NH Mushers Association

Meeting Minutes - July 22, 2004

Attendance:
Leif Erickson
Jim Lalla
Rhonda Oíhearn
Tom Dimaggio
Bob Spoerl
Greg Barker
Bob Heckman
George Cook
Christine Richardson
Pam L. Connell
Keith Bryar

The officers met in private to discuss the fact that even though we had functioned as a board, There never were official board appointments other than the officers. They agreed to offer 3 year board appts to Rhonda O'Hearn, Jim Lalla, Leif Erickson, Bob Joy, Bill Bartlett, and Pete Johnson. Because of this oversight, the officers elected themselves to another 1 year term and next year the official board can vote them back in or out.

Meeting opened to all committee members.
All present members accepted the reappointment of the officers and their appointments. Bob Joy and Bill Bartlett will be contacted for their responses.

Nominations for 7th position:
Christine nominated Greg Barker
Leif seconded
10 votes in favor, 0 against.
Greg accepted and is the 7th board member with a 3 year appointment.

Official Board of Directors, 2004-2005

Officers: (1 year terms - 8/2004 – 8/2005)

Board Members: (3 year terms - 8/2004-8/2007)

Secretary's Report:
The minutes of last month were presented and unanimously accepted.

Treasurer's Report:
No money in, none out
$785.68 balance

Committee Reports:
Snowmobile Club appreciation certificate votes so far:
2 snoslickers
2 andover
1 groveton
4 stratford
1 TN arch trail travellers

Last vote will be accepted at the annual meeting in August

Muster (Annual meeting) Agenda:
Survey - update
Trails database - vision for this project
Need for Legislative person or group
Plan for membership drive
Newsletter

We will ask for volunteers to be involved in each project and divide into working groups at the end of the meeting for project planning and discussion.

Membership Committee report:
Newsletter not out yet

To be in:

Rhonda suggests to wait until the annual meeting to put this all together. Good idea and we can get people involved. Rhonda also proposes an Embassador program. Board members with new members to bring their ideas and thoughts back to the board meetings. Great idea she will divide all the names into 10 groups and email all 10 of us a list of names and phone numbers. We are responsible for calling each person, introducing ourselves as NHMA board members, inviting them to the muster, asking for input and giving them our phone#, email so they can send input to the board meetings.

We will all try to get everyone called before the 1st of August.

Sled Dog Trade shows:
Manchester, Oct 2-3
Maine, Oct 9-10

Tom notes that we should go to both shows

Rhonda doesn't believe we should be associated because of the auction and the negative press that could be associated with us. General feeling is that we as a group should not take sides on controversial issues that are not associated with trails. We should not take a chance on alienating anyone. We will go to both expos.

Other business:
Rhonda proposes applying for 501C(4) federal tax-exempt status to facilitate tax exempt donations and grant applications. Bob Spoerl suggest that we could use another tax-exempt corporation as an umbrella corp. Bob Spoerl stated the application takes almost a year to complete. Bob H recommended as such that we begin the process now. Tom asked that Rhonda research the cost to apply.

Cost of advertising on the back on the NHSA map. Tom will pursue that with Gail Hanson. Brochure printing is pending.

Motion to post minutes asap with a "to be approved" notice attached. Passed

Next meeting:
September 9th, 7pm DRED building in Concord

Minutes Submitted on 7-27-2004

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