Minutes of Unit 174

Board Meeting

 

August 6, 2007

Bridge Studio of Houston

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

The board meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.  Board members present were Bert Onstott, Pres., Jolie Hess, VP, Karen Nimmons, Sec., Joyce Ryan, Ed Groner, Lauri Laufman, and JoDene Bond.  Also present was Jim Woodward, Treasurer.

 

 

MINUTES OF THE JULY BOARD MEETING

 

The minutes were voted on and approved via the electronic voting poll.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

 

Jim reported the unit remains in good financial condition.  He reported that he paid the Scorecard membership fee and he talked about the various expenses, including the fee from David Miller for his accounting expenses.  MOTION:  was made to approve the expenditure of $3250.00 for the auditing of the 2006 books.  Was seconded and approved.  MOTION:  was made to approve the Treasurer’s report as submitted.  Was seconded and approved.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Awards and Flyers – Lauri

 

Lauri reported all awards and flyers are up to date.  She gave some NAP flyers to the Secretary to give to BCOH and Pech Road. The October Sectional flyers are ready to be given out at the August Sectional.

 

Bridge in Schools – Bert

 

There was no news from Carolyne Fox at this time.

 

Communications Committee – Bert

 

Betty reported to Bert that business is normal.  Her committee members are Liz Booker, Judy Ensor, Ellen Greenfield, Julius Rasmussen, Jolie Hess, Fran Robbins, Francis Simmons, and Martha Black.

 

Fund Raising – Jolie

 

Jolie received a check from Safeway in the amount of $25.41. 

 

I/N, Education, and Book Sales – Joyce

 

The Bridge Studio has begun the 0-20 Friday game in addition to the current I/N games.  Two weeks ago, 23 of Laura Lee and Lynne’s students played in the I/N games and the teachers are GREAT about meeting and welcoming their students as well as encouraging them to play. This past Friday we had just one section of 299ers and 0-20 combined.  The table total was 10.  The Studio is offering an I/N game on Wednesday mornings.  Joyce said she has been trying to build interest in the games by delivering flyers to the community center games.  She was very pleased with the progress in this area.  There are plans to make the 4^th Wednesday of the month a novice/mentor game.

 

Joyce said she has sold 26 books to Dave Glandorf and 11 to Laura Lee Jones.  Dave reported that he has 13 new students and is optimistic about growth in the Clear Lake area.  She also has ordered the large fall order of books for the area teachers.

 

Membership – Bert

 

Membership is down 9 from last month to 2294. Bert said this may be just a blip – the In/Out report showed a lot of people changed to inactive status.  He thinks maybe a lot of those will re-up.

 

In our Unit there are 379 Rookies (0-5 MP), 229 Junior Masters (5+MP), 253 Club Masters (20+ MP), 192 Sectional Masters (50+MP), 215 Regional Masters (100+MP), 139 NABC Masters (200+MP), 191 Life Masters (300 MPS), 313 Bronze Life Masters (500MP), 292 Silver Life Masters (1000 MPS), 66 Gold Life Masters (2500 MPS), 16 Diamond Life Masters (5000 MPS), 2 Emerald Life Masters (7500 MPS), 1 Platinum Life Master (15000 MPS), and 6 Grand Life Masters (20000 MPS).

 

NAP/GNT – Ed

 

Our team from Houston won the flight C GNT event in Nashville!  This may be a first for Houston.  The NAP qualifying games will be held thru the end of August.  Ed will then request the names of the qualifiers from the various clubs in our Unit.

 

Pro-Am- Bert

 

Bert passed around the letters going out to the clubs for corrections.  A few were noted.  He will get those in the mail ASAP.

 

 

 

StaC and Goodwill – Karen

 

Karen reported she sent out the letters of registration to all the clubs in the Unit and she sent out 1 goodwill card.

 

Supplies – John

 

In John’s absence, Lauri reported that the supplies are ready to be delivered to the Shriners on Thursday afternoon for this weekend’s tournament.

 

 

 

Tournament Coordination – Pat

 

There was no report as Pat was absent.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

August Sectional – Ed & Pat

 

Everything is ready to go.  The welcome letter will be put on each table to ensure viewing by all.  Also the restaurant guide letter is ready.

 

October Sectional – JoDene

 

JoDene passed around two flyers on the Humble Civic Center and pointed out how the costs have risen.  She said she was able to negotiate quite a few things which resulted in lower costs for the Unit. She will contact Gulf Coast Catering about providing drinks and snacks and also about the Sunday meal.  She will also consider other alternatives.

 

April Sectional – Karen & Lauri

 

Nothing has been done on this tournament at this time.

 

2008 Tournament Sectional Sites Selection – Bert

 

Bert reported that there is a need to revisit the decision to use the Pasadena Convention Center for the April Sectional.  He and Pat Levy visited the site Thursday afternoon and their opinion was that it was not a suitable location for one of our tournaments.  It was very pricey, $8,000 for the weekend for all the charges, and on top of all that, the building is very old and unattractive and a LONG way away from anything.

 

Bert said he and Jolie will visit the Stafford Center on Wednesday to firm up the deal for August.  He also said he will get in touch with the Hornberger Center Tuesday to finalize plans with them as there appears to be someone else interested in renting out their facility on the same dates we have reserved.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

June 2008 Sectional Co-Chair – Bert

 

Bert said we need to designate someone to work with Barbara Nance since the Bylaws specify that a Director must be chair of the Tournament Committee.  JoDene volunteered to be the chairman.

 

Charity Rebates – Bert

 

Units are entitled to receive rebates from the Charity Foundation payable to a charity of the Unit’s choice if its charity game receipts exceed its minimum quota based upon an established formula.  Unit 174 has $1,881 that we can distribute to local charities.  We can designate up to three charities.  Bert asked the board members to think of some charities so they can be voted on at the next meeting.  This is the last year of the program.

 

Lone Star Regional – Bert & Jolie

 

Bulletin Editor

 

Bert asked Donna Compton if she was going to continue doing our Regional bulletins.  She replied she wasn’t sure.  Bert thinks a raise in her salary will bring her back onboard and asked the board for approval to give her a raise. Donna agreed to doing the Regional bulletin for $1500.00.

 

Committee Chairs

 

So far the following have agreed to work:

·         Hospitality – Jane Armstrong

·         I/N – Joyce Ryan

·         Caddies – Sandy Stevens

·         Publicity – Dianna Gittelman

·         Partnership – Karen & Paul Nimmons

 

TAP & Director Courses

 

Guillermo said he would be willing to teach the director’s course again, so Bert thinks we should offer the course along with the TAP class.  Betty Starzec has agreed to organize both.

 

Ad in December Bridge Bulletin

 

Bert requested space in the December bulletin for a full page ad.

 

Ads prices for daily bulletins

 

Bert recommends putting together a marketing package for selling ads in our daily bulletins.  Prices for the ads need to be decided.

 

Door Prizes

 

Dianna Gittelman has agreed to serve in this capacity again.

 

Budget

 

Bert passed around a copy of the proposed budget for all to review.  MOTION:  was made to approve the Lone Star Regional budget as proposed.  It was seconded and approved.

 

Publicity

 

Bert thinks flyers should be sent out ASAP and to make sure they get out to most of the large regionals across the country and nearby sectionals between now and next February. He asked for ideas on how to do more to publicize the tournament.  Ed Groner suggested sending invitations to a list of professional teams, provided we can get their addresses.  Ed will provide Bert with a list of pros; Bert will then try to get their addresses.  

 

Review of Existing Mentor – Novice Programs – Joyce

 

Joyce brought up a few ideas which the board discussed. Ultimately, the board decided not to make any changes to the existing programs.

 

Tournament Site Selection Memo on Unit Web Site – Bert

 

Bert thinks we should post the site selection memo on the Unit web site to communicate the process they went through to choose next year’s sectional sites, and to let the membership know we’re open to suggestions for 2009.  The board agreed.

 

Review Section 1 of the Unit Procedures Manual – All

 

The board reviewed the first section and made corrections as needed.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

There was no session.

 

ADJOURN

 

MOTION:  was made to adjourn the meeting at 10:22pm.  It was seconded and approved.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Karen Nimmons, Secretary