The meeting was held at Pistone's Restaurant. Officers and directors attending were: Leo Cardillo, Dale Dallaire, Marjorie Gazzola, Ron Kral, Kathryn Kiley, Eugene Schuyler and Paul Krueger. Margot Hennings and John Mason were absent. President Cardillo called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.
Minutes. Dale made a motion to accept the minutes for October 2005, Ron seconded the motion, and the motion carried.
Treasurer's Report.
Financial Reports: Treasurer Dale Dallaire distributed copies of the following reports to the Board:
This is the first time that members have had Sectional detail data available. The Board discussed a number of items in the reports, including unit game profitability, director and caddy fees and KOCH rental costs.
Other Sectional and Unit Game Issues:
1. Eugene will draft a one-page list of caddies' responsibilities.
2. Ron will distribute flyers for his Smithsonian class, also flyers for the NVBA holiday party on December 15.
3. Eugene will check on costs of printing these items. Estimates are for 5 cents/page at Office Depot and Staples, 9 cents at Kinko's.
4. Eugene will also develop a pricing sheet for the NVBA Unit Game, which will show the various entry fees for different types of games.
President's Report
Volunteer Positions: Leo noted that we still need a Youth Advisor, and we could use more Guaranteed Partner(G/P) volunteers for Sectionals and the Unit Game.
Beth El Lease: The lease with Beth El has been signed. Leo will pick it up and attach the list of dates that he will get from Margot.
WBL Issues: Margot has sent our recommendations for "Player of the Year" language to WBL President Dick Wegman. Some WBL Board members have suggested that the award be discontinued. Leo will write a draft reply to WBL's marketing suggestions and give it to Margot for review.
District 6 Charity: District 6 has $20,000 available for distribution to as many as six charitable(501C3) organizations, which units may recommend. Nominations must be emailed to Gloria Brown by November 30(Her email address is Glojack1807@aol.com). The District 6 Executive Committee will then choose organizations to receive funds. Tournament Co-Chair Kathryn Kiley nominated the Meals on Wheels group that operates at the First Presbyterian Church in Ballston, where many bridge games are held. Eugene will talk with the church to clarify their relationship with Meals on Wheels, and Kathryn will write our recommendation.(Note: In a November 18 email from Andre L'Heureux, District 6 President, he wrote that charity nominations must be sent to Gloria as soon as possible, and that District 6 recommendations must be sent to ACBL by December 1).
GNT Qualifying Game: On November 3, GNT qualifying games were held in both the open and the I/N games at the NVBA Unit Game. There was a substitute director, and only 3 tables participated in the I/N game. Subsequently it was discovered that the I/N GNT game was illegal. The Board discussed possible solutions including refunding $2 to each I/N participant, or appealing to Rae Dethlefsen, District 6 GNT Co-Ordinator, to make this GNT game official so the two winning 199er teams would qualify.(Note: In a November 17 email to Leo, Rae said she would be happy to count the two teams as qualified. Leo will send her the $24 fee).
Position Descriptions: The Board decided that, in addition to caddy responsibilities, it would be a good idea to update the Unit Director's position description and make it an addendum to NVBA Policies and Procedures. Website Liaison Paul Krueger will draft this document.
Vice President's Report
Vice President Margot Hennings could not attend tonight's meeting because of her husband Don's illness.
Secretary's Report
Secretary Marjorie Gazzola represented Unit 218 at the November 12 District 6 meeting at the Virginia Beach Regional. She reported that one of Unit 218's nominated MABC representatives, Carole Grob, was elected, as was Unit 218's Newsletter Liaison Lucy McCoy.
Other Chair Reports
Unit Game Business Manager:
Eugene Schuyler reported that the inventory has been completed, and that he is in the process of deciding what to keep and what to sell. He is preparing an inventory EXCEL spreadsheet. Eugene has organized the NVBA cabinet and will speak with caddies about not opening new packs of items unnecessarily. He has discovered many Lost and Found items, which Leo will announce at the Unit Game this week. Leo has bought another light for the cabinet. The Board discussed the need for new easels, also what to do with excess inventory, whether to offer free to clubs or sell for a nominal amount. Eugene will set policy for inventory disposition. The Unit Game Business Manager is responsible for ordering supplies through MABC where we receive a discount, but Unit Game Director Marshall Kuschner did the ordering last year.
Intermediate/Novice Program, Publicity:
Ron Kral has bought 19 good-quality card tables at a discount at Target and has ordered 7 more. He plans to use 30 tables at his Smithsonian bridge classes(the Smithsonian will pay $5 rental for each table). There are 8 new ones in wrappers at KOCH, and we will probably throw out 20 more damaged tables at that site. A Unit 218 member has offered to pay half the approximately $4,000 cost of a card dealer if it is tax deductible. The Board discussed this offer, but we are a 501C4 organization, and contributions are not tax deductible. Ron also reported that he has received the latest set of membership data from Doug Grove including email addresses. The Board agreed that we need more directories but we will wait for the updated information before printing more. Eugene will check on printing prices. Ron asked for assistance at his Smithsonian classes, which will start January 19 on Monday evenings. Bill Cole and Steve Robinson have offered to help. Ron would like to hand out coupon books for free plays at his classes. The Board discussed whether these coupons could be used at club games and it was agreed that we would need the agreement of club managers. John Mason, Club Liaison, will discuss this issue with club managers and ask if they want to participate. Steve Forsythe will give a presentation at the Alexandria Regional next summer. Ron is considering preparing address labels for free distribution at the Regional I/N games
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p. m. There will be no NVBA Board meeting in December. The next meeting will be January 9 at Pistone's Restaurant.
Marjorie Gazzola, Secretary