January 2023

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes ACBL Unit 503

Wednesday, January 11, 2023 via Zoom

Directors Present

David Merenbach, Marc Cervellino, Gerry MacDonald, Jon Rayden, John Schwartz, Dan Thatte, Stephanie Youngquist, Eli Wismer

Others Present During All or Portions of the Meeting

Jim Hulseman, Liz Koh, Alan Templeton, Kathy Wheeler

M/S/P = Moved/Seconded/Passed

Call to Order

David Merenbach, President of the Board, served as Chair of the meeting, called the meeting to order at 4:00PM and announced that a quorum of the Board members was present and that the meeting, having duly convened, was ready to proceed with business.

Approval of Meeting Minutes

Eli W. announced that the minutes of the November 14, 2022 Board Meeting were approved via email.

Celebrity Lecture Series

Kathy Wheeler presented a schedule of 6 Celebrity Lecture seminars to be held in 2023:

Jan 28, Feb 4Gavin Wolpert

April 22Barbara Seagram

June 24Michael Berkowitz

Sept 3. Sept 30Adam Parrish

Unit 503 Operating Plan 2023

Marc C. presented a proposed Operating Plan for 2023 for approval.  Jon R. and David M. assisted in the preparation on this plan.  M/S/P as submitted.

Expanding the Board of Directors

It was M/S/P to expand the board by two positions, such positions to be filled at the President’s discretion by candidates nominated by the nominating committee and approved by the board.  Liz Koh was nominated to fill one position, and approved by the board. M/S/P

Financial Update

Marc C. presented an update on our Finances.  Play has been flat for our PABC clubs over the last several months. There was a net operating loss and cash outflow for the year 2022, both largely offset by grants from PBEF. Membership in Unit 503 declined over the year, but by less than the overall ACBL membership decline in the same period.

Volunteers Required

David M. led a discussion on the Volunteer needs for the Unit.  Help is required for the upcoming Sectionals, a volunteer for District Representative, and a new editor for Diamond in the Ruff newsletter.

Free Lecture Series and 499er Game

David M. led a discussion on the recent attempts to improve F2F play among our members with fewer than 500 MP’s, and the challenges that this has faced.  H Paul Davis has volunteered to chair the Free Lecture series for 2023, and held the first one earlier this month by Anna Ravenscroft.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:15PM.