SONS IN RETIREMENT

TWAIN HARTE BRANCH NO. 172

MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Meeting Date: February 2, 2009 Place: Papa's New Roost

Big Sir Ed Nissen opened the meeting at 7:58 AM and welcomed Area Governor Norm Whitsed to the meeting. Big Sir Nissen called for self introductions of the 2009 Officers, Directors and Committee Representatives. Secretary Dan Mohn reported that a quorum was present (see attached attendance report). The minutes of the January 5, 2009 BEC meeting were approved as electronically sent to all Officers and Directors. (Honeychurch/Bamford).

TREASURER'S REPORT:

Treasurer Rich Brandau reported a beginning balance of $5582.38 and an ending balance of $5650.13 for the month of January. The expenses for the month were printing and supplies - $69.61; Postage - $58.80; Guest Expenses - $13.00 and State Board Pro Rata Assessment - $148.00. The Treasurer’s Report was approved. (Nelson/Legg). Treasurer Brandau reported that Sir Gary Bogolea had completed the annual audit report and has found the Branch’s financial records to be in order. Secretary Dan Mohn will transmit the Branch Audit in accordance with Rule 257.

Attendance Chairman Herb Spierling reported that 19 Sirs have called that they would not be attending the luncheon meeting. Assistant Attendance Chairman Bill Bamford reported that 12 guests will be attending.

MEMBERSHIP:

Membership Chairman Ralph Legg reported that the membership stands at 149 active members, 4 inactive. Sir Ron Barrett passed away. Don Elder will be installed Thursday in Sir Ron Barrett’s place. Membership Chairman Legg requested approval to accept the membership application of Ron Gorman. Approved (Legg/Desrosiers). With the installation of Don Elder, the membership stands at 150 active members and 4 inactive members.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

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

PROGRAM: Thursday’s program will be a presentation by Chris Bateman who will discuss the bicycle trip that he took across the United States with his son, Ben. The bicycle trip was a fund raiser for the Sonora High School field and track lighting. Next month’s program will be presented by Peter Cabrillo, Area 12 Agency on Aging, who’s program is entitled “Getting Old is not for Wimps”.

COMPUTER USERS GROUP: No Report.

WEB PAGE: No Report.

GOLF: Sir Richard Broddie requested approval of the following Golf Schedule for 2009:

Date Course Location

02-17-09 La Contenta Golf Club Valley Springs

03-10-09 Lake Don Pedro Golf Club La Grange

04-07-09 Rancho Del Ray Golf Club Atwater

05-12-09 Pheasant Run Golf Course Chowchilla

06-09-09 Creekside Golf Course Modesto

07-07-09 Old River Golf Course Tracy

08-11-09 Madera Muni Golf Course Madera

09-08-09 Dry Creek Ranch Golf Course Galt

10-06-09 Dryden Park Golf Course Modesto

Approved (Nelson/Legg).

Revised Motion: Insert Lake Don Pedro Golf Club on March 10, 2009 into the schedule. Approved (Brandau/Legg).

For reference, Sir Broddie requested that the SIR Golf Club Area 27, Branch 172 (63-174) Player Listing for 2009 be kept in Branch 172 files. By this reference it is made an attachment to these minutes.

BULLETIN: Sir Stu Heller (in absentia) requested that all bulletin items be submitted to him by February 9^th. Sir Heller sent word that the March Bulletin will be published a week later than usual.

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 published the meeting notice. The Union Democrat has yet to publish the notice.

TRAVEL: Sir Earl Nelson requested approval for a river boat trip titled Castles along the Rhine and Danube Rivers by Vantage Travel starting in Budapest, Hungary and ending in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from September 11 to September 26, 2009, and submitted Form 53 requesting approval for this travel event. Approved (Honeychurch/Vaca).

RV: No Report.

THEATER: Sir Rich Brandau reported that he had 10 tickets (out of 90) left for the play Fiddler on the Roof on March 18. Sir Herb Spierling, sponsor of the June play, requested BEC input regarding going to the Union Hill B&B in Columbia for the dinner following the play. The BEC took this under advisement and will render an opinion after checking out the facility.

HIKING GROUP: Sir Jerry Jensen requested approval for a hike at the Glory Hole Recreation Area, New Molones Reservoir on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, car pooling from the Junction Shopping Center in East Sonora. Approved (Bamford/Desrosiers).

MOVIE: Sir Ray Pfoutz requested approval for a movie for the month of February at the East Sonora Regal Entertainment Theater, at a date to be determined, spouses/guests to be included. Approved (Nelson/Brandau).

FELLOWSHIP: Sir Larry Bertuccelli requested clarification as to whom a card should be sent. It was the consensus of the BEC that a card be sent to an ill or incapacitated member, to the member when his spouse passes away, and to the spouse when the member passes away.

OLD BUSINESS:

Christmas Party: Big Sir Ed Nissen appointed Sir Henry Beltran, chairman, and Sir Bill Bamford, assistant chairman for the 2009 Christmas party.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. New Branch for the Area

Area Governor Norm Whitsed broached the subject of sponsoring a new branch for the area. Discussion ensued. Since Branch 136 has in excess of 342 members it would be logical to assume that most Charter Members for the new branch would be from Branch 136. Branch 172 is supportive of forming a new branch and will assist in any way it can.

2. Branch Attendance

Sir Herb Spierling reported to the BEC, at its January meeting that a number of Sirs were not in compliance or soon would not be in compliance with SIR Rule 100.b and the Branch Regulation dated January 29, 2007. Big Sir Ed Nissen, at the January BEC meeting, directed Sir Spierling to list each Sir that was not in compliance and the reason(s). Secretary Dan Mohn noted that Sir Spierling had misunderstood the terms of the Branch Regulation, sent a memo, dated January 17, 2009, to the Big Sir with copies to Sir Spierling and the BEC reviewing the attendance of each Sir in contention, applying the terms of the Branch Regulation and finding that most Sirs were in compliance with the attendance rules and regulations. Big Sir Nissen reviewed both memos at the BEC meeting. Extensive discussion ensued. Sir Paul Desrosiers moved, seconded by Sir Bill Bamford, that the Secretary carefully review the wording of Section III of the Branch Regulation, and the Form Letter used by each Sir who wants to use the terms of the Branch Regulation, and make a recommendation to the BEC at its March meeting for any changes that will clarify the BEC’s intent when the Branch Regulation was originally approved.

3. Nominating Committee

Big Sir Ed Nissen appointed Sir Earl Nelson, Sir Dick Feaster and Sir Don Denhard, Chairman, to serve as the nominating committee, and directed the nominating committee to present a slate of officers and directors at the June BEC meeting, and have that slate published in the June Branch Bulletin. Said nominees will stand for election at the July Luncheon Meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 AM.

The next Executive Committee Meeting will be 8:00 AM, Monday, March 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