Nov 8th TTT BOD minutes
President Steve Lee called the meeting to order
at 9:10 Central.
Present: Buddy Cutts, James Anderson,
Keith Atkins, Steve Lee, Kathy Lee, Dan Shell, Jeff Dodgen,
Allie Dodgen, Mike Nash, Ollie Gregory, Eric Donaldson, Tom
Prouhett
Absent: Carl Burick, Mark Poling
Also present: Michael Bradford, Kenny
Sandifer, Jeff Wilson, Clark Harlow, and Sean Martin our
attorney in the Bill Priday suit
Old Business: Bill Priday Lawsuit. Shawn
Martin reports. History of case. Adult children of Bill Priday
filed wrongful death suit in Marion Co.TN vs TTT, Dean Funk, and
USHPA
Much discussion.
Motion by Mike Nash to go to mediation and TTT
Board gives our board representative the authority to guide
Attorney regarding amounts acceptable. Vote passes with 11 for
and one opposed.
Minutes for October Board meeting were read and
unanimously accepted:
Keith suggested we reach out to Dean Funk.
Old Biz: TN land trust assoc. $500 to
them for next five years. Steve thinks it is sent in. If not
will do.
Old Biz: BOD and TTT of the Year ballots
were discussed. Steve worked hard and had several new people
interested and listed on the ballot for BOD. Paper ballots have
been mailed. Buddy has on line voting available too with help
from Jeff Nibbler. Steve did all this work and sent everything
by mail $70 TTT money and time and effort. Buddy apologized for
the frustration in sending email rant re ballot.
Old Biz: Favorite neighbor gifts: Mrs.
Hudson will get a Keith Atkins soap basket. Mr. and Mrs. Castle
will get a Keith Atkins soap basket. Mrs. Basham will get a ham.
Mr. Standifer will get a soap basket. Whitwell First Baptist
Church and Dunlap Rescue will get donations of $100. Mr. and
Mrs. Mosier who own the LZ to the north of the Whitwell Baptist
Church will get a soap basket. Mr. Galloway will get a fruit
basket. Mr. Blevins will get a $50 coop gift certificate as a
way to apologize for the landing on his crop. Dave Hopkins
friend Sharon went by Allen Farms and talked with him about the
landing field DNL status and said he was nice. Keith Atkins is
donating the soap baskets! He makes the best soap in the world!
Old Biz: USHPA mixer. James Anderson
reports. Got together with Matt to share the cost. Went well.
Ollie and Jackie put together welcome gift bags with tee shirts,
license plates, post cards, Jackie Gregory TC gift stuff and
pens. The reason for the gift bags was to get the board to read
our TTT Projects and Accomplishments Informational Packet with
our goals and request to be helped and involved. A TTT Blank
check given to Ollie. Ollie was thankful, but declined the money
and will donated monies toward building of TTT barbeque pit.
Elsinore LZ membership requested help with LZ
issues. We were to put it on web, but Buddy heard that all was
settled and done so didn't put it on the website yet.
Old Biz. Revamp Recognition Plaque. Mike
Nash reported that we still need a mounting rock and picture of
the ramp needs to be engraved. Havenʼt heard back about the
picture yet. All systems go. Getting cap rocks that are flat and
cut angle so the level of the presentation will be appropriate.
It will be installed in front of the clubhouse.
No other old biz.
New Biz. Mike Nash. last week met some
nice people Dwayne Hooper and wife. Neighbors near Whitwell
Launch site. Their bluff house is for sale. The couple know Mr.
Castle well. They have some local insight re LZs. It would
probably cost 1/4 million to buy large field. Mr. and Mrs.
Hudson have no children and their nearest relatives are just
nieces and nephews. Mr. Castle thinks the world of us. Need to
approach both of them about when the property is passed on to
allow a 99 year lease for use as hang gliding landing field. Of
course would contract to have just landing privileges and
parking privileges only. Wouldn't build any buildings. Just cut
trees for approach and leave it in pasture with landing strip
mowed and parking area. Bill Colvin and Dan Shell to help Mike
with plans to talk to Mr. Hudson and the Castles possibly via
Mr. Hooper. Dan says go in that direction. Reminded us of how
the Henson's LZ was purchased with the extra money sold from
lots bordering the LZ. Motion passed to pursue outline for this
and report back to board. Mike to do this. Whitwell LZ may be a
possibility sooner than expected!
New business: Jeff Wilson suggested we
build a new concrete/block grill. Springtime project.
New business: James Anderson talked about
the picture postcards we've bought to send out to USHPA members
who have attained a higher rating. James met someone at the
USHPA board meeting can get the addresses for us. James will
pursue this.
New Business: Jeff Wilson says he and
others are beginning work to establish a new site next to the
old Walkers Gap site in AL. Jeff handed out an informational
packet and talked about the revival of AL Hang Gliding Assoc.
Jeff plans to push this along and asks for help. The site is 700
ft AGL in a SE facing bowl which will eventually be launchable
South to East with a huge set up area. The launch area is
groomed, and top landable with a swimming hole. TTT will give
assistance. The site is about 109 miles to SE as Steve Lee
flies. The site is not open to unescorted pilots yet. Jeff
Wilson and Ed Braiser are contacts for the site. All pilots who
join will get the package. Many TTT Board members are supportive
and joined.
Treasury business:
Acting treasurer Bill Colvin was absent. Clark
was given information for a report. Our current checking account
balance is $13,828.61. We haven't taken out the money for
Whitwell LZ fund that already appropriated. $4,500 is presently
owed to the Whitwell LZ fund. Landing field LZ fund CD is now at
$48728.00. Record year for the treasury! Jim Ellis is owed $400
for mowing. Porta Potties are still sitting here, post TC. Dan
Shell will call for porta potty removal.
Competition committee report from Ollie.
The TC went great! Very good participation and a fabulous
learning experience for all involved. USHPA is interested in
using our Teaching Competition in a Box format to spread this
kind of meet around the country. Talked about the evolution of
TC with “Gettin Ready to Race” Class and the present Sport Class
format. Ollie will help with TC for 2009.
Membership committee: Dan Shell is
committee chair. There are presently 152 members. This is quite
high over the last several years. 31 are life members. Revenue
generating membership are the balance. Issues regarding pilots
without appropriate information on the membership application
was discussed. No USHPA info on several applications. Several
with a non pilot status were wanting to be TTT members.
Question for bylaws. All memberships must
be approved by TTT Board. Several pilots are applying without
the minimum requirements. Dan is not processing any applications
from anyone who hasn't completed the applications. Dan has
contacted the ones he could to report delinquencies. Dan plans
to try to contact those that are easy. The rest will be in a
file but their name won't be on the list. May be able to put an
explanation with a list. The checks are taken from the
applications. Implication is that if we cash the check and they
don't hear from us is that they are members. Jeff Dodgen
explained his way to do it. Lots of work Mike says if bylaws
changed, then could have a plan to address the mistakes in
applications. Motion to change the applications with a statement
that incomplete applications are invalid and moneys accompanying
will become donations. Will need to amend the bylaws to reflect
this as follow up. Jeff D brought up getting rid of the one day
memberships. Dan reported that we had recently received 18
annual, 7 one flight and 1 three day memberships. The one day
memberships are being abused. There was much discussion.
Membership doesn't handle money. Treasury handles money. Tom
says all lifers should resubmit applications/waivers. Jeff
Dodgen has hundreds of old waivers. Clark says we should change
the procedure for handling applications to collect more
information. If the guy that takes the stuff out of the box can
write down the address from the checks, that will help. Many
applications come with cash and very little information. Motion
to amend the application for membership to include clause about
incomplete application money will become a donation to the club
fund and the applicant must reapply carried with 8 for and 2
against.
Bylaws committee: Mike Nash chair. TTT
bylaws require a full membership referendum on this change re
money management and membership. Mike doesn't know if we can
change it without changing the bylaws. It is was decided that we
could change the application/waiver and await results of the
referendum. It would be permanently implemented if approved by a
membership referendum. If bylaws referendum fails will have to
revisit. Keith Atkins volunteered to redo the applications to
make them easier to complete without mistakes. To clarify
regarding the referendums: Non flying membership and non voting
membership was discussed. Getting rid of one day memberships and
raising the dues to $75 for annual membership privileges were
discussed as referendum items. These will be addressed by bylaws
committee and presented to board.
Website:
Safety: Tom Prouhet: will fill out the
accident report for USHPA on Gavin Riley accident during TC
2008.
Awards: Eric Donaldson: reported on the
TC awards plaques. He will be working on the TTT of
the Year Award plaque and flight of the year for
2008.
Maintenance: The Lee team paid $400 for
mowing.
Social: Steve Lee reported for Mark
Poling: Christmas Party at LMFP on Dec. 6. Ricker Goldsborough,
Kathy Lee, Ray Helman, and Jeff NIbler will be preparing turkey
and all the fixin’s. It’s BYOD (bring your own drink and your
own dessert).
Newsletter: Keith Atkins: Quarterly
newsletters will be published in 2009. Information is available
on our web page. Good comments about the TTT Branches newsletter
from USHPA BOD members during their fall meeting.
Many thanks to Kathy Lee for the delicious
banana fruit bread for breakfast.
Adjourned at 1:10 central
