THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING, Thursday, (first Thurs. of month) JANUARY 4, 7:30 PM, AT THE CLUB HOUSE, LINCOLN PARK ROAD, IN THE TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BLUFFS.

Remember the date!

PROGRAM: January Meeting: The guest speaker for January is Dave Ellingwood. Dave is with the SOURCE WATER PROTECTION AGENCY in our area. He will do a presentation on what we can do as individuals to protect one of our natural resources.

New Members
SSA welcomes new members:
Bill Lang Senior, Adult
David St Marie, Adult
Mark Schumacher, Adult
Mike Majury, Adult
Bill Baker, Senior
Ted Thomas, Adult
John Snook Senior, Senior
Wayne Gallaugher, Linda Hamill, Family
Wally Cunningham, Adult  
Jerry Simpson, Adult

ADVISORY RE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

Several people have been nominated for the executive committee but were not in attendance at the time of nomination to accept or decline that nomination.
Please be aware that persons nominated will not be eligible for election unless they:
a) appear in person to stand
    or
b) submit a statement in writing indicating that they will stand.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

The year 2006 is quickly coming to a close and once again it has been a tremendous year for the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association. We have accomplished a great deal this past year such as Zone ‘H’ and Provincial recognition, extensive Fish and Wildlife management projects,  a very successful Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular to name just a few of them.

On behalf of the Directors and myself, we would like to offer our thanks and appreciation to all those members who offered their time, talents, hard work and long hours to make the S.S.A. the top Conservation club in Ontario. A special thanks also goes out to the Committee heads and Chairpersons for overseeing all those great projects and activities, your dedication is greatly appreciated.

January will see the election of our new slate of officers, and the January meeting will be you last chance to place your nominations for these positions. I would like to encourage everyone who has the interest and time  to stand for election in order for our club to maintain its outstanding tradition of active sportsmanship and meaningful conservation work.

Wishing everyone a very HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.

Bill Douglas, President
   
        
ARCHERY PROGRAM

Here are a couple of dates to mark on your calendar for next year. The Archery Shooting Sports program has two Tournaments scheduled for 2007. The first is the SSA annual “3D Tournament” which will be held on Sunday April 29/07 with a 10 a.m. shotgun start and is open to all archers.
The second is the “Traditional Only 3D Tournament” which will be held on Sunday May 20/07 with a 10 a.m. start and is open to Traditional Archers only.
These tournaments are great fun for the whole family, hope to see you there.

Bill Douglas  Archery Coordinator

Fisheries Advisory Committee

All of our salmon eggs have hatched out now and with normal mortality we estimate our numbers to be around 125,000. Sometime this month of December we are expecting to get brown trout eggs from the M.N.R. hatchery in Thunder Bay.
Plans by Grey County to improve the water system flow above the hatchery just did not happen this year. We are very appreciative of the ideas and time the county staff put in trying to help us but there were just to many issues to resolve especially in an election year. They did repair the wooden breakwall, put up a sign indicating our site as an environmentally sensitive salt site and removed the silt that had built up over the years from the culvert under the road above us. Come spring we will have to monitor the situation closely as in past years.

Mike Prevost F.A.C. Chairman

 SSA Bylaw amendment proposal

It has been recommended by the Board of Directors of the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association that the SSA bylaws be amended in relation to the age limit for student membership.  At present the SSA student membership allows for the extension of “full rights and privileges of the Association” to be extended to those who reach their 18th birthday and are in full time attendance at an accredited educational institution.  It is recommended that the SSA “Student Member” be changed to match the age limit of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters of which SSA membership provides as a member benefit.   The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters provide a “Junior membership” to those under 21 years of age.

Membership in the SSA for student members at present reads as:

“ 17 (b)            The Association will accept Student Members on a yearly basis for those who shall be 13 years of age or more.

             1.         Full rights and privileges of the Association will be extended to those who reach their 18th birthday and are in full time attendance at an accredited educational institution. “  
          _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _        

The recommended bylaw change is to read as:

“ 17 (b)            The Association will accept Student Members on a yearly basis for those who shall be 13 years of age up to their 21st birthday.

            1.         Full rights and privileges of the Association will be extended to those who reach their 18th birthday and are in full time attendance at an accredited educational institution up to the Student Members 21st birthday. “       

This proposed bylaw amendment will be published a minimum of three times prior to the Annual General Meeting on January 4, 2007 at which time it shall be voted on by those members in good standing and having fully paid membership dues present.    Discussion is encouraged from the
membership as the appropriateness of this change at the General Meetings in advance of the matter to be put to a vote in January 2007.

FORESTS, WETLANDS & WILDLIFE
TRESPASS

Most of us will not be aware that the Trespass to Property Act was amended in 2000.
So now, instead of prohibitions only by virtue of posting, fencing or verbal notice, Section 3.1 lays out prohibition of entry of virtually all rural lands in southern Ontario.

Considering the fact that more and more residents of Grey/Bruce oppose hunting, fishing and trapping, we who engage in the above activities had better be aware of the real constraints that govern us.

It would be too bad for sportsmen to be in trouble because they were unaware of changes in law. Therefore, I am submitting the updated text for SSA members’ information. Please take particular notice of Section 3,(l) (a) and (b).

TRESPASS TO PROPERTY ACT

Definitions

1.        (1) In this Act, “occupier” includes
a)       a person who is in physical possession of premises, or
b)       a person who has responsibility for and control over the condition of premises or the activities there carried on, or control over person allowed to enter the premises, even if there is more than one occupier of the same premises (“occupant”).
    “Premises” means lands and structures, or either of them, and includes
a)       water
b)       ships and vessels
c)       trailers and portable structures designed or used for residence, business or shelter
d)       trains, railway cars, vehicles and aircraft, except while in operation.

Trespass an Offence

2. (1) Every person who is not acting under a right or authority conferred by law and who
a) without the express permission of the occupier, the proof of which rests on the defendant.
i)  enters on premises when entry is prohibited under this Act or
ii) engages in an activity on premises when the activity is prohibited under this Act or
b) does not leave the premises immediately after he or she is directed to do so by the occupier of the premises or a person authorized by the occupier
is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $2,000.

Colour of right as a defence
2)       It is a defence to a charge under subsection (1) in respect of premises that is land that the person charged reasonably believed that he or she had title to or an interest in the land that entitled him or her to do the act complained of.

Prohibition of Entry

3) (1)          Entry on premises may be prohibited by notice to that effect and entry is prohibited without any notice on premises,
(a)              that is a garden, field or other land that is under cultivation, including a lawn, orchard, vineyard and premises on which trees have been planted and have not attained an average height of more than two metres and woodlots on land used primarily for agricultural purposes, or
(b)              that is enclosed in a manner that indicates the occupier’s intention to keep persons off the premises or to keep animals on the premises.

Implied permission to use approach to door

(2)   There is a presumption that access for lawful purposes to the door of a building on premises by a means apparently provided and used for the purpose of access is not prohibited.

Limited permission

4) (1)          Where notice is given that one or more particular activities are permitted, all other activities and entry for the purpose are prohibited and any additional notice that entry is prohibited or a particular activity is prohibited on the same premises shall be construed to be for greater certainty only.

Limited Prohibition

(2)          Where entry on  premises is not prohibited under Section 3 or by notice that one or more particular activities are permitted under subsection (1) and notice is given that a particular activity is prohibited, that activity and entry for the purpose is prohibited and all other activities and entry for the purpose are not prohibited.

Method of giving notice

5)   (1) A notice under this Act may be given
(a)  orally or in writing.
(b)  by means of signs posted so that a sign is clearly visible in daylight under normal conditions from the approach to each ordinary point of access to the premises to which it applies, or
(c)  by means of the marking system set out in section 7.
Substantial compliance

(2)           Substantial compliance with clause (1) (b) is sufficient notice.

6. (1)       A sign naming an activity or showing a graphic representation of an activity is sufficient for the purpose of giving notice that the activity is permitted.

(2)    A sign naming an activity with an oblique line drawn through the name or showing a graphic representation of an activity with an oblique line drawn through the representation is sufficient for the purpose of giving notice that the activity is prohibited

7.    (1) Red markings made and posted in accordance with subsections (3) and (4) are sufficient for the purpose of giving notice that entry on the premises is prohibited.

Yellow Markings

(2)        Yellow markings made and posted in accordance with subsections (3) and (4) are sufficient for the purpose of giving notice that entry is prohibited except for the purpose of certain activities and shall be deemed to be notice of the activities permitted.

(3)        A marking under this section shall be of such a size that a circle of ten centimetres In diameter can be contained wholly within it.
(4)        Markings under this section shall be so placed that a marking is clearly visible in daylight under normal conditions from the approach to each ordinary point of access to the premises to which it applies.
Notice applicable to part of premises

8.                A notice or permission under this Act may be given in respect of any part of the premises or an occupier.

Arrest without warrant on premises

9. (1)          A police officer or the occupier of premises or a  person authorized by the occupier may arrest without warrant any person he or she believes on reasonable and probable grounds to  be on the premises in contravention of Section 2.

Delivery to police officer

(2)        Where the person who makes an arrest under subsection (1) is not a police officer, he or she shall promptly call for the assistance of a police officer and give the person arrested
           into the custody of the police officer.

Deemed warrant

(3)        A police officer to whom the custody of a person is given under subsection (2) shall be deemed to have arrested the person for the purpose of the provisions of the Provincial Offences Act applying to his
           or her release or continued detention and bail.

Arrest without warrant off premises

10.              Where a police officer believes on reasonable and probable grounds that a person has been in contravention of section 2 and has made fresh departure from the premises,  and the person refuses to give his or her name and address, or there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe that the name or address is false, the police officer may arrest the person without warrant.

Motor vehicles and motorized snow vehicles

11.              Where an offence under this Act is committed by means of a motor vehicle, as defined in the Highway Traffic Act or by means of a motorized snow vehicle, as defined in the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act, the driver of the motor vehicle or motorized snow vehicle is liable to the fine provided under this Act and, where the driver is not the owner,  the owner of the motor vehicle or motorized snow vehicle is liable to the fine provided under this Act unless the driver is convicted of the offence or, at the time the offence was committed, the motor vehicle or motorized snow vehicle was in the possession of a person other than the owner without the owner’s consent.

Note 1:              The above does not contain all the information in the Trespass to Property Act.. For complete information, obtain a copy of the Act.

Note 2:              Be advised that your dog or your bullet entering property can be taken by the courts as a technical trespass.

Happy. New Year, everybody!

Reminder About Early Bird Membership Draw

All members who have renewed their 2007 membership by the January general meeting will be eligible for the free draw for a smoker and rod and reel.  Please come out to the meeting and get a free chance.

 Annual Conservation Dinner 2007 version

The Conservation Dinner has been organized for March 3, 2007 at the Lumley Bayshore Community Center in Owen Sound.  Tickets are $45.00 and are available now from Committee Members.  Last year, we had a sell out so buy your tickets early.
       
YOUTH ACTIVITIES   PROGRAM

In the new year we will have Dan Laxton running indoor pellet gun shooting on Jan.7 and 21 and Feb. 4 at 11am in the SSA clubhouse. We are also planning a winter campout for Feb. 17-18 so if you are interested please contact me at the number below  ASAP to allow for adequate preparation. When there is enough salmon fry at the hatchery, probably in late Jan. or Feb. we are also planning to tour the club hatchery with Fred Geberdt.
If you have any questions about the youth activities please contact John McNamara at 519-369-3269 or email
 jkmcnamara@persona.ca. 

Disclaimer: The editorial comments in this Newsletter do not always reflect the policies or opinions of the SSA.