WESTERN CONFERENCE

Meeting of the Board of Directors

Chandler, AZ

April 9, 2005

The meeting was called to order at 9:05 a.m.  The following board members were present:  John Van Ness, Bill McIntosh, Roger Smith, Jim Kirkham, Al Schuster.  Tom Shulman was present and served as a temporary board member in place of Jerry Fleming who was unable to be present.  Secretary-Treasurer Tom Shulman was also present.  Sheila Wimer, Darlene Anderson, Betty Bratcher, and Ken Monzingo were in attendance at various times during the meeting.

2004 Minutes

The board reviewed the minutes of the 2004 annual meeting.  Upon motion and second the minutes were approved.

Treasurer’s Report

SHULMAN presented the Treasurer’s report, copies of which had previously been mailed to the Board.  Upon motion and second the Treasurer’s report was accepted.  There was discussion about how to make up the expected shortfall resulting from D20’s withdrawal and anticipated increased expenses (see Forum below).  KIRKHAM moved that regional sanction fees be increased by $.25/tbl. (expected revenue = $6500). Second SMITH.  After discussion regarding the appropriate starting date for such an increase, the motion was properly amended as follows: Moved that regional sanction fees be increased by $.10/tbl. to $2.10 beginning July 1, 2005, and that regional sanction fees be further increased by $.15/tbl. to $2.25 beginning January 1, 2006.  CARRIED 6-0.

Forum

Ken Monzingo reported on Forum operations.  Ken said he expected a postage increase of perhaps $400/mo., and a printing increase of about $100/mo.  Ken said the effect of the loss of D20 on the paper was there will be one less issue to layout and proof. He and his staff would work the same hours but do a little less work.  Ken offered to cut his fee by 10% and reduce the number of 16-page issues by half. Ken said he wouldn’t cut his employees’ pay.  Ken’s offer was not accepted.

New Business

There was discussion about paying D20 a share of the WC assets.  SCHUSTER moved

that WC not pay any portion of its assets to D20. SMITH second. CARRIED 6-0.

Betty Bratcher discussed the STAC and noted that D14 and D15 were participating.  Betty also explained to the board that ACBL is charging sanction fees to WC for STAC fill-in tables but that WC is not charging the clubs for fill-ins. The net result is that WC pays thousands of dollars in sanction fees for tables that do not produce income to WC.

The board discussed the problems arising with C&T regarding payment for its ads, the high cost to regionals of tournament directors, and the ongoing problems with regard to GNT residency requirements.

KIRKHAM raised the question whether there should be a WC policy with regard to defenses vs. opening NT bids, suggesting that any defense to a NT opening should be permitted in the WC.

With regard to I/N regionals, SMITH moved that no sanction fee be charged, but that full member price be charged for any ads in the Forum.  Second VAN NESS.  CARRIED 6-0.

Next Meeting

The Board decided that the next meeting would be in Monterey on January 4, 2006.

Election of Officers

SMITH nominated VAN NESS to be president. KIRKHAM second.  No further nominations.  VAN NESS elected.

Tom Shulman was nominated to be Secretary/Treasurer.  No further nominations.  SHULMAN elected.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at noon.