M. A. S. N. A. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meeting Minutes For July 11 , 2001 Meeting was held electronically 9:00 PM EST Board Members Present: Nancy Swart - President/Webmaster
Dennis Gallagher - Vice-President
David Sinn - Secretary
David Adkins - Treasurer
Connie Hannon - Membership/Public Relations
John Brandt - MAC/USCRTF
Eric West - At Large Absent: Tim Tucker - Scholarship/Fundraising
Other Delegates Present: None July 2001 BOD Meeting Agenda Approval of May & June Minutes
Officers'Reports
Prez
VP
Secy.
Treasurer
Editor
USCRTF/MAC Rep
Public Relations
Scholarship/Fundraising
Web 3. Committees Membership
MACNA 13 & 14 Status Report 4. Old Business Preparation for Annual Meeting 5. New Business Web Awards
Elections 6. Open Discussion 7. Adjournment Meeting called to order 9:13 PM EST Approval of Minutes Minutes approved – Approved May & June Minutes. Approved Minutes are available on the MASNA web-site for easy access. Officers’ Reports President – Nancy Swart: July 2001 Report: Prepared materials for Annual Mailing. Much time spent on MACNA XIII Vice-President – Dennis Gallagher: Worked on M13. Secretary – Dave Sinn Mailed out 86% of all announcements to members. The rest of the % are due to go out tomorrow. Dues reminders went only to those we said were not paid up. Treasurer – Dave Adkins: Treasurer’s report as of July 11, 2001 we have just over $48,000. Editor – Nancy Swart: Have begun work on August (final) issue of MS. At Large and MACNA XIII Editor – Eric West: See MACNA comments below. MAC/USCRTF – John Brandt: MAC has just published the 2nd Quarter News, it is available at http://aquariumcouncil.org. The "Core Standards and Best Practices" guidelines have been published there. No news from the USCRTF, their website has not been updated in ages. The latest on the California Caulerpa law appears that they will ban about 8 species. The NY bill that would have outlawed "wild pets" has been changed. the definition of "wild pets" is so ambiguous that it would include any inhabitant of a marine aquarium. Imagine New Yorkers having to register everything from their Percula clowns to their bristleworms! Even if this bill passes (I doubt it will in the present form), the enforcement would likely be zero. That is unless you have a Mountain Lion or a King Cobra for a pet. The intent of the proposed law is to protect police, firemen, good samaritans, etc. from dangerous animals. It was not intended to harm or harass marine aquarists. PIJAC has engaged the State of New York, addressing the need for a proper definition of "wild pet". Public Relations - Connie Hannon: Visiting boards to see who all is talking MASNA/MACNA, checking dead links to M13. Scholarship/Fundraising – Tim Tucker: Absent Web - Nancy Swart: Started working on MACNA XIV Web pages and order forms. Committees Membership: Nine new individual members, AND 1 club membership; Robert Deinlein
Amy Jacobs
Bill Werner
Matthew Allen
Lisa Bailey
Kristy Cannon
Gregg Gasperi
Charles W Baker
Mary Karen M. Keelan The club membership was also paid by Amy Jacobs, but we don't have a name yet. Waiting for reply to our email inquiry. MACNA XIII: We have 3 speakers who haven't given us their itineraries yet, we have 6 of them who haven't told us what their plane tix will cost, and the hotel is bugging me for the menu pix and we'll go over that at next week's M13 meeting. MACNA XIV: Responsibilites outlined and emails sent to remind everyone. Logo "almost" approved. MACNA 14 meeting scheduled for July 25th (Wed.) at 8pm CST. Old Business: Discussed the need for a MASNA Historian/Archivist. Relayed ideas about why MASNA is important to member clubs and why they should want to be members. Many on the BOD thought that MASNA brings a larger organized marine aquarium voice to important issues and shows unity during pending legislation or need for formal stance on related issues. The recent Caluerpa legislation and the on-going NY legislation are two recent events where MASNA was very organized. MASNA got the word out and let people know what was happening and what individuals could do to support our hobby. Support of the hobby seemed to be the main reason most BOD members thought clubs and individuals should join. However, exposure via the web newsletters and magazines was another strongly supported reason why clubs should come on board. Finally, we put on the best Marine Aquarium Conference year in and year out, which member clubs can benefit from greatly.New Business Election announcements at the annual meeting were sent with membership renewal package. Also, MASNA web page has all relevant information on elections listed. Discussed how to organize all the packets the delegates will need at the annual meeting and what should be in these packets. Decided the Secretary and the President will be Judges for this year’s Web Awards (from member club web sites). Open Discussion: Described need for rate increase in the fee structure for Individual members and clubs, rates have stayed the same for three years. Stated that BOD is working with Bare Bones and needs a little more financial backing to keep doing excellent work. Spoke of a possible addition of commercial level membership to boost membership and financial support on a national/international scale. Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 11:00 PM EST. | 