Pleasant Hill Branch 146
Minutes of the Branch Executive Committee Meeting
April 9, 2009

I. Call to Order, Opening Remarks and Introduction of Guests

Big Sir Stu Somerville called the meeting to order at 9:30 am
In his opening remarks, he mentioned that Del Bene would conduct a verbal overview of the Emergency Evacuation Plan during today’s luncheon. There will not be an actual evacuation.
Dean Steichen, Area 2 Governor, was introduced as a guest

II. Members in Attendance

Officers and Directors:
Somerville, Hallett, Gates, Binder, Burk, Darius, Fuchs, de Golia, Hockel, Rettew and Schroder.
Committee Chairmen and others:
Nunn, Baily, Spellman, Hertweck, Costanza, Yolland, Hanford, Stedman, Ahlf, Lyman, Calloway, Hauschildt, Kohl, Roberts, Rockwell, Gorman, and Wilson.

III. Secretary’s Report

Gates stated that the Minutes of the last BEC Meeting on, March 12, 2009, had been distributed to BEC. He called for comments and corrections. The Minutes were approved without change.

IV. Treasurer’s Report

De Golia presented the Treasurer’s report as of March, 2009 and for the first quarter (January through March). At month end, the bank balance was $2517.11. After accounting for Set-Asides of $91.60, the amount available for general expenses was $2425.51. This is an increase of $690 over the February balance and $220 for the quarter.
BEC accepted the report.

Somerville reported that the response to the Audit Report had been submitted and that Bobinecz had provided an audit guideline which may be of interest to those conducting the next Annual Audit.

V. Little Sir’s Report

Hallett reported that today’s speaker is Charles Osolin, Communications Manager for the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
The entertainment for the May Ladies Day Luncheon will be provided by the Jazz Ensemble from the San Ramon High School.

VI. Committee Reports Needing Approval

Travel
Spellman reported that the Monterey Mashers golf event went smoothly and resulted in a small surplus as reported on Form 52 (on file).

Member Recruitment and Retention Committee
Committee Chairman Calloway reported that he and Committee members Darius and Schroeder had met and developed the following report:

• Through April, we have inducted 7 new members and 11 have left. Membership is down by 4 to 261. This is well behind the goal of inducting new members at rate of 3 per month.
• They recommend that Branch 146 do the following:
• Encourage our members to bring luncheon guests.
• Make guests feel welcome so they will join.
• Provide tools to help with recruitment.
• Steps currently being taken include:
• Circulate the “Be a Friend---Bring a Friend” flyer. It will be at each table today.
• Will make a pitch at the luncheon asking for members help.
• Getting SIR cards (business card size) printed and given to members.
• Track luncheon guest to see if they become members and determining (where possible) why members leave.
• Seek Area 2 help with external recruitment.
• The BEC can do the following:
• Support the effort to recruit and retain quality members.
• Be sensitive to any concerns of our members caused by the growth of the past few years and our emphasis on Branch aging.
• Approve an expenditure of $30 for printing the SIR cards.

A motion to approve the $30 expenditure was passed by the BEC.

Area 2 Governor Steichen passed along the following information from a recent meeting. SIR VP Kendrick has stressed that implementation of the Leadership Action Plan (LAP) is voluntary and on a Branch by Branch basis.
He said that Region 6 and Area 2 are way ahead of the rest of SIR with regard to recruitment and retention.

Ladies Day
With the date (May 14th) fast approaching, there is a pressing need to advertise the event in a way other than in the next SirCall. It was decided that an e-mail to our memberships was needed and it will be done.
There was a motion to charge $27 per person, two dollars over the cost of the meal.
Motion passed.

Membership
Hertweck reported that there are two men to be inducted this meeting: Robby McSpadden and Jim Saavedra who is a transfer from Branch 116.
In addition, three members have requested to go inactive (Arno Marra, Robert Baily and Joe Himsl) and one has resigned (Al Bond).
The net result of these changes will be a reduction of two members to 261 including 4 HLM’s.
A motion was passed to approve these membership changes.
There are no men on our Applicant List.

Luncheon
Lyman reported that he is expecting 219 members to attend the luncheon and that he guaranteed 194 to CourseCo.
Somerville mentioned that he had received a proposed new contract from CourseCo. It will be circulated for review and comment.

Garden Club
Hanford reported that the IRIS bus trip was booked.

VII. Old Business
None

VIII. New Business

Stedman for SIR Vice President
At the recommendation of Baily, the following motion was passed: “The members of the Branch 146 Executive Committee, on behalf of the members of Branch 146, heartily endorse the candidacy of Jim Stedman for Vice President of Sons in Retirement, Inc.
Jim is a long-time member of Branch 146 who served as Assistant Secretary, Secretary, Little Sir and Big Sir. Branch 146 anticipates a healthy and vital future as a result of Jim’s leadership.
We know him to be a dedicated advocate for the long term success of SIR. He has provided great leadership in Branch 146, as Governor of Area 2 and as Director of Region 6.
He will continue to make very important contributions to SIR as Vice President”.
Motion passed. It will be forwarded to Art Pufford of the State Nominating Committee by Somerville.

Branch Regulation #27
As a result of the BEC action at the last meeting, Branch Regulation # 27 must be revised accordingly. Gates moved that it be rewritten as follows: “Each member will be asked to donate a minimum of $20.00 annually to cover administrative costs of the Branch. Donations will be collected prior to or during the June luncheon and will cover the Branch expenses until May of the following year. New members will be asked to donate a pro rata amount.”
Motion passed.

VII. Adjournment

There being no further business, Somerville called for a motion to adjourn. Motion passed, meeting was adjourned at 10:27 am.

Pete Gates,
Secretary

Final: April 15, 2009