Mission
Trout Unlimited’s mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Trout Unlimited (TU) accomplishes this mission on local, state and national levels with an extensive and dedicated volunteer network. TU’s national office, based just outside of Washington, D.C., and its regional offices employ professionals who testify before Congress, publish a quarterly magazine, intervene in federal legal proceedings, and work with the organization’s 127,000 volunteers in 500 chapters nationwide to keep them active and involved in conservation issues.
Region
Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited (# 217) is based in Fairfield and comprised of the towns of Fairfield, Westport, Weston, Easton, Redding, Trumbull, Monroe, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford and Shelton.
Its mission is to conserve, protect and restore coldwater fisheries and their watersheds, particularly in local rivers such as the Saugatuck, Mill, Aspetuck, Pequonnock and Farmill.
TU members and volunteers abide by the motto: “If you take care of the fish, the fishing will take care of itself.”
It was the first Trout Unlimited chapter formed in Connecticut.
Chapter membership meetings are designed to be fun and informative events which are presented as a service to Chapter members and friends. They include ample opportunity to meet and chat with other Chapter members and friends. Chapter meetings are open to the general public, and there is no charge to participants.
DUE TO THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES OUR MEETINGS ARE MOVING TO ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCING. INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO JOIN OUR MEETINGS WILL BE POSTED SOON. PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK BACK & JOIN US WITH YOUR OWN PIZZA & DRINK.
IN NORMAL TIMES: The Chapter meets on the third Tuesday of each month from September through May at 7 p.m. The meetings are held at Port 5 Naval Veterans at 69 Brewster Street in the Black Rock Section of Bridgeport, near the Fairfield/Bridgeport line just minutes off I-95. Hot pizza and refreshments are served (see map.)
After a brief update on significant Chapter issues, events and concerns, the meetings feature a guest speaker who presents a show (most often, an audio/visual presentation) on conservation, fishing, travel, or other topics of interest. Following the guest speaker, a raffle, including a number of interesting prizes, is held to partially defray the costs of the meeting, the speakers, the food, and the mailing of our monthly newsletter, Nutmeg Notes.
Meetings of our Chapter Officers and Board of Directors are held on the second Thursday of the month (a week before the general membership meeting) at the Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Old Post Road, starting at 7:00 p.m.: chapter members are welcome.
At these meetings, chapter business, conservation issues, and chapter activities, events and outings are planned, coordinated and discussed. For more information, please read the Chapter Bylaws or contact a volunteer (see below.)
Chapter Board of Directors & Officers
Executive Officers
- President: Rich Rosen
- Vice President: Jerry Goldstein
- Secretary: Rich Rosen
- Treasurer: Ed Grzeda
Other Board Members
- Immediate Past President:
- Conservation: Giann Morressi
- Social:
- Membership: Ed Grzeda
- Program: John Kovach, 203-7673557
- Fundraising:
- Communications: Cheryl Groesbeck, Jerry Goldstein
- Banquet Chairman: Chuck MacMath, 203-260-1829
- Banquet Prizes:
- Holiday Raffle: David Ader
- Trout in the Classroom (TIC): Dave Edgeworth
- Newsletter: Cheryl Groesbeck
Do you have in-person meetings?
Due to Covid concerns meetings are still held by remote. We do have outside trips that are in-person. To get the link for the meeting sign up for the meeting through the Nutmeg Trout website. Meetings are free.
About 15 years ago, The Nutmeg Chapter raised funds and fought hard to defeat a proposed housing project on land off Park Avenue, which is encircled on three sides by the Mill River. The project would have led to the demise of the trout stream so many of our members fish and maintain. Recently, Easton has approved the purchase of that land by Aspetuck Land Trust (ALT), which will assure that the area and stream will remains pristine.
ALT has received a CT state grant toward the purchase, but need additional funds to pay for the land.
The Nutmeg Chapter’s mission would be served well if Nutmeg Chapter assisted in raising funds for ALT, and perhaps become a steward partner for the stream thereafter.
Bob Eck, Nurmeg member
I just spoke with David Brandt of Aspetuck Land Trust to pledge our help raising money toward the purchase of the current parcel and any future preservation of the parcel.
Nutmeg TU will be directing donors to ALT’s site, https://www.aspetucklandtrust.org/south-park, and urge all who can to help Aspetuck Land Trust acquire this vital parcel.
John Kovach
CT Chairman
Trout Unlimited
Meeting on “Improving Fishing skills and Environmental protection” iwas announced for tomorrow, March 15 at 7 PM in Fairfield, CT.
But I can not find location of this meeting.
Please sent the address to me
Meeting is on Zoom March 22 at 7. Link to register is in story on website.
Dear Nutmeg Trout Members,
Absolutely heart broken over the loss of an Orvis Recon Fly Rod and Hydros III Reel which was my personal favorite and a gift from my wife. It was accidently left on the right side parking shoulder nearest the water of Ford Road in Westport today (3/29) between 2 and 6pm. Reward given to the kind soul who locates and returns to it’s rightful owner. Please call Mark at 475-731-7400 or you can reach me at mking1259@aol.com. Thank you!