Onondaga Ski Club

Board Meeting Minutes

July 1, 2008

 

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

 

Excused:  Mark Bidwell, Tom Button, Lloyd Howse

 

Absent:  Marilyn Woyciesjes

 

Guest: Jan Carr, Janice Farrelly, Ken Robbins

 

President Marvin Patnode called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

 

Secretary’s Report:  The June board minutes were submitted to members electronically and posted on the OSC web site. Scott made a motion to accept the minutes, John S. seconded. Motion passed.

 

President’s Report:  Marv reported that Jack has graciously accepted to be OSC’s new 1st vice president. John T. made motion to appoint him, John S. seconded. Motion passed. This appointment opened up a board position and Marv mentioned that a lodge committee member is needed on the board to fulfill bylaw requirements. John T. volunteered to be on the lodge committee. Marv also welcomed Bob Dewey as a new board member and the new email communications leader. This still leaves one open board position to be filled.

 

Because a number of board members are unable to attend the August board meeting if held on the customary first Tuesday of the month, it was decided to hold it on August 12 instead.

 

Communications: Incoming mail was distributed. No other report.

 

Committee Reports

 

Finance: The treasurer’s report was received and filed. Marv and John have compiled a financial history of income, expenses and assets for the years 2002 to 2008. Their list includes detailed data from 2005 to 2008; data from 2002 to 2004 are best estimates.

The information indicates that total club expenses have stayed fairly steady over the last few years through major savings in some categories, such as the Communications and Programs, to balance major increases in lodge expenses.

 

Membership: As of July 1, total active membership is 568, up from 562 in June. Included are 28 junior members and 65 out of state members. In order to track who joins because of the lodge, Marv made a change to the membership form.

 

Lodge:  Ken reported that the 2008 fuel budget from CD Oil indicates an increase in oil from $2.79/gallon to $4.54. We were also informed of an increase in assessed value of our Vermont property from $148,000 to $204,800 and can therefore expect a significant rise in property taxes. The projected increase of expenses in the coming year is major.

 

Allan reported that Neville’s family and one other family will use the lodge for a week each in August and that some members are signed up for 4th weekend. Not many other summer reservations. John T. in cooperation with Dave Clark created a lodge occupancy report that will now be updated and distributed regularly to board members.

 

The lodge committee minutes can now be viewed online.

 

Marketing:  Marv briefly summarized the committee’s first meeting since committee chair Tom was out of town. Discussion was about establishing a program of outreach, how to interface with the public, etc. The committee was asked to brainstorm ideas and the expectation is that marketing efforts will really take off in September.

 

Trips:  Leo mentioned that Janice Farrelly proposed coordinating a Lake Tahoe trip and Janice indicated that she is working with SnoSearch for airline and lodging reservations. The date is February 6-14, 2009. A $2,500 deposit is required immediately; cost will be approximately $1,550 per person. Leo made motion to approve the Lake Tahoe trip, Allan seconded, motion passed.

 

Old Business:  Vermont law: Marv received feedback from other club presidents who have lodges in Vermont. They view the sales tax issue as non-existent because all renters are club members; we don’t rent to the general public. Marv still plans to speak with a lawyer regarding the land use issue and this issue will be revisited at the September meeting. Dave asked about sales tax on lift tickets we sell to our members and Ken and Allan were instructed to look into it.

 

New Business:  Marv pointed out that we on the board are charged with the running of club and therefore need to work out a business plan and come up with a club mission. As an organization we have been facing a downward trend and need to work on turning that around. There was a lot of discussion and suggestions of changes that could bring about such a turn-around, such as increase of membership dues, increase of lodge rental, sale of lodge and purchase of a facility that’s within about two hours drive, etc.

 

Marv charged board members to ponder the following two questions and email their thoughts to him by July 30. He’ll compile answers for the August board meeting:

      (1) Who are we? How do we view ourselves as the Onondaga Ski Club? How do we see it all tying in together.

      (2) How can we close the expense/income gap so we can continue to meet objective #1?

 

There being no further business to discuss, Dave moved to adjourn, seconded by Kay. The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Christa Foster

Recording Secretary