Unit 114 Board Meeting - January 2003 Warner Robins

The Unit 114 board meeting in Warner Robins, GA was called to order on Jan. 11, 2003. In attendance were: Larry Rich (president), Mike Kovacich, Nancy Hetsko, Mary Ann Bateman, Len Perkins, Tom Carter, Kathy Whidden, Betty Myers, Dick Myers, Liz Swanson, Shuckie Acton, Jim Morgan, Ann Hedden, Barbara Heller, Bob Heller, Linda Greene and Chuck Whidden.

Dick Myers will be representing Area 6 and Betty Myers will be representing Area 11.

Len Perkins moved that the minutes from the last meeting be accepted as corrected. Dick Myers seconded. Motion passed.

Mary Ann gave the Treasurer’s Report and asked that we move $4,000 from checking to the Money Market account. Dick Myers moved and Jim Morgan seconded. It passed.

Mike Kovacich moved that any time our checking account balance exceeds $5,000 that the treasurer is authorized to confer with Len Perkins (or whoever is investing our Money Market account). If they are in agreement, the treasurer is to move the excess money to the money market account and to report on the action at the next board meeting. Liz Swanson seconded. Motion passed. Treasurer’s Report was approved. We have a total of $143,940.08 on hand. This total is all accounts, including the Nationals’ Fund.

Tournament report -- All Unit tournaments are set through 2003. Athens is not on the tournament calendar now or in the future. District 7 has passed a policy that assesses a $50 fine to a tournament that does not meet the required deadline of a sanction a year ahead (barring extenuating circumstances).

Mike Kovacich made a motion that the local sponsor, not the unit, pay any fine. Linda Greene seconded. Motion passed with Liz Swanson opposed.

North American Pairs -- Unit finals will be held in Peachtree City on Sept. 20, 2003. [Note: subsequent executive committee action moved this to Sept. 13.] Qualifiers begin June 1 and run through August. A discussion was held about whether the host should get all of the money from the NAP Unit qualifier. Barbara Heller moved that we table this discussion until we find out what the district is charging for its portion of the event. Linda Greene seconded. Motion passed. Larry Rich and Ann Hedden were asked to find out what was written in the past four years of the NAP so that we can determine any pattern concerning the income.

GNT -- Liz Swanson reported that it was in progress. Morganton is May 3^rd and is hosting the district final. She encouraged the club owners to hold more qualifiers and stated that the district had changed the format to provide more advancement to the final. Chuck Whidden (our electronic contact) stated that we can provide mailing labels sorted by ZIP code for any group that we may want to contact. We now have over 300 e-mail addresses in our database so it is easy to send out reminders for special events.

Pips ‘n Tips -- Bob Heller stated that it will be feasible for us to add Pips ‘n tips (or a version of it) to the District 7 publication. The District is obligated to publish 32 pages so some months we will have extra pages within the 32 or be able to go up to a 40-page publication. The district will be setting the parameters for how to purchase this space. Joe Sherwood is the chairman of the committee doing this for the district. Mike Kovacich stated that we should try to buy 3 or 4 pages in the publication in the spring. Barbara Heller suggested that we be proactive in securing 8 pages 3 times a year for our unit. Liz Swanson moved that we contact other units to see if they wanted to share the space with us. Everyone will look into the feasibility of having enough news to print in the 8 pages. We will determine this matter at a later date.

Mini-Bridge Report -- Nancy Hetsko reported that she still has 6 tables of novices playing from the pilot lessons that we set up at the last meeting. She has noticed about a 75% retention rate. She is teaching a combination Mini-Bridge and EasyBridge program.

Unit 114 has 2,470 active members. District 7 has 9,512 active members. We no longer have to do that Marketing Report for ACBL.

Our next meeting is 5 p.m. May 31, 2003 in Macon. Sportsperson of the Year will be voted on. Encourage all the clubs to submit letters of nominations spelling out way their candidate should receive this prestigious honor. The names should be submitted to Larry Rich or Barbara Heller ahead of time even if the club wishes to have someone read the letter to the full board. Meeting was adjourned.