Pleasant Hill Branch 146

Minutes of the Branch Executive Committee Meeting

August 14^th 2008

I. Call to Order

Big Sir Jeff Baily called the meeting to order at 10.00 am

II. Members in Attendance

Officers and Directors:

Baily, Somerville, Hallett, Gates, Thomson, Colombo, Binder, Mitchell, O’Sullivan, Matthews and Richter.

Area 2 Governor: Stedman

Committee Chairmen:

Spellman, Nunn, Ahlf, Gorman, Wilson, Kistenmacher, Lewis, Marchione, Obera and Calloway,

III. Secretary’s Report

The minutes of the July 10th, 2008 BEC meeting were approved.

IV. Treasurer’s Report

Thomson presented the Treasurer’s report as of July 31st, 2008. At month end the bank balance was $1998.10. BEC accepted the report.

Our bank balance is lower than normal due to the advance payment of deposits for the Dinner Dance ($970) and Wine Garden tour ($375). This emphasized the need to keep our bank balance at a minimum of $ 3000.00 in anticipation of similar future requirements.

V. Little Sir’s Report

The speaker at today’s luncheon is Susan Cherry, a volunteer for the” Guide Dogs for the Blind” for over twenty years and docent at the San Rafael Campus.

Our luncheon speakers for September 2008 will be Gayle Vasser, Community Relations Manager for the City of Walnut Creek and Lt Mark Covinton of the Walnut Creek Police Department. The topic will be the Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T).

Somerville attended the SIR Annual Corporation Meeting, representing Jeff Baily.

The meeting agenda included the following:

-A report that SIR Incorporated remains financially sound and confirmation that golf activity monies are subject to an annual audit.

-Area 2 Governor Jim Stedman gave a presentation on Branch Member Aging.

-Region 9 Director Jim Petruk lead a discussion on inducting Baby Boomers and the effect they might have on the future of the SIR organization...

-Dwight Sale, Chairman-INFOSTS Committee, suggested branches appoint a committee to select luncheon speakers, rather than have their Little Sir perform this duty alone.

After BEC discussion, the following motion was proposed by Somerville and seconded by Matthews:

“To establish a Program Committee, chaired by the Little Sir. This Committee would be responsible for planning and executing the luncheon speaker programs, previously the responsibility of the Little Sir alone. Committee members would be selected based upon their interest, experience and relevant connections.”

Motion carried.

Hallett will make an announcement at today’s luncheon advising members of the new committee and request volunteers.

VI. Big Sir’s Report.

-Branch 146 Average Age and Branch Regulation 9:

Baily announced the average age of Branch 146 members has decreased from 76.3 to 76.2. If we eliminate our rule that requires a waiting list for new members and induct the eight individuals on our current waiting list, we will reduce the average age to 76.0.

The following motion was proposed by Matthews and seconded by Colombo.

“That Branch Regulation 9 be eliminated “.

After BEC discussion, Somerville proposed the motion be amended to read:

“Change Branch Regulation 9 to eliminate the induction limitation of three members per month, until the total Branch membership reaches the maximum membership as set out in Branch Regulation 1.

Seconded by Gates.

Votes For: Mitchell, Gates, Matthews, O’Sullivan, Somerville, Thomson and Colombo

Votes Against: Hallett, Binder and Richter.

Motion Carried.

VII. Membership Report

Pete Gates gave the report in Jim Jackson’s absence.

A motion to induct Donald Fitzgerald, Siegfried Kalteis, and Ron Ragno was proposed by Richter and seconded by Somerville. Motion carried.

After today’s three inductions, the resignations of Ken Costello, Don Merchant and Bill Earl and moving Willard Thorbrogger to inactive membership status, our Branch total active membership decreased to 259 (including four HLM’s).

As a result of today’s three inductions, and the receipt of two new applications, the Branch waiting list will decrease to a total of eight applicants for membership.

VIII. Luncheon Report

Pete Gates gave the report in Glen Renk’s absence.

The lunch count for the August luncheon is 213 with a guarantee to Sunrise of 203.

IX. Old Business

None

X. New Business

New Member Feedback:

Gates reported that comments coming from the New Members Relations Committee included a suggestion that new members have a different colored badge to distinguish them from existing members.

Gates proposed that Branch Rule 5 be changed to read:

“New members will wear different color badges for six months. The badge color will be yellow”

Seconded by Richter.

Motion carried.

XI. Committee Reports

-Walking Group:

John Lewis, Chairman of the Walking Group, gave a brief report on the history and current status of the Walking Group.

-Chaplain:

Chuck Kistenmacher, Branch 146 Chaplain, gave an outline of the practice he follows at each luncheon.

-Travel:

Bob Spellman announced a travel event- Highlights of South Africa- scheduled from October 8^th to October 27^th 2009.

Motion proposed by Richter and seconded by Thomson. Motion carried.

He also mentioned the State Travel Event –Day at the Races- at the Golden Gate Fields on October 10^th 2008. There will be no event bus – please make your own way.

XII. Good of the Order

-Cell Phones:

The Sir State organization requested that all members refrain from using cell phones while driving to and from Sir activities/events. Baily agreed to make an announcement to this effect to Branch 146 members.

XII. Adjournment.

The meeting was adjourned at 11.15 am.

Dennis Hallett

Secretary

Attachment:

Form 53. Highlights of South Africa, October 8^th to 27^th 2009

Addendum:

At the Big Sir’s request, the following is included as an addendum to the minutes:

Big Sir's Remarks at the BEC Meeting August 14, 2008

I'm pleased to announce another first for Branch 146. For the very first time in our Branch's history we have actually lowered our Branch average age from a high of 76.3 years to 76.2 years. It may seem insignificant, but it represents a fundamental and positive change to a very troublesome trend line that has been haunting SIR for some time.

Now if we agree to eliminate our limit of inducting about 3 men per month and induct the remaining 6 men waiting as soon as they are introduced, we would again lower our average age to 76.0 and add a small but vital number of men to the under 70 group. They, in turn would again attract more new members.

We started this effort to turn the SIR membership loss around in November 2005 when we had a cap of 215 men. Since then we have inducted 100 men and grown to 266. If we had kept our cap of 215, as some members advocated, and which I successfully fought against, our branch average age would now be over 78 years old. If that were the case we would have a disproportionate high number of men in the over 80 group, very few, if any, members in the under 70 group to balance our age spectrum and consequently our Branch would be significantly less appealing to recent retirees considering applying for membership.

I'm asking you today to come together, do the right thing for our branch and SIR and eliminate our limit of inducting about 3 men per month.

A motion that would address this issue in a positive way would be:

I move that we immediately eliminate our induction limit of "about 3 men per month" and eliminate BR 9.