MICHIGAN STATE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY
Meeting of the Board November 27, 2004 4:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency, Dearborn, MI
The meeting was called to order at 4:03 p.m. by President Al Bobrofsky. Roll call was taken, and the following members were present: Clarence Finger, Al Patterson, Dany Rothfeld, Steve Bieda, Al Bobrofsky, Kathy Freeland, Dan Freeland, Bill Summerell, Tom Matthews, Andrew Parks, and Steve Marzilli (entered at 4:10 p.m.).
Guests present included: Steve Friedman, Don Charters, Pat Heller, Frank Passic, Florence Schook, Mike Strub, Mike Dennany, Clifford Mishler, William Horton, Jr., Ray Dillard, Mike Marotta, Mark Carl Paul, David F. Ferrara, Gregg Guseff, Ann Bobrofsky, Brian Malnar, and John Wilson.
Joe LeBlanc led us in the invocation. The minutes of the Sept. 12 meeting were approved with a motion by A. Parks and a second by D. Freeland.
Discussion of the agenda was held, and with the addition of a report by Don Charters on the Fall 2004 Show, future convention awards, the Slate Award, Host Clubs for the Spring 2007 show and the rule of having 15 members to qualify as a club, a motion by S. Bieda and a second by D. Rothfeld to approve the agenda with the additions noted was approved.
Because of pressing business, D. Charters gave his Fall 2004 report next. We were short 3 tables from last year, but more money came in this year. Don was thanked for his work as convention coordinator before he left.
The next order of business was Election Results. Pat Heller gave the following report: With 365 ballots returned, the results are as follows:
President Kelly Finger 323 votes Elected
Vice-President Ann Bobrofsky 232 votes Elected
Steve Marzilli 130 votes Not Elected
Board of Directors Bill Summerell 283 votes Elected
Dany Rothfeld 260 votes Elected
Michael Marotta 257 votes Elected
Tracy Tabor 245 votes Elected
Stephen Friedman 242 votes Elected
Greg Guseff 238 votes Elected
Dr. Andrew Parks 203 votes Elected
Michael Strub 157 votes Elected
Mark Carl Paul 124 votes Not Elected
Mark Carl Paul was declared not elected because he came in third for the two positions that could be filled by candidates from Oakland County.
S. Bieda moved and K. Freeland seconded the motion to approve the ballot results. Motion passed. Pat Heller was thanked for his assistance.
Under Officer Reports, the following reports were given:
President report – Al Bobrofsky
1. Discussion of appointments to fill open positions. Since S. Marzilli wasn’t elected as vice-president, Al would like us to appoint him to the Board of Directors. LeBlanc pointed out that this would be a matter for the new board to handle and not the current board.
2. This has been a trying year for all. We have made tremendous progress, but we still need to earn our credibility back. We now have a financial plan, and the life membership fund is growing. Al took time to thank Cliff Mishler for all of his work, and that of his team, to try and straighten out our problems. Cliff thanked us for the opportunity and discussed the learning experience it had been for his team.
3. Comments on progress of MSNS
a. We have tweaked the Constitution and eliminated unnecessary language.
b. A newly formed exhibits committee has put a new manual together.
c. It had been planned to rewrite the convention manual, but Kelly is still working on this. He will present changes during either the February or April meeting
Vice-President report – Kelly Finger
1. Spring show in Lansing was somewhat successful. We lost $2820. However, we did throw a good show, we just didn’t make any money for MSNS. Holiday Inn wanted over $7000 more for next spring, so it was decided to find somewhere else to have our shows. As a result, the Hyatt will be the host of both fall and spring shows over the next 3 years. Management has been very cooperative at the Hyatt. For the spring shows, we don’t know if we will use the annex or not. Costs are judged on using the main bourse room only.
2. Contract with Craig Whitford – There is a disagreement over the amount of money spent on advertising. Extensive discussion was held on this, and Kelly will be in touch with Craig to discuss this after it’s determined how much we actually spent on advertising. It’s estimated that at least $1000 was spent locally in advertising. It was also suggested by S. Friedman that we need a sign for Craig saying Auction Lot Viewing so people know where to go to see the auction lots. Craig won’t be doing the Spring 2005 show, so his next show will be Fall 2005. During the next renegotiating period, which should be held soon, this item needs to be discussed.
Secretary-Treasurer Report
a. Request for agenda items should be delivered one month prior to the board meeting
b. New board members need to get their new jackets this weekend while they are available.
c. We need to look seriously at a new convention coordinator who will be an understudy for Don Charters. We might want to consider making this a paid position since it will involve a lot of work for 1 individual when Don no longer does this.
Income and Expenses from this show were presented. Naturally, all income and expenses are not in yet, so a more complete accounting will be shown at the next board meeting.
a. Checking account - $62,331.19
b. Savings (life membership) account - $36,068.27 – out of this, $25,000 was moved to a CD earning 1.75% interest.
536 Regular
22 Honorary Life
468 Life
37 Junior
26 Clubs
6, Insurance
a. E/O (Errors and Omissions) – This bill will come due before the next meeting, so with a motion from D. Freeland and a second from K. Finger, we voted to pay $930 for the board for the year. Motion passed.
b. Liability Insurance – This will come due in the middle of December, so with a motion by D. Rothfeld and a second by A. Patterson, it was voted to pay $488 for the year. Motion passed.
c. Bond Insurance – D. Freeland moved and A. Parks seconded to pay our bond insurance in the amount of $234 for 2005. Motion passed.
7. Storage Yard
A letter was read from Larry Petersen with a showcase storage proposal. After much discussion, it was moved by S. Marzilli and seconded by A. Parks to leave the cases where they are and to pay the storage bill for next year. Motion passed with 9 yeas and 3 nays.
It was also decided to appoint a committee of Joe LeBlanc, Bill Summerell and Steve Marzilli to investigate other options.
8. Property Report
a. 30 new lamps were purchased for a cost of $650.
b. MSNS computer – Tom Klunzinger paid $100 to buy it from us.
c. Old copier was returned and determined not to be feasible to be fixed. K. Finger will dispose of it.
d. 1956 Coin Collection – sold at auction on Friday night. Net $3425 with no charge to MSNS. Special Thanks to Craig Whitford for doing this.
Under Committee Reports, the following reports were given:
1. Exhibits – Frank gave each board member a complete list of discussion items from the exhibit committee. While all items were read, discussion focused on the two items on which votes were needed. They are as follows:
a. Slate award was reinstated with a $500 check from Judy Slate. This award is for the best topical exhibit at the Fall MSNS show. This is not an official MSNS award but a privately awarded one. The prize will be a clock. The clocks will be purchased and stored by the MSNS Secretary/Treasurer with other MSNS property.
b. MSNS is committed to sending best-of-show winners to Colorado if they so choose. At the present time, there are several that could go this year. To this end, there was a motion made by S. Marzilli, seconded by D. Rothfeld to accept Frank’s proposal to offer either the Colorado trip or a ˝ ounce gold coin with the Best of Show plaque. Motion was approved.
c. All other items from this discussion are included at the end of the minutes.
2. Auctions – possibility of having Heritage host a Bullet Sale
3. Past Presidents – no report
Under Old Business, the following items were discussed:
An information sheet from LeBlanc was sent to all board members indicating the past and future coin club hostings. This takes us through the Fall 2006 Show. This sheet is also attached to the minutes.
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Under New Business, the following items were discussed:
1. Mike Marotta gave a report on the Mich-Matist. After presenting a comprehensive report on some of the problems we have encountered going to a 8 ˝ x 11 format, including the addition of pictures, which was a problem with the last issue, Mike gave a verbal report. He is attempting to address some of the problems that have been discovered by purchasing new software and by working more closely with the printer.
He also discussed costs of advertising, printing and mailing of the Mich-matist. The following changes were recommended:
Business card ads (1/14 page) - $12.50
Deluxe Ads $3.00 per square inch
Full page ads - $300
With a motion by S. Bieda and a second by D. Freeland, a motion was made to approve Mike’s recommendations. Motion passed.
Discussion about the website was also considered. He plans to have more information available so that it becomes more than a “bulletin board” for the club. He envisions a time when the Mich-matist is strictly an online production rather than a print one. He already has individuals who want their Mich-matist e-mailed to them. Also, while he enjoys his duties as webmaster, he suggested that since we have other people who are more skilled at online presentation, we may wish to split the job he holds into two distinct responsibilities for print and online communication.
2. Marysville Coin Club and the Flint Flying Eagle Coin Club were present and presented their cases for co-hosting the Spring 2007 Show. They were confirmed for this show.
3. The rule of having 15 members in a club in order to join MSNS was then discussed. According to the new constitution and by-laws, Article II, Section II indicates that a club must have 15 dues-paying members in order to become a MSNS club. With a motion by K. Finger and a second by S. Bieda to drop the number of people necessary to have a club, the motion was approved.
4. A suggestion was made to investigate raffling off a bourse table for the following show at $1.00 a table. This was tabled at this time pending more discussion.
At this time, Board member comments were held.
D. Freeland – good luck to the new board
S. Bieda – passed out 125th Capital medals and while he is leaving the board, will continue as legal counsel if we need him
D. Rothfeld – when could we host another ANA convention
A. Parks – sheets passed out for all clubs – representatives need to send these back
T. Mathews –glad to be a part of the board, however, due to time constraints, it’s not possible for him to continue
A. Patterson – been a part of the board for 20 years – will miss all
K. Freeland – enjoyed being a part of all the changes – just too busy to run again – good luck to all new members
Joe LeBlanc announced a non-denominational church service at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday morning. All are invited.
Meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Freeland, recording secretary