SONS IN RETIREMENT
TWAIN HARTE
BRANCH NO.172
MINUTES OF THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Big Sir Don Denhard opened the meeting at 8:00 AM and called for self-introductions. Sir Bob Wright, who had not attended a BEC meeting for some time, was welcomed back. Sir Harry Vacca was welcomed to the meeting. Secretary Dan Mohn reported that a quorum was present (see attached attendance report). Sir Dennis Honeychurch requested that the TRAVEL section of the March 31 BEC minutes be amended to read Sir Dennis Honeychurch reported … . The minutes of the March 31 BEC meeting were approved as amended (Nissen/Bamford).
TREASURER’S
REPORT:
Treasurer
Rich Brandau reported a beginning balance of $4800.45 and an ending balance of
$4439.00 for the month of April. The major expenditures were: printing and
supplies- $85.83; postage - $65.60; guest expenses - $12.00; and State Board
Pro Rata Assessment - $160.00, for a total of $323.43. The Treasurer’s Report
was approved (Bamford/Honeychurch).
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance Chairman Herb
Spierling reported that 21 Sirs had called that they would not be attending
Thursday’s luncheon. Assistant Attendance Chairman Bill Bamford reported that,
to date, 12 guests will be attending. Sir Spierling reported that Sir Bob
Becker, who had notified the attendance chairman, in accordance with Sec III of
the 01/29/07 Branch Regulation regarding being out of the area for an extended
period of time, had submitted a notice of a second extended absence for this
year. Sir Spierling requested guidance from the BEC regarding compliance with
the Branch Regulation for a second notice. Following a short discussion, the
BEC concluded that Sir Becker was in compliance with the Branch Regulation.
MEMBERSHIP:
Membership
Chairman Ralph Legg reported that Ed Thrapp has resigned because he is moving
from the area, and requested approval to add Stephen Nichols, Dave Palmer and
Harvey Brown to the waiting list for membership with the understanding that
these applicants may have to wait 2 years or more for a membership to open.
Approved (Honeychurch/Pfoutz). Volker G. Norpchen will be inducted at
Thursday’s Luncheon meeting. The membership now stands at 150 active, 4
inactive and 22 on hold.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
LUNCHEON: Sir Jim McCracken reported
that all arrangements were in place for our Thursday meeting. He is planning on
132 set ups plus the head table.
PROGRAM: Little Sir Ed Nissen
reported that Master Gardener Becky Cripps will present this month’s program.
Our speaker for next month will be Tamara Wilder who will talk about PAWS
(Performing Animal Welfare Society).
COMPUTER
USER’S GROUP:
No Report
WEB
PAGE: No
Report
DIGITAL
PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP (DPG): Sir Ray Pfoutz reported that
10 people attended the meeting on April 17th. Sir Pfoutz announced that he was
resigning from the DPG Chairmanship. Big Sir Don Denhard accepted his
resignation and thanked him for his more than 3 years of service to the Branch
in that position.
GOLF: No Report
BULLETIN:
The deadline for our next bulleting is May 5,
2008.
PUBLICITY: Sir Gil Wesson reported that the meeting announcement was submitted to the Sonora Union Democrat and the Sierra Mountain Times. The SMT published the notice in last week’s edition. Sir Wesson was not able to confirm that the notice had been published in the Union Democrat.
TRAVEL: SIR Inc has sent brochures to all Branch Travel Chairmen announcing the SIR 50th Anniversary Celebration in Reno, NV October 28 – 30, 2008.
RV: Sir Harry Vacca gave a brief report regarding the RV Club travel for April/May.
THEATER: SIR Rich Brandau reported that 71 Sirs and spouses/guests will be attending the play at the Fallon House Theater on May 14, and 55 will be having dinner at the City Hotel in Columbia following the play.
MOVIE: SIR Ray Pfoutz requested approval for “Lunch and a Movie” during May at the Sonora Regal Entertainment Group Theatre, the movie and the date to be determined. Approved (Bamford/Honeychurch).
FELLOWSHIP: N/R
HIKING: Sir Jerry Jensen reported that 12 Sirs went on the hike last month at the Red Hills area to check out the wild flowers. Sir Jensen requested approval for a Raft Trip on the Stanislaus River From Knights Ferry to Orange Blossom Rd. near Oakdale, carpooling from the Junction Shopping Center. Approved (Brandou/Bamford).
OLD BUSINESS:
Secretary Dan Mohn reported that the question concerning
liability insurance coverage for gquests,
including those gentlemen who are on the membership waiting list, was addressed
by email from Area Governor Norm Whitsed who stated “According to Mr. John
Thompson our State Insurance Chairman, ‘SIR Members and GUESTS are covered by
our policy at a SIR sponsored event’”.
Assistant Attendance Chairman Bill Bamford, in light of
the long wait for a person to be inducted into our SIR Branch, and the fact
that some continue to attend the luncheoning
meetings as guests of their sponsors, while others have only attended one or
two meetings at the most, questioned the genuine interest of those applicants
that did not attend the luncheon meetings on a regular basis. Sir Bamford
suggested that if an applicant was not showing interest in becoming a Sir by not attending
luncheon meetings on a regular basis, he should be dropped from the waiting
list. A lively discussion ensued. Following the discussion, Big Sir Don Denhard
stated that it was the consensus of the BEC, after reviewing SIR Inc.
membership rules, that each applicant’s sponsor has the responsibility to notify
the Membership Chairman if his applicant was not longer
interested in joining our SIR Branch.
NEW BUSINESS:
Sir Gil Wesson reviewed the use of the different connotations of “SIR, Sir, SIR’s and
Sirs”. SIR is the acronym for Sons in Retirement, Inc., Sir is the title given to each member of SIR. SIR’s is the possessive noun for SIR. Sirs is the plural of Sir. We are a group of Sirs. We belong to SIR. We are SIR’s Twain Harte Branch.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 am.
The next BEC meeting will be at Papa’s New Roost on June 2, 2008 at 8:00 AM, preceded by breakfast starting at 7:00 AM.
Dan Mohn
Secretary