MASNA: March 2nd, 2005 BOD Meeting Minutes

(This meeting was held electronically on March 2ed, 2005 8:59 PM EST)

 

 

Attendance:

 

BOD Present:

Cheri Phillips (President)

Charles Scannell (Past President/Webmaster)

Amy Larsan (Membership)

Robert Lemcke (Treasurer)

Marc Levenson (Editor)

John Brandt (Industry/Legislation/Ocean Conservation Rep.)

 

 

BOD Absent:

Joe Scavo (Public Relations)

 

Members Other Than BOD Present:

 

Kim Price - MARSH VP

Sherri Lindsey - MARSH Secretary

Eric Borneman - MARSH

Misti Thueson - MAAST President

Glenn Rosenbluth - WAMAS VP

Craig Kuhn - WAMAS Member Relations

Tom Stange - CTARS VP

Drew Weiner - Reef Protect International

"Masson" - CMAS (Chicago)

"cmacmike" - Mike Kirda?

Mike Howell - Southern Maryland Marine Aquarium Society

 

OFFICER REPORTS:

 

NOTE: All officer reports were distributed via email to the BOD in advance of this meeting.  They have been formatted and are inserted into these minutes.

 

1) President’s Report:

• Was invited to and attended two WAMAS MACNA planning meetings
• Corresponding w/ Charles Mazel (BRS recommended) and Holger Kraus (Anthony Calfo recommended) as additions to the National Speaker Database
• Finalizing plans to make a presentation on 5/14 to CTARS (Connecticut Area Reef Society). I will be talking about MASNA, then expanding to other reef conservation related things. John has sent me a presentation he's previously given.
• Getting ready for this Friday's AquariumHobbyist online chat. Both Chuck and I are the guests that will be interviewed by the host and attendees will ask questions of. The topic is MASNA and MACNA.
• Some MASNA store related activities. Chuck and I are trying to coordinate time to finish my store software education. More store orders have come in.
• Posted board meeting announcements on Reef Central in the MASNA and Announcement forums and sent the meeting announcement to the whole membership
• Printed out labels w/ Bob's address on them and applied them to all of our remaining MASNA brochures (to cover up Chuck's address). Marc is being sent 40 for the DFWMAS "Next Wave" mini conference this month and Bob is being sent 40 for an upcoming mini conference the Atlanta club is holding.

3) Treasurer’s Report:

 

• Reestablished ability to process credit card transactions.  Was unable process credit cards for 5+ weeks due to our credit card processing company requiring me to make a change to our terminal.
• Have processed all of February membership applications and have contacted 3 of the 7 January applicants to ensure that I can still use the credit card info they provided. Two of the 3 contacted gave me different credit cards.
• Have begun contacting other merchant processors for prices.  Still planning to propose new processor at April BOD meeting.
  
  MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION NOTIFICATIONS
• Discovered a problem dating back to mid-January whereby I stopped receiving emailed membership applications.  Temporary solution implemented in early Feb.  A better solution should be implemented which I will follow-up with our Webmaster.
  
  

CORRESPONDENCE

·         Emailed an invoice in accordance with MACNA XVII Host Agreement to WAMAS’ Treasurer copying its officers.

·         Emailed BRS Treasurer concerning MACNA XVI expenses owed by MASNA.  Have not received requested supporting documentation.

·         Received from John Brandt the requested supporting travel documentation relating to December USCTF meeting.

 

FINANCIALS
+ Will be mailed out separately by March 6. (???) Must mail Bob

 

4) Membership Report:

 

Current Membership

 

	2002-2003	2003-2004	2004-2005	Diff From 2003-2004	Comment
Individual Members	88	64	68	+4	Seven new (Chris Groves, Drew Weiner, Erick Rogers, Gary Greenstein, Jim Lant, Michael Becker, Timothy Turner)
Club Members	20	27	35	+8	Three new (Hudson Valley Reef Keepers, Southern Maryland Marine Aquarium Society, DaytonReef) One renewal (Marine Aquarium and Reef Society of Houston)
Corporate Members	10	10	15	_+5	None

 

·         Did all of the welcomes for new members as well as thanked for the renewal.

·         Spoke by phone to Eric Cammero (fragfarmer.com) about becoming a MASNA sponsor.

·         Emailed Brooklyn Aquarium Society at info@brooklynaquariumsociety.org hoping to make contact to their president or VP

 

5) Secretary’s Report:

 

• Lee Morey sent in his resignation 3-2-05

 

"My endless optimism that my schedule will work itself out has come to an end.  It appears that things will be busy like this until July 1st and that there is little I can do about it.  I had lots of hope that I'd have more time to put into MASNA this year and not less than last year, turns out that I was wrong.  I've been holding up things with MASNA, and I apologize.  To that end I offer my resignation from the MASNA BOD at this time. I've enjoyed working with/being on the MASNA BOD for the last 4 years and will miss it."

 

6) Editor’s Report:

 

·         The ad rates pricing has been discussed and a motion has been passed to
adopt the new rates.  These will be available from the site when the
webmaster updates that page.

·         The newsletter is scheduled to come out mid-March, but as of now, I have
no articles to publish.  Amy Larsan is going to submit one within one
week.  I need the President's Letter from Cheri for page 1.

·         I have a few new ads for this issue, but need to email all the sponsors
again that never replied.  I want to link them to the ad rates page on
the site so they can pay any advertising fees.

 

 

7) Webmaster’s Report:

 

• Not much to report. Normal webmaster work of updating logos, information
  and such stuff. Ad rates are updated http://www.masna.org/ms/adprice.php

 

8) Industry/Legislation/Ocean Conservation Representative’s Report:

    

No report

 

9) Public Relations/Internet Promotion Officer’s Report:

 

• Have contacted Martin Moe as well as Anthony Calfo to be our final judges in the photo contest.  I am waiting on the final word in regards to this. If all goes well we will have: Knop: corals  Calfo: inverts  Moe: fish
• Contacted Pageworks in Cambridge MA. for a quote on printing needs as well as any advice (contact is a long-time BRS member).  They did all the GFX work for MACNA XVI. 
• RE: MACNA XVI DVD info:  DVD’s are available to MASNA clubs for the price of $175.00 shipped per set.  Included will be MACNA swag such as tshirts, mugs and posters for clubs to raffle off.  At this point all other sales look as though they will be managed by Champion Lighting and Supply, as we are in negotiations with them. Presentations include:

 

                           Steve Tyree                       Sanjay Joshi

                           Daniel Knop                       Eric Borneman
                           J. Veron                              Bruce Carlson
                           Tim Hovanec                      Rob Toonen
                           Bob Fenner                        Dana Riddle
                           Joe Yaiullo                         Tom Frakes
                           Charles Delbeek                Larry Jackson
                           Helmet Debellus                Meet Reef Central

 

 

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER 8:59 PM EST:

 

10) New Business: MACNA XVIII Bids & Votes

 

• Bids from MARSH and MASST were read by BOD prior to meeting. Some questions were asked to each club during the meeting by C. Scannell, R. Lemcke, and M. Levenson. Some questions asked of each club:

 

1)       Distance from the hotels to the airport.

2)       Price range of hotel costs.

3)       Possible theme.

4)       Number of attendees that can fit per speaker & banquet room.

5)       Of the total active members, how many will be dependably in helping with the event.

6)       Club funds as of now.

7)       Any past experience in putting on multiple speaker events.

 

• Votes were taken by each attending member of the MASNA BOD, saying which club they would choose. The choice was difficult for all members of the BOD. Both MAAST & MARSH presented outstanding bids.
• The votes from the BOD were unanimous.
• MARSH was given MACNA XVIII; at 10:17 PM EST

 

11) MACNA XVII update:

 

• Progressing well with over 40 paid/signed vendor contracts and around 100 attendee registrations.
• Working on the details with  Walt Smith International (WSI) on the Fiji prize
• Trying to work on donating to Reef Ball Foundation http://www.reefball.com. Looking for options to do separate fundraiser, then give them money in MACNA’s name, and they put balls on restoration project
• There is an $18k commitment for food in this year's hotel contract, rather than the far larger commitment that was made last year and became a problem for the club.
• 21 speakers confirmed
• Holding both the Fri & Sat events at the Hyatt. Working on a Thursday event for the vendors set up

 

12) New Business: Secretary Position

 

• C. Phillips questions BOD’s awareness of Lee Morey’s resigning as MASNA’s secretary. All of the attending BOD was aware. C. Phillips nominates Amy Larsan to replace vacant secretary. A. Larsan accepts. M. Levenson seconded. Passed 6 aye, 0 nay; at 10:45 PM EST

 

13) Banking

 

• R. Lemcke wishes to talk of moving MASNA’s banking relations to Wahington Mutual. Pro’s and cons was discussed.
• Motion by R. Lemcke to MASNA openning a free checking account at Washington Mutual and that once the existing banking functions at BankOne have been transferred to the Washington Mutual account, that the BankOIne account be closed. A. Larsan seconded. Passed 5 aye 1 nay; at 11:16 PM EST

 

Motion to adjourn meeting to general discussion made by C. Phillips, seconded by C. Scannell. Passed 5 aye, 0 nay; at 11:18 PM EST