Big Sir Roy Sweeney opened the meeting at 7:50 AM. Secretary Dan Mohn reported that a quorum was present (see attached attendance report). Big Sir Roy Sweeney welcomed Assistant Secretary Richard Robinson to the meeting. The minutes of the February 26, 2007 BEC meeting were approved as presented to each officer and director by email. (Spierling/Pfoutz).

Treasurer Rich Brandau reported a beginning balance of $3346.49 and an ending balance of $3455.79 for the month of March. The major expenditures were: Printing and Supplies - $66.91; Postage – $62.40; State Board Pro Rata Assessment - $160; and, $244 – Other Expenses. The report was approved (Feaster/Denhard).

ATTENDANCE:

SIR Herb Spierling reported that eleven Sirs have called to date that they would not be attending Thursday’s luncheon. This includes the "snowbirds". Sir Bill Bamford reported that there would be eight visitors plus the speaker(s). Discussion ensued regarding the number to give to the Elks Lodge caterer. Historically, about 115 have been attending, but recently, except for last month, (probably due to weather) attendance has been increasing. Sir Spierling will give Sir Henry Beltran the number of call-ins Wednesday night, but the thought is that does not help much for letting the caterer know how much food to purchase.

MEMBERSHIP:

SIR Lee Piercey reported that Austin Clarke has been terminated for non-attendance and Jim Hood has moved out of the area leaving two membership positions open. Bob Rogers and Stuart Heller will be inducted at Thursday’s luncheon meeting. Sir Piercey requested approval for the following new members pending memberships becoming available: Heinz Buseman, Dick Jobe, Bill Bryant, Karl Czadzeck, Don Elder and Roger Carlson. Approved (Smith/Beltran). The membership now stands at 150 active, 5 inactive and 17 on hold.

LUNCHEON: Sir Henry Beltran reported that he would meet with the Elks Lodge manager to discuss table arrangement and speaker set-up requirements. Sir Beltran will also discuss estimating the number of lunches to prepare with Dean, the caterer, and whether Dean would like to offer to sell any left over food should food be available. For the foreseeable future, the Branch Luncheons will be at the Elks Lodge in Sonora.

PROGRAM: Little Sir Don Denhard reported that our speaker at the next meeting would be Investigator William E. Burr, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department, who will discuss the County’s battle with illegal drugs.

COMPUTER USER’S GROUP: SIR Rich Froisness requested approval for a meeting on April 30, 2:00 – 4:00 PM at the County Schools Computer lab for a class on MS Word and Excel and requested permission to invite any Sonora Branch Sirs who may wish to attend, contingent on having space available. Sir Richard Feaster will present MS Excel and Sir Froisness will present MS Word. Approved (Beltran/Pfoutz).

WEB PAGE: Sir Don Denhard reported that the web page is up to date.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP: Sir Ray Pfoutz announced that there would be no meeting in April.

GOLF: Sir Gil Wesson reported that the season starts April 10^th.

BULLETIN: Sir Ed Nissen reported that new member Stu Heller will assist in producing the April bulletin and produce the May bulletin, in Sir Nissen’s absence. New software may be required as Heller uses a Mac computer and Sir Nissen’s program will only work on a PC. Sir Feaster will try to obtain the right Mac software at no cost.

PUBLICITY: Sir Gil Wesson reported that the meeting announcement was posted in the Sonora Union Democrat as well as the Sierra Mountain Times.

TRAVEL: Sir Earl Nelson reported that he is working on a New Year’s Day Rose Parade trip and on a European River Boat Trip for 2008.

RV: Sir Nelson reported that the RV Club is on track for the BBQ-Ladies Day luncheon party at Rail Town 1897 State Historic Park for August.

THEATER: No report.

MOVIE: Sir Richard Feaster requested approval for Lunch and a Movie in April, the date and place in Sonora for lunch, as well as film title to be determined. Approved (Feaster/ Smith).

FELLOWSHIP: Sir Carl Nunes had no reports of any ill or deceased Sirs.

HIKING: Sir Jerry Jensen requested approval for a hike on April 25^th to Two Mile Creek, or from Fraser Flat to Strawberry, depending upon ground conditions. Approved (Feaster/Piercey).

BOWLING: No report

FISHING: No Report

Secretary Dan Mohn reviewed the implementation of the Branch Regulation on Attendance and Membership, approved at the January 29, 2007 BEC. This regulation is now in effect and will be announced to the membership at the luncheon meeting and in the Bulletin. The major effect of this regulation will be to exempt missed meetings from Rule 100.b for any Sir who is on an extended trip and who has notified the Attendance Chairman in writing of the duration of the absence prior to leaving on the trip.

The BEC concurred that there would be no limitation on the number of guests allowed at a meeting providing that each Sir bringing a guest or guests inform Sir Bill Bamford by the Sunday preceding the Thursday luncheon meeting.

Big Sir Roy Sweeney reiterated that the BEC as well as Sir Carl Nunes needs to know of any Sir who is ill. In the recent past several Sirs who had missed several meetings without calling the attendance chairman were very ill and/or hospitalized and could not call. Had the BEC known, these Sirs could have been placed on inactive status, and would have received a SIR card from Sir Nunes.

Big Sir Sweeney announced that due to a scheduling conflict at the Elks Lodge, the luncheon meeting for December would be on Wednesday, December 5^th. The Christmas Dinner Party is still scheduled for Thursday, December 13^th, and we will try to reserve the Elks Lodge for the party.

Sonora Branch 136 is planning to host a training day for Activity Chairmen, to be held on either June 16^th or July 14^th and has invited the Activity Chairmen from all Area 27 Branches to participate. Big Sir Roy Sweeney will email each Branch 172 Activity Chairmen inquiring about each one’s availability for the alternative days and requesting their participation if they are available.

Big Sir Roy Sweeney opened discussion regarding raising the membership limit from 150 to some higher number, since space is now available for additional members for luncheons held at the Elks Lodge. Discussion ensued regarding moving the luncheon meetings to a place closer to Twain Harte, specifically, one of the new facilities to be constructed by the Tuolumne Band of Mi Wuk Indians near Tuolumne City. Little Sir Don Denhard will meet with a Mi Wuk representative to find out what facilities are being planned, and to determine the capacities of the planned facilities. This will have a direct bearing on whether or not to raise the membership limit.

Branch 136 Big Sir Wil Reich approached Sir Richard Feaster with a proposition to partner with Branch 136 and the Elks Lodge to install a large drop-down projection screen in the Lodge Dining room at an estimated cost of $300, to be shared equally between the three entities. Sir Feaster moved, seconded by Sir Beltran, to partner with Branch 136 and the Elks Lodge to finance the cost, not to exceed $100 for Branch 172’s share. Discussion ensued. Proponents for the project set forth the following major points: Using a drop-down screen is much more convenient than bringing and setting up our own large screen; The Branch could sell our screen on EBay and recover part of its original purchase cost. Opponents set forth the following major points: The Elks Lodge is used by many organizations that would also be using the screen; The Elks Lodge charges a fee for the use of the facilities and if it wanted a large drop-down screen, it should install the screen and pay for the installation out of the facility fee it charges; and, it is uncertain how long Branch 172 will remain at the Elks Lodge; Big Sir Sweeney called for the question, the motion failed.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 AM

The next BEC meeting will be at Papa’s New Roost on April 30, 2007, at 8:00 AM.

Dan Mohn

Secretary