Minutes
ACBL Educational Foundation
Board of Trustees
Honolulu, Hawaii
November 17, 2006
President Geoffrey Cross called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m., Saturday Nov l7, 2006.
Present: President Geoffrey Cross, Vice-President Donald Mamula, Phyllis Harlan,
Dewitt Hudson, Jim Kirkham, Jonathan Steinberg.
Absent: Flo Belford (unexcused absence), Jerry Thorpe, Christopher Shaw
Also Present: Jay Baum, ACBL CEO, George Retek, Patty Tucker of Atlanta Junior Bridge, each for part of the meeting.
[7.c.] Jay Baum clarified the position of Director of Elections for the ACBL Educational Foundation. It was decided that the Director of Elections for the ACBL will act only as a collection agent for names of nominees for Trustees to the Educational Foundation. The current practice of the submission of these names, as well as nominations from the floor, being voted on at the Membership meeting of the Educational Foundation will continue. There will be no charge from ACBL to the Foundation for this service.
[6.c.] Jay Baum addressed the Trustees regarding the School Bridge Lessons of the ACBL Education Department. He stated his desire that the ACBL and the Educational Foundation have a strong partnership in continuing a school bridge lesson program. He proposed that the ACBL donate funds to the Educational Foundation and the Educational Foundation develop a viable program and be responsible for finding someone to administer it. Jay stated the ACBL would no longer be basically the sole fundraiser for a 501(c)3 organization and then ask that organization to give the money back to the ACBL for educational purposes. The lack of a follow-up on students after they leave the program was discussed. It was felt by all that very few students continued to play as evidenced by the small, static number of junior members of ACBL. Cross presented the consensus of the trustees that rather than giving a large grant to fund the school bridge lesson program, the trustees would prefer to give smaller grants to individual teachers with a proven track record of successfully teaching bridge to juniors. Patty Tucker stressed the importance of local participation in providing a place for students to continue to play after the conclusion of the lessons. Cross stated that the Educational Foundation does not have the ability to develop or administer programs. Jay asked that the trustees try to work with ACBL to come to an agreement on a program to expand bridge. Mamula moved that the Educational Foundation continue to fund School Bridge Lessons for the balance of the 2006/2007 academic year, not to include the summer term, with a maximum $30,000. Kirkham seconded. Motion tabled till later in the meeting.
[5a.] Patty Tucker was thanked for the quality of her report on Atlanta Junior Bridge. She answered specific questions posed about the program. With Tucker having left the room, motion made by Mamula, seconded by Kirkham that we authorize a grant of $4,500 now for the 1st half of the Atlanta Junior Bridge program. The program will be reviewed at the St. Louis meeting and subject to the achievement of goals; further funding will be authorized at that time. Motion carried unanimously.
1. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the July 15, 2006, Chicago, IL meeting were approved without dissent.
2 Reports to the Board
2.a. ABTA Annual Convention Report accepted as read.
2.b. Hudson explained that the funds given to Unit 225 for a Unit Growth Seminar had been returned because the Unit felt the amount was insufficient to hold a seminar
due to their large geographic area.
2.c. Mamula reported he has been working on new Bulletin advertising, but he had nothing to show at this time. Motion made by Kirkham, seconded by Hudson to discontinue advertising in the Bulletin at this time. Carried unanimously.
3 President's Report
3.a. There were no disbursals from the President's Discretionary Fund.
3.b. President Cross reported the successful conclusion of negotiations with ACBL regarding the Shoop Fund. The Board unanimously adopted the following resolution.
"The Board of Trustees confirms the President's settlement of the Shoop
problem with Jay Baum, ACBL CEO and accordingly agrees to the following:
1. To add $8,561 to the Shoop King or Queen of Bridge Fund to match the contribution made by the ACBL.
2. To invest $12,695 into a new fund entitled the "Preteen Scholarship Fund". The 12,695 represents the present value at 4% of the six $2,500 scholarships payable over the next six years. The ACBL has agreed to fund the other $2,500 for each scholarship (for a total of $5,000 per person) as it becomes due and payable.
President Cross reported we have a $900 asset carried on our financial statements which consists of 233 copies of Preempts A to Z, 1 copy of Treasury of Bridge Tips, 2 copies of Kantar's Complete Hand Evaluation and 44 copies of Modern Bridge Conventions by Pavlicek. These books were originally to be given to libraries; however, there has been no change in the inventory in quite a long time. He asked for suggestions for their disposal and wanted it noted in the records that we still have these books.
President Cross also reported on the Bridge at Schools lawsuit (Elizabeth Maloney-Rafaie v. Bridge at Schools, Inc., etal). There has been no progress on this suit. There was an exploratory meeting with the judge and we are now waiting to see if the court is going to appoint an arbitrator or if it is going to be settled on the arbitration clause of the agreement.
4. Treasurer's Report
4.a. After discussion of the futility of estimating contributions and expenditures motion made by Mamula, seconded by Kirkham that the policy of preparing an annual budget for the ACBL Educational Foundation is hereby discontinued. Carried unanimously.
5 Grant Applications
5.b. After discussion, a motion was made by Steinberg, seconded by Kirkham, that the grant application for $500 from the Harvard Bridge Library be approved. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Kirkham, seconded by Hudson that the Harvard Bridge Library be approached to see if they would be interested in receiving the books in our inventory as a further donation. Motion carried unanimously.
5.c. After discussion, a motion was made by Mamula, seconded by Steinberg, that the grant application from the ABTA for $1,149 for the purchase of a multimedia projector be approved. Motion carried unanimously.
6. Old Business
6.a. Motion was made by Mamula, seconded by Harlan, that the following officers for 2007 are hereby authorized to sign checks for the Educational Foundation, the President, Vice President and Treasurer. The signatures of two of these officers will be required on the checks. Motion carried unanimously.
6.b. Don Mamula submitted revised bylaws for the Educational Foundation, a copy of which is to be furnished to all absent trustees. Cross asked that all trustees furnish any revisions or comments to either Cross or Mamula by December 15, 2006, and that Cross and Mamula be authorized to finalize any revisions and present the revised bylaws at the membership meeting of the Educational Foundation in St. Louis in March. If there are substantial changes, the revised bylaws will be sent to each trustee for approval before the submission at the membership meeting. All present agreed this should be done. Cross thanked Mamula for his work on the bylaws.
6.c. Further discussion was held with regard to the School Bridge Lesson program. Cross stated he had contacted the absent trustees. It was the consensus of all trustees, both absent and present, that the Educational Foundation will no longer provide funds for this program in its present form. The tabled motion regarding the School Bridge Lessons was discussed and amended as follows: The Educational Foundation will accrue up to $75,000 to fulfill its prior commitment through December 31, 2006. Approximately $64,000 of this commitment has been paid through October 2006, leaving a balance of $11,000. The Educational Foundation will contribute up to $15,000 to fund the School Bridge Lessons program through the end of the 2006/2007 academic year. Motion carried unanimously.
6.d. Cross stated that the investment program of the Educational Foundation funds in Certificates of Deposit has been handled by the President and the Treasurer since July 31, 2006.
6.e. Because of the absence of Kales, his report on audit of grants under SLBS will be placed on the agenda under old business for the St. Louis meeting.
6.f. After the election of officers was held, the following trustees were named to the Audit Committee for 2006: Chris Shaw, Chairman; Dewitt Hudson and Phyllis Harlan. The trustees also authorized that a "Letter of Engagement" be furnished to the audit firm.
7. New Business
7.a. A discussion was held on the proposal to form a new foundation to combine the goals of the ACBL Educational and Charity Foundations. The ACBL board has passed a resolution providing for a joint meeting in St. Louis of the members of the foundations (the ACBL Board of Directors) jointly presided over by the presidents of the Educational and Charity Foundations. It was the consensus of those present that these two individuals should correspond prior to the meeting to discuss issues of both foundations. The trustees saw little value in a new foundation.
7.b. A letter from Rich DeMartino, on behalf of the Feldman Fund, requesting that restricted funds from the Feldman Fund be used to provide free plays for section top winners at the Feldman Memorial Sectional was read. It was the consensus of the trustees that this did not fall within the guidelines of the stated purpose of the fund. Cross will notify Mr. DeMartino of this decision.
7.d. Cross was authorized by the trustees to respond to Mr. Grant Spaeth's inquiry regarding contributions from potential donors in Palo Alto Unit #503 to a restricted fund of the Educational Foundation. It is the Educational Foundation's policy that restricted funds must be funded with a minimum of $10,000 and Mr. Spaeth will be so informed.
7.f. Harlan thanked Cross for his excellent work in providing the Trustees with financial statements we could all read and understand and for also providing us with details of each restricted fund.
Cross expressed his enjoyment at having served on the board for the past 6 years and his appreciation to the people he has met and worked with and for the cooperation shown as the foundation has faced difficult issues and moved to a stand alone corporation. He stated he felt the new bylaws were vital to this process and urged their adoption.
8. Election of Officers
It was announced that Eugene Kales, Jerry Thorpe and Rand Pinsky, District 23 Director, had been elected as Trustees to serve a three-year term beginning January 1, 2007, at the Membership Meeting held November 16, 2006.
The following officers were elected by acclamation to serve a one-year term beginning January 1, 2007.
President Jerry Thorpe
Vice President Dewitt Hudson
Treasurer Don Mamula
Secretary Eugene Kales
9. Closing Remarks and Adjournment
Motion made, seconded, and carried unanimously that the Trustees of the Educational Foundation express their thanks and appreciation to Geoffrey Cross and Jonathan Steinberg for their service to the Foundation, especially to Geoffrey Cross for his service as Treasurer and President.
A brief discussion ensued as Hudson expressed his belief that personal monitoring of the Atlanta Junior Bridge program would be beneficial and he volunteered to visit one of the classes being taught. No action was taken as a motion died for lack of a second.
Also, a discussion was held regarding unexcused absences. Those who have been absent will be contacted to learn their future plans for attendance at meetings.
There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Phyllis J. Harlan, Acting Secretary .