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ACBL Unit 114

Minutes of Board Meeting

Macon Sectional

January 17, 2009

President Tom Wight called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.

Officers in attendance were: Tom Wight (President), Dick Myers (Vice President), Nancy Hetsko (Past President), Nicolas Hammond (Secretary) and Mary Ann Bateman (Treasurer). Area representatives in attendance were: Len Perkins (South), Donna Parker (Northwest), Ken Parker (Northwest), Ron Cadora (Northeast), Dick Browne (Metro Atlanta), Sam Marks as proxy for Kevin Collins (Metro Atlanta), Bob Heller (Metro Atlanta), Jack Feagin as proxy for Ralph Folkerts, Barbara Heller (Metro Atlanta), Bill Marks (Metro Atlanta), Marty Nathan (Metro Atlanta), Gabriel Fadel as proxy for Dan Papineau (Metro Atlanta), Fred Kilcline (North Central), Jimmy Lord (South Central) and Harpe Suggs (South Central).

Also attending were:  Mike Kovacich (Elections), Sandy Barrow (Education), Ann Hedden (Membership/NAP), Betty Myers (Publicity), Larry Rich (Webmaster), Sam Marks (GNT).

The minutes of October 11, 2008, which had been sent to all board members prior to the meeting, were approved. 

Committee Reports

President – Tom announced that Barbara Heller is the Unit Goodwill coordinator for the District Goodwill Committee.

Treasurer – Mary Ann Bateman presented the Treasurer’s Report.  It was approved. We have approximately $229,000, the large increase from last report is from money back from the ACBL for the National. We get $3 per member per year paid quarterly from the ACBL. The 990 tax form for 2008 has been filed.

District 7 – Bob Heller reported that District 7 has approved a set of procedures. The triple point issue was discussed at the D7 meeting. He asked for thoughts for improving the STACs.

Atlanta Junior Bridge – No report.

Education – Sandy Barrow reported that 6 players went to Columbus and played in the Sunday afternoon game. Columbus is interested in growing.

Elections –Mike Kovacich reported that Betty Heard for the only nomination for the South Georgia area rep and was duly elected. Her term will start after the AGM. There are 4 Metro Atlanta area rep positions up for election. There are currently 5 candidates. The deadline for nominations is approximately one week from now. The Unit has agreed to supervise the DBAA officer elections that will be held at the same time. Nancy Hetsko is supervising the election. The voting “booths” will be open from 12.45-1.45 on Wed/Thu/Fri; 6.30-7.15 on Wed/Thu/Fri and 9.15-10 on Fri/Sat. Bob Heller asked about absentee ballots. The DBAA will be following the Unit procedures. Marty Nathan asked that the web site include both e-mail and snail-mail addresses for absentee voting.

Entitlement – No report.

Finance – No report.

GNT – Sam Marks reported that the qualifiers have started. Bob Heller stated that clubs can run GNT qualifiers for B, C that do not include A players.

Hall of Fame – Tom deferred the report until the end of the meeting.

Hospitality – No report.

Intermediate/Novice – No report.

Membership – We had a net increase of 111 members for last year. Barbara Heller asked how many were youth. ACBL does not report this number. Fred’s club in Athens is averaging 10-12 tables a day including 7 tables of players with less than 10 masterpoints. James Dover has started an EZBridge class and has 48 players in Dawsonville.

NAP – Ann Hedden reported that NAPs will be in Houston in March.

Publicity – No report.

Tournament – Dick Myers passed out the tournament schedule.

Trophy – No report.

Unit/Novice Games – Dick Myers’s reported that the Unit Championship Games pay 85% extra against 100% for special games. There are 24 Unit Championship Games scheduled.

Goodwill – Barbara Heller reported that March 1 is the deadline for her to receive recommendations for the District 7 goodwill committee. Barbara’s piano player cannot make the next dinner because he is competing in the team trials. The guidelines for the goodwill committee are on the web site.

Old Business

No old business.

New Business

Bob Heller stated that every year the Unit bought 4 pages in the Spring publication to list the Unit Mini-McKenney and Life Races. A motion was made and approved to do the same this year.

Hall of Fame – Ken Parker reported that the Hall of Fame web page is complete and thanked Jack Feagin and Mike Kovacich for their contributions. There was no content on Edgar Gay but his son came to the rescue and provided details.

Ken reported he has received two nominations for the Hall of Fame. One is Mike Kovacich. Tom asked Mike to leave the meeting so his nomination could be discussed. Ken reported that there were two other people considered to be as qualified as the other nominee. None of the three however received the required 60% vote to be approved by the Hall of Fame Committee. Mike Kovacich was on the Hall of Fame Committee but stepped down temporarily during the discussion of his nomination; Emory Whitaker replaced him.

Discussion about the requirements for the Hall of Fame, and discussion about Mike’s candidacy followed. There were 20 voting members of the board present. A secret ballot was held. Mike received the necessary 75% (at least 15 votes) and was elected to the Unit Hall of Fame.

Our next meeting will be Saturday, May 30, 2009 between sessions at the Covington

 Sectional.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Nicolas Hammond

Secretary