VILLAGE CARD CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
May 11, 2007

Meeting was called to order by President Irving at 2:10 PM

Attending: Ned Irving, Lois Schoenrock, Teri LaBove, Andy Cosby, Betty Schultz, John Wild, Mabel Serpa, Fran Bazemore, Vonna Fischer and Diana Podawiltz

Absent: Vicki Jennings, Marilyn Biegler

Guests: 6 were in attendance

The agenda was approved with the addition of June STaC week games

The minutes of the April 20 meeting were approved with no corrections or additions.

Correspondence:
What was received was presented. The POA presentation to the membership will be at the June 7 semiannual meeting, given by Teri Jackson.
There were thank you letters from Simply Kids and Teen Challenge for the club contributions to them.
Diana received a letter from the Birmingham Shelby County 299 bridge club requesting a game between the 2 clubs on a Sat. This will be studied by Diana and her committee and will be presented at a later date. The board response was very positive.
A letter from Ed Hamparian was presented that contained ideas to make our Swiss Team games viable. This letter will be distributed to all board members and brought to the board in June for discussion.
Mabel presented guidelines for the gallery attending the board meetings. These will be published in the next newsletter.

Officer Reports:
Membership:
Teri reported that we now have 6 new members.

Treasurer:
Net income is about the same as last year at this time. Game receipts are down about 9.3% year to date. The report is posted.

Secretary:
Lois reported that the notebook containing the VCC governing documents and recent minutes has been completed and is in the file hanging in the entrance area.

Purchasing:
Betty reported on shelving requested for the storage room. Betty moved and John seconded that the necessary shelving be purchased at a cost under $500. Passed.

Game Manager:
Diana reported that table count is down 11% year to date with the open game down 10.8%, 299 games down 16.5% and Novice up 14.8%.
The May 28 play through charity game will have a pot luck lunch between sessions. The charity will be the VFW gold star banner program. The gold star banners are given out to spouses and parents of military killed in action and the Village has the only VFW gold star banner program in the state of Arkansas.
The May 25th evening game will be a non sanctioned game for couples.

President:
Ned reported on the unit board meeting. The unit will pay $1000 per year for education programs for those with fewer than 20 master points.

Old Business:
Mabel presented a suggestion for standing rule 26 of the general standing rules. Andy moved and Betty seconded that “The President shall be able to obtain opinions by phone or email so that action can be taken in between board meetings, at any time it is necessary, provided that the content is routine administrative in nature such as an emergency expenditure under $1000, change of a special game the board has approved necessitating the board be involved to change it, changing the date of a board meeting or some other club function, etc. Generally speaking, items that the President feels require debate should not be handled by this forum, and should be handled by the regular board meeting or in special cases by an emergency board meeting, so that board members can benefit by interacting with each other. At the next board meeting, said item would be on the agenda for the purpose of a formal vote to confirm that action, and record that action in the minutes." Passed by a vote of 3 to 1 with 2 abstentions.

C&B presentation—The committee presented their recommended changes to the board. There was a great deal of constructive discussion. They will modify some of the recommendations and send to the board in the next day or 2. If board members feel they need more discussion a special meeting will be called.

Free Plays—Betty moved and Teri seconded that free plays will be offered to those obtaining 5 points and 20 points and the mentoring program. Diana moved and John seconded that this be amended to include all those graduating from the club and diamond series and have their name and an expiration date on the free play, to be used at any sanctioned game. Amendment passed . Betty changed her motion to include these and Teri seconded. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

New Business:
Charity games—Diana moved, seconded by John to hold a charity game Tues evening June 12. Passed

STaC Games—Diana moved and Betty seconded that the June 20 Wed STaC game be 2 concurrent 0- 299 games, morning and afternoon and an open game as well in the afternoon and that the Sun June 24 STaC be an open and a 0-299 game. Passed by unanimous vote.

Sunday games—Diana moved and Lois seconded that due to low interest from membership during the summer months, the Swiss Team and Unit Team games would be the only Sun games scheduled, to be on the 3rd and 4th Sundays in June, July and August. Passed by unanimous vote.

Semi Annual Meeting—The Board asks that as many members as possible join us starting at 12:00 June 7, for the Thursday game, a short POA Board presentation on the upcoming POA Board Declaration, and the VCC Annual Meeting. There will be free coffee and pop (soda).

Club Manager Options—There are no new developments but Ned urged the board to keep it on the front burner. There were considerable positive comments about the present usage of 2 people doing the job and that Fran and Vonna are doing well.

Conflict of interest voting standing rule-- Teri moved to adopt a standing rule on this and Betty seconded. In discussion it was determined that this would be addressed in the bylaws changes. Teri withdrew the motion.

Semi Monthly Payroll—Andy moved and Teri seconded that rule 23 of the general standing rules be amended to read: “ All VCC employment opportunities are classified as part- time salaried positions and are subject to Arkansas minimum wage statutes. The Treasurer will distribute payroll checks semi-monthly, using payroll advances at mid-month. Each employee will be paid semi-monthly unless he/she specifically requests that he/she be paid monthly.” Passed by unanimous vote.

Discussion on table count drop—This will be held at a later meeting.

Next meeting—June 8, 2007 at 2:00.

Meeting adjourned at 5:40 PM.

Lois Schoenrock, Secretary Subject to board approval.