RE: Robert's Rules/Board Meeting

["Steve Avenell" <savenell@keenersinc.com>]

Robert's Rules is a fairly complex guide for running meetings which we
bastardize during our board meetings.  Basically we have striped it down to
when some one makes a motion and it is seconded  the issue is discussed and
the it has to be voted on unless a move to table the issue is made.

I feel that in general, if people thought that more discussion was required
they would have voted no on the motion and it would have failed.  Although I
didn't bring it up, from the beginning of the club until my presidency  we
gave the aquarium 10% of our take on both the general auction and the plant
auction, so making a donation the aquarium is not with out precedence.  I
basically killed this when we were tight on money and the aquarium started
raising our rates.

In the past, we have spent money on things that I didn't agree with or don't
think were cool  and probably will continue in the future. Personally I
don't think we should pay airfare to fly a speaker's wife out. That is not a
good use of our resources and doesn't benefit us or the hobby at all.
However, if this comes to pass, I will simply tell myself that the money I
spent at the auction wasn't spent on this it was spent on something else.




Steve Avenell
Director of Data Processing
Keener's Inc.
Ph. 425-793-3211 Fax 425-687-5311

 -----Original Message-----
From:   owner-gsas-board@thekrib.com [mailto:owner-gsas-board@thekrib.com]
On Behalf Of Kathy Olson
Sent:   Wednesday, April 26, 2000 8:09 AM
To:     gsas-board@thekrib.com
Subject:        Robert's Rules/Board Meeting


Hi everyone,
Overall we covered lots of stuff in approx. 45 minutes of time (started
the board meeting at 8:45 and ended at 9:30)

I had one area of concern.  I don't know what Robert's Rules of
order/debate/meetings are, but I do remember that there is to be a certain
amount of debate/discussion with each motion, before a final vote.  I feel
that in our rush to get out, we did not fully debate/discuss Bob's
proposal for philanthropy donation to the Seattle Aquarium.  I feel it was
ramrodded through without the proper discussion, and we partially used
Roberts Rules as justification but in my limited knowledge did not fully
use them properly, and didn't actually use them correctly.

I am okay with a vote that goes against what I would personally vote to
do, but it seemed like that we did not get to do a full discussion on this
one.

My support for the club is for the club---speakers, cool projects, things
that benefit the members and promote the hobby.  I don't buy things at the
auctions to support giving money free to the Seattle Aquarium.  Dave's
project is really cool, big fish tanks for the kids to enjoy...promotes
the hobby.  The Aquarium has been really good to us, and does just charge
us at cost for the room, so if they know that this is in appreciation and
goodwill....there is a part of me that sees the good in that...and they do
have lots of fish tanks  :)
I think it was wrong that it got rushed through so fast and we didn't get
to do a full discussion.  There were several things to discuss and vote on
that....1. Do we donate, 2. How much, and 3. how do we donate?
When we talked about Dave's philanthropy project....we discussed that over
several board meetings.  It did not get brought up and voted on in 5
minutes.  I think we even discussed how much per year we would
consider for Philanthropy, but never did do a budget but set it by
project. THis was the first night this came up and I
feel it was rushed through......it would have been nice to discuss it
more, research it, get info...etc.  I think you get the idea.

On the other note we did get a lot accomplished in lots of other areas.

I will also talk to speakers and try to itemize expenses, ideas, talks etc
so everyone has a better idea and we can decide who we may want for next
year.

On the budget, we haven't had one in ages.  Right now Scott's school
sounds pretty intensive and that is where his energy should be (so don't
do one now).  I was surprised to find out how much the Aquarium cost now
and etc.....this last weekend Erik went through all the old records
through the 80's (ie I believe 85-to now) the savings amount was typically
$1300...I know there were times Steve had done a budget and we were down
to the final 100's before the auctions.  Now we are doing great.  Our
expenses are more though.  The Aquarium I think (Scott can correct me) is
$70-$100 a night depending on how long we are there (so times 10 months on
the generous end...1,000 a year).  Newletter $80 or so (the last was
$160), so being generous again 1,000 a year.  So it sounds like 2,000 a
year budgeted is about what we need to have a meeting (plus fish o month,
and Hospitality).  Not bad, but not as low as it use to be.  That means
there is about $3,000 in the bank to do other stuff.  Not bad.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Kathy