MEMPHIS AREA BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION

MEMBERS MEETING

May 4, 2006

 

President John Fitzer called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.

17 members were present.

 

Secretary’s Report: (Bob Waters, Interim Secretary). The April minutes were tabled until the June meeting.

 

Treasurer’s Report: (Submitted by Bill Dutton) Accepted as read

 

Committee Reports:

 

   Communications – Duke Walker (no report)

 

      Yahoo News Group – Mike Albert (no report)

 

      Website – Keith Carter (no report)

 

        NewsGrass – Duke Walker

An ad was purchased by Fiddler’s Green Music Shop that will run for one year in NewsGrass.

 

   Activities – Gordon Jones

Pickin Festival will be held at Bartlett Performing Arts on May 5th and 6th.

 

   Regulatory – James Johnson (no report)

 

   Membership – Jeannie Gentry (no report)

 

Education Steve Craig (no report)

 

   GRASS – Beth Mays (no report)

President Fitzer indicated that GRASS is planning an ice cream social at King’s Daughter and Sons Nursing Home in July.

 

 

   Lucy Opry – Beth Mays and Woody Marshall (no report)

Laurie Lewis will be the featured act at BPACC on May 6th.

Chris Stuart and Back Country will be at BPACC in July.

.

 

   Welcoming/Caring – Loyce Smith, Jo Edith & James Hudson, Erna Wheeley

One card was sent out during April. Bill Dutton notified us about a MABA member who was scheduled for surgery this month.

 

Old Business:

 

President Fitzer reported on the cost of obtaining a hospitality suite at IBMA. Unfortunately, suites are only available for the entire four days of the festival at a cost of $260/day. John will inquire again whether MABA can rent a suite for only two nights.

A motion was made and passed that MABA join IBMA. A 3-year membership was approved at a total cost of $391.

President Fitzer will also look into the cost of MABA joining SPBGMA.

 

President Fitzer indicated that Sam Ketchum will need help at the merchandising table during the BPACC festival. MABA members will also need to help with the clean-up at the end of the festival.

 

Maureen Fitzer contacted Dr. Connelly at Christian Brothers University as to whether their exchange students might be interested in attending the forthcoming Chris Stuart bluegrass concert at the Lucy. Dr. Connelly gladly accepted the offer, so MABA will purchase and donate 20 tickets to Christian Brothers University.

 

Maureen Fitzer drafted a letter outlining a policy for children attending MABA events. The policy basically states that children are always welcome at MABA functions, but at the same time, MABA does not provide childcare at these events. Parents should not leave their children unattended, nor allow them to enter restricted areas. Children as well as adults need to clean up after themselves. If a child causes damage to the host’s property, the individual that brought the child to that MABA function is responsible for clean up and/or payment of damages.

 

John Gay will investigate the MidSouth Baptist Conference Center at Rocky Point to hold our annual potluck dinner and/or annual picnic.

 

Space and “Facilities Committee: Committee chairman, Keith Carter, spoke with representatives from Kingsway Christian Church and Hope Presbyterian Church about MABA using their facilities for Saturday jams. Kingsway is yet to set their policy on outside usage of their facilities, and Hope has a major building campaign underway and are currently unable to host outside groups.

Keith will next contact Faith Baptist Church.

 

 

New Business:

 

“Back to the fold”: A motion was made and passed to allow unpaid members the opportunity to renew their membership for a cost of $15. This special offer would be good through June, 2006. Cards will be sent out to unpaid members indicating that overall dues are down for the year, and ask that they renew their memberships. If they choose not to renew, we will query them as to why they have let their membership lapse.

 

Rawley Caine (leader of the gospel bluegrass band, Delta Blue) told members that Delta Blue would play at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church on May 21st as part of their bluegrass service. Service will be from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, followed by more bluegrass music until around 2:00 pm. All MABA members are invited to attend.

 

Rawley also indicated that the Lutheran Governing Body of Arkansas was interested in having bluegrass bands play for their various events.

 

Rawley also described the Fifth Annual Family Entertainment Bluegrass Jamboree that will be held in the Desoto County Civic Center Conventional Hall in Southaven, Mississippi on January 20th and 21st. Twelve bands will play the two-day festival; noted performers include Blue Ridge, The Peasall Sisters, Larry Wallace, Tennessee Gentlemen, and The Bluegrass Brothers.

 

Bob Waters will step-in as MABA secretary for the remainder of the year.

 

Meeting adjourned by President Fitzer at 8:07 pm.