The BRIDGE CENTER of SPRINGFIELD

Board Meeting Minutes - 2003


Bridge Club of Springfield
Board Meeting Minutes 
December 14, 2003


A Board Meeting of the Bridge Club of Springfield was held on December 14, 2003 before the 
Sunday afternoon game.  George Veenstra chaired the meeting, Sherry Wold recorded the minutes.  
Board members Janice Franz, Sue Budz Richardson, Layton Lamb, Ann Caparros and Betty Primm 
were present and acting throughout.  Chuck Zalar was not present.

Call to Order George called the meeting to order and explained that several board members 
had requested this meeting in order to reconsider certain items that had either been acted 
upon or tabled at the board meeting held last week.   

Board Actions  Following discussion and upon motions duly made and seconded, the Board 
approved free plays for all persons playing in the Bridge Club of Springfield games to be 
held during December 15th through December 20th, the payment of $300 to Frank Tirsch as 
reimbursement for his expenses associated with maintaining the web-sit during 2003, and 
the payment of a $40 Christmas Bonus to the Bridge Center cleaning lady.

Other Discussion  The Board agreed to review in its next regularly scheduled meeting a 
monthly payment to Frank Tirsch as reimbursement for his monthly web-site costs.  The Board 
also agreed to review in a subsequent meeting a proposal to return monetary donations made 
in 2000 to the individuals who donated money to the Club for its start up of the Bridge Center.

Adjournment  George thanked all members for attending and wished all a Merry Christmas.  There 
being no further business to come before the Board, and upon motion duly made and seconded, the 
meeting was adjourned.


_________________________________
Sherry Wold 

 
Bridge Club of Springfield
Board Meeting Minutes
Dec. 7, 2003

Present: Bd. Members: George, Ann, Layton, Janice, Betty, Sue, Chuck, Sherry
	  Guests: Maryann, John, Dick, Ron, Carole, Liz, Leah, Frank

President George called the meeting to order at 4:20 P.M.

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved. 

Treasurer’s Report was approved after some discussion of 1099 forms for directors. Ann also 
mentioned that the Tues. night Easy Bridge is doing well, but that starting up a new group 
takes time and money.

Publicity—Layton said there had been notices of new life masters in the paper and we are now 
up to date.

Hospitality- no report

Membership-Janice will instate a free play for a club member host and one guest which had 
already been approved by the board.

Tournaments- Chuck said that next year’s Springfield Sectional will be held Oct. 8-10 with 
2 days at IDOT .  He requested the board authorize him to have Friday’s game at the club.  
Approved. Grand National Teams will be May 8-9.  This fall’s tournament had some fewer 
participants and higher costs, but still netted $1110.00.  

President’s Report—George discussed the possibility of using an executive session the next 
time a disciplinary action arises.  No action was taken.

Ron asked the board to establish a policy that all players (especially at the open games) 
use convention cards. The board agreed to encourage the use of the cards, but no prescribed 
policy was established.

Old Business
George had the results of the survey about whether to begin the Monday game at 6:30.  Basically 
the tally was extremely close and no action was taken.

It was requested that one more handicapped parking space be added, and Sue said she will talk to 
the landlord.

New Business
	There was no motion regarding a previous request from Leah to create a member 	
	address list and the idea was allowed to die.  

During the week of Dec. 14-20, we will have a canned food drive at all games to support the 
Grace Lutheran Food Pantry.

Finances
The Franz-Caparros proposal to refund all early contributions to the club was defeated.

The Franz proposal to give free plays to those who do so much to help was passed as amended.

The Veenstra proposal to give all players a free play at Christmas was defeated.

The Tirsch proposal that he be recompensed the added cost that he pays to have the club website. 
 Motion was tabled pending further inquiries.

Next meeting—Sunday, March 7, 2004

Respectfully submitted,
Sherry Wold, Secretary
BRIDGE CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD--BOARD MINUTES--JUNE 22, 2003

Present: George, Janice, Ann, Betty, Chuck, Layton, Sherry, John, Mary Anne

President George brought the meeting to order at 4:30 pm.  Minutes of the previous meeting were
	approved.

Treasurer: Ann--reminded the board that rent goes up to $1144/mo. in July.  There was considerable
	discussion on whether to have a formal budget. The general consensus was to wait until
	Jan.'04 to decide if we need one.

Publicity: Layton--reported that an article about Mary Creighton having achieved Life Master will
	be in the paper in the coming week. There followed some discussion about ways to attract
	new members to the club, and some volunteers to help with a possible publicity drive.

Hospitality: Betty--no report.

Memebership: Janice--suggested that September be a Member/Guest month; members are encouraged to
	bring newcomers to the club and each would receive one free play during the month. Janice
	also asked for any other ideas on how to attract new members.

	Ann then asked the club to subsidize 2 more NAP pairs- approved unanimously. Also approved
	was a request for the club to subsidize a bus trip to the St. Louis Regionals, up to  
	$300.

	There followed discussion about whether to have another Pro/Am game on Sept. 29 (there
	have been many requests to do so). It was approved by general consensus.

Tournaments:Chuck--reminded the board of Sectionals in Springfield on Oct. 10-12 with the games
	on the 11-12th to be held at the IDOT building.  He is exploring the possibitity of holding
	the Friday night game at another location (rather than the Bridge Center) in order to expand
	the "99ers" portion.  The board gave permission to use the center if that's what Chuck  
	chooses.

President's Report: George--First, he heartily thanked all those board members who have served so
	well in the past. Second, he informed the board that the club has donated a number of books
	to the main branch of the Lincoln Library, and it will be so noted in the library's next
	newsletter.

Old Business: none

New Business: George--suggested that Easy Bridgers be allowed a free play at the novice game on
	Monday nights. Discussion was tabled.  He also suggested that we organize a bulletin board
	category for those members who have achieved 500+ master points but are not Life Masters.

	Ann--had high compliments for Susan Parnell who cleans the Center so well, and proposed  
	that the pay for cleaning be raised from $35/week to $40.  Approved unanimously.

	Chuck--noted that, at the last couple Life Master parties, there was an abundance of  
	salads and desserts, and he suggested that the board pick up the tab for entrees. Janice
	and Ann said that, instead, all we have to do is ask 3-4 people to go together on entrees
	and they would.  

Next board meeting: Sunday, Sept. 28th.

Respectfully submitted, Sherry Wold, Secretary.    

BRIDGE CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD MINUTES, MARCH 23, 2002

Present:  George, Mary Anne, Julie, Betty, Janice, Ann, Marty
    Dick, John, Jim

President George called the meeting to order.

Treasurer Ann handed out her report.  Included was her request that the Unit pay 
$263 for the September, 2002, Instant Matchpoint Game ($132) and the August, 2002, 
NAOP game ($131).  She also requested the Board to authorize a raise in the afternoon 
table fee by 10 cents (currently John and Dick are paying 70 cents) in lieu of John 
and Dick paying 1/3 of the cost of Hospitality Supplies.  Both directors agreed to this 
arrangement and it was voted upon favorably by the Board.  Ann will amend the Sub-lease 
and secure the appropriate signatures.

Ann thanked Hospitality chairman Betty for leaving popcorn and starting the coffee for 
the Tuesday night Easy Bridgers.

The Advocate is now available only on-line but copies will be posted at the Club.

Janice reported for Membership that the newest Easy Bridge group started with 13 tables 
and was up to 14 ¼ for the second session.  There are ten books left.  More have been 
ordered.  She also reported that she has a source for the laser printer refills at $45 
rather than the $82 each one costs new.

New business dealt with how to spend some of the money currently in the treasury (about 
$16,000).  Ann presented several suggestions.  For the April-June quarter she recommended 
the following:  $32 for two Junior Fund games; $100 for the April 30 Mentor/Mentee Party 
and Game, food to be provided by Janice and Ann who would be reimbursed by the Club;  
$140 for World Wide Bridge Contest (tentative date June 7 at 1 p.m.);  $415 for 
Easbridge II books, 50 at $8 per, plus shipping and handling; $125 for advertising for 
Easybridge II (cost about $250 with ACBL reimbursing 50%).  Total request comes to $812.  
The motion to accept the expenses was seconded and unanimously approved.  

Also made into a motion, seconded and approved was the recommendation to have the disposal 
company provide a dumpster at a cost of $35 (possibly $43) per month.

Next voted upon were Ann's suggestions for other expenses.  These included fixing the seats 
on the remaining 47 chairs at a cost of $962; providing a new bulletin board for our 
expanding membership at a cost of $200; purchasing new bidding box cards for $400 ($20 
times 20 tables); providing more racks for coffee cups ($75); buying a new small entry rug 
for $16; underwriting up to $300 for a bus trip to Champaign for a tournament, with 
participants each paying $10. (If the subsidy would be more than $300, the trip would be 
cancelled); and hiring a cleaning company to come in and clean base boards, windows, etc. 
at an approximate cost of $160.  It was suggested that this last item not be done until 
June, when the weather should be less messy.  Motion was made and seconded to approve the 
above items.  It was unanimously voted upon.  

Discussed in length and tabled until a further time were items associated with removing 
the two walls of the small front room.  In addition to the actual removal (landlord would 
pay one-half) would be the purchase of a new storage cabinet or center, four new tables, 
6 Cosco drink holders, and the recovering of 16 chairs if Mark Kessler can locate such.

An additional item, coat rack stands at a cost of $60 would not be needed until next winter.

George  presented three further ideas for use of our money.  He recommended that the Club 
pay the Tues. night directors $40 to be divided between them for teaching the first six 
Easy Bridge lessons, which they are currently doing for free.  Motion was made, seconded and 
approved.  He further recommended that the Club present Lincoln Library with a check to 
purchase bridge books for the Library, with recognition given to the Springfield Bridge Club 
inside each book.  An amount of $300 was proposed, seconded and voted upon favorably.  The 
Club will designate the specific books they wish purchased.  His third idea, that of buying 
bridge calendars at a bulk rate, either to be given to or ordered and paid for by members, 
was voted down.

Julie asked the Board for permission to rent the Club's facilities for a board meeting for 
a non-profit group on the third Thursday morning of each month.  Rental cost would be $60 
as set down in our by-laws.  Permission was granted if the group desires to use the space.

The annual shareholders' meeting will be in May, as required in our by-laws.  George 
appointed Janice and Marty to represent the Board on the Nominating Committee.  Three other 
members will be chosen by George from the at-large membership.  Janice proposed that we 
broaden the Board to include more members who would represent specific games (Mon., Wed., 
Thurs, Sat. a.m.)  George suggested adding just one new member who would be from the novice 
field.  Mary Anne felt a larger Board would be unwieldy and thought newer members could be 
involved in different ways, such as serving on a committee.  No motions were made but the 
general consensus was that the Nominating Committee should seek out fresh blood to fill 
vacant offices. 

The shareholders' meeting will be held May 18, with voting taking place the previous week by 
individual ballot, as was done last year.

It was noted that we have a problem with spiders in the front of the building.  Sue Budz 
will be asked to contact the landlord to take care of the problem.

The next meeting will be Sunday, June 22, and will be comprised of the new Board members.

Respectfully submitted,
Marty Stutz, secretary

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