| July 7, 2007 Norcross |
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ACBL Unit 114 Minutes of Board Meeting Atlanta Sectional July 7, 2007
President Nancy Hetsko called the meeting at the Northeast Hilton to order at 5:10 PM. As there were many new faces on the board, Nancy asked everyone to introduce themselves The minutes of January 20, which had been sent to all board members prior to the meeting, were presented and approved after a minor correction.
Committee Reports
Treasurer’s – Mary Ann Bateman presented the Treasurer’s Report (below). It included both a current quarter and full year summary. It was approved.
Membership – Ann Hedden commented on the Treasurer’s report that she was pleased that so many coupons for new members were being used.
Special Committee on Areas for Unit Reps – Bob Heller reiterated the mission of the committee: To determine where the areas should be. He added that also factored into the recommendations is an ABCL policy requires (or suggests) that areas representation be proportional to the population of each area.
The committee’s proposal: · The number of areas should be reduced to six. (Bob gave a description of where these would be.) · The board membership should be increased to 17. · Area 4 should be expanded to included Cherokee and Forsyth counties, bringing the total number to seven counties. · The expanded Area 4 would have nine members. · Other areas would have one rep per every 100 members (one for less than 100, two for less than 200, etc.)
While not part of the committee’s charge, the committee did recommend that proxy voting at board meetings be eliminated.
Bob explained that this gets closer to proportional representation but there are still variations. Making it completely proportional would give the new Area 4 around 75% of the representatives. The committee felt that this excludes too many from the other areas.
No recommendation was made as to whether, when the population of non-Area 4 areas changes, the board size would change or the one per 200 members formula would be amended to keep the board at 17.
Nancy Hetsko asked about how the area reps would be chosen. Bob acknowledged that the committee did address this, but it was not included in the report as it was not part of the charge to the committee. The committee’s general feeling is that if there is a consensus for one person, that person would be the area rep. If there were any objection, the matter would be resolved by the board. There had been some discussion on how voting might be possible for all areas but he is not positive that consensus was reached.
Mike Kovacich wants there to be an open nomination period so that anyone can run. If only one member is running, there would be no need for an election. If more than one, the election would occur.
In response to a question concerning proportionality, Bob explained that Area 4 with 53% of the board members is well below its membership of around 70-80%. No one knows how much deviation is allowed. But increasing Area 4 representation from 33% to 53% is certainly moving in the right direction.
Per a letter from the head counsel of the ACBL, proxies are acceptable – contrary to earlier reports that the ACBL had a complete prohibition of proxies – but there must be a formalized procedure. No one was quite sure what was in bylaws. (Secretary’s note: I could find nothing.) Jack Feagin suggested that proxies serve as an introduction to bridge volunteering.
Larry Rich asked about the residency requirement to serve as an area rep. Bob stated the conclusion of the committee is that the rep needs to live in the area. It would be better to leave it open so that someone from the area might volunteer. Having a non-resident in place on the Board likely deters someone else from seeking the position.
Jack Feagin pointed out that the reason that there have not been elections may be due to there being no machinery established to do it.
Larry Rich asked whether residency requirements apply to proxies. Mike Kovacich was not sure Nicolas Hammond pointed out that the bylaws allow any member of 114. (Secretary’s note: It was not clear whether Nicolas was referring to the reps themselves or the proxies. I could find nothing in the bylaws concerning proxies. The bylaws do state that members need not live in the area they represent.)
Due to the limited time available, Nancy tabled other committee reports.
Old Business
Mike Kovacich pointed out that the Gainesville tournament will be up against the Tunica Regional and that might affect board attendance at the next meeting. An informal poll indicated that it would not be a major problem.
Bob Heller suggested that the board be sent the committee report before the next meeting. Mike Kovacich suggested the report(s) be sent to the board via email and furthermore at the next meeting we hold an open session so anyone could comment.
Nicolas Hammond preferred that a web based user group be set up for the board so that we could more easily communicate. He asked that members send him their email addresses.
Bob Heller pointed out the hypocrisy of the ACBL requiring proportional representation when its own board does not adhere to the requirement.
Jack Feagin asked that the board formally approve the increase of Area 4 to include Cherokee and Forsyth so that the DBAA, which currently only covers five other counties, could make the changes it would require. Bob made motion that Area 4 be expanded to include Forsyth and Cherokee. The motion was seconded and approved.
Larry pointed out that under the bylaws new members serve from one unit membership meeting to the next. That would affect any decision to formalize election procedures.
Tom pointed out that there needs to be a committee created to devise election procedures. The president asked Bob Heller if his committee would take on that responsibility. Bob accepted and the president formally added that charge to the committee’s mission.
Further discussion was tabled so we could resume committee reports
Committee Reports (continued)
A report on the Covington sectional stated that there was a $900 loss due to the ACBL increasing the rates for directors. Dick Myers suggested we continue the tournament because we need one in that area. He suggested that the unit be the tournament sponsor; it would then be the entity responsible for any loss (or income). A motion was made, seconded and approved that the board sponsor the Covington tournament for one year.
GNT – Mike Kovacich announced that the GNT district finals in Spartanburg this year.
Trophies/tournaments – Dick Myers handed out the updated schedules for 2007 and 2008. Mike Kovacich commented that he and Bob Heller objected to four sessions for the KO trophy. Only five teams entered. It was agreed to go to three sessions. Marty Nathan pointed out that there would have to be multiple flights if there were more than eight teams. Perhaps four is the right number with the understanding that the number of rounds could be reduced depending on number of teams.
Nicolas Hammond asked about youth trophies. It was moved, seconded and approved that there be Unit trophies for youth pairs and team events. The unit will own the trophies.
Old Business
Atlanta Junior Bridge – Patty Tucker stated she needs to go to Education Foundation board in October for AJB funding. She needs to know what funding the DBAA, unit and district will provide as the basis for asking the Foundation to (minimally) match it. The contributions would continue to be paid in installments and that she would and will give progress reports. Patty stated that this could wait until the Gainesville meeting.
Patty has proposed to the ACBL that a national youth tournament be held in conjunction with the 2008 Atlanta Regional. Future youth nationals would presumably be at the summer nationals.
Patty was asked about charging students to help defray the costs. She feels that this right in long term but not for now. She does not believe we have enough students yet to sustain the program; they need more nurturing. Her biggest expense is paying teachers. She would be happy to have all volunteers but there would not be enough of them. She did invite any board member to volunteer their time to teach.
New Business
A motion was made to increase the size of the DBAA to include Forsyth and Cherokee counties. The motion passed.
Jack Feagin suggested that there need to be a committee to figure out how to promote bridge outside of Atlanta.
Nicolas Hammond asked whether trophy mixed pairs should be one or two sessions. It was pointed out that we cannot even get enough mixed pairs to run a separate section.
Earlier in the meeting the nominees for the Sportsman of the Year were presented. After a period of comments on the candidates, a vote was taken. At the end of the meeting it was announced that Claudia Feagin had won and Riley Brown finished second. They will each get to a varying extent free plays for a year in 114 tournaments.
Our next meeting will be Saturday, September 29 between sessions at the Gainesville sectional.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Martin J. Nathan Secretary |
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GA UNIT 114 TREASURER’S REPORT – JULY 2007 ________________________________________________________________________ Suntrust beginning balance:………………………………………. …..$ 2,170.42 ACBL membership 2,286.36 Refund from ADBC – StaC game 130.69 Meals for Board Meeting 20.00 Money from Covington Tournament 606.00 ACBL membership 2,074.43 ========= Total Suntrust: $ 7,287.90 Expenses: 777 1/07 Roswell DBC – New players 5.00 778 1/07 Marty Nathan – Secretarial expenses 5.99 779 1/07 Baron Barclay - Part of McKinney awards 53.95 780 1/07 The Mandarin -- Meal for Board Meeting 577.15 889 1/07 Macon DBC – Good sportsman plays 52.00 Bank service charge 11.00 891 2/07 Dick Myers – Inv. Trophies 163.95 892 2/07 Ruff & Sluff Bridge – new players 60.00 893 2/07 Roswell DBC – new players 10.00 894 2/07 Bob Heller -Committee Meeting & work on District “7” News 122.00 895 2/07 Len Case- District “7” News 775.00 896 2/07 Alpharetta DBC - new players 25.00 897 3/07 Baron Barclay - McKinney awards 9.00 898 3/07 Dick Myers good sportsman plays-Covington 72.00 898 Bank Service Charge 11.00 900 3/07 GA Wildlife Assoc.– Covington Tournament 1,172.00 901 3/07 Larry Rich – web page 100.00 902 4/07 Macon DBC – new players 24.00 903 4/07 Patty Tucker – Jr. Bridge 750.00 904 4/07 Southside DBC – new players 20.00 905 5/07 Jack Feagin- Annual Registration for Unit 30.00 906 5/07 Roswell DBC – new players 10.00 Total expenses: $ 4,059.04
Suntrust Balance: $ 3,228.86 R. Drain Co.-- Money for National: $122,431.16 R. Drain Co.-- Unit 114: $ 84,202.21
Balance of 3 accounts: $209,862.23 Mary Ann Bateman, Treasurer mabateman@cox.net 641 Old Lundy Road – Macon, GA 31210 (478) 731-0741
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