RABA BOARD MEETING –September 6, 2006

PRESENT: L. Ackerman, L. Allen, A. Booke, J. Bridges, D. Folwell, W. Marsland, G. Ride, L. Sanders, and M. Spence.

ABSENT: M. Griffin, L. Meacham

The meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m., Jim Bridges presiding. The meeting was held at the site of the Geneseo Bridge Club.

The minutes of the June 6, 2006 meeting were approved as distributed.

The date for the next meeting was set as Wednesday, October 18 at a place to be determined. The Annual Meeting, required by the by-laws, will be October 22 during the RABA Open Pairs event.

The process for the election of new Board members is in place. Ballots will go out with the Newsletter in the next few days. Annette Barnard, Sue Barocas, Lynda Fox, Don Jones, Bob Nowacki and Margie Spence will be candidates for four open seats. Arlene Bristol will run for the Unit 112 Board with the opportunity to write-in a candidate provided. Ballots will be available three times at each club game.

The Fall Sectional scheduled for October 13 – 15 in Lakeville will be chaired by Alex Booke. Alex noted that the ACBL Bulletin announced the location as Lakeville but did not mention Rochester anywhere in the announcement. The ACBL will be notified that it should be listed as the Rochester Sectional.

The RABA Open Pairs championship will be October 22 at the Green Lantern. Margie Spence will have trophies for winners of 2006 events to be awarded at that time.

Lois Sanders asked if the Board would approve of a notice in the newsletter reporting that money was missing from the card being circulated to honor Doug Spiker and Lew Rothberg and that players have reported money missing from purses during club games. The Board agreed that the article was appropriate. In the discussion it was revealed that Lois had replaced $36 that was missing from the Spiker/Rothberg card. Alex moved that she be reimbursed from the RABA treasury. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

The question of whether RABA should purchase a Duplimate machine for use by local clubs was discussed. Jim Bridges circulated copies of several e-mail messages on the subject as well as a financial analysis prepared by Alex. Warren Marsland agreed to take responsibility for the operation of the machine for the first year; he said he will need a copier to produce hand records, available at $300 -$400. Dick Folwell moved that RABA purchase the Duplimate and the Warren Marsland chair a committee to oversee its operation. The discussion stated that the motion was intended to include the assumptions made in Alex’ financial analysis, especially the loan from Marty Miller. The motion was seconded and passed. Warren noted that he wasn’t sure of when a machine would be available from the vendor.

Under Old Business Dick Folwell noted that several individuals were instrumental to the success of the Summer Sectional in Geneseo and should be recognized. They are: Betty Way, Don Jones, Ken and Colleen Kalio, Nicole Marsland, Gary Christiansen and Peg Clark. He also noted that the Geneseo site worked out very well.

Alex Booke noted that with three sectionals a year, we should strive to have one in Rochester. Jim Bridges noted that we have tried to find an affordable site and will continue to do so.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lew Allen, Secretary