To date, over 6,600 copies of the State of the Rivers Report have been distributed. 

Currently, there studies underway for more than 30 power plants in Virginia. One is the Hipes Dam, proposed for Craig's Creek, to provide drinking water and/or pollution/dilution for Lynchburg, Henrico and Richmond. There was a suggestion that a committee be formed to investigate these issues more thoroughly.

Tier III Rivers Status is awarded to and helps protect the best rivers in the US. The North River in Botetourt already has this status. Recently the DGIF came out against approving other Tier III nominees in Virginia. FORVA plans to meet with them to find out why. 

After reviewing a list of various organizations which monitor/protect Virginia rivers, membership moved and approved that four organizations-American Whitewater Association, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Friends of the Rives of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay Alliance -- will receive $100 each this year from the state FFV. 

State membership includes about 250 persons. New rosters were distributed with a request for updates in addresses. Two new members were present at the Winter Meeting: Mike Landis and Ronnie Pearson. 

The Webmaster reported that there was a problem in trying to put out the newsletter format as an Email using borrowed software, so needless to say, we will not be purchasing that particular software package. 

Randy Lemon who has been instrumental in Whitt Riverbend Park has been nominated for the Randy Carter Award. If anyone would like to nominate someone, send the nominee's resume to Bill Tanger. Voting will take place at the Memorial Day Meeting. 

The Foundation Report included a description of a property on the James near Arcadia and an update on the Virginia Wildlife Federation. There was discussion on several ways to acquire the property for approximately $44,000. One included a house on 2-3 acres with the remaining 8-9 acres being purchased by the club; a second option consisted of a group of FFVers owning shares and allowing other members some access, and the third option required the club to raise money and purchase the property to be overseen by the Foundation. In regards to VWF, a state police investigation may be requested to discover the whereabouts of approximately $60,000 in educational funds after the organization went defunct a few years ago. 

See related articles for approved Calendar and Budget.

Submitted in the absence of Wright Ellis by L. VanLuik

By Bob DeRosset

A few years back, Pete VanDeman said the trouble with old guys is " they just sit around and talk about great it was". 
He's right, of course, and one of these days, he's going to find himself sitting around someone else's campfire and talking about how great it was. When it happens, he will have become another old guy boring his listeners. 

One of the things us old guys talk about is tales of Guys Who Knew What They Were (or are) Doing. I've been fortunate in being around a lot of Guys Who Knew What They Were Doing. On the culinary side, this includes Peter Pine, who one Sunday morning camping on the riverbank, turned out made-from-scratch eggs benedict. Jack Albert's comment was "that was good; may I have some more, without the yellow gravy?" A current example is Jim Garner, turning out what my son, who's eaten a lot of friend fish on two continents, says is the best fried fish he's ever had. 

On my first trip to David's Creek, some of the Guys Who Knew What They Were Doing (the ring leader may have been Tatnall Hurt) put out a trot line and served up really good catfish for Sunday morning breakfast. Caught, along with the catfish was a snarling, hissing, ready-to-sever-digits Chelydra Serpentina. This one didn't make the morning menu.

Snappers, or Cooters, can grow to about 50 pounds, and as far as I am concerned, are not to be messed with. My first riverine contact with Cooters and Guys Who Knew What They Were Doing came in '40 or '41 while drifting down the Neuse River in johnboats with Billy Russ and his friends who were fishing along the banks. When a snapping turtle sunning himself on a log came into range, Mr. Russ shot him. I guess fishermen in the '40s thought the turtles ate the fish they wanted to catch and considered them pests. One deceased Cooter was put in with the fish to be cleaned and eaten later.

Supper was fried fish and Cooter Stew. I suppose it was delicious, but back then, I considered the greatest of gourmet meals to be a two-cent Baby Ruth Bar and a Coke over crushed ice, so I can't remember how it tasted or was cooked. I haven't seen Billy since high school, but last I heard, and this was years ago, he was skipper of a nuclear submarine. 

Carroll Robinson of York, SC, is a 75 year-old Guy Who Knows What He Is Doing, He is a fisherman and a NASCAR fan who still works full time as a welder in a local steel mill. Following is a recipe for Cooter Stew by way of Mr. Robinson's son- in-law who works for the Charlotte Observer, where I found this recipe. 

continued, next page

3