MINUTES – BOARD OF DIRECTORS – DISTRICT 9

JULY 2, 2005DEERFIELD JULY 4 REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

HILTON DEERFIELD BEACH HOTEL

 

DIRECTORS PRESENT WERE:

Muriel Altus (128), Roberta Birdt (243), Bette Cohn (102), Bill Ranagan, proxy for Bud Dean (128),  Shirley Seals, proxy for Martha Easter (128), Phil Altus, proxy for Harriet Eaton (128), Sandy Erickson (240), Adrienne Muslin, proxy for Betty Grandoff (128), Marshall Hall (128), Phyllis Heller (243),  Michael Bela Kassay (102), Linda Perlman, proxy for Janet Laudenslager (128), Charlie Musgrove, proxy for Sterling Odom (128), Caroline Warner, proxy for Jeff Overby (128), Bob Parlin (128), Phyllis Ranagan (128), Jayne Thomas (128) and Carla Burke, proxy for Virginia Waterfield (219).

 

DIRECTORS ABSENT WERE:

Martha Easter, Bud Dean, Betty Grandoff, Janet Laudenslager, Sterling Odom, Jeff Overby, and Mark Smith (Unit 128.)  Virginia Waterfield and Larry Westholm (Unit 219).

 

ADVISORS PRESENT WERE:

Shirley Seals, District 9 Director, Patty Johnson, Director in Charge and Steve Warner, Recorder.

 

ADVISOR ABSENT WAS:

Ellie Hanlon, Disciplinary Chair.

 

The meeting of the Board of Directors of District 9 was called to order by President, Bette Cohn, at 9:30 a.m.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM ORLANDO REGIONAL BOARD MEETING DATED APRIL 2, 2005Minutes were approved as presented.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:  Shirley Seals

A copy of the Balance Sheet dated June 29, 2005 and a Profit and Loss Statement as of June 29, 2005 were distributed to the Board(Copy attached to these minutes.Also, distributed was an up-to-date List of Board Officers and Directors, telephone numbers, e-mail address and mailing address.

The District is in good financial condition with $10,400 in the Operating Account,

$23,200 in the Sunshine Bridge News Account with no bills outstanding, and $82,820 in CDs which are being held for the Orlando NABC in 2010.  Report  was approved as presented.

 

DIRECTOR IN CHARGE REPORT:  Patty Johnson

The tournament is going smoothly, with 822 tables to date, up 4% over last year(The total table count for the 4th of July Tournament was 1434 table, up from 1370 tables in 2004.) 

 

The tournament chairpersons were complimented for a very successful tournament and exceptional hospitality. 

A discussion was held regarding Sponsors donating money to be used for Hospitality at Regional Tournaments.

A motion was made to name a Committee to investigate sponsors and the liability issue of using these funds where alcohol is being served.

Committee named as follows:

Sandy Erickson – Unit 240

Phyllis Heller – Unit243

Susan Goodman – Unit 102

Phil Altus – Unit 128

Carla Burke – Unit 219

This Committee is to report by e-mail to the board members prior to our next board meeting.

 

Clarification of dates of August 2006 Regional were to be determined when the site for the tournament has been confirmed.

 

DISTRICT 9 DIRECTOR REPORT:    Shirley Seals

A Committee has been formed by the National Board to investigate “Traditional Dates of Regional Tournaments” and to put into place a policy to protect these traditional datesEach District Director was asked to respond to a survey/questionnaire and this committee will report at the Atlanta NABC.

My response to the Committee was since District 7 and District 6 (our neighboring states to the North) have tournaments sanctioned through 2008.. this entire issues becomes a moot point until 2009Even District 7’s Gatlinburg tournament is sanctioned through 2011If District 9 ever thought they had a traditional date for the Southeastern tournament, it is superceded by the sanctions already given District 7The bottom line is “first come…first sanction”…and it would behoove District 9 to adopt a policy of sanctioning Regionals and Sectionals out much further than we do at present. 

 

A Committee has been formed to report to the National Board in Atlanta on “Redistricting” the ACBL areasI do not think this will get off the ground since no one on the National board wishes to give up one square inch of their “territory”.

Even members of the committee have written…”If it ain’t broke, why are we trying to fix it.” 

 

RECORDER REPORT:  Steve Warner

No recorder problems have occurred to date.

 

GOODWILL REPORT:  Roberta Birdt

The Goodwill Party was held at the PGA Regional in May and was well attendedEngraved vases were given to the Rookie of the Year from each Unit.

 

SUNSHINE BRIDGE NEWS:  Muriel Altus

Bette Cohn asked to speak to the issue of what each Unit can do with its assigned pages in the Sunshine Bridge NewsThe District voted in October 2004 to no longer accept advertisements from other DistrictsBette asked the board to leave the decision of advertising other District tournaments up to the tournament chairs in District 9She suggested that each Unit could use their assigned pages in the Sunshine Bridge News to advertise tournaments in other Districts.  

 

The consensus of the board was that to advertise other District Regionals on Unit assigned pages would be in violation of the decision by the District board to not allow advertising in the Sunshine Bridge News by other DistrictsThe board recommended that Units who wish to advertise tournaments from other District do so on their Internet site. 

 

A new printing company (Joseph Clarke & Associates) has been selected for the SBN starting with the July/August 2005 issueLiz Dennis was given a verbal contract to be the Editor for six (6) issues or one year(The first issue was September/October 2004.)

 

A motion was made to hire Joseph Clarke & Associates to become the Editor and to be responsible for contracting with a printing company for their services beginning with the September/October 2005 issueThe contract consists of $2000 for the job as Editor (as opposed to $2500 paid to Liz), but an additional cost of $500 will be charged for changing the SunshineBridge News into a full color publicationThe new company perceives it will be able to sell advertisements in the SunshineBridge News with a full color publication.   A sub-committee was formed within the SunshineBridge News Committee to research what the financial impact would be of additional advertising fundsAlso, this committee would be in charge of approving advertisements submitted for inclusion in each issue of the SBN and the number of advertisements accepted for each issue.   Motion carriedLinda Perlman voted no.

 

A motion was made to thank Liz Dennis for her services as Editor of the Sunshine Bridge News and give her a severance pay of $2500 with the understanding that this relieves the board of all financial responsibilities to her, both verbal and writtenIn addition, Liz would turn over to the new Editor all information that she has accumulated for the September/October issue and would participate in an orderly transitionMotion carried unanimously.

 

CHARITY REPORT:   Nancy Hagerty

Nancy asked that each Unit President send her the e-mail address of their  Unit Charity ChairpersonShirley Seals volunteered to assist with obtaining these e-addresses.

 

NAP AND GNT COORDINATOR:    Jayne Thomas

The District gave $1700 to each of the A, B, and C Flight winners of the GNT finals(These teams will compete at the  Atlanta NABC in July 2005.The A+ Flight winners were not included in this distribution of funds since this team consists of professional players. 

 

Vero Beach will be the site of the 2006 GNT finalsJayne was asked to investigate Orlando as a site for a future GNT final competition. 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

The Dress Code for District 9 will be discussed at a future board meeting.

Betty Grandoff and Janet Laudenslager are researching policies followed by other Districts.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

A motion was made to allow Temple Sinai Bridge Club in Delray Beach and Lakeland Bridge Club to request a sanction for a Sectional tournament provided that this does not conflict with other scheduled tournaments or STAC events. Patty Johnson is to approve and coordinate the scheduling.

Motion carried.

 

Carol Clifford from Unit 128 has filed a complaint against the District for violating its by-lawsThe issue of the location of the 2005 Southeastern tournament will be addressed by the ACBL Appeals and Charges Committee at the National Board meeting in AtlantaShirley Seals and Bette Cohn will attend the committee meeting and speak for the DistrictCarol Clifford will give her complaint by telephoneThis has to do with the interpretation of the bylaws.

The bylaws clearly state Article I, F“To allocate the Regionals and decide where they will be held, subject to the approval of the District Director as to availability of playing space and location thereof(1)  The Florida Unit shall conduct the Southeastern Regional annually in Dade, Broward or Palm BeachCounty.”    At the Unit Board Meeting on November 7, 2003 and at the District 9

Board Meeting on January 10, 2004, and with the approval of the District 9 Director, gave the Unit 128 Executive Manager, Jayne Thomas, the authority to “hold the Southeastern tournament at any location in District 9 and negotiate a successful contract.” 

 

The District 9 board members were in agreement that the bylaws were not violated and that Carol Clifford’s interpretation was incorrect.

 

Carol Clifford sent an e-mail dated March 10, 2005 asking the District to address certain illegalities that she perceived with the Unit 128 election of board members which took place in Orlando, January 2005This e-mail and the allegations were discussed in length by the District boardA copy of Shirley Seals response to this e-mail is attached to these minutes.

 

A motion was made by Michael Kassay, seconded by Phyllis Ranagan that the allegations made by Carol Clifford are without merit and frivolous in natureMarshall Hall was asked to respond to Carol as to the vote of the boardMarshall Hall will also write an article for the Sunshine Bridge News explaining the board’s position in this matterMotion carried unanimously.

 

The following changes should be made to the 2006 calendar:

NaplesBridge Club

5/18/065/21/06   

Thursday  5/18/06   7:00 p.m. BAM

Friday 5/19 &  Saturday 5/20/06  10:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.  Pair game

Sunday  5/21/06  Swiss game   10:00 a.m.

 

Bridge Club of SW Florida changes as follows:

6/08/066/11/06

Thursday   6/08/06   7:00 p.m.  BAM

Friday 6/09/06 & Saturday 6/10/06  10:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. Pair game

Sunday  6/11/06  Swiss  10:00 a.m.

 

 

The next District board meeting will take place in Daytona on Saturday,

November 5, 2005.

 

 

 

Shirley Seals, Recording Secretary