CBA Board Meeting Minutes – June 17, 2014
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 P.M. In attendance were John Meinking, Susan
Wisner, A. J. Stephani, Mike Purcell, Steve Moese, and Tom Mess with Sonya
Wilson attending by phone. Invited
guests were Patti English and Mike Lipp.
Minutes
President Stephani requested that the minutes of the May
20, 2014 meeting be approved at the next meeting when Secretary Levinson is in
attendance.
Tournament Committee
Patti English, the 2014 Cincinnati Regional Tournament
Chair, gave her report on the recently completed Regional Tournament. There were 25-27 new individuals attending
the Tournament. The Friday and Saturday
evening games were poorly attended, even for evening games, with 25 and 22
tables, respectively. Through Thursday, we were on a pace to exceed last year's
table count by 80-90 tables, but the weekend numbers (especially the evening
games) were disappointing. Still, we
ended up 30 tables over last year. Final
financial figures on of the Tournament were not yet available, but Chair
English reported that there would be an increase of several thousand dollars in
income versus last year. Chair English
expressed her appreciation of the CBA volunteers who help with the particularly
smooth setup and take down this year.
Chair English and President Stephani discussed the 2015
Regional Tournament. Chair English
agreed to be the co-Chair with Stephani.
The Sharonville Convention Center (SCC) continues to be one of the more
expensive options for the Tournament. In
addition, there will be significant construction at the SCC next June due to
the construction of a SCC hotel. Receptions on Route 4 has bid for the
Tournament in 2015 at a price several thousand dollars lower than SCC. On motion from John Meinking and on second by
Steve Moese, the Board unanimously resolved that the Tournament chairs have the
authority to complete negotiations with Receptions
for 2015 Tournament. Chair English
excused herself at this time.
President Stephani reported the NLM Sectional Chair
Stephanie Richardson resigned after completion of this year’s Sectional. Pam Campbell has agreed to be the Chair for
the 2015 NLM Sectional. He also
mentioned that the Northern Kentucky Bridge Club (NKBC) will be holding the
inaugural Summer Getaway Sectional from August 15-17 at the Doubletree Hotel at
the CVG airport. The Cincinnati Bridge
Center (CBC) will be closed during these days.
NKBC will be using CBA tables and other equipment. His last report on tournaments was that the
Summer STaC (August 4-10) will have the 10 a.m. games run by Club Managers and
the 2:30 p.m. run by the CBA.
Long-term Relationship between CBC and CBA
The Board continued its discussion of the long-term
financial health of the CBA, noting that the CBC continues to operate at a
deficit. Treasurer Wisner shared that
she is separating the financials of the CBA/CBC. Treasurer Wisner was asked to either project
forward or use historical figures to show what a full year of CBA/CBC
financials. It was agreed by the Board
(without Mr. Stephani’s participation) that the Comer sanctions that were
received by the CBA in early June would be leased to Mike Lipp and A. J.
Stephani for a nominal fee until December 31, 2014 to give the Board more time
to consider its future overall structure.
It was agreed that Tom Mess, with the help of other Board members, would
draft the Lease Agreement. In addition,
Mr. Mess was asked to draft an explanation of the reasons for the Comer
Honorarium and a set of Guidelines for the Sanction Holders to assure that the
players, directors, Sanction Holders, and CBA are treated fairly and equitably. Mr. Lipp excused himself after this
discussion.
President’s Report
President Stephani mentioned the upcoming Longest Day Charity Bridge Marathon on
June 21. CBA agreed to provide a light
lunch with the help of Justina Clendening, who is the Team Captain for the Longest Day. President Stephani also asked and received
the Board’s approval to donate $2/person of the revenue received due to the
additional Monday evening game at the Cincinnati Regional Tournament.
The District 11 Board meeting continues to discuss the future
of the Midwest Monitor, with Brad
Bartol as editor. Mr. Bartol wants
$12,000 annually to coordinate the information contained in the Monitor, but will begin delivering the Monitor only in electronic format. Potter Orr and Steve Moese continue to work
alternatives to the Monitor proposal
that will deliver the information more cost effectively.
President Stephani requested Tom Mess to draft a letter
to Mary Clifton asking for a final accounting of the Middletown Sectional funds
and for Ms. Clifton to deliver any unused funds to the CBA.
Education Committee
Mike Purcell shared that the Education Committee plans to
propose at a future meeting how the Youth Committee should be structured to
encourage younger bridge players.
The meeting was adjourned at about 6:35 p.m.
Tom Mess
Secretary pro
tempore