MEMPHIS AREA BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION

MEMBERS MEETING

August 10, 2006

President John Fitzer called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm

 

11 members were present.

 

Opening comments:

President Fitzer reported that John  “Too tall” Branan passed away this past week and asked MABA members to keep Debbie and her family in their prayers.

 

Charlie Darrington also died this past month. Charlie was luthier who was famous for putting Bill Monroe’s mandolin back together.

 

Secretary’s Report: (Bob Waters). The July minutes were approved.

 

Interim Treasurer’s Report: (Larry Bomar). Former treasurer, Bill Dutton, resigned and Larry Bomar agreed to take-over as interim MABA Treasurer and finish out the year. MABA thanks Bill Dutton for his fine work as treasurer. The July treasurer’s report will be postponed until next month to give Larry the chance to acquire financial software programs to bring the books up to date. Larry reported on MABA monies paid out and received during July.

 

   Sam managed to sell all of the remaining Riverfest (2005) tee shirts at the discounted price of $2.00/shirt. Good job Sam! Now top this by selling off the first MABA CDs.

 

Committee Reports:

   Communications – Duke Walker

      Rawley Cain submitted an ad to NewsGrass advertising the Fifth annual Family Entertainment Bluegrass Jamboree event on January 20th and 21st.

 

      Duke recommended that musical instruments for sale be advertised in NewsGrass.

 

Duke acknowledged the need to list all new members the year in NewsGrass.

 

      Yahoo News Group – Mike Albert no report

 

      Website – Keith Carter

         Everything running smoothly.

 

 

 

   Activities – Gordon Jones and John Gay

MABA Annual Picnic will be held on Saturday September 16th .at the Mid-South Baptist Conference Center at Rocky Point. Map and directions are provided at Saturday jams.

 

President Fitzer suggested that MABA consider a full weekend retreat at Rocky Point next year. 

 

John Gay reported that Eric Mitchell is willing to provide barbecue for the MABA picnic if his work schedule permits. President Fitzer will bring chicken salad as a second meat dish.

 

John Gay will try to lock in suite for two nights at the Renaissance during IBMA on Sept 29th 30th.

 

Riverfest set for Saturday October 14th. Nothing signed officially for that date.

John will try to lock in Riverfest date.

 

 

   Regulatory – James Johnson (no report)

        

   Membership – Maureen Fitzer

13 new members this month, one renewed membership. Maureen is working on compiling a membership database.

 

   Education Steve Craig (no report)

      Steve Craig and Bob Waters will do a bass beginners and intermediate workshop in August or September.

      Tom Hood will teach an advanced guitar chords on the 1st Saturday of the month, continue to provide a fiddle workshop the 3rd Saturday of the month.

 

   GRASS – Beth Mays

Loyce Smith reported that not enough health kits have been turned in at the Saturday jams.  From last month (Beth is collecting health kits for United Methodist Corp of Relief (UMCOR). These kits will be distributed to hurricane and tornado victims. Members will assemble the kits together from a list items (hand towel, toothbrush, soap …) specified by UMCOR. MABA is asked to commit to 10 bags, but Beth would like to collect 100 or more. Items are need by August 26th. Gallon size Ziploc bags will be handed out at the Saturday jams.

 

   Lucy Opry – Beth Mays and Woody Marshall

Woody reported that 287 tickets were sold for the Claire Lynch performance on August 5th. This was a great show with first-class musicians.

 

The former policy at BPACC was to turn all unsold tickets back to BPACC 30 days before a performance. However, a new BPACC manager has been hired and tickets have already been turned over to BPACC for the performance of Blue Highway even though it is more than 30 days before the performance. These tickets will go fast.

 

 

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

Two cards were sent out this month.

 

President Fitzer thanked everyone for his or her concern for his wife Maureen during her recent hospital stay. Maureen suggested that you not get sick because these hospital visits can be very expensive.

 

Old Business:

 

The revised policy for minors was distributed to MABA members. Vice President Keith Carter has been talking to the MABA members about the policy during the Saturday jams.

President Fitzer remarked that the custodian at Lord of Life indicated that the bathrooms were pretty messy after the Saturday jams. We need to be more careful in picking up for ourselves. President Fitzer also suggested it would be nice to give the custodian a bonus at Christmas.

 

Vice President Carter and Board Member Mike Albert spoke to one of the MABA members about his conduct during the Saturday jams and made it clear that no more disruptions would be tolerated.

 

Bob Waters suggested that MABA take renewed interest in the Slow Jam and provide leadership in the same spirit that Gary Williams and Mike Albert provided when they put this wonderful idea into motion.

 

New Business:

 

MABA received at call from Mark Holder to explore the possibility of MABA providing bands to play at the Ruffin Theater in Covington. Bands would share in the tips collected during the performance.

 

Peter Smith reported that Jo-Edith and James Hudson suggested that Galloway United Methodist on South Cooper might be a possibility for holding the Saturday jams.

Other possible venues include First Baptist Church in mid-town and Bellevue Baptist Church whose pastor, Steve Gaines, is a current MABA member.

 

Meeting adjourned by President Fitzer at 8:28 pm.

 

Bob Waters