THE VILLAGE CARD CLUB
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
December 12, 2008
The meeting was called to order by President Cecil Grattifiori at 2:05 pm.
Guests: Sheila and Andy Cosby, Louallen Leach, Gina Doss, Alicia Fetters, Nancy
Luehring and Dick Condon.
Cathy moved that the agenda for the meeting be approved, Ginna seconded and all
approved.
Jim made a motion that the minutes of the November 14 board meeting be approved,
Teri seconded and all approved.
Teri moved to accept the minutes of the special meeting of December 6 be approved,
Becky seconded. Discussion followed regarding the posting of minutes of special
meetings. Cecil noted that he was opposed to posting minutes of special meetings.
Teri felt they are necessary to inform the members. The motion passed to post
the minutes of the December 6 meeting. Cecil asked that it be noted that he felt
the contents were inaccurate although he had not attended the meeting.
Teri moved to accept the minutes of the November 25th special meeting, Pam seconded
and the minutes were accepted.
Correspondence: Cecil read a letter from a former Bridge + player, Doug Berke.
Board reports:
Ginna noted that the new Game Manager and new Student Development board members
will be working on the 299er mixer which will start on the 4th Monday of January.
Ed Hamparian had already gotten the sanction for the game. Betty Schultz will
be running that game. She also noted that plans are going ahead for the 299er
sectional in August.
Cecil asked the board to welcome Vonna Fischer, the new club manager.
Becky gave the game report for November, with a total of 710.75 tables, although
the club was closed for Thanksgiving and on November 1st for the DeGray tournament,
which is a 7.4% increase from 2007.
Cathy reported that the 4th quarter newsletter is being prepared and that she
needs something from Cecil and Lillian. She asked that any board member who has
something for the newsletter submit it ASAP.
Lillian reported that she has received the numbers for the white board. The refrigerator
is still not working. Cecil said he felt he knew someone who could repair it.
Teri handed out her year-end report for membership. She noted that there were
a total of 795 members, either paid or free. She is currently working on getting
membership dues for 2009 and will be making calls to those who have not paid
by January 1.
Pam gave a report on Education. She is currently working on classes for January
classes. She said that
Bridge + is currently meeting on Wednesday afternoon and she plans to do some
advertising along with the January classes.
Jim said that his end of the month report has been posted for some time. Becky
questioned the report of a $2000/$3000 profit by the end of the year. There was
a long discussion regarding accounting practices. Cecil assured Becky that by
the end of the year there would be a profit. Pam said that the current statement
misrepresents what the actual finances are. There was further discussion of what
the monthly statement actually reflects. Teri noted that she has asked the Unit
Secretary to submit the check for DeGray profits to the club before the end of
the year. There was further discussion about the method of accounting. Jim asked
that in the state of the economy and the VCC budget that we forego paying the
maintenance people their Christmas gifts. Cecil asked that we take that up at
another time in the meeting. Jim then asked that we forego paying the Chamber
of Commerce bill. He felt that the board should not obligate next year’s board
for the bill, which he felt was unnecessary. Cecil said this would be taken up
under New Business. He then passed out a handout outlining expenses for the remainder
of the year. He noted expenses that are not yet booked and noted that it looks
like the year will end approximately $3700 in the red.
Vonna told the board that there are three new directors: Fran Bazemore, Betty
Schultz and Peg Birzer.
New Business:
Chamber of Commerce:
There was a discussion of a Chamber of Commerce bill that is six months overdue.
It had been sent to Cathy by mistake. She noted that their year goes from July
to July and we have continued to get the services they provide: we are on their
web site, they have our brochures, and they list us in their brochure. Jim felt
it was wrong to obligate the new board and we are not getting value for our money.
After much discussion, Cathy made a motion to pay the bill, and put in the minutes
that this needs to be considered next year. Becky seconded and the motion passed
with one opposed. Cecil noted that this should be added to the Standing Rules.
Job Descriptions:
Lillian suggested that each board member should do an update of their job description
for the new board. Cecil noted that the guidelines that are currently there should
be sufficient and that there shouldn't be new job descriptions every time a
new board comes up.
Old Business:
Standing Rules:
Lillian brought to the board the updates on the Standing Rules. The first thing
that wasn’t done was to rescind Standing Rule #14 when the board changed it.
Becky felt that it was necessary to read the old rule and the changes, if kept
brief and to the point. There was some discussion regarding the reasons for changing
this Standing Rule. The Standing Rule as adopted in September was approved.
She then read the old Standing Rule #15 and the new Standing Rule #15, regarding
what can be posted on the bulletin board. Pam made a motion that we adopt revised
Standing Rule #15, Ginna seconded and Standing Rule #15 was approved.
Lillian then read the old Standing Rule #21 and then the new Standing Rule #21,
regarding free plays. Pam moved that we adopt revised Standing Rule 21, with
the revised spelling of Easybridge!, Teri seconded and the motion passed. Lillian
noted that this was changed last year, however, the Standing Rule never got changed.
Pam moved that we not read Standing Rule #23, Becky seconded. There was some
discussion as to the changes, which reflected changes in the VCC teaching staff.
Becky made a motion that we adopt the revised Standing Rule #23 as she read it,
Pam seconded and the motion passed.
Lillian read the old Standing Rule #26; Becky moved that we rescind Standing
Rule #26 regarding the President’s obtaining opinions between board meetings
and replace it with the Standing Rule #25 which Lillian just read, Ginna seconded.
The motion passed.
Lillian passed out a proposed revised organizational chart, which is Standing
Rule #24. Teri moved that we rescind the old chart and replace it with the new
one, Peg seconded and the motion passed.
Cecil thanked Lillian for a good job on reorganizing the Standing Rules.
Pam passed out materials for the next board who will be considering the Standing
Rules for Education.
Easybridge!
Cathy gave a report on the continuing success of the Easybridge! game. As of
December 10, we have had a total of 59.5 tables in eight games. There have been
three workshops, with a total of $376 sent to the treasurer. Seven more workshops
are planned. More than half of the Easybridge! workbooks have been sold. We have
had a total of 55 different players who have played in one of our games. 34 of
the Easybridge! players have paid their 2009 dues. We believe the board should
consider this a very successful launching. Cathy then asked that the board approve
launching another Easybridge! game in January. There is a long list of people
who would like to begin playing bridge the Easybridge! way. She asked that the
Education Committee explore the possibilities of available times. Cathy made
a motion that the board approve a new Easybridge! game to start in January and
designate the Vice President to set up the game. Ginna seconded the motion and
it was approved. Pam voiced her concerns regarding multiple Easybridge! games
and possible time slots. There was much discussion and the Vice President agreed
to work with the Easybridge! staff to set the time for the game.
Peg made a motion that the board approve gifts to be given to the Game Directors.
She suggested a Wal-Mart gift card. Cathy seconded and there was much discussion
as to the amount and who should be included. Jim asked for an official list of
Game Directors from the club manager. After discussion, Pam made a motion to
amend the motion to include the clerks and Connie Fitch, who recently resigned.
Cathy seconded. The amendment was approved and the motion, including the amendment,
was approved.
Teri made a motion to rescind the Standing Rule for paying POA employees $25
and to pay them $10. There was no second to the motion and after discussion,
Cecil asked that we move on.
Time Change: This item had been tabled from a previous board meeting. Becky made
a motion that all the 12:30 games be changed to 1:00 pm, except for the Thursday
afternoon games. Ginna seconded. After much discussion regarding why the Thursday
games were not to change, Becky withdrew her motion. She then made a motion that
all 12:30 games be changed to 1:00 pm starting January 1, 2009 and that it be
explained to the Thursday games why this is being done. Pam seconded and the
motion passed.
Calendar:
Becky sent all board members a copy of the revised calendar for 2009. She noted
the changes regarding the Unit Wide Championship. She noted that no changes
can be made, except by the upcoming board. Becky moved that the January 1, 2009
through March 2010 calendar be approved. Pam seconded.
After discussion, the motion passed.
Bridge +:
Pam said that this was included in the Education Standing Rules that will be
handled by the new board.
Lillian moved that the board acknowledge Connie Fitch’s resignation as a Director
and her many year’s of service to the club. Pam seconded and the motion carried.
Becky moved that the meeting be adjourned, Jim seconded and all approved. The
meeting was adjourned at 4:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg Birzer, Secretary
Subject to board approval
Peg