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Meeting Minutes - May 23, 2005
Meeting opened at 7pm
Brochure passed around for comments on changes...only one picture in center needs changing.
Secretary's Report
Secretary's report was reviewed and accepted with one addition: Jan Carleton was voted in as publicity director for the rest of this year's term.
Rhonda wants note made that email notifications of meetings etc should not only go to board members but to the NHMA email list.
Tom noted that these notifications are on the website.
Treasurer's Report:
accepted
Beginning Balance : $1,273.57
Income: $29.00
Expenses: $0
Ending Balance: $1,302.57
Membership:
One new member and Tom has collected many new names of NH mushers to contact .
Rhonda will make this list electronic.
Jim suggests that this list of folks would be best approached as new members with the motorized training rig permit information.
Also make clear to them about trail maps and condition information that will be open on the website to anyone this year.
Nominating committee:
All officers have agreed to serve another term but no one else has been brought up for nomination...there is a July deadline.
OLD BUSINESS:
DRED Mushing webpage
Bob Spoerl and Bob Heckman have designed a webpage for us which also links to our site and other mushing sites.
Website addition was accepted and everyone really liked it.
Financial Impact Statement:
New name and contact at Plymouth State...they did the motorized training rig impact statement
Christine feels that we should be committed to raising money and have a substantial amount in hand Before approaching any other organization to do this study for us.
We are at the moment going to work with the U of M with their research.
Keith commented that he really questions the financial impact statement and all the money we need to raise and spend on it...is it too much of a burden on this new organization AND will it really help change people's opinions??
George commented that as a state and sport, we need to put this information out there to prove that we can help communities with our presence.
Tom commented that we need the figures AND all other groups have done it.
Keith comments that there are many many people involved in the motorized training rig and other clubs.
Bob Spoerl notes that a statement will prove the benefit of our existence to the state and advocate for our sport.
Jim Lalla agrees with Keith and thinks the key thing is to probably not spend more than 60-70% of total treasury on this project and at this point we would be outspending the treasury. We shouldn't be stretching ourselves just for this.
Comments that strengthening our membership and offering them something is the only way to get them interested and involved in getting communities more interested in having us on their trails. Events of this past year such as the Strafford, Bartlett and potentially new Errol events were key in getting local people excited about having mushers there.
Tom doesn't want to wait until there is a crisis
Jim's fundraising ideas is to offer speakers and raise money with those sort of things.
Bob H. suggests that what we yet need to do is to get some of the understanding and feeling that we have as a board to the day to day musher. We've done a good job getting to the snowmobile clubs but he suggests that a 3 year plan would be a better goal. By then we will know more about what we need, who to contact and tax deduction status.
Jim and Rhonda agree that we need to get ALL information about what happens at our meetings and at the state meetings.
Maybe we can link to the minutes of those meetings on our website or get a bit of a summary.
Fundraisers:
Rhonda suggests that although we agreed not to be involved in putting on races...maybe we should be by co-sponsoring races with insurance policies.
Keith, Rhonda and Christine will come up with a proposal
Cindy: has small kennel and likes the small team training fundraiser ideas.
She contacted a company in Deerfield, NH called "It's a Dog's Life" and approached them about designing a mushing shirt.
50 @ $10.60 per to sell at $25
hats too
they would come up with a design for us with our input
Bob H suggests putting together a marketing plan before committing to a fundraiser.
Jim L. points out that we are really lacking a plan IN GENERAL.
Rhonda and Cindy will come up with a marketing plan for these shirts and hats and if it is approved we will move forward with the fundraiser.
NHSA Meeting
It was a great experience and the speakers were super well received and very motivational. Our certificates were greatly appreciated by the clubs who were acknowledged. Belknap Snowmobile club (the Laconia race supporting club) was overlooked and they were quite upset. It was so unfortunate that they were not commended that we are awarding them a much earned award.
Our Website:
Motion was passed to dedicate the next meeting to the website.
Bob H. Over the 2 years we have had a real problem communicating with the webmaster.
Three people have been in charge of communicating and it hasn't been working well. We need to firm up one person of contact...only.
Greg will be our point of contact. Next month we will find out what Jaye can do as far as design, cost etc and finalize the commitment or changes once and for all.
We will also change the design and come up with a plan to update specific content in an efficient and interesting manner.
Annual Meeting:
Place, date and Time MUST be determined in the first 15 min of the next meeting.
Tentative Next Meeting Date - Thursday June 30
Meeting Adjourned 9:10pm
Respectfully Submitted by Christine Richardson
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