SONS IN RETIREMENT

TWAIN HARTE BRANCH NO. 172

MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Meeting Date: May 1, 2006 Place: Papa's New Roost

Big Sir Dick Feaster opened the meeting at 8:00 AM. Secretary Dan Mohn reported that a quorum was present (see attached attendance report). Big Sir Feaster welcomed Area Governor Al Limon to the meeting. After self-introductions, the minutes of the April 3, 2006 BEC were approved as presented to each officer and director by email. (Holton/Wellwood).

TREASURER'S REPORT: Assistant Treasurer Bob Wright reported a beginning cash balance of $3961.53 and an ending cash balance of $4055.65 for the month of April. The only expense for the month was $68.78 for printing and supplies. Assistant Treasurer Wright reported that all but 2 of the membership have made their $20 donation for the year. The Treasurer’s Report was approved (Wellwood/Holton).

ATTENDANCE: Attendance Chairman Herb Spierling reported that he had sent attendance letters to the following Sirs: Ted Thorn, Ray Harm, Clifford Dunn, Dale Miller and Alvin Bolander. Sir Spierling received responses from Sirs Dunn and Thorn, each of whom explained their special circumstances and requested to be kept on active status. In addition, Sir Spierling had several telephone conversations with Sir Bill Chatty, who is very ill, but requests to remain active and will attend as his health permits. Considering the special circumstances of these Sirs, Director Joe Smith moved, seconded by Director Holton that these Sirs be allowed to retain their active status, with the understanding that the attendance chairman will closely monitor their attendance. The motion passed.

Ten Sirs have called, to date, that they would not be attending Thursday’s meeting.

MEMBERSHIP: Membership Chairman Lee Piercey requested approval for the following actions: 1) Accept the resignations of Jim Graddy, Larry Qvistgaard and Gary Jones, 2) Approve Ronald Humann and Larry Bertuccelli for membership pending positions becoming available. Approved (Piercey/Johnson). Sir Piercey reported that Sirs Norm Allen and Don Gracier had passed away. The membership now stands at 150 active, 3 inactive and 5 on hold. Sir Piercey reported that Ralph Puhalovich, Jim Hood and William Dobbs, each of whom has been waiting for a membership to become available, would be inducted at Thursday’s Luncheon Meeting.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

LUNCHEON: Sir Don Wooldridge reported that all is set for Thursday’s Luncheon. Big Sir Feaster requested that an additional table be set up to accommodate a larger group as most of the "Snow Birds" have returned.

PROGRAM: Little Sir Sweeney reported that Mrs. Kay Huse and Terri Ganer, each of whom are donor recipients, will talk about Organ Donations.

COMPUTER USERS GROUP: Sir Rich Froisness requested approval for a meeting on May 18, 2006 at the China House in Twain Harte. The topic will be General Computer Operation. Approved (Denhard/Smith).

WEB PAGE: Sir Don Denhard reported that the Web Page is up to date.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP: Sir Ray Pfoutz requested new ideas for a meeting. While not a new subject, a session on PhotoShop is always good.

GOLF CLUB: No Report.

BULLETIN: Sir Ed Nissen needs input for the bulletin by May 7, 2006.

PUBLICITY: Sir Gil Wesson reported that both The Union Democrat and the Sierra Mountain Times published a notice of the luncheon meeting. Big Sir Feaster reported that SIR Inc. has requested each branch to have a Public Relations Program to make the public more aware of the SIR program and attract more members. Big Sir Feaster asked Sir Wesson to look over the guidelines that were passed out at the Officers Training Session last month to see what more we should be doing. Discussion ensued. It was noted that; since Branch 172 has been at its maximum of 150 members for some period of time, and has a waiting list for membership, publicity to attract new members will only increase the waiting time to become a member.

TRAVEL: Sir Mike Eachus announced that a trip to the Giants/Angels baseball game on June 21st has had very few sign ups and may have to be cancelled if Branch 136 and Branch 172 cannot fill the bus. Reservations need to be in to him by May 10th.

Sir Eachus also announced that Sir Don and Marlene Parr are planning a trip to Las Vegas August 24 – 28, 2006 at a cost of $300 per person. Area Governor Al Limon reminded Sir Eachus that for this to be a SIR sanctioned trip, we must work with a SIR approved travel agency to insure safety of moneys paid and guarantee trip completion.

Sir Eachus handed out a flyer for a SIR trip to Hawaii and a cruise around the Islands for December 30, 2006 – January 8, 2007, sponsored by SIR Branch 136.

RV: Sir Harvey Uhl reported that 21 couples and 1 single made the trip to Bakersfield April 23 through 28. This was one of the best trips that the RV Club has had. The next trip will be to the Carson Valley Inn at Minden, NV.

 

 

 

THEATER GROUP: Sir John Kinsfather reported that 51 Sirs and guests attended "Beauty and the Beast" followed by dinner at Banny’s on April 19th. Sir Kinsfather reported that Theater followed by Dinner has become so popular that the seats are sold out before the season starts. Enlarging the group is not an option as 50 is about the maximum that can successfully be handled for the evening’s activities. Sir Kinsfather and his sub-chairmen are thinking about splitting the group into two groups of 50 each, with a separate schedule for each group.

HIKING: Sir Jerry Jensen requested approval for a hike to Table Mountain on May 9th to be accompanied by the Chief Interpretive Specialist from New Melones Recreation Area, and a hike at Hetch-Hetchy on June 8, accompanied by Ron Goode. Approved (Holton/Johnson).

MOVIE GROUP: No Report

FELLOWSHIP: Everyone was reminded to let Sir Carl Nunes know if a Sir is ill or has passed away so he can take the appropriate action.

FISHING GROUP: No trips planned because of the US Fish and Wildlife’s ban on Coastal and River salmon sport fishing.

OLD BUSINESS:

SPEAKER’S GRATUITY: Sir John Kinsfather and Big Sir Feaster showed two note book cases that could be embossed with the SIR Logo and presented to guest speakers as a gratuity. This item could also be used for Branch special member recognitions. Big Sir Feaster requested approval for the nicest of the two cases and authorization to order 100 at a cost not to exceed $600. Approved (Sweeney/Smith).

NEW BUSINESS:

Sir John Kinsfather reported that the parking area for the Golf Club has been paved and striped, and will have fewer parking spaces than before. Since the program speaker generally does not arrive early, parking reasonably close to the Club House may become difficult. Big Sir Feaster suggested that we need to have a portable sign: "Reserved for Speaker", that someone would place in a parking space early in the day, and asked for a volunteer to make the sign. Several names were mentioned and will be checked out.

Big Sir Feaster, during his visit to the Sonora SIR Branch 136, noted that they had a table with SIR logo items, such as polo shirts, hats and license plate frames for sale and suggested that we do the same. Big Sir Feaster ask Sir John Kinsfather to check out the cost and quality of similar items that our Branch may be interested in and report back at the next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 AM.

The next Executive Committee meeting will be 8:00 AM Tuesday, May 30, 2006, at Papa’s New Roost.

Dan Mohn, Secretary