SONS IN RETIREMENT

TWAIN HARTE BRANCH NO. 172

MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Meeting Date: January 5, 2009 Place: Papa's New Roost

Big Sir Ed Nissen opened the meeting at 7:55 AM and welcomed the 2009 Officers, Directors and Committee Representatives. Secretary Dan Mohn reported that a quorum was present (see attached attendance report). Secretary Mohn read the minutes of the December 1, 2008 BEC meeting. Sir Richard Robinson noted that his name was not included on the attendance list and was added. The Minutes were approved as corrected (Robinson/Bamford).

TREASURER'S REPORT:

Treasurer Rich Brandau reported a beginning balance of $7197.21 and an ending balance of $5582.38 for the month of December. The expenses for the month were printing and supplies - $172.87; Postage - $105.01 and Guest Expenses - $24.00. $3090 was disbursed from the Custodial Account for the Christmas party. Treasurer Brandau reported that all but 9 Sirs had voluntarily contributed $20 for the 2009 Branch expenses; that the 2008 accounts have been reconciled; and the records turned over to Sir Gary Bogolea for the annual audit. The Treasurer’s Report was approved. (Nelson/Bamford).

ATTENDANCE:

Attendance Chairman Herb Spierling reported that 14 Sirs have called that they would not be attending the luncheon meeting. Assistant Attendance Chairman Bill Bamford reported that 7 guests and 1 guest speaker will be attending. Sir Spierling reported that he is troubled with the non-attendance of those who have used the terms and conditions of the January 29, 2007 Branch Regulation to be excepted from complying with SIR Rule 100.b, (did not attend at least half of the regular luncheon meetings during the past 12 months). Big Sir Nissen requested that Secretary Mohn furnish a copy of the Branch Regulation to BEC members for review and comment at the next meeting.

MEMBERSHIP:

Assistant Membership Chairman Bob Wright reported that the membership stands at 150 active members, 4 inactive and 15 on the waiting list.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

LUNCHEON: Sir Henry Beltran reported that all is set for Thursday’s luncheon. Many Sirs have stated how much they have enjoyed the luncheon social mixer, where you are seated by the luck-of-the-draw. Big Sir Nissen declared that February would be a social mixer. Sir Dick Feaster volunteered to help Sir Beltran with the seating.

PROGRAM: Thursday’s program will be a presentation by Steve Lillie about deep sea search and rescue. Next month’s program will be a presentation by Chris Bateman about his bicycle ride, with his son, across the United States.

COMPUTER USERS GROUP: Sir Dick Chimenti requested approval for a meeting on January 22, at the China House Café, starting with a buffet dinner at 6:00 PM and the meeting at 6:30 PM. The program will cover a variety of topics. Approved (Feaster/Bamford).

WEB PAGE: Sir Dick Chimenti reported that the current service provider’s service was no longer satisfactory and requested approval for a new service company that has been found. The domain charge will be $38 for 2 years and the service charge will be $75 per year on a 5-year contract. Funds for this expenditure have been included in the year 2009 budget. Approved (Desrosiers/Beltran).

GOLF: No Report.

BULLETIN: Sir Stu Heller requested that all bulletin items be submitted to him by January 12^th.

PUBLICITY: Sir Gil Wesson reported that he had submitted the luncheon notice to both the Union Democrat and the Sierra Mountain Times. Sir Wesson noted that Sierra Mountain Times is under new ownership, and published the meeting notice with the wrong date. The Union Democrat has yet to publish the notice.

TRAVEL: Sir Earl Nelson reported that 8 Sirs/Guests have signed up for the Alaska trip, and that the Mexico trip has been cancelled due to lack of interest.

RV: The RV Group requested approval for the following activities for 2009:

Date Activity

April 26 to May 1 Trip to Pismo Beach, California.

May 27 to May 27 Trip to Carson Valley Inn, Minden, Nevada.

June (Date to be Determined) Trip to Casa de Fruita or Betabel RV Resort, California.

July 6 to July 12 Trip to Lake Tahoe, California

August 6 Ladies Day Picnic at the Railtown 1897State Historical Park, Jamestown, California.

August 16 to August 30 Oregon Coast and Inland.

(two plus weeks)

October 18 to October 24 Trip to Felton. California.

November 9 to November 13 Trip to Petaluma, California.

Date to be determined Christmas Party.

Approved (Nelson/Robinson).

THEATER: Sir Rich Brandau requested approval for the following Play Schedule for 2009:

Date Play Location

March 18 Fiddler on the Roof East Sonora Rep. Theater

May 20 Around the World in 80 Days East Sonora Rep. Theater

June 17 Sisters of Swing Fallon House, Columbia

July 15 Smokey Joe’s Café East Sonora Rep. Theater

August 26 Damn Yankees Fallon House, Columbia

November 11 Little Women: The Musical East Sonora Rep Theater

December 9 Christmas My Way Fallon House, Columbia

Each play will be followed by a dinner. Approved (Honeychurch/Feaster).

HIKING GROUP: Sir Jerry Jensen requested approval for a Snowshoe hike for January 21, 2009, weather permitting. It will start at Hwy 108 near Strawberry Peak just above the above Herring Creek Road. Carpool from the Twain Harte Market parking lot. The date may be adjusted a day or two in case of weather. Approved (Feaster/Brandau).

MOVIE: Sir Gil Wesson requested approval for a movie for the month of January at the East Sonora Regal Entertainment Theater, at a date to be determined. Approved (Desrosiers/Beltran).

FELLOWSHIP: Cards will be sent when appropriate.

OLD BUSINESS:

Christmas Party: The Christmas Party was lightly attended this year compared to previous years. Sir Henry Beltran reported that 113 tickets were sold and 98 Sirs and wives/guests attended, compared to the attendance of about 150 in previous years. Discussion ensued regarding what happened and what could be done to make the Christmas Party a bigger attraction. The following ideas were presented for increasing the attendance:

1. Reduce the cost and lower the price.

2. Use Branch funds to subsidize the ticket price.

3. Find better entertainment.

4. Sell tickets a month earlier.

5. Have more publicity and promotion by Officers and Directors.

6. Have the party earlier in December.

7. Have the Christmas Party in place of the December luncheon.

8. Appoint the Christmas Party Committee in July.

Rule 74, Number of Sirs in a Branch A letter was sent to Area Governor Norm Whitsed requesting a waiver from Rule 74, No limit on the size of a Branch Membership so that when a place closer to Twain Harte becomes available for the Branch luncheons, the Branch could be accommodated seating wise. The Branch has received no written response, but has received an unofficial verbal response that the Twain Harte Branch and the Sonora Branch should consider sponsoring a new local area branch to accommodate people on the waiting lists. The reception of this suggestion was cool.

NEW BUSINESS:

Big Sir Ed Nissen read a letter from Dwight Sale, Past President of SIR Inc. and current Certificates Chairman, informing the Branch that new SIR Rule 24 has elevated Honorary Life Member (HLM) Carl Nunes to Senior Honorary Life Member (SHLM), and that this honor does not count against the limit of 2% of the Branch membership (Rule 24b.). The Branch is now eligible to appoint up to two more HLMs. Big Sir Nissen appointed Sir Dennis Honeychurch Chairman of the HLM Committee with the instructions to seek one or two Sirs for appointment to HLM in accordance with the rules and guidelines of Rule 24.

The next Executive Committee Meeting will be 8:00 AM, Monday, February 2, 2009 at Papa’s New Roost with breakfast starting at 7:00 AM. The monthly luncheons are held on the first Thursday of each month at the Sonora Elks Lodge.

Dan Mohn, Secretary