Onondaga Ski Club

Board Meeting Minutes

October 6, 2008

Present: Mark Bidwell, Mary Clay, Dave Devendorf, Bob Dewey, Christa Foster, Scott Foster, Kay Kotwas, Marian LaPierre, Leo Naylor, Marvin Patnode, Neville Sachs, Allan Smith, John Sonne, John Tuttle, Bob Wiley

Excused: Tom Button, Jack Lancette, Lloyd Howse, Marilyn Woyciesjes

Guest: Debbie Kimberly, Ken Robbins

President Marv Patnode called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm.

Secretary’s Report: The September board minutes were sent to board members electronically and posted on the OSC web site. John T. made a motion to accept the minutes, Mary seconded. Motion passed.

Communications: No special report.

2nd Vice President’s Report: Scott has created and is the leader of a new OSC Ambassador program with the purpose of welcoming new people at general membership meetings, answering questions, making them feel comfortable, and introducing them to other members with same interests. He asked board members to sign up in groups of two to serve as ambassadors for each of this year’s upcoming general meeting dates.

Committee Reports

Finance: The financial report was received and filed. John S. reported that expenses are pretty much in line with what was expected. The Vanguard investment account has lost substantially due to the current economic upheaval.

Membership: Jack submitted the membership report electronically and as of October 6 the total active membership is 621, including 25 new members since the September report. 2007/08 memberships expire on October 15 and as of this date there are 242 paid memberships for 2008/09. Still to renew: 379 members.

Lodge: John Tuttle’s lodge occupancy report indicates a 206-bed rental from May through September 2008, a 299% increase over last year same period (69). This represents 4.8% usage of total beds available for the time period.

Biking weekend was successful and the upcoming hiking weekend has a very good sign-up with private rooms full and dorms partially filled.

Ken reported that Dave believes sales tax is included in lift tickets we purchase from the NJSC. He was asked to verify this. Allan reported on the lodge committee meeting. It was decided that work weekends will be limited by the lodge committee to a certain number which will include a number of spots open to the general membership in an attempt to increase the general membership’s interest in and usage of the lodge. This will be communicated by the lodge committee through announcements via e-mail, newsletter, website, and at general meetings.

Marketing: There was no report, and the committee’s Marketing Plan has yet to be presented to the Board. Dave Devendorf offered to work with Tom in organizing regularly scheduled committee meetings in order to ramp up efforts to increase membership and market the lodge. Mark suggested contacting Art Zimmer to have a few lines on the back page of each issue of the NewTimes. Marv said he would follow up with Art Zimmer. It was strongly suggested that publicity should be a big part of our marketing plan.

Trips: The Lake Tahoe trip is full. The Stowe bus trip has about 20 signed up. Leo is looking into organizing day trips, such as a $5-Friday at Snow Ridge.

Old Business:

Mission Statement: The mission statement discussion has been postponed to next month’s meeting. Mark has written a draft which all Board members are to review prior to the November Board Meeting.

Budget Deficit: Marv opened discussion on the expected budget deficit caused mainly by higher lodge expenses due to a substantial rise in fuel costs, etc. Upon working with numbers taken from the financial report and the lodge usage report, however, it was determined that the future doesn’t look as bad as previously expected since both lodge usage and new member sign-up have substantially increased during the first part of the fiscal year. The rental of the lodge for member family vacations during August and sponsored club trips to the lodge have made large contributions to the increased lodge usage.

In order to bridge the budget deficit, Mark made a motion that was amended to include the following three approaches to closing the budget deficit:

1. Make a concerted marketing effort to increase club membership to 700.

2. Continue efforts toward increasing lodge usage.

3. Ask the lodge committee to increase the room rates by a nominal $2/bed night effective December 1, 2008. The rate increase will be reviewed by the lodge committee at their upcoming October meeting.

The above marketing effort will be reviewed at the January board meeting. Based on how well we are closing the budget deficit, the board will consider other avenues, such as dues increases. Motion was approved.

Misc: Neville reported that only eight people showed up for the Adopt a Highway clean-up.

New Business: Happy hour is Wednesday, October 29, at Colorado Mining Co.

There being no further business to discuss, Mark moved to adjourn, seconded by John T.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:36 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Christa Foster

Recording Secretary