MINUTES OF THE 44TH NATIONAL SHOW & BUSINESS MEETING
October 9th, 2004 Santee, CA by Branch 22
The meeting was opened by President Cliff Northcote with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Cliff welcomed everyone to the show. Cliff turned the meeting over to EDGE&TA President Howard Hodson.
Howard thanked Cliff and Branch 22 for the superb job they have done in hosting the National Show.
Howard introduced the National representatives present. Dick Tombrink, NW director and insurance representative, Dorene Yearian, vice president NC director and Larry Voris, director at large and currently representing the NE, secretary/treasurer, Ruth Warnock.
National Secretary Ruth Warnock took branch attendance. There were 30 branches present.
Howard asked if there were any ballots that had not been turned it. Vice President Dorene Yearian and Branch 22 member Jean Ohmstede verified the ballot count.
Howard said that it had been a busy year. In December of 2003, past president Curtis Cook resigned. We had to reorganize and regroup and complete the tasks at hand. One of the items on the agenda was the bylaw changes that were brought on by the changes in our insurance. Thanks to Dick Tombrink and Jerry Mac Martin for automating the reporting system. Now all you have to do is put in the date time and place and put it on the form which gets submitted to the insurance company and Dick gets a copy of it. Then when you hold your event, you will put the number of spectators that attended your event. You will receive notification that you have reported it. Howard said "It is almost painless".
Howard stressed the need for advisors in the regions that do not have any.. Howard asked the advisors present to stand up and be recognized. Dick Wilson, SW , Darrell Carter from the SC, Don Young, SW and Alan Schurman from the NW. Alan's branch 23 will be hosting the National in 2006.
Ballot report: 38 branches voted. There were 38 votes in favor of the bylaws, 36 votes for Wayne Timchuck new director for the NE and 37 votes for George Christmas, new director for the SE.
Jerry Mac Martin was not able to attend, therefore there are not enough directors present to vote. Therefore they will have an informal meeting to discuss issues and later schedule a conference call where issues can be voted on as well as who the new president, vice president and secretary/treasurer will be.
Howard announced that EDGE&TA now has 124 branches with approximately 8600 members. The new branches for 2004 were as follows. 156 - Texas, 157 - Arkansas, 158 - California, 159 - Oregon, 160 - New Mexico, 161 - Oklahoma, 162 - West Virginia, 163 - Arkansas, 164 - Oklahoma and 165 Oregon. There are still 12 years that do not have any branches. This was a gain of 10 new branches and this was the first time for several years that EDGE&TA did not lose any branches.
Howard asked each director present to say a few words.
Dick Tombrink explained that the insurance did go up this year by .65 a member and that the national absorbed the expense. There will be an increase for next year that will be passed on to the membership.
Dick asked if there were any questions.
Question: Can new branches coming on have tractor pulls and if they were covered by our insurance. Answer: yes.
Question: Why the insurance company wanted to know what the attendance was at the shows.
Answer: Basically they wanted to know what their exposure was.
Question: Is there anyway to get the information (cost of insurance) out to the branches prior to March 15th?
Answer: Dick said that was a good question, but we don't know until just before the deadline what the cost will be. We will probably have to come up with what it will approximately is going to be and maybe have a slush fund to take care of this from year to year. It's one of the things the directors will be talking about.
Larry Voris talked about attendance at shows. He said we can plan and work all we want to put on an event, but the show doesn't start until the visitors that come to look at our exhibits comes through the gate. If anyone has any ideas, to pass them on to other branches.
One of the comments given was to advertise. Branch 22 used every source available to them, including EDGE&TA web pages, signs, radio, chamber of commerce, water department, newspapers, fliers and word of mouth.
Larry said "We appreciate your support, and the new branches coming in, if you have any questions for any of us, we are on the internet, with email addresses and phone numbers.
Dorene said she was happy to be here and happy to share information about our hobby.
Howard Hodson and Cliff Northcote presented the Hall of Fame Plaque to Carl Mehr of Branch 111. Howard mentioned that EDGE&TA has a large plaque that is on display at the National booth and that it will be on display at all National Shows. He stressed that most branches know of at least one person who should be on it. He asked that they check the web and find out how to nominate that special someone. Unfortunately Hall of Fame Director, Jerry Mac Martin could not attend this year.
Howard announced that his Branch 37 would be hosting the 2005 National Show September 8-11, in Gentry, Arkansas.
The meeting was turned back to Cliff Northcote for final comments and to adjourn the meeting.
Cliff presented Howard with a letter to the National thanking them for $1000.00 received and explained that it was used for Advertisement
Cliff said we had visitors from all over, from as far as Arkansas and Missouri as well as many other states. Without you we would not have a show.
Cliff asked how many members present have been with EDGE&TA for at least 30 years and to stand up and be recognized. Dick Wilson, Ralph Warnock, Dick Hamp. Cliff said it was people like them and now us new folks that make this organization what it is.
Cliff also recognized past presidents of Branch 22 in attendance. They were Norm Burke our founding president, Jerry Ingram, Ralph Warnock
Cliff announced that there were 33 different committees from Branch 22 that worked on this great show. There were 194 engines, 8 models, 9 tractor displays, 83 tractors and 88 other displays. There were 280 tickets sold for the Saturday evening dinner.
Cliff introduced Jesse Dixon, President of the Padre Dam who welcomed all and presented Branch 22 with a Proclamation signed by Mayor Randy Voepel proclaiming Saturday, October 9, 2004 as Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association day in the City of Santee and encourage all citizens to attend these educational demonstrations in an effort to preserve our heritage for future generations.
Cliff announced that there would be a non-denominational church service at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
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