MEMBERS MEETING
March 9, 2006
President John Fitzer called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm.
15 members were present.
President’s Opening Comments and Announcements:
Bob Waters agreed to be note-taker and interim secretary; John will try to contact Amy Shelton this month to ascertain whether she will be able to stay on as permanent secretary. Otherwise, John will post an announcement on the Newsgroup asking for a volunteer to take over as secretary for the remainder of the year. In the meantime, Bob will stay on.
Helen Davis resigned as Membership Chairperson. Jeannie Gentry agreed to step into Helen’s position.
Secretary’s Report: (Submitted by John Fitzer). Accepted as read.
Treasurer’s Report: (Submitted by Bill Dutton) Accepted as read.
Bill presented the 2005 internal audit. Accepted as read.
John Fitzer presented the proposed budget for 2006. The budget was accepted as read.
Committee Reports:
Communications Duke Walker
Yahoo News Group –
Members were advised not to post anything on the Yahoo News Group that they did not want to make available to the public. Duke Walker will add this warning in the March NewsGrass.
Website – Keith Carter
Members were advised not to submit pictures that they are unwilling to have posted on the Website.
NewsGrass – Duke Walker
An out-of-state music group placed a full-page ad in NewsGrass.
Activities – Gordon Jones
Query made about our involvement in the BPAC Bluegrass Festival in May. Sam responded that MABA would participate in the planning process and also be available to help during the festival as well as clean up at the end of the festival.
Sam will need volunteers to help with the merchandise table during the festival.
Regulatory – James Johnson (; no report)
Membership – Helen Davis (no report)
Helen resigned as Membership Chairman. Jeannie will take over as the new Chairperson. The members thanked Helen for her hard work and also thanked Jeannie for stepping-in.
Education Jim Milford
The members thanked Randal Morton for presenting two banjo workshops this month.
On March 18th, Jim Milford will host a “banjo-lick-swapping” workshop at Lord of Life Lutheran Church.
GRASS – Beth Mays
Cupcakes were made and delivered to the Galloway Rest Home in February.
Lucy Opry – Beth Mays
Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver will be at the Lucy Opry on March 12th
Rhonda Vincent will be at Germantown Performing Arts on March 17th.
Welcoming/Caring – Loyce Smith, Jo Edith & James Hudson, Erna Wheeley
Two cards were sent to MABA members in February, and two additional cards have been sent out in March.
Old Business:
John Fitzer will look into MABA joining SPGBMA and Larry Bomar will look into MABA joining IBMA.
John Fitzer checked on MABA procuring a suite at SPBGMA next year. He learned that all rooms were currently reserved; however, on May 1st, some rooms may become available and we will request a suite for SPBGMA 2007.
Merchandizing Committee: Sam will check with Pastor White about obtaining space for a storage cabinet to house MABA related material (shirts, CDs) at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church.
Sam is also looking for volunteers to work the merchandizing table on Saturdays.
MABA donated $250 to radio station, WEVL.
New Business:
Concern was raised about children playing and eating in the sanctuary during the Saturday jams. The members unanimously agreed that parents need to be responsible for their children at the jams. Children should not be allowed in the sanctuary. John Fitzer will elaborate this point on the Newsgroup and also talk with members at the Saturday jams. It was also agreed that we need to set rules of conduct at jams and Maureen Fitzer has agreed to draft a set of procedures for MABA.
Most of us would like to be able to contact other MABA members, and to do that we need to have phone numbers and e-mail addresses available to the membership. The idea of having a members roster has been kicking around for a long time and has now resurfaced. In the past we have asked members to indicate yah or nay on their membership applications/renewals whether they would be willing to have their phone number and e-mail addressed shared with the membership.
As a first step, Jeannie Gentry has agreed to review the member database and identify those members that agreed to share their contact information. Once this information is obtained and verified, we will proceed in putting together a members roster.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:18 pm.