THE VILLAGE CARD CLUB
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

May 8, 2009

The regular meeting of the VCC Board of Directors was called to order by President Dick Condon at 2:30 pm.

Attending: Dick Condon, President; Pam Harris, Vice President; Sheila Cosby, Treasurer; Alicia Fetter, Game Manager; Lillian Estes, Purchasing; Nancy Luehring, Membership; Cathy Irving, Player Development; Pat Bertnolli, Publicity; Vonna Fischer, Club Manger and Richard Robertson, Guest Parliamentarian. Absent: Doris Waugh, Secretary.

Guests: Marilyn Biegler, Peg Birzer, Andy Cosby, Becky Rice and Estelle White.

Agenda Approval: Cathy Irving moved to approve the agenda with the following additions: Constitution and By-Laws, Easy Bridge! Thursday Strata, Better Bridgers and Misc. Education items. Motion seconded and passed.

PREVIOUS MONTH’S MINUTES:
April 7, 2009 Board Minutes: Alicia Fetters moved to approve the minutes with the following corrections: Pat Bertnolli’s report should read Hot Springs Village phone book; Correspondence spelling correction. Motion was seconded and passed.

April 24, 2009 Special Board Meeting Minutes: Nancy Luehring moved to approve the minutes with the addition of: Standing rules as attached. Motion was seconded and passed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Sectional Tournament: Marilyn Biegler reported that there were 481 tables at the Spring Fling Tournament. She presented her expense report with a check for $7,107.07 representing the net profit from the tournament and a $15 donation.

Constitution and By-Laws: Estelle White presented a report from the Constitution and By-Laws Committee recommending a poll of the members about voting at the Semi-Annual Meeting. Sheila Cosby moved that there be no member polling and that there be a three-week voting window before the Semi-Annual Meeting. Motion was seconded and passed.

Long Range Planning: Dick Condon read a report from Kathy Harris, Chair of the Long Range Planning Committee which met on April 22. Members present at the meeting were Kathy Harris, Ned Irving, Ron Trainer, Allan Walker, with Dick Condon VCC President (ex officio) and Sheila Cosby, Treasurer. The committee recommended that we begin educating the membership on the need for a 50cent increase in table fees, to be voted on at the annual meeting on December 10, 2009 to be effective January 1, 2010. The increase is necessitated by an increase in operating expenses. Other items discussed at the meeting were: future table count, membership, education, copy machine, electronic score pads, dealing machine and the POA lease. Cathy Irving moved that Long Range Planning be directed to do a study of a dealing machine. Motion seconded and passed. Pam Harris moved that the committee do a study of electronic score pads. Motion seconded and passed.

Education: Pam Harris presented the minutes of the May 1, 2009 Education Committee meeting. Members present were Mickey Bearden, Lillian Estes and Pam Harris. A copy of those minutes is attached to these minutes.

DIRECTOR’S REPORTS:

Purchasing Agent: Lillian Estes reported that two new stainless steel 55-cup coffee urns have been purchased for a total cost of $112.07.

Treasurer’s Report: Sheila Cosby reported that income for the four months ending April 30th showed a net loss of $2,359.06. It should be noted that the Spring Fling Sectional profit was not included in this number. She also presented graphs indicating a steady growth of expenses over income and a steady decline in total assets and investments.

Player Development: Cathy Irving stated that player development does not stop at the 299 level. She is exploring ideas for players up to the 750 point range and beyond. Cathy is looking at an evening game with current players bringing people who have never played at the VCC before.

Game Manager: Alicia Fetters reported that the total table count for the month of April 2009 was 740. Total table count for January through April was 3,285 compared to 3,330.5 in 2008. She reported that there were a total of 565 ½ tables in special games last year. There will be an individual game on May 18 and a Unit Team Game, May 24.

Membership: Nancy Luehring reported that the club now has 617 paid members, 46 non-paying members for a total of 663. She is working on the gate problem for Hot Springs members coming into the Village.

Club Manager: Vonna Fischer is addressing the problem of slow play and is asking all directors to make appropriate announcements before the games in regard to this problem.

Publicity: Pat Bertnolli is working on a certificate of commendation for service by VCC members. She has prepared a new game schedule for the Village Voice and is submitting scores and pictures. Watch for postings on the bulletin board.

CORRESPONDENCE: There was a request for a suggestion box for Player Development and Education.

OLD BUSINESS:

Lillian Estes moved to correct the Standing Rules by removing Bridge + and to correct the EasyBridge! Workshop fee from 7.50 to 7.00 on Schedule C. Motion was seconded and passed.

The Outreach Committee, chaired by Cathy Irving with Nancy Luehring, Sue Baltz, Andy Cosby and Richard Robertson as member, is working on bringing in new members. They are working on a presentation of bridge basics to be presented to outside groups.

NEW BUSINESS:

Andy Cosby represented a progress report on EasyBridge! showing 81 new VCC members as a result of the program. The Thursday and Saturday games have generated $1,246 in revenue and the workshops have generated $1,176. A copy of the report is attached to these minutes. Cathy Irving moved to change the Thursday EasyBridge! game from 0-20 to 0-49. Motion seconded and passed. Nancy Luehring moved that the Monday morning workshops be offered as a 2-hour class @ $7.00 for any Novice/Intermediate players who wish to attend. Motion seconded and passed. Pam Harris moved that both Sunday Swiss Team games be flighted with an Easybridge! Flight stratified 0-19 and 20-49 beginning June 1. Motion seconded and passed.

Pat Bertnolli moved that President Dick Condon seek a sanction for the 2011 VCC Sectional to be held April 1-3. Motion seconded and passed.

Lillian Estes moved that we purchase paper pick-up slips, instead of card stock. This will result in a considerable savings to the club. Motion seconded and passed.

Cathy Irving brought up the issue of masterpoint milestone announcements. This is a manual procedure and requires a great deal of time. Sheila Cosby moved that we discontinue this practice. Motion seconded and passed. Pat Bertnolli moved to incorporate the “Player of the Month” policy into the standing rules. Motion seconded and passed.

Dick Condon informed the board that the Thursday Better Bridgers at the Coronado Center have requested that their program be incorporated into the VCC. They have approximately 100 members. Ray Hull is the Coordinator of the group. Pat Bertnolli moved to establish a Thursday morning Rubber Bridge game at the VCC in order to accommodate this group, whose members will join the Village Card Club and pay the same game fee as all other games. Motion seconded and passed. Their first game at VCC will be July 2. This is expected to increase VCC revenue by approximately $4,750 per year.

Cathy Irving moved to donate out-of-date bridge class textbooks to Unit 161 to be distributed to smaller clubs, if they are interested in them. Motion seconded and passed. Pam Harris moved to sell or return the excess of our current books. Motion seconded and passed.

Pam Harris moved to include the proposed Education Salary and Fee Schedule into the VCC Salary & Fee Schedule (Schedule C) with the exception of a $25 payment to a teacher for a class that does not make. Teacher payments will be made on a break-even basis. Motion seconded and passed.

Lillian Estes moved to adjourn at 5:30 pm. Motion seconded and passed.

Submitted by Sheila Cosby, Treasurer (Acting Secretary)