SPAAMFAA

2007 Summer Meeting

August 8 to August 11 2007

Burnsville, Minnesota

 

Officers Roster

Chapter Roster

Minutes of Various Meetings

Treasurers Report

Committee Reports

Officers Reports

 

 

February 20 – 23, 2008 North Texas Chapter Dallas, Texas

July 30 – August 2, 2008 Central New York Chapter Syracuse, New York

 

 

 

 

 

George A. Valrance

Corresponding Secretary

August 26, 2007

 

Minutes of the SPAAMFAA Board Meeting

Burnsville, Minnesota

August 8, 2007

Members Present                                                                       Members Absent

Paul Romano                                                                                                    Dennis Adamski

Barbara Connors                                                                                               Len Williams

George Valrance

Keith Franz

Bill Lawlor

Bill Dundas

Bill Davis

Gerry Clement

Bill Harting

Dennis Adamski

Dave Napier

Ray Pitts

The meeting was called to order by President Paul Romano at 1:20 PM.

Opening comments by Ken Peterson, President of the Land O’ Lakes chapter.

Paul Romano called for comments from the observers. Frank Brandao asked for clarification of insurance issues. Ed Peterson discussed the "monster truck" issue as it relates to old cars.

Reading of the minutes of the February 21, 2007 meeting

Motion to accept the minutes as written. Carried

Report of Standing Committees

Archive Committee

No report

Advertising Committee

Dave Napier gave his report. (Exhibit A)

Education Committee

No report

Franchise Committee

No report

Publication Committee

Steve Hagy’s "Enjine!-Enjine!" report was reviewed. (Exhibit B) Ken Buohl’s "Silver Trumpet" report was reviewed. (Exhibit C) Paul Romano gave his web site report. Paul has had difficulty finding a helper due software concerns. As the site becomes more active it requires more attention. He plans to have a recommendation by February for the Board to approve.

Rules Committee

Bill and George reviewed and updated the Standing Rules. Bill also reviewed the chapter application form and made some revisions. Bill is reviewing the nominating procedure.

Safety Committee

No report

Officers Reports

Immediate Past President

President

See old business

Senior Vice President

No report

Vice President

No report

Corresponding Secretary

George reports that the SPAAMFAA service mark has been renewed for 10 years.

George reports that the new insurance policy is in place and seems to be working well. He thanked the 6 trustees for their assistance in getting the program started. He gave a review of the program. There were no new chapter applications submitted.

Treasurer

The financial report was reviewed. Our investments are showing improvement to off set our decrease in dues. Motion to accept the report. Carried. (Exhibit D)

Membership Secretary

Barb reports we have 2970 members. She will present (51) 25 year pins this year. She is looking into a 50 year pin as we near our 50th anniversary membership. (6) Members will achieve their 50th year in 2008. Motion to accept the report. Carried. (Exhibit E)

Convention/Muster Coordinator

Bob Taber made a presentation on our 50th birthday celebration to be held in Syracuse July 31, 2008 to August 3, 2008. See new business.

George read a letter from the Southern California chapter making a bid to hold the winter 2009 conference. See new business.

Trustee Reports

North Eastern Region - Clements

Nothing to report

Central Eastern Region – Napier

Nothing to report

Trustee Reports (Cont.)

South Eastern Region - Harting

Nothing to report – see new business.

North Central Region - Adamski

Dennis was absent

South Central Region - Davis

Nothing to report

Western Region – Dundas

The Phoenix chapter and the Arizona Territorial chapter have resigned from the Society.

Old Business

Czaplicki/Valrance have completed the muster manual update but other issues are delaying implementing the updates from being reprinted.

IFBA – 150 registered, 300 expected. Membership is declining. (Franz)

Fire Museum Network has 60 members. Would like to schedule a meeting with us. (Franz)

Virtual Museum – Resources, skill level needed. President Romano wants to move forward.

Bill Harting reports that the Alex Black project has fallen behind.

Paul appoints Herold Berthy to chair a committee to review again awarding chapters for newsletter and membership achievements.

George Valrance is still working on the design for an achievement award.

Romano also discussed raising money through Trust funds established to assist the Society with its financial goals. Another was is using annuities. Keith had met with some financial advisors and gave his report. Paul, Keith and Herold will investigate further and report at the next meeting

Romano reiterated his thoughts on a "younger" Society. More discussion at the next meeting.

Valrance/Lawlor report the Standing Rules have been reviewed and updated.

There was discussion regarding chapters charging "registration" fees at our conferences. The chapters have to carefully analyze the expenses they face when putting on a conference. If they determine a fee is required they should explain what the fee is for prior to the meeting. (i.e.: transportation, meals, hospitality etc...) No one is expected to lose money nor are they expected to make a large profit from hosting a meeting. The conference coordinator will work closely with the chapters to limit excess costs. A committee will be appointed.

New Business

Motion to accept The Southern California bid for the 2009 winter conference. Carried.

Motion to buy the Corresponding Secretary an additional file cabinet. Carried.

Motion to require all chapter members also be members of SPAAMFAA. After lengthy discussion the motion was tabled until the next meeting.

 

 

New Business (Cont.)

Motion to support the Central New York chapter assemble and publish a 50th anniversary book for 2008. Keith Franz and Gerry Clement will contact Pete DeSalvo from CNY and work out a plan. They are authorized to provide financial support for the project. Carried.

Motion to have the Conference coordinator develop a method of improving the selection process for chapters holding meetings Carried

Motion to present Corresponding Secretary George Valrance with a certificate of achievement for his efficient handling of our insurance dilemma. Carried.

Trustee Bill Dundas discussed how he is gaining new members while attending various functions. He suggests that we should be a little more direct in our approach and sign the prospective member up on the spot, not simply hand them an application.

Trustee Gerry Clement is seeking assistance in obtaining a source of apparatus valuation. It was suggested he contact Frank Tremel as Frank previously wrote a column for Engine! Enjine! on this very topic.

Motion to increase the maximum page count of ST to 24 pages. Carried.

Motion to increase compensation to the editor of ST to include all meetings attended. Rejected. The Corresponding Secretary was directed to respond to the ST Editor with an explanation.

Motion to purchase a traveling booth for displaying ST and soliciting members by the editor of ST. Denied

Motion to allow the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter (Ed Peterson) to produce a license plate frame to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2008. Carried.

Good and Welfare

The next Board meeting will be in Dallas, Texas Wednesday February 20, 2008 starting at 1:00 PM. Lunch will precede the meeting

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:00 PM. Carried

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

George A. Valrance

Corresponding Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Membership & Chapter Advisory Council Meeting

Burnsville, Minnesota

August 9, 2007

Meeting called to order by Vice President Herold Berthy, Jr. at 7:15 PM.

Vice President Berthy welcome everyone and introduced SPAAMFAA Board members and past Presidents in attendance.

Corresponding Secretary George Valrance gave an overview of the Board meeting August 8, 2007 including an overview of our new insurance policy with J. T. Taylor. Chapters are to be reminded that the policy covers SPAAMFAA members only. Fire Departments, Municipalities, property owners are not covered. You can not "loan" this insurance to anyone.

The meeting was turned over to Vice President Berthy.

Herold Berthy called the roll and the following chapters were represented:

Berkshire Ray Pond

California Bill Dundas

Carolinas Ray Bennett

Central New York Bob Taber

Central Ohio Bill Davis

Central Pennsylvania Ed Peterson

Colorado Gary Aranda

Connecticut Marshall Sanford

Florida Gulf Coast Bill Harting

Genesee Valley Jerry Clements

Great Lakes Walt McCall

Greater Cleveland John Zangerle

Heart of Illinois Jack Connors

Indiana Roger Birchfield Land O’ Lakes Nick Modders

Long Island William Hubbard

Maine Thornton Ring

Metro St Louis Frank Brandao, Sr.

Mid Jersey David Napier

North Texas Jeff Jones

Northern Illinois Sandy Edwards

Southern California Bill Dundas

Southern Philip Gilbert

Southern Connecticut Marshall Sanford

Virginia Pete West

West Virginia Panhandle Tony Cook

Western Pennsylvania Herold Berthy

Herold asked for comments from non- chapter members.

Herold thanked the Corresponding Secretary for his time and efforts in putting our new insurance policy in place on such short notice. He will be given a certificate of merit from the Society in the near future.

A lively discussion ensued between Ed Peterson and Bill Dundas regarding new member recruitment.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:12 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

George A. Valrance

Corresponding Secretary

 

Note: The Robinson Award will be presented in the near future, by Senior Vice President Keith Franz, to John A. Calderone, the Editor of Fie Apparatus Journal. He was unable to attend our meeting to accept the award at this time.