MINUTES OF MACA BOARD MEETING – 9/30/2012

Treasurer R. Messenger, acting as President pro tem., called the September Board Meeting to order at 6:02 PM at the Papa Gino’s in Natick.  Nine people were in attendance: Vice-President Steven Frymer (arrived 6:25 PM), Treasurer Robert Messenger, Clerk Nicholas Sterling (departed 8:05 PM), and Directors George Mirijanian, Nathan Smolensky, Kenneth Belt, Walter Driscoll, Richard Kinne, and Stephen Dann (arrived 6:25 PM).  The Minutes of this Meeting were taken by N. Sterling and Assistant Clerk R. Kinne.

Minutes of the August Board Meeting were distributed by N. Sterling.  One correction was made by R. Messenger.  * * MOTION made by R. Kinne and seconded by

N. Smolensky to approve the August Board Meeting Minutes as revised; with 6 votes in favor vs. 1 abstention, the MOTION passed. * *

Advance Motions:     (a) (i) * * MOTION (912-1a) made by R. Messenger and seconded by N. Smolensky to thank Brian Mottershead, who had resigned the previous week from the MACA Board, Scholastic Committee, and Budget Committee, for his years of service to MACA and wish him success in his future endeavors.  (ii) * * AMENDMENT (912-1b) proposed by K. Belt and seconded by W. Driscoll to add that Mr. Mottershead is welcome to return to MACA at any time, provided there is a vacancy open on the Board, because the Board values his contributions to MACA.  The VOTE was taken; with 5 votes in favor versus 1 against and 1 abstention, the AMENDMENT passed. (iii) The VOTE was taken on the amended MOTION; with 7 votes in favor versus 1 abstention, the MOTION passed. * *

                                    During the discussion of (a), Vice-President S. Frymer took over running the Meeting.

                                    (b) (i) * * MOTION (912-2) made by R. Kinne and seconded by

G. Mirijanian to approve the following slate of Primary Delegates representing the State of MA at the USCF Annual Meeting: Kenneth Ballou, Robert Messenger, Richard “Doc” Kinne.  The VOTE was taken; with 7 votes in favor versus 2 abstentions, the MOTION passed. * *

                                       (ii) N. Smolensky nominated himself as Alternative Delegate.

                                      (iii) A SECRET BALLOT VOTE was taken to elect the top three Alternative Delegates out of this list: NM Carey Theil, NM Andrew Wang, Walter Driscoll III, Nathan Smolensky.  Stephen Dann’s had also been on the list, but he asked for his name to be removed from consideration.  The Delegates elected were:

#1. Walter Driscoll, #2. Nathan Smolensky, #3. Andrew Wang.  The Board Voted that Votes for 1^st place would receive 3 points, Votes for 2^nd place would receive 2 points, and Votes for 3^rd place would receive 1 point, in accordance with a suggestion by N. Smolensky.  The Vote tallies, following this system, were:

Walter Driscoll: 21 points (6 first, 1 second, 1 third)

Nathan Smolensky: 18 points (2 first, 6 second)

Andrew Wang: 8 points (2 second, 4 third)

Carey Theil: 6 points (1 first, 3 third)

                                      (iv) N. Sterling said that he would contact all the approved and elected Delegates by e-mail to confirm their acceptance of their positions.

Treasurer’s report was read by R. Messenger:

 (i) (1) Net income of the General Fund this period as of 8/31/12: $1523.61 net loss. (2) Net income of the General Fund year-to-date as of 8/31/12: $2042.63 net loss. (ii) (1) Special Fund income this period as of 8/31/12: $4.40, with $3.00 dividends.

(2) Year-to-date Special Fund income: $25.93, with $23.30 dividends. (iii) (1) Special Fund expenses this period: $542.95.  (2) Year-to-date Special Fund expenses: $580.95. (iv) (1) Special Fund net income this period: $538.55 net loss. (2) Year-to-date Special Fund net income: $555.02 net loss. (v) August 2012 Changes in Fund Balances: $2062.12 net loss. (vi) Total Assets as of August 2012: $61946.66. (vii) Reserve for Chess Horizons Expenses: $3210.00.

Membership: R. Messenger read the 9/26/12 Membership numbers as follows: Adults: 197 (-3); Junior 383 (+16); Life 215 (=); Affiliate 1 (-1); Complimentary 4 (=);

D. Library 6 (=); D. Subscriber 13 (+2); Exchange 16 (=); Prison 284 (+1); Subscriber 15 (=).  Total change in Membership and Subscribers: +15.

Tournament: G. Mirjanian reported: (a) The New England Open took home a profit of $981.67.  The NECA Meeting was held at the NE Open, and discussion included a donation of $300 under consideration to the 2013 NE Open by Parker Montgomery of Burlington, VT; among the conditions for this to happen would be a substantial rate discount to VT players. (b) The Greater Boston Open will be held on 10/21/12 in Marlboro. (c) The Pillsbury Memorial will be held on 12/2/12 in Marlboro.

Scholastic: (a) R. Messenger nominated S. Frymer as Chair of the Scholastic Committee.  (b) * * MOTION (912-3) made by R. Messenger and seconded by

N. Smolensky to close Nominations.  The VOTE was taken; with 8 votes in favor versus 1 abstention, the MOTION passed. * * (c) S. Frymer reported that two hotels, and BB&N School in Cambridge, are under consideration as sites for the upcoming Scholastic events.  (d) * * MOTION (912-4) made by R. Messenger and seconded by R. Kinne to purchase 500 custom-made medals at a cost not to exceed $1300, including shipping costs.  (The cost of 500 medals per medal is $2.31, whereas the cost of 250 medals per medal is $2.74.)  After some discussion that it may be possible to pick up the medals at a nearby location to avoid shipping costs, the VOTE was taken: with 6 votes in favor versus 2 against and 1 abstention, the MOTION passed. * *

Budget: (i) R. Messenger presented the proposed FY 2013 budget and explained it line by line. (ii) * * MOTION (912-5) made by G. Mirijanian and seconded by S. Dann to approve the proposed FY 2013 budget. The VOTE was taken; with 7 votes in favor versus 1 abstention, the MOTION passed. * * (iii) The approved Budget is as follows:

Publications:  R. Messenger reported that he is planning to publish the current issue in October, making it a June-October issue. Talks have been held with Nicole Alarie who has now made it known that her college and study schedule will no longer make it practical to be Editor. She has withdrawn her candidacy.  R. Kinne will work with

R. Messenger on the current issue with the possible aim of taking over as Editor for the Winter issue.

Old Business:

* * MOTION 812-2 was brought back to the table. This MOTION had been referred to the Web Committee. Bob Salvas from RICA sent to the Web Committee an explanatory email stating that he had told the MACA Webmaster to delete the event from the page (not state that it was cancelled).  With this explanation the Web Committee recommended that the issue be dropped and no further action be taken. * *

New Business:

R. Messenger noted that the Denker and Barber Coordinator had not been specified at the beginning of the electoral year. It was decided that this function was best performed by the Scholastic Committee Chair.

Vice-President S. Frymer adjourned the September Board Meeting at 9:02 PM.  The date, time, and place of the September Board Meeting are Sunday 10/28/12, at 6:00 PM, at the Burger King in Waltham.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Nicholas Sterling, Clerk