Replaces former in 2023



         

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   updated March 23, 2024




The 2024 Wild Game Dinner was Held on March 16 at the Chapter House Posted March 17, 2024

On the evening of Saturday, March 16, the chapter hosted the annual Wild Game Dinner at the chapterhouse. See the Activities page for a few snapshots of the event.


On March 30, the Chapter will Host a Pancake Breakfast, an Easter Egg Hunt and a Painting Event for the New Bee Boxes  Posted March 17, 2024

If you are interested in participating in the events of Saturday, March 30, please see the email that announces and provides definition for the three activities,  Please register if you have not already registered. Note: two separate registrations are needed 1) the breakfast/egg hunt and 2) the bee box painting activity.

Events for the week of March 24 and Our Next Chapter Work Day on April 6, 2024   updated March 23, 2024

See the official chapter calendar for events during the month and for any changes to the official event schedules.  Note especially our monthly slate of meetings and dates where there are range closures.

Note also that our seasonal schedule of lawn mowing and weed trimming will be starting in April 2024 and will recur weekly on Thursday morning unless there is a steady rain. The season ends when the weeds stop growing around the latter part of October. The 2023 season ended on October 19, 2023 and the lawn mowers and string trimmers have been winterized for the cold months.  Work hour credits will accrue for new members and there will be a sense of appreciation for all members who come to help keep the grounds looking neat and tidy.  It will make the perks of chapter membership, like shooting and fishing, camping, hiking, etc. much more enjoyable knowing you are part of an organization that cares for and has pride in the entire facility.  Come and participate with the other volunteers who toil every week to make the chapter a showplace. A few more volunteers will lessen the load on what now is a small percentage of the organization.  If you can't make it on a weekday, come out on the first Saturday monthly work day.

If you desire an event to be placed on the calendar, please communicate with the president, Herbert Pritchett Sr at his cell phone number 540-226-0015 or his email address  hwpritchettsr@yahoo.com. You should also reference the event requirements detailed in the Premises Use Agreement located on the Facilities web page.

Usually in the first week of the month, the chapter will hold our board meeting on Monday (sometimes Tuesday if there is a holiday or event such as Halloween) evening at 6:30 pm and our membership meeting on Thursday evening at 7 pm. Both meetings will be in the chapter house.

Scheduled monthly workdays (first Saturday of the month is our  typical schedule):
  • Saturday, grounds maintenance tasks begin at 8:00 AM,  All new members need to sign the roster sheet to obtain credit for work hours.  You must sign in when you arrive and sign out when you leave.  There are no exceptions. The kitchen area of the chapter house is off-limits except for kitchen crew on work day.
  • Saturday, Adopt-a-Highway roadside pickup event at 8:30 am (We have obtained our new charter so are able to pickup trash when the conditions are right. For safety reasons a pickup will not be scheduled if the roadways are wet and slippery even if the rain has subsided.). IMPORTANT: When a pick-up is scheduled and you are intending to participate, review and heed the safety requirements on the Conservation page.  We had our first pickup on April 8 as the road had collected a lot of litter over the winter.  The weather was seasonal and there were enough volunteers. We will resume no earlier than April 2004.
  • Saturday, 9 AM, Prospective member interviews in the Activity Center temperature permitting (or chapterhouse-- ask) and new member orientation in chapterhouse.
  • 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 possessing a temporary access badge (either orange or white), please come in to obtain a proper photo ID. If you are replacing a badge (where a photo exists but the badge has failed due to misuse) there will be a new photo badge reissued for a fee of $10 using either your archived photo or a new photo taken at the time of issue.
  • Saturday, around 10 AM, a trap thrower training session will be offered as needed and weather permitting for the auto clay pigeon thrower with wobbler base on shotgun range (range 4). This is a 15 minute tutorial and demonstration (if demand exists; please advise Sandy Stanford if you want an orientation.)
  • Saturday after work has completed there will be a lunch served in the activity center or the chapterhouse, if weather is too cold, before workday is considered complete.
Updated Note: Nominally the monthly workday is 8:00 am to 1:00 pm but in some cases, the workdays might continue even later when workload demands it. In consideration of the fact that fellow members are volunteering their efforts in support of the chapter on monthly workdays, other recreational pursuits (fishing or shooting as prime examples) are closed until the workday is complete. It could be as late as 2 pm although it might end as early as 12 noon when work has been completed. The workday tasks have priority and all members are requested to participate whether or not the required new member work hours have been met.  Come out on a workday to meet your fellow members and lighten the workload by spreading it out.  The earlier the work is finished, the sooner we can all get back to enjoying our property.
No other events are presently planned, however, it is always prudent to check with the official chapter calendar for any last minute changes.

February 2024 New Member Induction posted February 3, 2024

On Saturday, February 3, 2024, Mike Weiss and Sandy Stanford gave an orientation to a new family member at the chapterhouse. The newest members of the chapter include, from left to right, are Megan and Matthew Woyak and baby Woyak.  A second family was elected on Thursday at the membership meeting for February but were unable to make this month's orientation.  They are the Cropp family, Richard and Susan, who wil be oriented on the next workday..

Welcome our four newest members of the chapter.

The Woyak Family

important Notices for March 2024  Updated March 10, 2024

Be advised of the following for March 2024:

Wild Game Dinner scheduled for Saturday, March 16. Click here for details.

Pancake breakfast, Easter egg hunt for the kids, and beehive box painting for the children, Saturday, March 30  Click here for details.



New Version of Range Rules Published posted January 6, 2024

New rules for use of the ranges have been published.  A change has been made to define better the use of suppressors on the chapter property.  See either the Member Login page or the Facilities page to read the new requirements.


January 2024 New Member Induction posted January 6, 2024

On Saturday, January 6, 2024, Mike Weiss and Sandy Stanford gave an orientation to several new members at the chapterhouse. The newest members of the chapter include, from left to right, Kirby and Barbara Jean Johnson, Daniel Schwarz, William Hurst, Sylvia Walker, Michael Lansden and Robert Sargeant. Al but the family member Johnsons are individual members.

Welcome our seven newest members of the chapter.

Seven New Members

We are Planning for our Annual Wild Game Dinner in 2024 posted January 6, 2024

After a several-year hiatus commencing the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapter board has decided to bring back the annual Wild Game Dinner.  Although the dinner is designed for members to gather and showcase their favorite wild game cuisine, we will also be serving fried free-range chicken (or whatever Royal Farms sells).  The event is planned for Saturday, March 16, 2024.  The setup and preparation will start around 4 pm with the sit-down dinner to begin at 5 pm.  Members are asked to inform Herbert Pritchett if they are attending (provide numbers of diners) and what you will be bringing either as a main course, side dish, or dessert.  Herbert can be reached at hwpritchettsr@yahoo.com.  Your RSVP should be received by Monday, March 11, 2024, for proper planning.


Our Pond has Received a Second Stocking of Trout (see story at the Activities Page)

posted December 17, 2023


Chapter Membership Approved the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget posted December 8, 2023

At the December 7, 2023 membership meeting of the Fredericksburg Rappahannock chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, Inc. the chief financial officer, Joe Webb, presented the board proposed 2024 budget. After a discussion, the budget was voted on and passed with no disagreements.  The content of the line item budget can be viewed as a PDF file at the Member Login page of the website.


        325th Fredericksburg Dog Mart Raffle posted October 8, 2023

Again this year, member Kevin Maxwell, provided for three high-value articles for the Dog Mart raffle.  The articles include a Stoeger 12-gauge over and under shotgun, a 35-liter Calcutta Cooler, and a Seiko gentleman's dress watch with black leather band.  The raffle was drawn at the October business meeting on October 5, 2023.  The first 3 tickets drawn and the winners in order are:
The Stoeger O/U shotgun was won by chapter member, Terry Fellinger

The Calcutta cooler was won by chapter member, Scott Henderson

The Seiko watch was won by chapter member, Bernie Balsley


Here is this year's poster which has been on display at several chapter meetings and the Dog Mart until October 5 when the drawing was made at the chapter's October membership meeting.  Winners need not have been present to claim the prizes, however, two of the three winners attended and claimed their prizes personally

Click here to see an image of this year's 325th Fredericksburg Dog Mart raffle poster

All proceeds from the raffle will become part of the chapter's treasury for use to conduct chapter activities.


Elected Officials Installed for Chapter Year 2023/2024 posted September 8, 2023

At the September Membership Meeting held this evening, Past President Steve Kotowski swore in the officials elected for the year 2023/24 chapter board.  All officers and half the directors were elected at the August meeting.  Pictured below is the ceremonial swearing in of those officials.  From left to right are pictured, Jim Lloyd, vice president; Sandy Stanford, membership director; Barbara Pritchett, secretary; Herbert Pritchett, president; Ralph Kinch, treasurer; and Darrell Schultz, director.  Also elected but not present was Latoynia Ransom-Harvey, director.  Officers are elected for on-year terms and directors for 2-year terms.  A complete breakdown of the board constituency with term limits can be found at the member login page.

Chapter Board 2023/2024

Chapter Holds Annual Shooting Sports Event in Honor of Clayton "Fred" Marshall

posted September 8, 2023

See Activities tab for article and selected photos.


Our Pond Supports All Kinds of Natural Flora and Fauna  posted August 11, 2023

The pond has an abundance of examples of  all aquatic animals and flora in central Virginia.  This year there is a return of pond weed growth to the shoreline of the pond.  Our pond manager and a few volunteers have been waging a battle to reduce the growth to make fishing a little easier.  The growth will be abated when colder weather settles in.  Also, the pond has yielded an abundance of fishing experiences throughout the winter and spring when anglers have been rewarded with all sorts of large catches including trout and bass.  The pond also serves as a source of other natural wildlife.  Occasionally, the wildlife that inhabit our pond will sometimes need some management.  Here is a photo of one of our members who has reduced the population of a healthy if not ugly snapping turtle.  I am sure there are others in the pond so it is important not to dangle your toes in the water lest you encounter the jaws of one of these reptiles.


Butch Morris Awarded for his "Save Our Streams (SOS)" Conservation Effort posted August 4, 2023

See article and photo on the conservation web tab on the Fred-Rapp chapter website.


New Officials Were Elected as Officers of the National Chapter  posted August 3, 2023

The Izaak Walton League of America, Inc wrapped up their annual convention last week.  The Fredericksburg-Rappahannock Chapter is proud to announce that our chapter president, Herbert Pritchett, Sr., of Fredericksburg VA has been elected as the vice president of the national chapter of IWLA, Inc.  Pictured here is a photo of the installation of the officers' ceremony conducted at the convention.  From right to left are the new president-elect, Jodi Arndt; vice-president-elect, Herbert Pritchett, Sr.; and treasurer-elect, Scott Meyer, who is also from a Virginia chapter.

Installation of Officers


Herbert is the Newly Elected National Chapter Vice-President (See the News Page) posted July 29, 2023


We Have been Hearing Recent Claims of Very Large Bass in Our Pond posted June 28,  2023

Member Dirk Johnson sent a photo of a catch made by his daughter at the chapter pond yesterday.  This is proof positive that we have some big ones in our pond just waiting for someone to put a hook in their mouth. She looks very happy!


Communications with Membership posted June 9, 2023

It is again apparent that not all members are getting communications from the chapter.  We use a variety of email, calendars and social media to try to communicate information.  Some information is critical, for example firearms range closures. We try to pass the word as quickly as we know when critical situations arise.  The fastest way to do this is by email and the use of the chapter calendar.  If you are not on distribution for email please let me know at newsletter @ iwlafred-rapp.org (take out spaces to form the email address) and I will put you on the list of distribution. If you have a family membership include your significant other's information as well. I need your first and last name and email address to do this after checking to assure you are a member.  (No non members are on the distribution.)  I also try to make sure information of import on the use of the property is listed on the chapter calendar.  You can always check the chapter calendar at this link.  The calendar trumps any other scheduling information usually. The chapter calendar is a Google calendar and if you use Google calendar as your personal calendar you can overlay the chapter calendar so you can always be up to date with chapter events. Less often, information can be found at our website and our Facebook sites.  If it is a time critical notification, look for an email and a calendar entry.

The only US postal mail notification you will receive in any year is the annual mailing for annual dues which normally happens in early to mid October each year.

By the way, if you are changing either your postal mail or your email address make sure you notify the chapter so our communications will keep up with you.  Again, you can send it to me (Jim Lloyd) at newsletter @ iwlafred-rapp.org (remove the spaces to form the email address) and I will assure that the databases needing change will get changed.


Two SignUp Events Added to the Member Login Web Page posted May 20, 2023

The SignUp links for the Fredericksburg Dog Mart and the recently scheduled Fall Spotsy Wine Festival have been added to the Member Login page so members may access the links and volunteer support for the events later this fall.  Sign up soon and often!


The Prestigious Judge John Tobin honor was awarded at the May Membership Meeting

See the News Tab.for details.


  Work Day, June 3, 2023  posted June 4, 2023

Work day on June 3 had many varied activities.  Some brush clearing was done on several parts of the property, weeds were pulled from the pond to make fishing from the bank a little easier (and to keep the weeds from taking over the entire pond surface.)  A camera was added to the power pole in the parking lot to provide a fixed "stare" and a higher resolution record of gate entries and exits. The pan, tilt and zoom camera will be relocated in the near future to provide more dynamic coverage of the upper part of the property.  A good portion of the ramp leading to the chapterhouse entrance was replaced as the 5/4 planking were getting very deteriorated.  Some stone was added on the side of the sidewalk leading to the stairs at the chapterhouse to reduce a tripping/falling hazard.  A warning stripe of yellow was also pointed to draw attention to the sudden change in elevation of the sidewalk.  A heavy bolt was added to the new doors to the tool shed to secure the doors flush with the frame. The gasoline engine powered garden pump was serviced and restored to proper function. Nona prepared a hot dog lunch for rewarding the workers who toiled that morning to improve the property.

           Wiring it
Come out to your chapter next month on workday to keep our investment properly maintained and a source of beauty, utility and pride!