United Chainsaw Carvers Guild
November, 2007 Meeting Minutes
Present: Jerry Schieffer, Cindy King, Jen Ruth, Robbin Wenzoski, Lance Kellogg, Steve Backus and Ed Meyer
Absent: Don Winner
What’s expected from an international director?
We need them to be our eyes and ears mostly. There is a lot a movement going on over there likes happened here about 5 years ago and we need to have them help us be in tune with the trends and thinking. They can help promote our Art form and help translate languages when it is possible. They can help us get news stories and help make the news letter more interesting to our International members. 12 posts by 5 directors.
Replacement of Directors:
Names of possible appointed directors were brought up to replace Simon O’Rourke and Don Winner. Resumes were reviewed. A vote was taken. Gabby Gambel from Australia and Michael Knuedel were appointed as replacement directors. A total of 28 posts by 7 members
Ridgway:
We are currently discussing what we will be doing in Ridgway. Where, when and who will be working booths and possible other involvement such as serving hot drinks. Cindy posted on the member board for ideas on what the members would like to see, but there was no response. This is an ongoing discussion. 6 posts by 6 members.
In a separate it post it was also suggested that the board members work on a joint sculpture as a group to raise money for the UCCG. This is an ongoing discussion.
Web Site Updating and transfer:
The guild web site administration has been turned over from Milt and Ann to Ed Meyer. Updates that we would like to see were discussed. 1) Brighten things up with more graphic designs, modernize it. 2) Better member listing, as stated above. 3) Maybe a member only section with archived newsletters, tutorials, step-by-steps, whatever else... New updated Photo gallery. 21 posts by 6 board members
Forum Control:
What and when should be censored was discussed. The discussion ranged from no deleting to following the rules of Network54. This is an ongoing discussion. We are also discussing who should be monitors of the forum. 9 posts by 5 members.
UCCG Awards:
It is planned that we give out the awards in Ridgway. We worked on narrowing down and simplifying the nomination process and rules. This has been an ongoing discussion. The plan is to have everything voted on in the December meeting. We also discussed a 3 person committee. To help in the process of choosing the winners. There were posts on each individual award and the committee. As with other topics I am combining the totals for board member comments. 58 posts by 7 board members.
Board Member Chat Meeting:
It was suggested that we try to hold a chat session to help move things along a bit quicker. We discussed saving the chat sessions and having an agenda prepared and distributed before the meeting so we could be prepared. It was agreed that we would give this a try to see if it is something that will work.
Treasurers Report:
Ed Meyer submitted a treasurers report. It included cash on hand - $2,927.63. Projected income and expenses. It was requested that we set up a budget for 2008 and that the past year end records be shared to establish the budget.
Newsletter:
It was suggested that each of the board members interview different carvers and submit a story to the newsletter. This was favored by the board. A list of questions to ask and guide in the interview were written. 7 posts by 6 members.
There was also a question asked about the cartoons in the newsletter. 2 posts by 2 members
I see you have amount. Is there a way to see what is paid out for different expense. I feel all should be able to see what and where it goes. I know there is the newsletter, stamps, printing, web design, hosting, but is there a way to see where it all goes like a bank account, to see where every penny goes.
Yes, a more detailed financial report would be nice
December 1 2007, 8:01 PM
Ann, I have brought this up in the directors forum that I would like to see that information. I am hoping that we can get a budget set for 2008. As far as I know the only expenses are for the newsletter. I have requested that a year end report be submitted for the past couple years. When they are posted, I can't see why it wouldn't be shared with the membership. I could be wrong though. I will request that Jerry put this topic on the agenda for this months meeting.
No Thank you Ann, I'll be glad to give you a picture or an idea but we are not going to post this on a regular basis.
We post the total amounts to let everyone know that the Guild is healthy and sovereign. We certainly aren't going to post the month to month expenses which are exactly what you stated. But you forgot the trophy's and Web site advertising, post office box, and restocking our merchandise we offer as well.
We have an average of around a 175 "paid" members over the last three years which generates around $3500.00 (?) and with merchandise sales that might add $200 (?). We are working with, in the neighborhood of $3600.00 to maybe $3800.00. (These are just guestimations)
We are sitting with over $2900.00 at the end of our 2007 fiscal so it shows that the money of this group have been handled very frugally.
Here is a sample of what were looking at in 2008 but is still missing trophy's,advertising, and a couple of other possible cost like refreshing our merchandise ect. Once again this is only guesstimating at this time and letting you know some of the over head involved with the Guild.
All of this is just samples so everyone can see an idea of what's going on. The actual Budget will be handled by Ed and the Directors.
Accounts should be open to all directors and members,
Guestimations?
Sloppy book keeping leads to misunderstandings and accusations!!!!
Two years of book keeping pending? Is that right?
Once a year accounts need to be open for everyone to see, not nessecerly on the forum for every Tom, Dick and Harry to see but could be sent by email or posted in the news letter, every thing must be above contention.
Great minutes as usual, but i can't help but wonder why all directors aren't involved in all converstations, here are the ones that were listed in the minutes, as you can see there were only two subjects that all 7 members present participated in....This is the board, you should ALL be interested in each subject so that they can be carried forward....without input from the board members present, things start to go nowhere....we as the membership are counting on the board members being present, speaking their minds and getting things done
Well, after reading the above comments I can see members want to see where their money is going, and I believe they have a right to know. I am not sure why a monthly statement cannot be posted but it may be cumbersome for this to happen. I also believe that directors were meant to handle the everyday business and report back to members. This being said, my position is that a monthly posting of the financial status of the UCCG is NOT necessary but a year end is! and a should be posted in a place that all members can see what the board is doing with the money. Just a good practice, and prevents minds to become suspicious. There has not been anything suspicious as of yet so let's not get carried away too fast. I'm sure the directors will work this one out.
I have all the PayPal records since we began using it and so all the board members know I am turning them all over to all of you so you have a copy of them and know where all the money went when I was in charge of it. I believe Ed then is going to be transferring it to a new account so I will be giving one report and it'll be the whole history from the beginning to present.
Thanks Milt. Without all the information it's impossible to be sure of everything, to the penny. This Guild really is run by people that care and try their hardest, even if it takes hundreds of hours of (free) time. Free, as in volunteer 100%. The directors even pay for their own dues.
I just got all the records from Ann, I had her working on getting them together. We have them from March 1st 2005 when I started UCCG on PayPal. tell present. I will be forwarding them to Ed In a few minutes and I hope he can forward them to all you directors as he is set up to do that in one click I believe.
