The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Mark Schmaltz
There were 15 members present.
Mark’s wife was a guest as Mark is not yet able to drive after knee surgery.
The Minutes of the February meeting were accepted as written.
Motion to approve by: Lee Frederickson
Seconded by: George Orphan
Vote: carried
Financial Report: Presented by Dan McLaren.
Motion to accept by: Nik Zinsli
Seconded by: Dave Pierce
Vote: carried
OLD BUSINESS:
Danny Osborn report on the KRAM banquet that will be held on April 9 at Tommy Branns on Division starting at 6:30 with dinner at 7:00. Invitations will be mailed this week.
Ben Lopez reported out on Ryder’s interest in 28th Street Cruse – it is a go. There will be a parking lot display on August 27.
Ben Lopez reported out on contact with the Vets home to verify date – finalized as September 10, 2011 with an expected 22 vets to attend. Mark is going to get this on the District 7 web site calendar.
Swap Shop update by George Orphan – Butch from Hobby World has donated the plane – a Ryan Navion 91 – and Danny Osborn has assembled it with the Super Tiger G-90 and eight servos. Looks good. Flyers are also available.
Kalamazoo Air Zoo static display update by Nik – no response from the Air Zoo yet.
Dan McLaren requested the following By-Law change which got first approval at the February meeting.
Section V F currently reads: Absentee voting is only allowed for annual Board/Officer elections. A numbered ballot will be mailed to all eligible voting members for officers’ elections. It will be returned to the secretary/treasurer before or during the December meeting for validation by an election committee. These ballots will be the only voting mechanism for annual officers’ elections.
The change would add the following to the end of the above: In the event of an uncontested election for all positions, a simple show of hands at the December meeting, assuming a quorum is present, shall be substituted for the preceding ballot process.
Vote was called and passed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Nik Zinsli reported revenue from ads on web site have generated $10.41 to date. Just click on the ad when you are on the site and it generates income for the club.
Dan McLaren presented the Budget for 2011. It was pointed out that we will collect and spend about $10,000 in 2011. Included in the proposed spending were safety fence repair/replacement, rolling the runway area, some weed killing activity around the pits and runway, and maintaining the level of activity for events and upkeep as in prior years. A quote for putting a lean to addition to the shelter for storage of the lawn mower and other stuff stored in the barn came in at $2,900, which can not be afforded this year.
Mark Schmaltz reviewed AMA and Field Safety Rules. New this year is the increased weight of big birds to 71#.
Charles Rencurrel gave a report on the efforts of recruiting new members to the AMA and local clubs that took place last year. Total expense (paid for by Lee Frederickson for the AMA) was $120 for printing, postage, and post office box rental. Post cards were given by the hobby shop folks to give to new buyers of park flyer type start up kits. 80 post cards were given to the hobby shops. 8 cards were returned to the post office box (which triggered an email, a letter with a map to our Alto location, Fun Fly and swap meet flyers and other information. Hobby World sold 15 -20 apprentice start up kits and Danny Osborn believes he worked with about 10 of these folks during the summer. Four eventually joined KRAM.
At the end of the presentation Charles asked if we wanted to continue the effort and if so, what changes we might make. Discussion was tabled until the April meeting.
Lee Frederickson pointed out that the Secretary had violated Robert’s Rules of Order by not putting suggestions for field improvement that had been tabled at prior meeting back on the agenda for discussion with the budget. Apologies made, the issues were brought to the floor. It was decided to approach the land owner about changing the field from a square to a rectangle – give back some of the land to the North and increase the East / West length of the field. This increased length would be grass and give a longer grass roll out area for larger planes. Lee Frederickson and Dan McLaren will visit the landowner.
Jim Heist’s suggestion to lay matting down one mower width from the fence line and place all starting stands on the mat was approved for investigation of cost and feasibility. This is intended to reduce mowing time and standardize the flight line for safety.
Allen Simpson pointed out that our “rainy day” CD was once over $8000 before we purchased a new lawn mower. He wanted to increase it. Mark pointed out that this year there was no available funds to do so.
Lee Frederickson noted that he really wants to see a long term strategic plan for improvements such as he proposed (runway improvements, shelter enclosure and floor and heat, and electricity generator). Mark agreed a plan would be good but funding for expensive items like these is not available this year. Mark’s goal is to live within our budget this year – not spend until we have funds available (which is what the budget represents).
The 50/50 was won by Roger Ausema who kindly donated his share to the club. Total was $18.
Next Build Night is Wednesday March 9th at Ryders.
Next meeting: April 5, 2011 at 7:00pm
Do not forget to send your $75 for the 2011 Club Dues to Dan McLaren NOW!!! Call me if you have any questions – 245-5874.
Motion to adjourn: 8:35 pm
Motion by: ?
Seconded by: ?
