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[erickvonzipper]

US MINI Club
Meeting Minutes
2/8/09
Farmingdale Lanes
Recorded by Zip


   Roll call in sign-in book.

   Two dollars ($14.00 total) collected from each person/couple present for end of year party give-away fund.

             Added omission: Paul announces we need to nominate and/or elect a treasurer at March meeting.

   Discussion on advantages/necessities of being what could be called a ‘chartered’ club.  The consensus is that it would be unnecessarily complicated, expensive, and offer no advantages.

Discussion on dues/donations:
   What are our expenses? $50/month for website server, MINI-Q expenses (varies)   
   Suggestion: ‘dues’ be changed to ‘mandatory donation,’ or ‘mandatory contribution.’
   Vote proposed for March meeting: Members will be asked to choose between ‘mandatory contribution,’ or ‘suggested contribution’ as official club policy. ‘Mandatory contribution’ includes a set amount per year that entitles member to perk described in last month’s meeting.  ‘Suggested contribution’ means that any, or no contribution is necessary to be a ‘member,’ but the set amount of the mandatory contribution entitles the member to a USMC sticker and membership card.  Voting privileges are part of either choice.
   Arnie & Harriet, who will not be at the March meeting, cast their votes now for ‘mandatory contribution.’

Discussion on websites – USMC vs. NAM
   How to improve our website?
   Is our website necessary?  Can we conduct our normal business on NAM, where we have a dedicated link (http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/u-s-mini-club-long-island-110/)?
   Consensus is that our own local website is a necessary ‘presence,’ despite the cost.
   How do we get dealers more involved?  How do we get dealers/businesses to place ads on our website?  This could cover the cost of membership dues as they are needed for expenses.
   Can we measure hits on our site to attract advertisers?
   Google-ads pays to place ads on other sites?  Each time an ad is clicked on?  Vote passed to look into and begin to use Google-ads for our site.

MINI-Q
   Do we postpone it?  We don’t have a site and its already February.  There have been no responses from any of the potential sites Paul has contacted.  As last month, suggestions offered for potential sites: Eisenhower and other state parks – no, Nassau Coliseum  - closing, Airport Plaza parking lot by bagel place – who to contact?, Farmingdale Lanes – available for the asking.

Upcoming Events
   Sunday, March 29 – Vineyard Run
   Sunday, April 19 – Poker Run

Other Business
   Jason was let go from Hassel this past week.
   Habberstad has split MINI and BMW service departments.

Raffle won by pedrocooper – bowling party for 5 @ Farmingdale Lanes

[BZZZZ]

WOW great minutes ZIP! One thing we need to add for next meeting is the treasurer nominations otherwise well done. It's refreshing to see more of the old timers again so lets do this again...
 

[Second2none]

Were you referring to Jason Barack, the MA at hassel? hence why they are hiring?

[erickvonzipper]

Yes, Jason Barach, the MINI SA at Hassel.

[Zoomer]

Hello

I see that Zip's notes are well-written.  I also see that Sunday's meeting was very productive!  Great job.  I am sorry about not being able to attend Sunday's meeting.  Trust me, I would have been there had it not been for my surgery recovery.

With all due respect however, I guess everyone missed my point on the monetary part, and it looks as if it was not even discussed.

I want to know where the money I pay for goes - and is not used for personal gain.
I want to make sure that what it cost to pay for the expenses of the club is covered, but where is the balance/remainder deposited?

I think my point about dues, charges, and other money donations were misinterpreted.  I am all for dues, etc., but I want to see where the money is going before any money leaves my hands (or my pocket).

We should be allowed to actually see the statement of the club bank account.
Paul should be allowed to recover the cost of maintaining an account and not be paid in any way for the time and effort.  This is a not-for-profit organization and being as part of the membership of the club should reimburse one's expenses but not accrue a profit for anyone.

I still say, based on the fact that it is called US MINI Club, and we were even discussing regional areas for the club in the past, that there should be no requirement for attendance.  We should dial in to the club and be heard through a teleconference (through speakerphone of some sort).  This would enable more participants in club meetings.

Venues for club meetings should be more professional, or at least back at Jeremy's Ale House (e.g. Metroplexmini.org uses one location and has many, many members in participation - I am a member yet not a voting member because of proximity).  I am still a member though, but am exempt from club meetings because of distance from the venue.  Why not have them at the public library study rooms where we might have access to resources such as projectors and potentially speaker phones in order to carry on a club meeting.  Afterwards it would be nice to do additional activities, but sometimes, in my mind and experience at least, meetings have distractions if they are held at wrong venues.

Paul should not make the decisions solely on his own - this should be made as a decision by the members of the club. The club should be comprised of rules thought through and voted on by the members of the club for any and all points. One member should not be able to make the club rules.  If someone is absent, including Paul or anyone else, the club meeting continues.

Thanks very much for allowing my input.  I look forward to being part of this club, but before I donate one cent, I need to know where my money is going - not necessarily making any payment.  That, I know, must happen.

Cheers!

[nypepper]

Thank God, but i doubt things will improve with the next one

Yes, Jason Barach, the MINI SA at Hassel.

[blueheat]

Decided to post thoughts in this thread rather than the other meeting thread to keep on point.

Again great meeting.

Some things that were clarified:

1) This site and MINIQ have overhead which Paul has been funding out of his pocket and hoping to make up with entry fees, raffle sales at MINI Q.  With all Paul has done for this club it is not really fair to put him as financial risk. The decision on if we ask for voluntary or mandatory donations will be finalized at the next meeting.  I still like giving those who donate a USMINICLUB sticker that shows their support (more potential overhead) - think of it as buying a sticker to support the club. If I remember we all agreed correctly posting specifics of the financial in a public forum was not a good idea.   I think the idea of voluntary donations will show a more open group and not discourage anyone from posting or attending our events.
2) We are looking to other funding sources for the website.
3) Meeting places were not discussed. But anyplace with free room we can use and a bathroom is good enough for me.  I do think we can talk more about going back to the dealers to keep their support and other locations as ideas are given.
4) Although we have a web presence to communicate, we are only a group of folks getting together to talk about their MINIs, other cars or any other topics.  We are not a club with official membership, officers, etc.  This will require some level of trust that those who maintain the website and hold the funds to use the donations to keep these forums open.  I am OK with that, if others are not feel free not to donate.
5) MINI-Q - I am a little stumped on this one and have not come up with any good ideas. The parking lot at the bowling alley will be OK (yes it is a little chopped up) but if we get turn out like the first 2 years it will be overflowing in no time which will be a bigger issue.
6) Linkage to a Charity organizations - Great Idea!  Can also be a place to give any donations that we do not need to support our overhead.  Details will need to be worked out and made public.
7) Was good to see everyone, I can't wait for the first run of the spring!!!

I will just say what I said at the meeting - we are a bunch of people who like MINIs, other cars and want to get to gether to have a good time.  If me make it too complex (like we have been doing) we risk alienating new attendees and those who volunteer to put in the time to keep us going.
Keep what we do simple and we will continue to have  great group of people willing to drive around having fun and help each other out when needed.

Again thanks to Paul for all the work he has done over the years and Rob for all the great runs he has planned and led! Also to Pedrocooper and Lukifier for helping me keep my sanity.

I think that was all I had!!!

[Zoomer]

Thanks Adam.  Very well-put.  I concur with everything you have noted.  Anything else I will add at an upcoming meeting.  The problem I have is that 8 March is St. Baldrick's event which is a charity which fights Childhood Cancer.  RIOT Computer Technology, which I head up with a business partner and other resources, is donating services to the cause, so I cannot attend the 8 March meeting.  The problem is that I would love to be there since I want my voice heard (in a non-combative way and I hope at least one will not combat me when I am there). 

What do I (or anyone else who can't be at the meeting) do? Can I  (or the person/people not able to make the meeting) place an absentee question and see what comes up?  Can I (or the person/people not able to make the meeting) provide my (or his/her/our) feedback after the meeting?  There are extraneous circumstances that keep us from attending meetings.  My initial questions and points were made and I don't want to re-hash on them, but I would hope that my points and questions not be trampled upon.

You are full-on in what you say about the fact that, basically, if rubbish is written on the forum, it will distract others from joining the forum and ultimately the Club.

One last thing before I close my post; I am not interested in raising the dust with anyone that has settled over years gone by.  If anyone does that it also adds to the complete disregard of the Club itself and ultimately will hurt the Club in the long run.  I have stated my case on this one, but everyone is an adult and everyone should act as an adult.  If you don't like a person, you don't have to be friends with that person, but don't alienate, don't criticize, don't condemn, and ultimately don't pick a fight just because you don't like someone.  We have a common interest (MINIs) as Adam has said. 

I hope that someone or others will join in and answer my question or make a positive (there's always a way to turn a negative into a positive) comment about my questions and remarks in this post, because I am taking a concerted interest in the Club; whether I am able to make every single meeting or not - we can certainly arrange a situation which is more accommodating to those not able to make it, in my honest opinion.

Thank you for your time.

[Zoomer]

Any chance I can put in an absentee form so that I can be part of the meeting, because we, seriously, cannot be absent for the charity event since we are sponsoring a part of it..

...and of course I'm talking about the upcoming 8 March 2009 meeting...

Thanks..

[pedrocooper]

Well said, Adam! 

[Lukifer]

Any chance I can put in an absentee form so that I can be part of the meeting, because we, seriously, cannot be absent for the charity event since we are sponsoring a part of it..

...and of course I'm talking about the upcoming 8 March 2009 meeting...

Thanks..

One of the topics of this meeting will be options of getting members that can not show up the chance to vote on topics.  So for this meeting if you are not able to make it you can not vote.  Depending on the outcome of this meeting that might be an option for the following months.

[Zoomer]

Do you make the rules?  I don't get it - why are you making statements on behalf of everyone?  I cannot be there because of a charitable event that we are sponsoring.  What's wrong with putting in absentee questions that I want to be brought up?

One of the topics of this meeting will be options of getting members that can not show up the chance to vote on topics.  So for this meeting if you are not able to make it you can not vote.  Depending on the outcome of this meeting that might be an option for the following months.

[Lukifer]

I am answering a question that I know the answer to.  It has been talked about, and is going to be talked about again.  If you dont like the answer you can always just go away.

[Zoomer]

This only underscores my point about you.  Adults shouldn't act like this to one another.  This is the reason why there are so many wars and violence in the world.

I am answering a question that I know the answer to.  It has been talked about, and is going to be talked about again.  If you dont like the answer you can always just go away.