April 22, 2020
East Texas Bridge Association
Unit 225 Board Meeting Minutes
This meeting was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ten directors were present: Linda Harrison, Janie Wolaver, Phyllis Alvarez, John Hamilton, Sandra O’Bannon, Mary Ramsey, Rathnam, Carol Kinsey, Jo Ellen Wade, and Tom Spradlin were in attendance. Susan Ford and Jo Ann Zastovnik were excused.
The Board approved the minutes circulated by Linda Harrison for March. There was no meeting in March, but these minutes described actions taken by the board without a meeting. Also, the Board approved the Treasurer’s Reports for February and March, 2020.
The Board has already approved $500 seed moneyfrom District 16 for a Special Club Fund account for the Longview Club, which was the only eligible club and the only club within Unit 225expressing an interest in participating. The membership will be notified that these funds are going to the Longview club.Sandra O’Bannon will get documentation of the club’s expenses before disbursing the funds, and Linda Harrison will notify members how to donate to this cause.
The Board had already agreed to pay Mike Graham and Mamie for the unit games that were not held in March and April, and further acted to pay them also for the cancelled May game. Sandra O’Bannon will send checks to them for the May payments.
Linda Harrison reported that she had spoken with the Holiday Inn, who assured her that, if we decide to cancel this year’s Tournament of Roses, there would be no penalty. We had already paid a deposit of $500, which we hope to get back in case of cancellation. Janie Wolaver moved that we cancel the tournament, seconded by Carol Kinsey. The ensuing discussion suggested that there would be a health danger in holding the tournament, due to the proximity of participants and that the unit would likely lose money in the tournament, because of poor attendance.The Board voted to cancel this year’s Tournament of Roses (all 10 directors present so voting). Linda Harrisonwill coordinate cancellation notifications to Holiday Inn Hotel, ACBL and Unit 225 membership.
Sandra O’Bannon reported that our federal tax-exempt status had been restored effective August, 2019, and that she has applied to have the state tax-exempt status reinstated.
The Board discussed how to handle awards, since the Awards luncheon was cancelled in April. The Board agreed to present pens (received in the meanwhile by Sandra O’Bannon) and certificates to the Ace of Clubs and Mini McKinney winners at the next unit game when we return to play.
The Board discussed the transition to a 9-member board, according the bylaw changes adopted in December 2019. Jo Ellen Wade was recently appointed as Chair of the Board Nomination Committee and she is being assisted by Patsy Gordon and Elaine Dorsey. Two members, Janie Wolaver and Jo Ann Zastovnik, have announced they are not running for a second term and will be leaving the Board. That would reduce the number to 10, one more than we need. Jo Ellen and her committee will continue to try to find new candidates, so they will be available when needed. The Board agreed to continue with the current 10 members if needed until 2021.Sandra O’Bannon volunteered to take over Jo Ann Zastovnik’s hospitality functions beginning in August, 2020. The Board acknowledged that this topic will require further discussion in the future.
The Board discussed the question of when to resume play within the unit. The ACBL has not issued recommendations past May 11, and we chose to wait until they do so.
O’Bannon followed up on a question from an earlier meeting as to why our funds are not in an interest-bearing account. We are technically a business, and therefore any interest-bearing account would have such large fees that they would cancel out any interest we may earn. Also, our organization is required to file with the Texas Secretary of State, and Sandra updated our filing to name Linda Harrison our registered agent.
Meeting adjournedat 2:25 PM.
Tom Spradlin, Secretary
