TTT
Board Minutes 9/13/2008
Meeting was called to order by President
Steve Lee at 9:50 Central Time.
Board Members Present: President Steve Lee; VP
James Anderson; Secretary Ollie Gregory; Dan Shell, Mike Nash,
Tom Prouhet, Carl Buric, Eric Donaldson, Buddy Cutts, Mark
Poling,
Absent: Alli and Jeff Dodgen, Treasurer
Clark Harlow, Kathy Lee, and Keith Atkins.
Also present: Acting Treasurer Bill
Colvin; Jeff Wilson from Alabama; Michael Bradford from Florida;
Dan Strobel new local. Wanda B.
Old Business:
Bill Priday Lawsuit: Dan Shell reports
TN Supreme Court denied motion for change of venue which means
the trial will be held in TN rather in California.
TN Land Trust: We have agreed to pay
the TN Land Trust legal aid firm $500 a year for 5 years for the
balance of their bill for services resulting in our Hensons LZ
inclusion in a protective land trust. We have not paid this for
2008 yet.
New Business:
Mike Nash reported on the plaque
commemorating the original radial ramp builders and the donors
for the revamp the ramp project. Keith Atkins has volunteered
to lay out the design. Denny Haldeman has been contacted to
write a brief history of the ramp. Mike has located an engraver
and will pay for the plaques and mounting. Hopefully this will
be done before Team Challenge.
Hank Hughes life TTT member has recently
passed away. Hank was the visionary whose efforts enabled the
TTT to make the land deals, purchases and sales for the eventual
acquisition land for the Hensons Gap LZ. It was suggested his
name and contributions be included on the plaque.
Complaints about hang glider pilots
landing in crops was addressed. Avoiding landing in fields with
crops will be discussed regularly with all pilots flying our
sites.
James Anderson reported on the USHPA
Board of Directors meeting is to be held in Chattanooga the
third weekend of October. It was suggested that we should host
a mixer for the USHPA board, local pilots and TTT members. Ollie
will contact Steve Kroop for more information on how to pursue
this.
Committee Reports:
Treasurer Report:
Bill Colvin, Acting Treasurer, reported
on the need for a Treasurer to replace Clark who seems to be
dropping off the board. Bill has done a good job of keeping up
with the duties, but is not comfortable with the accounting
program the TTT has been using, and has been doing it all by
hand. Bill describes the Treasurers job as having relatively
minor time requirements. He has only written 22 checks since he
took over in January. He does report that reconciling money
received with the purpose of the contributor/team challenge
fee/membership fee the check or cash was intended for has been
frustrating due to inconsistencies with applications etc.
Much discussion about this issue
ensued. At this time Bill will continue as Acting Treasurer.
Anyone may assist the Treasurer with the management of the TTT
funds and Steve Lee will write the membership soliciting
assistance. Mike Nash has all the programs that will enable
this to flow easily and is willing to tutor anyone volunteering
to help with this task. The checking account may be managed
online as well.
As of July 31st 2008, the checking
account had a balance of $12,741.00.
Of this, $5,500 is Team Challenge entry
fees and $5,292 is Revamp the Ramp money left over after all the
bills for the ramp rebuild to date have been paid.
Subtracting these monies leaves us with an available operating
fund balance of just $1,942 at the end of July.
Bill also reported that recent deposits
of $1167 with $220 of that earmarked for Team Challenge Entry
fees leave a balance of $2,455 in our operating funds.
There was a motion to deposit $4,500
from the Revamp the Ramp funds into the LZ Fund CD and reserve
$792 in the operating funds for fixing the lawn damage and dirt
washout caused by the crane truck and replacing the remainder of
the decking when that becomes necessary.
The Land Fund CD has a balance of
$48,512. It is now invested in low interest earning CDs that
roll over every month. This was done to allow us to more easily
invest in a better earning fund. We still await a presentation
to the board from an investment counselor. Stacy Murdock has
offered her help, but efforts to finalize a visit have not born
fruit.
Social Committee Report:
Mark Poling SC Chairman reported on
plans for the TC and Octoberfest party. Lupi's Pizza will cook
pizza to order on site with brownies. Cost $950 to feed 100.
Two Kegs of beer will be purchased along with other drinks and
necessities for the meal. Much discussion about options to
please everyone ensued. At the end of the discussion, Mark is
going to proceed with his plans and Steve Lee will investigate
whether other volunteers would like to prepare additional
options. There will be no band. Mark will have sound system
and will DJ.
2 Porta potties will be at Hensons and 2
at Whitwell. If one is needed in the Hensons LZ for overflow
camper, it will be ordered during TC. Cost $100 per potty for 7
days expect $400. Fire wood will be purchased. All the cost of
the party will come from Team Challenge funds. Budget for above
estimated at $1,740 to $2,000.
Breakfast for TC will be prepared by
Aldona and a helper she has found. Breakfast will be $5 a meal
to be collected at the time of the meal. Money for Aldona to
start the process will be made available.
Maintenance Committee Report:
Chairman Carl Buric reported on Whitwell
launch status. He has weed wacked around the launch area. The set
up area needs mowing and hopefully the locals will help with
this. Ollie Gregory placed launch crew safety anchors. Yellow
Jacket nest was killed at Whitwell. Tom Prouhet placed anchors
for the launch crew safeties at Hensons. Jeff Wilson installed
the Hot Water heater donated by Ollie Gregory. Jeff Wilson
installed an outdoor shower on the east wall of the bath house
and donated the materials. James Anderson installed a motion
activated light over the out door sink on the south side of the
bath house. Ned has been hired to mow camping spots for Team
Challenge. Two loads of gravel will be bought for the drive
into Whitwell. This will come from Team Challenge funds.
Membership Committee Report:
Chair Dan Shell reported that there have
been an increasing problem with incompletely filled in
membership applications. The Team Challenge online forms will
no longer have a submit option. Applications must be
downloaded, filled out completely and sent in with checks in the
future.
Dan reported on individuals who have
been involved with TTT flying that are not USHPA members. Greg
Heckman is neither a TTT member or USHPA member. Chris
Christopherson is not a USHPA member.
Website Committee Report:
Chair Buddy Cutts reports that the
website is up to date and functioning well. Buddy thanks Jeff
Nibler for all the help and TTT thanks Dan Barker for hosting
the site for us without charge.
Safety Committee Report:
Chairman Tom Prouhet reports the status
of the safety box, wind socks and launch sites is good. Ollie
put in anchors for the wire launch crew safety lines at
Whitwell. Tom put in anchors for the Ramp wire launch crews.
Ollie provided biners and webbing for launch crews at Henson's
which are in the Safety Box.
Bylaws Committee Report:
Mike Nash Chairman reports there are no
changes in the bylaws.
Newsletter Report:
Newsletter Chairman Keith Atkins was not
present, but has completed the fall version of the newsletter
and has it ready for printing. An online full color version is
available. It is strongly recommended that the newsletter be
downloaded to save considerable cost to the club from printing
and mailing costs.
Competition Committee Report:
Ollie Gregory Chairman reported that the
Mayhem Mini Meet and Fly In went well. We made a little money
and had some fun. Tom Prouhet won second or third place in the
streamer drop contest and is owed $5!
Team Challenge update: We expect 56 to
60 for team challenge plus 20 to 30 free fliers and volunteers
These along with additional family members will result in
approximately 100 people camping and using the TTT facilities
every day. Keith Atkins, Steve Prater, Michael Bradford, Jeff
Wilson are coming to volunteer all week. Our usual TTT members
will help out. All the seminar speakers are confirmed. Tee
Shirts designed by Nate Newkirk are ordered. Ollie paid for
these, but will be reimbursed from Team Challenge Funds. Cost
$485. A few extra shirts will be available to give away or
sell. The board approved purchase of event insurance if that can
be accomplished before Team Challenge. Cost $190.
Awards Committee Report:
Eric Donaldson Chairman has ordered
trophies for the top three teams and expects 6 per team so 18
trophies. He will also order TC newcomer of the year and A team
leader of the year trophies. Team Challenge funds will cover
the cost of trophies. He will plan for end of the year awards
after Team Challenge.
Meeting was adjourned at approximately
1:45 Central time or later.
Thanks to Dan Shell, Wanda and Tom for
the breakfast.
