Minutes of Unit 174 Board Meeting

November 6, 2007

Bridge and Games Studio

CALL TO ORDER

            The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.  Board members present were:  Norm Gautier, Bert Onstott, Karen Nimmons, Joyce Ryan, Ed Groner, Bobbi Kauffman, Marsha Bernstein and Jolie Hess.  Also present was Jim Woodward, Treasurer.

MINUTES OF OCTOBER BOARD MEETING

            The minutes were approved.  MOTION:  was made to approve the minutes.  It was seconded and approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT  

 COMMITTEE REPORTS

            Awards/Fund Raising/Flyers – Marsha

                        Marsha reported she ordered several life master plaques and there are now 40 remaining.  She’ll be receiving a $50.00 check from Randalls soon.  The board discussed sending out flyers on the upcoming Regional to other cities that are holding Sectionals and Regionals.  Marsha said she would get the information and do the mailing.

            Communications Committee – Norm

                        Norm said he has nothing to report.

            I/N, Education, and Book Sales – Joyce

·        30 registration packets were given to the first 30 players Friday afternoon at the Sectional and all 20 of the first time player packers were given out.  Becky and Buddy Ellisor did a great job as chairpersons.

·        Betty Starzec and Joyce have written articles for the website and the Scorecard regarding the TAP class at the upcoming regional.  Joyce is planning on having a reception for the teachers and for I/N players on Friday after the evening game.

·        There should be enough books on hand for this fall and the January semester.

NAP/GNT – Ed

·        Flight B was held in Conroe.

·        Flights A and C were held at Bridge and Games.

·        The Board discussed next year’s NAP and whether the Unit should run the game.  Ed was asked to explore the various options.

·        The site agreement for next year’s GNT has not yet been finalized.  Ed is still trying to make final arrangements.

STAC and GOODWILL – Karen

·        Registration letters were mailed out today to all the clubs in our Unit notifying them of our upcoming StaC Game in January.  Once all forms are received, hand records will go out. 

·        There were several cards going out this month due to all the sudden deaths in our unit.

 SUPPLIES – Bobbi

·        Bobbie said she needs to take inventory before the year end and a few volunteered to help.

·        1200 stickers were ordered and they came in yesterday.

·        Bobbie will order 3000 pencils @11 cents each.  They will have white erasers and advertise our upcoming National. She will also order 1200 pencil clips for the regional registration packets.

·        She said she is running low on convention cards.

TOURNAMENT COORDINATOR – Jolie

·        Jolie reported all of 2008 has been finalized except for the hotel for the Humble Sectional.

·        Jolie questioned some of the items we were charged for and Marsha volunteered to call and get an explanation.

Membership/Directory – Bert

·        Our membership is at 2265, down eight from last month.

·        Bert said we need to decide how we want the new directories bound. He also reported only one ad has been sold and he needs to sell more.

OLD BUSINESS

            October Sectional – Bert & Jolie

·        Our table count was down from last year.  We had 414 tables compared to 460 ½ last year.

·        Over bought soda and coffee and under bought water.  Other than that, things were pretty close.  Bert saved the grocery list with the updated budget spreadsheet for the planning of next year’s October Sectional.  He said he sold 48 bottles of soda to BCOH for $l.00 each.

February Regional – Norm & Bert

·        Norm reported he sent a letter to the President of the ACBL asking her to come to our Regional and she accepted the offer.  She will be arriving Fed. 7 and departing Feb. 11, 2007.  The board discussed activities in which she should be included in.

·        A volunteer reception will be held on Thursday evening after the game.

April Sectional – Joyce and Ed

·        The board reviewed the budget Joyce and Ed revised. The board also looked over the schedule. Ed will work with Jolie in getting it approved. 

·        Hospitality Chair will be Marcella Thomas, Partnership Chair will be Karen Nimmons, Caddie Chair will be Sandy Stevens.  Still need an I/N Chair.

June Sectional – Jolie

·        No report at this time.

Updates on Initiatives

            0-20 Games – Joyce

·        The Clear Lake game is going well and they are considering expanding the games to twice weekly.

·        There’s about 5-6 tables on Fridays at Bridge and Games.

·        There was a brief discussion on whether the unit should continue to subsidize the games.

Zero Tolerance – Bert

·        The “Smiley Face” cards for the bidding boxes have been sent to all the clubs.  They were put in some of the Unit’s bidding boxes on Friday during the sectional.  The remaining ones are in the blue crate.

Hotel Negotiations- Jolie

·        Jolie had nothing to report.  Everything is up to date.

 EXECUTIVE SESSION

            The board was in executive session for about 5 minutes.

NEW BUSINESS

            Playing Site Agreement – Norm

·        After much research, the Westchase Marriott continues to be the best playing location around.

ADJOURN

            The meeting was adjourned at 9:47 pm.  The next board meeting will be on December 4, 2006.  All are welcome to attend.

Respectfully Submitted,

 Karen Nimmons, Secretary