ACBL Unit 114
Minutes of Board Meeting
President Nancy Hetsko called the meeting at the Luna Restaurant to order at 5:50pm.
Other voting members in attendance were: Tom Wight (VP), Mary Ann Bateman (Treas), Marty Nathan (Sec’y), Betty Myers (Area 1),Ron Cadora (2), Dick Browne (4), Kevin Collins (4), Nicolas Hammond (4), Bob Heller (4), Liz Swanson (5), Dick Myers (6), Gil Bateman (as proxy for Len Perkins) (7) and Judy Cobb (as proxy for Betty Roper) (11).
Also attending were: Ann Hedden (Membership/NAP) and Patty Tucker (Recorder).
The President introduced our new board members.
The minutes of July 7 2007, which had been sent to all board members prior to the meeting, were presented and approved after minor changes.
Committee Reports
Treasurer’s Report – Mary Ann Bateman had distributed of the report (attached), which was approved. She also announced that our bank has initiated a $13.95 fee each month.
Membership – Ann Hedden reported that we are picking up 25-30 new members each month.
Tournaments/Trophies – Dick Myers had prior to the meeting sent out revised schedules. Bob Briggs has agreed to run the Covington sectional. Ron Cadora noted that as a fall sectional in Gainesville conflicts with civic center schedules; the tournament will be moved to the spring. Dick said that he is working on the AJB trophies.
Entitlement – Patty Tucker will later in this meeting be asking for an AJB funding increase to $6,000. Patty stated that Year 1 was really barebones and that in turn hampered growth. Now with a proven product, she feels comfortable asking for this increase. That in turn allows her to ask for an increase from the Educational Foundation. She will continue to ask only for quarterly payments so we can monitor AJB performance. She’d still like to have a corporate sponsor. She also will be going to the parents for fundraising suggestions. A motion to fund AJB for 2008 on the above terms was made, seconded and approved unanimously (excluding abstentions).
NAP – The district finals will be in Spartanburg.
Special Committee on Areas – Bob Heller announced (to an appropriate level of laughter) that is the one year anniversary of this committee. He will send out his report to all members and will only summarize it for now. He reiterated from the last meeting that the proposed six areas would not conform to the ACBL “proportional requirement” (recommendation ?), but that we moved significantly in that direction.
(1) The specific redrawing of all of the areas, in accordance with Unit bylaws
(2) The specific re-allocation of area reps to all areas, in accordance with Unit bylaws as per attached map. (Note: The lines on the map are unclear as to Muscogee County. It is part of the South Georgia area.)
(3) Proposed letters to be sent to ALL unit club managers, tailored to each specific area's facts and procedure. The committee did not approve each word, so changes in the letter could be considered. (Sample copy of one letter attached)
(4) The Unit is responsible for conducting and setting the ground rules (i.e., times of voting, although there should be input from the current area rep or the election site chair so that what we publish makes sense and makes voting as easy and open as possible for everyone). This is consistent for all areas.
(5) Sectionals, and not individual clubs, are polling places.
(6) Each area has an election monitor, who pretty much takes over as soon as the unit secretary releases the candidates' names 30 days before the (first) election date. Whether this monitor is appointed by the president, is part of a committee, etc., etc., is up to the unit board. All we appoved is that such a monitor (or monitors, plural, in the case of Metro) exists.
Areas are to be given meaningful names rather than numbered.
The unit will be responsible for all elections and can delegate responsibility as it sees fit. The Board will appoint a separate supervisor (not a resident of that area) to oversee each election. The nomination period will end 30 days before elections; nominees can be self-nominated. He hopes that the clubs will also publicize elections in their areas.
Tom Wight noted that someone needs to provide the supervisor with member names for each area. There also should be written procedures. Bob stated that the supervisor will determine the procedures. Bob handed out a letter template that should be mailed to each supervisor.
Bob handed out a map (attached) of the proposed areas.
In response to a question, Bob stated that area reps should live in the areas they represent. Each will have a two-year term. Each term starts at the annual membership meeting. (Secretary’s note: Requiring Area Reps to live in the area they represent would necessitate a bylaws change.)
Kevin Collins pointed out that all should be members in good standing.
Liz Swanson strongly objected to the proposed areas. She said that the committee had not sent out the map of the areas to board members, as promised at the last meeting. She thinks that Gainesville and Athens should be in separate areas rather than have twp reps for the combined area; there should be one each for separate areas. With the current proposal, one city could get both reps, effectively leaving the other without representation. They are in practice distinct areas.
Bob stated that absentee voting is allowed (but not proxies) for elections. He repeated from the July meeting that the committee recommends the board tighten up its proxy procedures at board meetings or not allow proxy voting.
Marty Nathan repeated Tom Wight’s suggestion that we put the procedures in writing. The membership, including those who want to run for area rep, will then know what the rules are. Without a written procedure, after a few years no one will remember what we decided. Even the Board does not know what procedures are, other that which is implied in the template letter and what was brought up in this meeting. Tom agreed. The president asked Bob Heller to comply. Marty, a member of the committee, volunteered to write them.
A motion made to approve the report was seconded and the Board approved the motion.
Old Business
Old business had been discussed (and voted upon as necessary) during committee reports.
New Business
The president announced the election slate for the vote at the next membership meeting.
President – Tom Wight
Vice President – Dick Myers
Secretary – Nicolas Hammond
Treasurer – Mary Ann Bateman
Gil Bateman on behalf of Len Perkins made a motion that the Unit pay for alcoholic beverages at Board Meetings. Current policy is the opposite. The motion failed for lack of a second.
Ann Hedden moved that a board meeting be held between now and the membership meeting. If for nothing else, the board should know what the procedures before we announce at that meeting that there will now be elections for all reps. The motion was seconded and approved.
Marty Nathan moved the Unit honor Priscilla Smith for all her efforts with intermediate/novice players with either a trophy or event be named after her. Marty noted that this recommendation came from an intermediate player. The motion was amended (after being seconded and approved) to include that the Unit’s annual Non-Life Master Pairs Trophy be named for her. The amended motion was approved.
The Secretary will send Priscilla a notice of this honor.
Marty Nathan stated that new IRS enforcement policy means that we must file Form 990 with the IRS each year; it is required if gross income is more than $25,000. Gross income would include, per correspondence with the ACBL legal department, entry fees for tournaments. This is not something we have a choice in, other than whether we start with the 2007 year or file a late return for 2006. Failure to file, in addition to IRS penalties, could mean losing our “good standing” with the ACBL.
It was pointed that the gross income exemption has been eliminated. Marty replied that eliminates the need to determine annually whether be must file.
There was a short discussion on whether to start for the 2006 or 2007 tax year. There was no vote but the consensus was 2007. A motion was made that the Treasurer file the annual 990 Return as required, staring with tax year 2007. The motion was seconded and approved.
Marty asked if we were incorporated as a non-profit and whether we had been filing our annual registration with the state. Mary Ann Bateman answered yes to both questions.
Larry Rich suggested that we create a committee whether the Atlanta area should be a separate unit and the rest of Unit 114 being another. There was no discussion and no action was taken.
The president announced the next meeting will be in January at the Macon sectional.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:05pm
Respectfully submitted,
Martin J. Nathan
Secretary
GA UNIT 114
TREASURER’S REPORT – SEPTEMBER 2007
________________________________________________________________________
Suntrust beginning balance:………………………………………. …..$ 3,228.86
Refund for Unit 114 for StaC games in June 2007 1,747.43
ACBL membership 1,934.36
Refund from Bank *24.95 ** 13.95 38.90
=========
Total Suntrust: $ 6,949.55
Expenses:
907 7/8/07 Marty Nathan – Secretarial Expenses 3.82
908 Dick Myers – Engraving 44.10
Bank Charge 24.95 * returned to club
909 Hilton West – Board Meeting 359.82
910 8/06/07 Larry Rich – Web master 100.00
911 Ann Hedden – Membership Exp 99.40
912 Ann Hedden – NAP – expenses 14.85
913 8/24/07 Patty Tucker – Jr. Bridge 750.00
914 Macon DBC – free Plays –membership 16.00
915 Thomas Roush-refund from STaC sent to us in
Error by Len Case 156.13
Bank Charge 24.95 ** 13.95 returned
916 9/15/2007 Ruff & Sluff – rebate on StaC game 149.89
917 Roswell DBC – STaC refund 186.11
918 Atlanta DBC – STaC refund 364.72
919 Macon DBC – STaC refund 116.16
920 Robins DBC – STaC refund 59.75
921 McRae DBC – STaC refund 49.96
922 Ruff & Sluff - Refund StaC 8.74
923 Lake Lanier – Refund StaC 77.44
924 GA State – Unit 114 Game – StaC refund 26.23
925 Conyers DBC – STaC - refund 32.48
926 McInthosh DBC – StaC-refund 23.75
927 Eatonton DBC – StaC-refund 29.98
928 Cummings DBC – STaC -refund 41.22
929 Rome DBC – StaC -refund 26.23
930 Alpharetta DBC – StaC - refund 232.32
931 Southside DBC - #1 StaC - refund 14.99
932 Southside DBC #2 StaC-refund 14.99
933 Bridge at Kennesaw - StaC-refund 7.50
934 Buckhead DBC – STaC -refund 44.96
935 Robins DBC – membership plays (8) 32.00
936 Appalachian DBC - STaC -refund 44.96
937 Newman DBC - STaC -refund 24.99
938 Carrollton DBC – STaC - refund 13.74
Total Expenses: $ 3,217.13
Suntrust Balance: $ 3,732.42
R. Drain Co.-- Money for National: $125,685.78
R. Drain Co. - Unit 114 dollars 87,168.53
Balance of 3 accounts $216,586.73
Mary Ann Bateman, Treasurer mabateman@cox.net
641 Old Lundy Road – Macon, GA 31210 (478) 731-0741
ACBL UNIT 114
2008 Goodwill Committee Nominations
December 17, 2007
Dear Club Manager:
District 7 will induct new members into its Goodwill Committee at the Gatlinburg Regional in April 2008. Unit 114 is entitled to nominate three new members. We therefore ask you to post this notice in our efforts to solicit those bridge players who would be worthy additions to this honorary committee.
Anyone can nominate a member of Unit 114, considering the following qualifications:
· Observes both the laws and ethics of the game
· Plays competitively and is always fair
· Is gracious in victory as well as in defeat
· Is pleasant as a partner or opponent
· Exhibits good manners at the bridge table and helps others enjoy their bridge-playing experience
· Graciously abides by the ruling of the directors
· Does not give unsolicited bridge lessons during the game
· Avoids discussion of boards in the presence of new opponents
· Refrains from excessive drinking and gives due consideration to personal appearance
· Does not become angered or quarrelsome during bridge games
· Has a genuine interest in the preservation and development of duplicate bridge and the maintenance of its good reputation
· Gives back to the game of bridge through mentoring, volunteering in bridge organizations or in similar conduct
Please include a short (less than one page) summary of the candidate’s qualifications. Nominations must be received no later than January 15, 2008.
You may send nominations via email to mjnathan@comcast.net or mail to:
Martin Nathan, Unit Secretary
7490 Old Maine Trail
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Thank you for your help in getting the best candidates for the Goodwill Committee.
Sincerely,
Martin Nathan, Secretary
Dear Club Manager,
The Georgia State Unit 114 board is undergoing some changes to better
reflect our current membership.
The club is the most important entity in all of organized bridge, and
the Unit 114 board requests that you post this notice prominently at
your club and circulate copies to players at upcoming games.
In accordance with our bylaws, the annual membership meeting is in the
first quarter of a year. The next will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29,
2008, at the Decatur sectional.
At that time, members will vote by individual ballot for any office that
is contested. The unit’s nominating committee has proposed a slate of:
President, Tom Wight (Macon); Vice President, Dick Myers (Decatur);
Secretary, Nicolas Hammond (Atlanta); and Treasurer Mary Ann Bateman
(Macon).
A two-year term for area representatives begins at the same time. Only
residents in that area may vote.
Your club is in the Northwest Georgia area, which comprises Bartow,
Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Coweta, Dade, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd,
Gordon, Haralson, Harris, Heard, Meriwether, Murray, Paulding, Polk,
Talbot, Troup, Walker and Whitfield Counties.
Based on ACBL active membership, you will have 2 of the unit board’s 17
area representatives.
The procedure is very simple. If you are interested in a position,
contact Unit secretary Marty Nathan at mjnathan@comcast.net, by no later
than Nov. 7. Balloting, necessary if more than two members wish to run
for these positions, would take place Dec 7-9 at the Roswell sectional,
at the Holiday Inn on Holcomb Bridge Road. If you cannot attend the
sectional, you may have another person bring your ballot or you may mail
it to your area’s election supervisor, Joe Sherwood, at 1067 Towne Lake
Hills East, Woodstock, GA 30189.
Those interested in bridge administration are encouraged to read the
Unit bylaws and recent board meeting minutes, linked from
www.whidco.com/Unit114acbl/. You also may wish to ask questions to
current or past board members.
The board appreciates your getting this information to your club players
at your earliest convenience.