Onondaga Ski Club

Board Meeting Minutes

May 5, 2009

Present: Mark Bidwell, Dave Devendorf, Christa Foster, Scott Foster, Jack Lancette, Marian LaPierre, Leo Naylor, Marv Patnode, Scott Severance, Allan Smith, Art Toll, John Tuttle, Bob Wiley, Mary Ann Zeppetello

Excused: Mary Clay, Neville Sachs, Marilyn Woyciesjes

Guests: Ken Robbins

Absent: Tom Button

President Marv Patnode noted that we have the required quorum and called the meeting to order at 7:15 pm at 4175 Chariot Lane, Liverpool.

Secretary’s Report: The April minutes were e-mailed to all board members and posted on the OSC website. Scott made a motion to accept the minutes, Allan seconded. Motion passed.

Marv proceeded to welcome newly elected board members Leo Naylor, Scott Severance, Art Toll, and Mary Ann Zeppetello, as well as re-elected officers Jack Lancette and Marian LaPierre and our new treasurer, John Tuttle. To fill one of two additional board openings, he asked for Mark Bidwell’s term to be extended for one more year. John T. made a motion to that effect and Marian seconded; motion passed. Marv encouraged all board members to familiarize themselves with the handout Board of Directors Responsibilities, as outlined in the OSC by-laws.

Communications: Communications were dispersed.

Committee Reports

Membership

New membership chair Bob Wiley reported that current active membership is 614, no change from last month. Paper boomers were mailed to 51 members and 20 to commercial establishments.

Lodge

John T’s lodge usage report indicates that bed occupancy in April was 21 for a total occupancy this year of 840 (an annual rate of 8.2%). Compared to last year, lodge summer bookings (May through Oct) were up 177%, while winter bookings (Nov through April) were up 6%. Overall bookings this year were 135% over last year.

Finance

John T. indicated that John Sonne e-mailed his final financial reports to board members. The year-end report shows a deficit of $2,009.92. Scott F. questioned the value of the Vanguard investment in John Sonne’s financial report and Marv indicated that the current amount is $30,163. John T. was to work with Mike McCabe to make the Vanguard fund a current and updated part of each month’s financial report. The financial report was received and filed. John asked that he as the new treasurer and Marv be made signers on the OSC accounts. Jack made the motion, Dave seconded; motion approved.

Marv presented a very extensive and detailed handout and PowerPoint presentation entitled Club History behind Financial Trends. It includes OSC’s history from its formation to the present, the financial history from 2002 to the present, as well as the proposed budget. The outline indicates that the club has operated at a loss this year, mainly due to substantially increased lodge expenses, such as utilities, property taxes, and others. The ultimate question to be asked is, should the lodge operate at a break-even or be financed by the membership? A very lively, lengthy discussion of different historical trends followed. Many options were suggested on how usage of the lodge could be increased, such as a summer ski show, summer mailing of lodge brochure, year-round rather than just eight months of club meetings, etc.

John T. moved to accept the finance committee’s budget proposal for 2009 which included a increasing dues from $20 to $25; NOT increasing lodge rates; increasing the cost of the paper boomer from $10 to $15 per household; and doubling the advertising income. Scott S. seconded. Discussion followed. Motion was not approved.

After various other options were discussed, John T. proposed a motion, seconded by Mark, to operate the club at the same income levels (lodge rates, dues, paper boomer, advertising, etc.) presently in existence until an agreed upon budget can be worked out after the Vision meeting on May 26. This motion was approved and it was agreed to revisit the issue after the May vision meeting.

Marketing

Due to time constraints, no marketing committee report

Trips

Due to time constraints, no trip committee report.

There being no further business to discuss, Mark moved to adjourn, seconded by John. The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Christa Foster

Recording Secretary