Minutes of the 42nd Annual Meeting held on August 24th 2002 Oregon

Meeting was opened by branch 21 president John Puliz.

Pledge of Allegiance

Invocation was given by Brian Brown

Comments were given by John Puliz regarding how the show all came together and thanked all involved. He also thanked the national office for their donation as well as others.

John introduced the National president Cliff Northcote.

Cliff's opening comments was geared towards having fun at these events, sharing knowledge, and taking people back in time. He said there was a wealth of knowledge and a wealth of memories right underneath this tent right now. Unfortunately every year we lose some of those in our clubs. He encouraged everyone, that whatever they could do, in any way, to capsulate those memories or that knowledge. He said in his own home branch they have taken videos of some of their old time members that has done presentations of hands on type demonstrations for us. He said they were fortunate they had done this because they have some of those members that are no longer with us and one that can no longer get out of bed. He said we need to continue to do this because we never know when we are going to lose some of our members. He said some of the women have a lot of knowledge on some of this equipment like washing machines and kitchen type things. We learn a lot from them. He encouraged all to share their knowledge, memories and thoughts. He thanked them for being here with us.

Tickets were passed out for door prizes
These door prizes are from the national officers. The national uses a credit card program for each director for some of his or her expenses, per the bylaws. The program that was in place provided awarded points. The company has since done away with this program so we purchased items based on the accumulative points and bought some gifts and decided since it ran out this year, branch 21 would be the ones to get the gifts.

Everyone present was given a door prize ticket and several times throughout the meeting a number would be drawn. There were 6 gifts.

Branch Roll call was taken by secretary, Ruth Warnock

After tallying the count it was announced that there were 30 branches represented out of 112.

Cliff introduced everyone at the head table.

Alan Schurman, NW Advisor

Dorene Yearian, NC Advisor

Howard Hodson, VP National

Ruth Warnock, National Secretary/Treasurer

Gus Peterson, NW Director

Jerry Mac Martin, SW Advisor and Webmaster

Ken Green, W Advisor

Old Business:

Jerry Mac Martin announced the recipients voted in to the 2002 Hall of Fame that were presented at the SW Regional Show in Grass Valley, hosted by Branch 13.

Jerry explained that he selected 3 judges. One from the SW area, California, one from the NW area, Idaho and SC area, Arkansas.

4 people were selected

Bill Netherland, Branch 13 (posthumous)

Bob Messick, Branch 3 (posthumous)

Bob Learned, Branch 3 (posthumous)

Bob Alexander, Branch 27, present

Applause given to Bob Alexander.

Jerry said if you feel as though you know someone you think should go into the hall of fame, you can go to the web pages to see what is required.

Youth Driver Program

Howard Hodson gave report.

Cliff emphasized that the responsible person for this program is the sponsor. When that person has spent sufficient time with the youth, they should then be ready for the test by the branch representative.

Member from the audience announced that he taught tractor safety to the 4H through Oregon State University in Grants County for years. He said that there were a lot of adults that should be taking the course before the kids do, he said a lot of parents don't know how to run a tractor. He also said that unless you were directly related to the owner of the farm, in order to work on the farm you had to have a driver certification. He said he has seen adults do things on tractors that they have taught the kids not to do. He said it is not a bad idea for the parent or adult to go through the same course.

Another asked the following: If a driving license is a prerequisite for driving a tractor, if you are too old, or have had your driving license taken away from you, are you still allowed to drive a tractor?

It was said that you don't have to have a license to drive a tractor in the state of Oregon.

Cliff said this pertains to EDGE&TA sponsored functions.

There was more discussion.

Cliff said that some of this responsibility would have to be on the branch safety officer. Actually we are all safety officers and if we have a condition, or know of a condition that some thing is unsafe, either someone driving a tractor, or running an engine it is our responsibility as members of this national to look out for one another. Cliff said we don't need an accident to show how good our insurance is or isn't. Hopefully as a branch, the branch can handle that type of situation.

New Business

Cliff asked Ruth if there was correspondence that had to be read. She said yes.

Ken Green, Advisor, was then asked to read a letter from Branch 63 President Mark Morrison

Granger Glen President of Branch 8 read 2 motions that will be placed on next year's ballot.

Cliff told them if anyone else wanted to have anything else voted on that they need to send it in 90 days prior to the national meeting for the upcoming year.

Dorene Yearian, Advisor, read an email from Director Curtis Cook explaining his absence from this meeting.

Cliff asked Ruth if there was any other correspondence, and she said no.

Cliff gave an update of EDGE&TA currently having 112 branches. We had a map at the National booth indicating where all of these branches were located.

As of last Tuesday we have 8300 paid members. This will surely increase throughout the year.

Since April 15 we have taken in 9 new branches. There are still a couple that may come in that have been sent information.

Cliff asked if there were any branches present that had not turned in their ballots for election of directors and vote on the by-laws.

There were none. All had been mailed or turned over to Ruth. Ruth passed them on to Howard and his helper. The results will be announced during the dinner hour.

Door prizes were drawn throughout the meeting.

Gus Peterson was asked to give information on upcoming National/Regional shows.

Gus stressed the importance of the education aspect. There was a lot of things here, information, that could be passed on to our youth

He said it might be something you might want to consider when selecting some one for the Hall of Fame.

Did that person do anything in the way of educational activity? Did student groups come to his display or museum? Did he take his display to a school? Education of our youth is important.

He then listed the upcoming shows for 2003. He also stated that this information is on our web site.

Howard spoke about the one Regional show that is left for this year. Branch 85 in Arkansas will host the 2002 the SE Regional show in October.

He said he had information about the area at the National booth.

Cliff announced that his branch 22 will be hosting the National in 2004 and there are packets at the National booth for that event.

Dorene read information on the 2003 National show to be hosted by Branch 35, in Tidewater, Virginia. She said she also had information packets that could be picked up.

Cliff invited and encouraged those that have not had their membership cards punched out to stop by at the National booth and someone would do it and put a clip on it. He said it makes it easier to recognise the members walking around the grounds. Cliff announced that there are National decals that sell for .50 cents and National patches that sell for 3.00. There are also other handouts. We even have tootsie rolls.

He said the clips are going over really big. We had them at the SW Regional Show and ran out.

Howard will now take it back to the SE Regional, and it will get passed around to the directors to use while at shows.

Cliff opened up for general discussion.

Question was asked if the national booth would be here tomorrow.

Cliff told them yes. It was being promoted at all national and regional shows that there be a national booth manned by directors or advisors in that area for the duration of the show and there would be information available.

Question was asked how would you rate this show?

Cliff told them we don't rate shows. Every show is different. Cliff said he tells branches that are putting on shows to "do what you can do and the best you can do". Cliff said speaking for himself only, he had heard some horror stories about the location of this show. He said that he was very impressed with the grounds. It is a great show and that he is very impressed with the work that he knows went into the preparations , not only with the branch members, but the people here that are exhibiting.

Question was asked about the building for Hall of Fame and asked what was in it and where was it?

Cliff told them there wasn't a building for the Hall of Fame. If anyone wants to see the EDGE&TA Hall of Fame, it is on our Web site. He explained that at one time there was discussion that they create a permanent location for the National and it would hold all the National meetings and the NGAS Hall of Fame would be in that same building. But he further explained that was not what we were looking for, we are a mobile club scattered all over the U.S. so we do not want to have our Hall of Fame or National centered in one place. That was why we have directors for all over the U.S. to spread things out as much as possible.

Question was asked about insurance, if Cliff could give them a run down on the status as it is now.

Cliff answered he would do the best he could.

Cliff said that currently the insurance is in place and is still being operated as it has in the past. Our insurance advisor and agent has resigned as an advisor, but remains as agent. He will not be our agent next year. We are in the process of looking for a new agency. But insurance is in place and everything is maintained at this point as it has in the past. As far as Maumelle Insurance, Larry Burchfield, they will not be our agent next year. That has been decided by them. We are currently in the process of looking for a new agent.

Question was asked: Do we know exactly what our insurance costs?

Cliff replied that he did not have those figures yet. He had been trying to get them and does not have them yet. Once he has them he feels they will be reported to the presidents of the branches.

John Puliz spoke regarding article in E&E magazine about the accident at the SW Regional. He felt it made the driver look bad. Cliff went on to explain the accident as it happened. Howard said he was the author of that article and it was not his intention to make the driver look bad and that if he did he apologized. He was just trying to bring to everyone's attention that we can never be safe enough.

Norman Hanson, branch 67 said he sure would like to see that 30-day rule to notify the company about a show eliminated. Sometimes things come up and they are asked to put on a show in less than 30 days. Cliff said we would make a note of it and when we are dealing with a new agent and those will be some of the things we can find out about.

Question from the floor was asked: How can we buy an insurance policy and not know what it costs us?

Cliff said currently all he can tell them is that it costs us 5.00. The gentleman said "that's not the policy." Cliff said he knew what he was saying and currently we are working on and trying to find exact numbers.

The gentleman said "the national officers send the insurance company a check for the insurance policy for the year and don't remember what it is?" Cliff replied that currently we do not send a check to the insurance. Each branch send a check for dues to the national and for insurance to the agent. Cliff said that is what the proposal that has been brought forward from Branch 8 would correct.

Part of Branch 8's motion, if it passes, would have everything come through the national office.

Another gentleman got up and said insurance was a nightmare. He was a business owner. And said his insurance policy 14 years ago was 7 pages, It is now a book. He said he has no idea what he pays. He said he pays a basic premium every month.

Cliff said that there has not been a problem with the cost of insurance, but with the breakdown of the costs.

That is what we are working on.

Cliff thanked all for their hospitality and work.

John Puliz announced that the Aultman Taylor Steam engine arrived here by surprise that was given to them by a Robert Edgar from Dorris CA He said that he hoped it would be ready for next spring.

John gave recognition to individuals for their donations for the show.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Ruth A. Warnock, Secretary

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