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ACBL Unit 114

Minutes of Board Meeting

Macon, Georgia

January 20, 2007

President Nancy Hetsko called the meeting at the Mandarin House Restaurant to order at 5:45 PM.

Other voting members in attendance were:  Tom Wight (VP), Mary Ann Bateman (Treas), Marty Nathan (Sec’y), Sandy Barrow (Past Pres), Betty Myers (Area 1), Larry Rich (2), Ken Parker as proxy for Curtis Barbee (3), Kevin Collins (4), Nicolas Hammond (3), Beatrice Kemp (4), Josie Mitchell (4), Claudia Feagin as proxy for Jan Word (4), Liz Swanson (5), Dick Myers (6), Len Perkins (7), Don Lowry (8), Alma McBrayer as proxy for Harpe Suggs (9) and Myrtis Howell (10).

Also attending were:  Jack Feagin, (Past Pres), Ann Hedden (Membership/NAP), Bob Heller (Special Committee on Areas), Mike Kovacich (Past Pres), and Patty Tucker (Recorder).

Guest included Bob Briggs and George Anderson (Conyers DBC), Doug Roberts and William Marks (Roswell DBC), Carolyn Eckert (DBAA and AJB) and Kathy Whidden (Director)

Nancy welcomed everyone and, because of the large number of attendees, asked each person to introduce themselves.

Committee Reports

The minutes of September 30, 2006, which had been sent to all board members prior to the meeting, were presented and approved.

Treasurer – Mary Ann Bateman presented the Treasurer’s Report (attached).  This included the usual listing of expenses since the last meeting as well as a summary of all operating account transactions for 2006.  The report was approved.  Mary Ann pointed out that we had received $25,000 back from the ACBL for the nationals.

Membership – Ann Hedden reported that she is sending out new member (new to ACBL as well as transfers into the unit) kits to 20-30 people a month.  Mary Ann commented that we are indeed reimbursing clubs for a lot more free plays this year.

Tournaments – Dick Myers noted that he had failed to bring the tournament/trophy event schedules with him but they will be available at the sectional later in the evening. (They are now attached).  We have finalized all sanctions for 2007 and are starting on 2008.  Flyers are available for the Roswell and Oconee sectionals.

Entitlement – Patty Tucker gave a detailed report on Atlanta Junior Bridge’s progress.  There were 12 tables at the first ever anywhere junior pairs championship in December.  WPBA30 is broadcasting a segment on the game (Patty had shown it before the meeting.)  There was other news coverage and she is expecting an article in the ACBL Bulletin.  AJB is starting 6 new classes in January.  AJB has become an advisor to the foundation Learning to Give which received the Bill Gates/Warren Buffet funding to promote youth bridge in disadvantaged areas. Bob Hamman, who is promoting youth bridge in Dallas and elsewhere has also requested information from AJB   AJB is sponsoring a TAP class (normally done only at larger tournaments) to better educate teachers in its program; she is expecting 32 students, 26 of whom are AJB teachers or assistants..  The Georgia Youth Team Championship will be in Roswell in March.  Work has started on expanding last year’s very successful summer camp program.   Fundraising has gone well; AJB received enough private money to qualify for the ACBL Educational Foundation matching grant.  The foundation even approved 6 month’s funding although AJB had only asked for one quarter at a time.  The only negative is that the City of Atlanta after school program has not matched the expected number of students and the classes are smaller than anticipated.

Education – Nancy reported that we still do not have an Education Liaison and appealed to all for suggestions.

Hall of Fame – Larry Rich reported that he has a request that David Adams be added to the Unit Hall of Fame.  He does not know if there is currently a committee or, if so, who is on it.  Nancy said she would get with him on this.

Other – Bob Briggs handed out a flyer (attached) on a new “Conyers Challenge” team event.  Clubs throughout the unit will be able to compete as long as they have at least 3 teams representing their respective club.  There will be a permanent trophy recognizing each year’s winner.

Old Business

Special Committee on Areas

Bob Heller gave a preliminary report on the work of the committee. 

Bob gave a few ground rules under which the committee has decided to operate:

·       Everything should be open.  Recognizing that the unit relationship with the DBAA was the motivating force behind the formation of the committee, representatives from the DBAA attended each of the three meetings.

·       The committee has no interest is ending the unit’s relationship with the DBAA and notes the organization has done much good for bridge in the Atlanta area.  This special relationship should continue.

·       Having “one-man, one-vote”, i.e., area representation proportional to population is not practical.  This would leave too few representatives for too much of large geographic areas of the unit.

The committee has agreed on one recommendation so far: that there should be some reworking of areas.  Some are just too small, one representing just 36 members.  There is too great a likelihood of not finding good area reps from such a small territory.  Exactly how this will be done, however, is not yet determined.  The current thing among the committee is to expand area 4 (now the 5 close in Atlanta counties) by adding perhaps 6 counties along its northern rim.  Members in these counties generally play in the Atlanta clubs.  In connection with this increase in size, 2 reps would be added to area 4 (for a total of 7) and the remaining areas would be reduced from ten to eight, keeping the total reps at 15.

There are now two proposals under consideration.  In the first there would be four DBAA reps (from the current five) and three others would be at large representatives elected at the first Atlanta sectional each year.  Under the second proposal, there would be three DBAA reps and one each elected at for the four main area 4 clubs.

Once the committee has determined the new area boundaries, it will put the proposal on the web site.  It in particular wants input to ensure that we have best created areas that reflect where members play, recognizing that it is impossible to do so for each and every member.

Patty Tucker asked for a clarification on club voting.  How would it be monitored?  Wouldn’t that require a bylaws change?  Bob pointed out that this board has the duty to define areas and election procedures.  It is not clear whether we would have to amend the bylaws.  The election would be supervised by the unit.

Mike Kovacich stated he has a problem with elections in clubs.  Does the Macon club, for example, consider area residents that live in, say, Henry County?  Does it solicit votes from area residents who do not play in that club?  Mary Ann Bateman stated that the area rep in Macon is not elected by the membership but rather appointed by the association board.  Mike suggested that the committee’s rejecting areas of all approximately the same size is wrong.  There should be, for example, 9 area reps each representing 300 residents.  He further suggested that the unit run all elections.  He asked why the unit would run elections only in Atlanta.  He further pointed out that while we have proxies for area reps at this meeting, the ACBL has a policy against proxy voting.

Jack Feagin reviewed the history of how the DBAA came into existence, with the unit’s blessing and cooperation.  Given the 25-year history that has served both organizations well, he cautioned against arbitrary changes in the relationship.  The committee could, for example, just as easily recommend five DBAA reps (which would be no change for the DBAA) and two at-large as four DBAA and 3 at large.  The 5 area reps are built into the DBAA structure in the agreement worked out with Atlanta in the late 1970s.  While the board has the right to change this, it should consider that this will change the DBAA as well; agreements should be kept unless there is a very strong reason for changing.

Jack further stated that what we have is an inter-Atlanta problem and that it would best be solved by Atlanta people working it out.  He’d like the unit to facilitate discussion groups among Atlantans.  He thinks the unit should get involved directly only if there is a significant unit issue.  He closed with the suggestion that we should not lightly change what is working.

Mike noted that the proposed larger area 4 would have about 65% of the membership and reiterated that the unit should divide its membership of 2700 into 9 areas of roughly 300 each.

 
Janet Sherwood noted that metro Atlanta has expanded from when the five-county Area 4 was created years ago.  She’d like the opportunity to vote in area , where she plays but does not live.

Sandy Barrows pointed out that the driving issue should be how to grow bridge.  We should be asking what proposals would do that best.  She further pointed out that around 10 years ago there was considerable strife between two clubs only 25 miles apart.  The parties involved sat down and were able to resolve the issues.

 
Myrtis Howell said Valdosta had similar dissent a few years ago, but the locals were able to work it out.

 
Tom Wight asked why the committee felt locked into its present number of 15 area reps.  Bob said that he should have included that in the initial ground rules the committee agreed upon.  The committee felt that making the board larger would make it more unwieldy without much compensating benefit.

New Business

Patty Tucker asked that the Unit supply a trophy for the Youth Team Championship, as we had done for the Youth Pairs.  This is moved, seconded and approved.

Goodwill committee / Sportsperson of the Year

Nancy reminded all that the Secretary had sent out a request for nominations to the District Goodwill Committee.  We are under a tighter deadline since the District has moved the announcement to Gatlinburg.  We need to have out nominations in by March 1.

As our next meeting will not be until July, we will select our Sportsperson of the Year at that time.  The secretary will send notices to clubs asking for nominations.

Mini-McKenney / Ace of Clubs

Presentations for these awards will be made at the Roswell Sectional in March.  Mary Ann Bateman will make sure we have the certificates for the Ace of Clubs and the medallions for the Mini-McKenney for the awards ceremony.

Our next meeting will be Saturday, July 7, between sessions at the Atlanta Sectional.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Martin J.  Nathan

Secretary

GA UNIT 114
TREASURER'S REPORT - January 20, 2007
________________________________________________________________________
Suntrust beginning balance:                            $    5,108.77
ACBL Membership                                             2,497.88
Nationals                                                  51,389.15
                                                           =========
                             Total:                       $58,995.80

Expenses:                                                                              
743 Cumming DBC       STaC Refund                  10/06        9.83
744 Atlanta DBC       STaC Refund                  10/06      130.69
746 Alpharetta DBC    STaC Refund                  10/06      206.35
747 Athens DBC        STaC Refund                  10/06       11.79
748 Anne Hedden       new membership & supplies    10/06       31.20
749 Far & Near        Web page 4th quarter         10/06      100.00
750 Classic City DBC  STaC Refund                  10/06        8.00
751 Newman DBC        STaC Refund                  10/06       11.79
752 Lanier DBC        STaC Refund                  10/06       63.87
753 Roswell DBC       STaC Refund                  10/06       12.77
754 Macon DBC         STaC Refund                  10/06       72.71
755 Robins DBC        STaC Refund                  10/06       45.20
756 Eatonton DBC      STaC Refund                  10/06       24.57
757 Conyers DBC       STaC Refund                  10/06       32.43
758 Carrolton DBC     STaC Refund                  10/06        8.43
759 Peachtree DBC     STaC Refund                  10/06       33.41
760 McRae DBC         STaC Refund                  10/06       46.18
761 Southside DBC     STaC Refund                  10/06       29.48
762 McIntosh DBC      STaC Refund                  10/06       21.62
763 Marietta DBC      STaC Refund                  10/06        9.83
764 Ruff & Sluff      STaC Refund                  10/06      120.86
765 Luma's Restaurant Bd Meeting Meal              10/06      461.13
766 Atlanta DBC       STaC Refund                  11/06      130.69 **
767 Cumming DBC       new membership               11/06       24.00
768 R. B. Drain       to Savings account           12/06    2,000.00
769 Dick Myers        Trophy/Atl Jr Bridge         12/06      163.45
770 Roswell DBC       new membership               12/06        5.00
771 MDBC              new membership               12/06       12.00
772 Anne Hedden       Membership supls & E-Bridge  12/06      258.95
773 Atlanta Jr Bridge Junior Bridge                01/07      750.00
774 R. B. Drain       to National Account          01/07   51,389.15
775 Covington Wildlife Federation March tournament 01/07      500.00
776 Far & Near        Web Page 1st quarter         01/07      100.00
                                                          ==========
                 Total checks written:                     56,825.38
Suntrust balance:                                           2,170.42
RBC Dain Unit 114 Account:        01/15/2007               82,534.81
RBC Dain National Account:        01/15/2007              120,431.16
Balance of three accounts                               $ 205,136.39
  **Duplicate check - getting refund
______________________________________________________________________________
Mary Ann Bateman, Treasurer -   mabateman@cox.net  (478) 731-0741

Georgia Unit 114 Financial Report 2006

Suntrust Bank beginning balance 12/31/2005      3,385.74       
Meals reimbursed from Board Meeting                40.00            
ACBL Membership                                 8,648.55  
Refund to Unit for StaC games                     970.82           
Nationals                                      25,000.00                                                                   =========
                                               =========
              Total In:                      $ 38,045.11
_________________________________________________________                         
Checks written from Suntrust Account:    
Janice Van Dyke-Roswell expenses                   97.67
Board Meeting Meals                             1,520.24
Annual Registration                                30.00
Trophy expenses                                   459.23
Bank Charge                                        11.00
Secretarial Expense                                57.34
Gift to Bob Heller for work on News to District   300.00
NAOP                                               11.97
Easybridge & Mentoring programs                   509.00
Web Page                                          400.00
District News                                     450.00
Atlanta Jr. Bridge                              2,000.00
Refund from StaC games                          1,022.50 
Membership fees & supplies                        689.59
Transfer to Savings Account                     2,000.00
Transfer to National Account                   25,000.00
Mini-McKinney awards                               74.20
Good Sportsman refund                              48.00
                                               =========
              Total:                           34,680.74
              Suntrust Balance:                 3,364.37
_________________________________________________________
Unit 114 Account - R. B. Drain                 84,285.53    
National Account - R. B. Drain                 67,291.29
Suntrust                                        3,364.37
_________________________________________________________
Balance all 3 accounts  12/31/2006          $ 154,941.19

Mary Ann Bateman - Treasurer 478-731-0741  mabateman@cox.net