Pleasant Hill Branch 146
Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting
June 14, 2007
I. Call to Order
Big Sir Jim Stedman called the meeting to order at 9:30 AM.
II. Members in Attendance
Officers and Directors: Baily, Gates, Hallett, Matthews, Mitchell, O’Sullivan, Snyder, Somerville, Stedman, Thomson, Tutton, Zamolo. Committee Chairmen: Bill Root, Bob Spellman, Jim Jackson, Don Nunn, Jack Calloway, Garth Cummings, and Dave Obera.
III. Secretary’s Report
A motion to approve the minutes of the, April 12, 2007 BEC meeting was approved without change. MSP
IV Treasurer’s Report
Bill Snyder presented the Report for May. At month end our bank balance was $ 10,302.78.
V Little Sir’s Report
Today’s Luncheon speaker will be Jerry Holcombe who will talk about “Demystifying the Contra Costa County Grand Jury”. The July speaker will be Etta Maitland. She is Contra Costa Ombudsman for Nursing home Advocacy. She will be speaking about “The Changing Face of Long Term Care”.
VI Committee Reports
Membership Chairman , Jim Jackson requested approval to accept Dan Costello, Edward Best, John Pearl, Robert Lyman and Hugh Ferguson as new members. MSP
Luncheon Chairman , Bill Root, presented our expected attendance to be 199. Our guarantee to Blake’s is 190.
Nominating Chairman , Garth Cummings, presented the committee’s recommendations for SIR Branch 146 Officers and Directors to serve in 2008. The recommendations will appear in the July SIR CALL and elections will be held at the August luncheon meeting.
Webmaster , Jeff Baily, reported on progress of Web update. He is still looking for an acceptable consultant.
SIR CALL Editor , Pete Gates, requested permission to reload Post Office mail account, since this is a budgeted item, a motion was not required.
VII Big Sir’s Report
Jim Stedman provided information on the seating arrangements for the Head Table.
VIII Old Business
None
IX New Business
Big Sir Jim Stedman introduced the need for the following two motions.
Motion #1, Introduction provided by Jeff Baily.
Background: During the last year and one-half, a monthly average of about 3 new members was inducted. Average age of Branch members held steady during that time.
Average age should continue to hold steady if about 3 new members are inducted each month for ten months each year.
Purpose: The purpose of this motion is to allow the maximum membership to increase from 240 to 270 if necessary, to provide room for any growth that will result from inducting about 3 new members per month for ten months each year.
Possible Outcomes: Attrition for the first 6 months of 2007 is 15 and 15 new members will have been inducted, (including the 5 to be inducted at the June 14, 2007 BEC meeting). So there has been no increase in membership in the first 6 months of 2007. If 15 new members are inducted in the last half of 2007, for a total of 30 for the year, membership growth in 2007 will result from the 15 inductions in the last half of 2007, less attrition in the July through November period. Attrition of more than 15 in the second half would result in the Branch size decreasing. Note that the goal is not to grow unnecessarily but to keep Branch average age from increasing. The maximum membership cap gives future BEC’s more of a chance of curbing Branch aging without having to deal with the contentious issue of raising max membership cap to 270.
To amend B.R 1 to the following: Branch 146 maximum membership is set at 270 plus Honorary Life Members. To add B.R. 9: The introduction of about three new members per month for ten months each year until the maximum membership mentioned in B.R. 1 is reached. The Branch average age is to be computed as of every December 31 st as a guide to the incoming Big Sir and BEC. Motion by Jeff Baily, Seconded by Tom Thomson, approved by the BEC.
Motion #2, Introduction provided by Jeff Baily.
Background : B.R. 3 specified two-month open enrollment periods when applications for membership could be accepted.
At all other times there was a moratorium on applications.
The drawing provision is in violation of Standing Rule 76, which states “…Applicants shall be placed on the waiting list in order of receipt of their application for membership”.
The provision that allows waiting list men to participate in activities is in violation of Standing Rule 40, which states, “Only active members of SIR and their guests shall be entitled to participate in activities of the organization.”
There is no Standing Rule which authorizes Executive Committees to issue blanket invitations to waiting list men to participate in branch activities.
Purpose: The purpose of rescinding the current regulation and replacing it with a waiting list procedure that complies with Standing Rules 40 and 76 is to provide the greatest possibility of obtaining 30 applications per year.
Possible Outcomes : The waiting list is not likely to grow as it did in the past because it will be a challenge to attract many more than 30 applicants every year.
The number of men on the waiting list should be relatively stable and the wait time should be months rather than years.
To rescind: B.R. 3, Membership Waiting List. To add B.R.: 10: The membership chairman shall maintain a waiting list with applicants listed in order of the date of receipt of applications . Motion by Jeff Baily, Seconded by Dennis Hallett, approved by the BEC.
X Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 AM. MSP.
Stuart Somerville
Secretary