Unit 112 Board of Directors

                                       Minutes-Saturday April 26, 2008

                                                 Ithaca, New York

Present:
Frank Cole III, Norma De Ambra, Ruth Fornell, Walt Gable, Lawrence Kidder, Laura Krauss, Warren Marsland, Mark Mc Dermott, Michael Mihevc,  Bull Muse, Mary Kay Quiggle, Roy Quiggle, Anne Sellers, Robert Simard, Debra, Suller, and  non-voting member Bernie Gorkin.

Absent: Arlene Bristol, Peg Clark, Brion Keller, Ellen Keller, Anita Kupperman, John Gazak,  Fran Le Beouf, Mary Miller, Lois Sanders, Anne Scharmach, and non-voting members Sue Barocas, Jim Bridges and Bruce Toder.

Visitor: Jean Pearson was the Proxy for Arlene Bristol. Also present was Diana Laurent.

Vacancy: Playing Area 7 Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties have no representation.

Meeting called to order at 6:00 P.M.

Secretary’s Report: Robert Simard

Motion by Gable:

Move to accept the minutes of the January 2008 meeting.

Seconded and carried without dissent.

Treasurer’s Report: Laura Krauss

Laura submitted the results for the year thus far noting that we are suffering from low turnout at sectionals and apparently less members.  We need to examine how to increase ACBL membership and increase tournament attendance.
The budget was updated to correct an error in the original version and to modify revenue for the trend noted above.

Motion by Deambra:

Move to accept the Treasurer’s Report.

Seconded and carried without dissent.

President’s Report: Warren Marsland

Warren repeated his goal of working on governance and bringing our bylaws up to date. He believes we will function better if our work is assigned to committees that would report back to the full board by mail and email.

Committees:

Finance Committee: Laura Krauss

Warren stated there are three issues:

The cost of jewelry is $1000 yearly for achievement pins. Is that a wise investment?

Should board members receive free plays at the sectional for the day of the board meeting?

How much money we should expect to make from the STaC. It has always been hard to break even on them, but with the new ACBL price structure we can be sure of making money.

We need to think of how we are spending our money and need to find incentives to increase the number of players and increase attendance at our functions.

Governance Committee: Mark Mc Dermott 

Mark stated that from his experience the board is too large. That we should look at realigning the board to more accurately reflects the playing area bridge population. Norma stated that this would become a weighted board dictated by the largest area. That in her 35 years of service to the Unit board this is not a new issue. That it has been deemed best to give the smaller areas an equal voice in matters.  After further discussion it was decided for the members to take this issue to their local areas. Mark asked that anyone who has comments about the procedures of the board to please contact him.

Tournament Coordinator: Bruce Toder

Tournament Schedules for 2009 and 2010 included in the information packet.

Unit Newcomer: Sue Barocus: No Report

Membership Committee: Mary Kay Quiggle

Our membership is 1243 with 835 people below the rank of life master and 408 life masters or above.  This compares with 1286 in 2006.

STaC Coordinator: Roy Quiggle

STaC set for next week. There were no postage costs. Everything was done via email.

Newsletter/Publicity: Arlene Bristol

There was discussion that we could save a large amount of money by not mailing the newsletter after this issue. 

Motion by Krauss:

The next newsletter will have an article that states that it will be the last issue that will be mailed. There will be a cut out for those wishing to continue receiving the newsletter in the mail that will be sent to the newsletter chairman. There will also be an option to be on an email list.

Seconded and carried without dissent.

Trophy Coordinator: Bernie Gorkin

Bernie will have the Unit Trophy race current after this tournament posted on the Unit 112 website.

New Business:

1. Bernie stated he is thinking of retiring in five years. He suggested we need to start training new people to become directors.  Jeff Francisco from Syracuse has indicated an interest in learning the process. He requested permission to have Jeff help at the Watertown sectional on Saturday and that he is reimbursed $75.00. Others interested should notify a board member or Bernie.

Motion by Muse:

Move to have Jeff Francisco train and be paid $75.00 at the Watertown Sectional on Saturday June 7,2008.  

Seconded and carried without dissent

2. Robert Simard asked if there would be any objection to the minutes and other business being sent via email except for those who do not have internet access? Currently they are Norma and Ruth.

Motion by Mihevc:

That unit minutes and other business be conducted over the internet except for those without an email address.

Seconded and carried without dissent.

Respectfully Submitted

Robert Simard Secretary

April 29, 2008