Unit 112 Board of Directors

                                       Minutes-Saturday September 5, 2008

                                                 Syracuse, New York

Present:
Peg Clark, Norma DeAmbra, Ruth Fornell, Walt Gable, Fran Le Beouf, Warren Marsland, Mark McDermott, Mary Miller, Lois Sanders, Anne Scharmach, Robert Simard.

Absent: Arlene Bristol, Frank Cole III, Brion Keller, Ellen Keller, Lawrence Kidder, Laura Krauss, Anita Kupperman, John Gazak, Michael Mihevc, Bull Muse, Mary Kay Quiggle, Roy Quiggle, Anne Sellers and Debra Suller.

Visitor:  Diana Laurent.

Meeting called to order at 6:30 P.M.

Secretary’s Report: Robert Simard

Motion by Gable:

Move to accept the minutes of the April 2008 meeting.

Seconded and carried without dissent.

Treasurer’s Report: Laura Krauss None

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 No Report

            Warren noted we need to work on our financial planning for next year.

Motion: Gable: That every board member receive a copy of the financial report before the meeting. After discussion seconded and approved.

Awards Committee: Lois Sanders

            All rewards were received. After discussion it was decided to look at having pens  as recognition for men. Discussion regarding a designated tournament to recognize our unit achievers will be further discussed at the next meeting.

Finance Committee: Laura Krauss No Report

Tournament Coordinator: Bruce Toder No Report

Unit Newcomer: Sue Barocas:

            Mark stated that there will be a 299er Sectional probably in May next year.  There will be a NAP C flight in Syracuse, Geneseo, and Vestal on Oct 18.

Membership Committee: Mary Quiggle No Report

STaC Coordinator: Roy Quiggle No Report

            Warren noted the STaC made money this year because the ACBL has revamped its STaC directors fees.

Newsletter/Publicity: Arlene Bristol No Report

Trophy Coordinator: Bernie Gorkin No Report

Recorder: Jim Bridges No report

New Business:

            1. The Mohawk Valley has requested relief of their losses they incurred at the Utica Sectional. Laura has recommended that they not have to pay the Unit fees. After discussion:

Motion: McDermott: That the Unit waive the unit fee as calculated by the treasurer. After discussion this motion was tabled until the next meeting when a board member from the Mohawk Valley is present. 

            2. The former treasurer Marsh Macmillan has unit records that need to be safeguarded. Warren will bring them to the next meeting.

Governance Committee: Mark Mc Dermott 

            Mark presented his vision on the future of bridge in the unit. He believes the board need to look at the objectives of the organization. Some things are going very well in the unit i.e. treasurer, sectionals, and the newsletter. There is a problem: The board is not doing enough to promote bridge. He believes it is too large. That there should be 12 members from three geographic areas and that there should be six meetings a year. That all board members need to show enthusiasm toward promoting bridge in their area. That they must attend meetings whenever possible. After discussion, it was decided to reconsider this proposal at a future date.

Nominating Committee: Ruth Fornell

Nominations:

President Warren Marsland

Vice President: Mark McDermott

Secretary: Robert Simard

Treasurer: Laura Krauss

Motion: Le Beouf: Fran asked to accept the nominations as presented. After discussion the motion was rescinded.

Motion: Miller: That the nominations be voted on individually. After discussion, it was seconded and passed.

President: Warren Marsland: Mark seconded the nomination. After discussion it was defeated.

Motion: Miller: Nominated Robert Simard for President. Seconded by Le beouf. After discussion it was passed.

Vice President: Mark McDermott: Seconded and passed.

Secretary:

Motion: Miller nominated Walt Gable for Secretary. Seconded and passed.

Treasurer: Laura Krauss: Seconded and passed.

Executive At Large: No one was nominated. As this nomination has to accepted during this meeting, Walt moved the meeting be recessed until October 11 after the first session at the Lakeville Sectional. Seconded and passed.  Recessed until October 11.

Respectfully Submitted

Robert Simard Secretary

September 9, 2008