction (fostered by encouraging signs from TWS leaders), but it was just
brought to my attention that TWS has since vetoed the idea. Thus I submitted a
revised message.� Although the unilateral
veto simplifies planning matters for the incoming Excomm,
I�ll have to add a word of advice to incoming Chapter president Bob Ross, which
is �do your best to play your position well, but always watch out for that
left-fielder!�� This turn of events will
also affect how we plan for and implement the student travel award that was
recently announced, so stay tuned for future announcements as the Excomm considers this issue again.
But,
speaking of that left-fielder, I just received an email from incoming PA-TWS president Joe Sullivan, asking if PA-AFS would want to be
part of a larger �natural resources management conference� in 2003, perhaps
involving the Society of American Foresters (and maybe others)!� PA-TWS thought that a longer period of
planning would be needed to pull this one off� (I agree), but I was glad to hear that
they too enjoyed our joint meeting, and that they want us to participate in the
2003 affair. Given the feedback I�ve received from the Excomm
and other members, I pledged our support.�
So while we now have something new and exciting to look forward too, I
was faced with revising my message again (hence the title!). Also, both Joe and
I agreed that some kind of �every other year� arrangement might be attractive
to both of our memberships, which will be something for future Excomms to consider. Forewarned is forearmed!
I
might add that the topic of "invasive species" has surfaced as a
meeting theme for an upcoming technical meeting (possibly for this fall). Between
round gobies, zebra and quagga mussels, asiatic clams, rusty crayfish, eurasion
milfoil, hydrilla,� (etc., etc.), there'd be no shortage
of things to discuss! I'm also happy to report that the slate of officers up
for election has been filled and awaits your input.
Please remember to vote!� And, in the
week that passed between my original and this revised message, I learned that
the annual social will be held in Pleasant Gap on September 14. Hope to see you
there!
I
can't sign off on this message until I've given proper acknowledgement to the Excomm members for this past year for all their guidance
and assistance through my term in office. So to Past-president Andy Shiels, President-elect Bob Ross, Newsletter editor and
Student Section representative Renea Ruffing, and Excomm members Leroy
Young and "J. R." Holtsmaster, Thank You!!
And a SPECIAL Thank You to Secretary Treasurer Mike Hendricks, who truly has
been the glue that has kept our Chapter functioning administratively over the
past two years (and probably longer than that!). I also would like to encourage
each of you to consider becoming involved in Chapter affairs. I know it has
been a rewarding experience for me, and I look forward to serving the Excomm for one more year in the Past-President capacity. I
also wish best of luck to incoming president Bob Ross! Remember, that
left-fielder is always there!
Douglas A. Nieman, CFP
Senior Scientist
Normandeau Associates
3450 Schuylkill Road
Spring City, Pennsylvania,
19475
610-948-4700 x 134
610-948-4712 (direct)
610-948-4752 (fax)
dnieman@normandeau.com
Treasurers Report
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Pennsylvania Chapter Financial Report
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For the Period:
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7/12/00 to 6/22/01
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Balance brought forward
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(7/12/00)
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�$2,342.90
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INCOME
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Dues collected by AFS
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�$��
345.00
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Dues collected by chapter
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�$��
360.00
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NE division rebate
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�$��
413.12
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Summer social
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�$��
255.40
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Fish ID Course
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�$1,280.00
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Spring meeting profit
(includes workshop)
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�$1,852.60
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Raffle
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�$�� 864.00
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Hat sales
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�$1,081.00
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TOTAL INCOME
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�$6,451.12
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������� SUBTOTAL
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�$8,794.02
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DISBURSEMENTS
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Meeting food and beverages
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�$����
82.01
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Printing, copying, office
supplies
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�$����
63.13
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Postage
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�$��
180.50
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Raffle expenses
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�$����
12.07
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Fish ID Course
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�$��
389.91
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Summer social
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�$��
124.55
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Chapter hats
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�$1,451.05
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Donation to Tim Copeland
Fund
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�$��
149.00
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TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS
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�$2,452.22
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����� CURRENT BALANCE ON HAND
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�$6,341.80
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Prepared by:�
Michael Hendricks, Sec./Treasurer
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AFS Pennsylvania State Chapter
Announces
Fish
Identification Workshop II
Title: The Catfish and
Suckers of Pennsylvania
Date: Wednesday October 3,
2001
Place: Stackhouse @ Fisherman's
Paradise, Bellefonte, PA
Instructors: Rick Spear and Renea Ruffing
Cost: $60 for chapter members,
$65 for non-members (includes box lunch) payable by cash or check.
Maximum class size is 20. Reservations will be on a first-come,
first-served basis. Your check will reserve your spot.
Reservation
information:
Mike
Hendricks������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
PA
Fish and Boat Commission
1225
Shiloh Rd.
State
College, PA 16801
mhendric@lazerlink.com
814-353-2226.
Background
The
catfishes and suckers are important fishes for both recreation and
aquaculture.� There are currently
approximately 15 species of suckers and 12 species of catfishes found
throughout Pennsylvania.� They make up a
large part of the aquatic fauna found throughout the state.� Although generally easy to recognize as
family groups the identification of these fishes to species is often
difficult.� Several species of madtoms and suckers are endangered or threatened in
Pennsylvania making positive identification of these fishes necessary for both
scientist and law enforcement agents.�
This workshop will focus on the identification of all the catfish and
suckers of Pennsylvania and focus heavily on identification techniques for some
of the more difficult groups (madtoms, redhorses, chubsuckers, and carpsuckers). The purpose of this workshop is to acquire
the skills and knowledge needed to correctly identify suckers and catfishes in
both in the field and in laboratory.�
General fish morphology, characteristics, localities, and status will be
reviewed. Identification of each species found in Pennsylvania, along
with its life history and habitat preferences will be presented. The
afternoon session will consist of group exercises in identifying both preserved
and live specimens individually and in collections.
Syllabus
8:30
-10:00 am: General fish morphology, Introduction to catfish and suckers,
Species status
10:00-10:15
am: Break
10:15-12:30
pm: Description, life history, and habitat of individual species of catfish
and suckers
12:30-1:00
pm: Lunch
1:00-3:15
pm: Break up into groups and examine individual live and preserved
specimens, and identify catfish and suckers out of collections of fish.
Annual Fall Social
The annual
fall social will be held this year on Friday, Sept. 14, 2001, 4PM to ?? at the
Pleasant Gap Fairgrounds. The menu will be grilled chicken, burgers and
dogs, assorted side dishes and soft drinks, served around 6PM.
Cost
is $8 per person, $5 for students. Alcoholic beverages are permitted for
those over 21 but the Chapter will not be supplying them for liability reasons,
so BYOB. Volunteers are always needed to do grilling and prepare the side
dishes.� Please contact Mike Hendricks if
you can help in anyway.
RSVP
please to Mike Hendricks mhendric@lazerlink.com
or 814-353-2226.
Reminder
Don�t forget to send in you ballot for officer elections
Candidate Profiles
President
Elect
Dick Soderberg
Dick Soderberg is a professor of
fisheries at Mansfield University. His present line of research is
helping the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission improve pond production of
walleye. Dick has been a member of
AFS since 1977 and a member of the Pennsylvania chapter for
20 years. He has served two terms as chapter president. He has also
served as associate editor of the Progressive Fish-Culturist and is presently
education
sub-chair of the certification committee. He was
presented the Pennsylvania chapter outstanding service award in 1993.
Excomm Member
Renea Ruffing
I have been the student representative for the state chapter
of AFS since 1997 and have served as chairperson and the newsletter committee
for the past 4 years.� I founded the
student sub-chapter of AFS at PSU and served as its president for its first
year.� I received my Master�s degree in
Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Penn State and am currently working on my
Ph.D. in Ecology at PSU. Last year I co-taught the darter workshop with Rick
Spear and am co-teaching the sucker and minnow workshop this fall with
him.� My current research is focused on
examining the effects of the introduced round goby on the native fishes of Lake
Erie and its tributaries.
Erin M. Snyder
Erin M. Snyder is the Assistant
Unit Leader for Fisheries at the Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife
Research Unit at Penn State University.�
She also is appointed as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of environmental
toxicology in Penn State�s School of Forest Resources.� Erin was born in Brookville, Pa.� She received her B.A. in biology with a minor
in chemistry from Thiel College in Greenville, Pa.,
and a Ph.D. in environmental toxicology and zoology from Michigan State
University in 2000.� Her Ph.D. research
focus was use of common carp caged in situ to monitor wastewater
effluents for endocrine modulating chemicals.�
She currently is interested in aquatic toxicology, fish reproductive
toxicology, and endocrine modulating chemicals.�
In particular, she is studying the effects of perchlorate,
a solid rocket and jet propellant, on fish reproductive and thyroid physiology
and endocrinology.� As a graduate
student, Erin served on the Board of Directors and as Secretary/Treasurer for
the Central Great Lakes Regional Chapter of the Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry.� Now that she
has moved back to Pa., Erin would like to continue to serve in a similar
capacity for the American Fisheries Society.
John Young
Education: Washington University - B.A. 1973; Penn
State - M.S. (ecology)
1979; Union College -M.S. (Applied Statistics) 1988; City
University of New
York - Ph.D. (Ecology) 1999
Since leaving Penn State in 1976, I have worked in environmental
consulting and as environmental staff at a major utility company.
Most of my career has involved studying the effects of water withdrawals at
power plants on
the fish populations of the Hudson River estuary, and
similar issues in other systems. My doctoral research focused on
new data analysis techniques for estimating fluctuating asymmetry, a type of
developmental
instability often linked to environmental stress. I
have been a member of the national AFS and associate editor for the North
American Journal of Fisheries Management since 1999.
I am currently a Senior Scientist with ASA Analysis
and Communication, living and working in State College.
Student Representative
Patrick M. Kocovsky
I graduated
with my Bachelor's in Fishery Biology from Colorado State University in
December 1993. During my senior year and the summer following graduation
I worked as a research assistant on a project studying the demographic response
of resident stream salmonids to habitat
enhancement. During that same period I also did some research on the
long-term population level effects of electrofishing-induced
spinal injuries to stream trout. In April 1995 I was hired as a fishery
biologist for a consulting firm in Denver that specialized in fishery and water
quality management in small impoundments. After one year of consulting I
came to Penn State, where I led the field crew during the third year of the
survey for blockages on Susquehanna tributaries prior to beginning my Master's
research on the unexploited walleye population in Pymatuning
Sanctuary. Following my Master's degree I decided to continue for my
PhD. For my PhD thesis I will model population dynamics of wild trout
populations using landscape-scale variables and investigate the relationships
of trout populations to some land uses (e.g., agriculture). My
professional service to date includes serving as Vice President and President
of the Colorado State University Student Chapter of AFS (1991-92), serving on
the Strategic Plan Review Committee for the AFS Student Subsection (1999-2000),
and serving as an evaluator of student poster and oral presentations at
Northeast Conferences in New Hampshire (1999) and West Virginia (2000). I
am also an active volunteer for the American Red Cross.
Melissa Schnier
Hi!� This coming
semester will be my third at PSU.� I'm
working on my master's in Wildlife and Fisheries Science under Dr. Paola Ferreri.� I do mainly
stream ecology stuff--my thesis deals with riparian areas as predictors of
trout biomass in coldwater streams, and I'm also involved in the Watershed
Stewardship Program.� When I grow up I
want to work for The Nature Conservancy doing aquatic ecology and land-use
planning.�
I'm originally from Colorado, and got my undergrad in
Wildlife from Colorado State University.�
I lived in the San Francisco area for a year before coming here working
for California Fish and Game, and have spent a summer as a field botanist in
the Ozarks for Missouri Dept of Conservation.�
I think PA is beautiful, but will probably head back out West when I'm
done here--I miss the wide open spaces and great big mountains!
Secretary/Treasurer
Michael L.
Hendricks
Mike
is employed by the PA Fish and Boat Commission as a fisheries biologist and is
the unit leader of the Anadromous Fish Research
Unit.� He graduated from Frostburg
University with a Master�s degree in fisheries management.� He has been a member of AFS since 1976 and a
member of the state chapter since 1983.�
He has served the Pennsylvania Chapter as excomm
member, president, and secretary/treasurer.
Important Election and
Social information enclosed
����
Michael Hendricks
C/O PA Fish and Boat Commission
1225 Shiloh Road
State College, PA 16801
Social
and Election Information enclosed
Please pick one candidate for
each office, tape and mail to
Mike Hendricks
Ballot
President Elect Candidate
Dick Soderberg
Secretary/ Treasurer Candidate
����������� Mike Hendricks
Student Representative Candidates
��������������� Patrick M. Kocovsky
����������� Melissa Schnier
Ex Comm Candidate
��������������� Renea Ruffing
����������� Erin
M. Snyder
��������������� John Young
Please don�t forget to return your ballot and social
reservation either by e-mail or snail mail to Mike Hendricks
Michael Hendricks
C/O PA Fish and Boat
Commission
1225 Shiloh Road
State College, PA 16801
