2011 MINUTES
OX5 NATIONAL BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING
HAMMONDSPORT, N.Y. SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
MINUTES
President Yerkey called the meeting to order at 10:30 AM. President Yerkey asked all members to stand for the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll call of attendees:
Dennis Yerkey, President, Cliff Ball Wing
Ivan D. Livi, Secretary, Cliff Ball Wing
Cheryl Dewey, Governor, Wisconsin Wing
Donald Voland, Governor, Wisconsin Wing
Jim Beisner, Governor, Ohio Wing
Thomas Barruso, Treasurer, Cliff Ball Wing
Keith Krewson, Governor, At Large
Sylvia Cook, Governor, At Large.
Mr. Beisner made a motion to accept the minutes of the Dayton meeting as presented. Mr. Voland seconded the motion. The motion was passed by unanimous vote.
Officers’ Reports
President Yerkey presented a brief review of the status and condition of the organization by enumerating the major items of operation that occurred during the year. A new item that he focused on was the launching of a new web site. A second item of importance was the recovery of funds by Vice President Michael Lawrence in the amount of $13,000.00 from Robert Taylor. Yerkey also commented on the proposal for the revision of the by-laws being carried out by Ivan Livi and Michael Lawrence. There was a brief discussion about the procedure to used to approve and ratify the new by-laws. Mr. Livi described the process he used to prepare the proposal for the revision of the by-laws.
Secretary Livi reported on the procedure for stabilization of the organization after the closure of the headquarters office in Colorado and the functions and procedures implemented to put the OX5 office back into full operation.
Treasurer Barruso provided financial statements that show the status of the organization in regards to daily financial transactions and the state of the organization investments. Presently the value of the investments is approximately $81,000.00. Barruso expounded on the details of the financial statements and said that they are available to anyone who requests them.
Regarding the slate of nominees for Governors, three Governors are ending their terms, so, there are three positions open. In addition, Sylvia Cook requested that she be accepted as a nomination from the floor. After a lengthy discussion on the number of Governors needed and available, it was decided that under the rules of the current by-laws there are positions open for four new Governors. Mr. Voland made a motion, seconded by Ivan Livi, that Sylvia Cook be added as a nominee for Governor. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Cheryl Dewey, Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, reported that there were four nominees for Governors: Jim Beisen, Michael Lawrence, Keith Krewson
and Sylvia Cook. Jim Beisen, acting for Wayne Gordon, made a motion that the slate of four nominees for Governors be accepted, seconded by Ivan Livi. Vote was unanimous.
Mr. Voland made a motion to vote on the slate of Governors to serve as if and until the new by-laws are approved by the membership, seconded by Ivan Livi. President Yerkey called for a vote on electing the slate to Governorship. The vote was unanimous.
Mr. Krewson asked about the protection of Governors and Officers under the proposed by-laws. He brought up the issue of an insurance contract to cover the indemnification of officers and governors. Presently, there is no contract. Mr. Krewson pointed out that without insurance there is no indemnification. Also, that insurance would not be an expensive item. Mr. Krewson made a motion that the organization acquire liability insurance to cover indemnity by law, post haste! Motion seconded by Cheryl Dewey. Vote was unanimous. Mr. Krewson expressed an opinion that he would not have accepted a position as Governor if he had known that there was no insurance for indemnification of officers and governors. Mr. Krewson offered a donation to pay for this insurance. Mr. Voland noted that homeowners’ policies automatically cover this type of liability. President Yerkey stated that he would work on this matter immediately.
President Yerkey opened the floor for the nomination of officers. Cheryl Dewey made a motion to nominate Dennis Yerkey for President, Ivan Livi for Secretary, and Thomas Barruso, for Treasurer for the year 2012. Seconded by Keith Krewson.
Voland made a motion that the nominations be closed. Seconded by Keith Krewson. Vote was unanimous. Vote on Dewey’s motion was unanimous.
The next item on the agenda was the revision of the by-laws.
Mr. Voland asked for a brief description of the process and changes being proposed to the by-laws. Ivan Livi described the process, major changes, and method to be used to solicit votes from the membership. A discussion ensued in regards to information to be provided to the members as rationale for the changes.
Voland made a motion, seconded by Keith Krewson, that the Board approve the proposed changes to the by-laws with corrections to the organization’s address and dates of the annual reunion. Vote was unanimous. Jim Beisner made a motion that the by-laws be sent to the membership for their ratification, seconded by Ian Livi.
Vote was unanimous.
President Yerkey asked the Board to consider certain items as items for unanimous consent consideration. Jim Beisner brought up the issue of public relations. An extensive discussion ensued in regards to aid to the Wings, articles in the media, and allotment of funds for these purposes. Ivan Livi proposed allotting a specific amount with a cap for the purpose of paying for these incidental expenses. Ivan Livi asked Don Voland, Wisconsin Wing, about a running OX5 engine to be used for affairs such as Air Venture. Voland confirmed that there is a static engine that might be used. Livi proposed sending the engine to Norman Brush, Glenn Curtiss Wing, for overhaul. Cost to be subsidized by National and the engine be sent to the Wisconsin Wing to be used as a running engine display. After extensive discussion Jim Beisner made a motion to allot $1,000.00 for the Wisconsin engine project and $1,000.00 for President Yerkey to use for aid to other Wings. Seconded by Cheryl Dewey. Vote was unanimous.
Cheryl Dewey made a motion to give Midwest Florida Wing $400.00 for a new air conditioner, seconded by Jim Beisner. Vote was unanimous.
Jim Beisner made a motion to appropriate $800.00 for extra reunion souvenir books to be used as public relations item to be sent to appropriate members.
Seconded by Cheryl Dewey. Vote was unanimous.
President Yerkey announced that he wanted to decommission the old OX5 web site that belongs to Sylvia Cook. Cook had no objections to this change. The new web site is www.ox5.org. OX5.org is the official site.
President Yerkey asked for a motion to remove unpaid members from the data base. Keith Krewson made the motion, seconded by Jim Beisner, to remove approximately 500 names from the data base. These members haven’t paid in 3 years. Vote was unanimous.
A discussion ensued about the location of next year’s reunion and the feasibility of having it in Ottumwa, IA. The issue is to be brought up at the General Membership Meeting.
There being no further business Cheryl Dewey made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ivan Livi. Meeting adjourned at 12:00 PM.
Ivan D. Livi, National Secretary
October 17, 2011