Rhode Island Bridge Association, Inc

Minutes of Unit 145 Board Meeting

May 30, 2007

The Meeting was called to order at 5:50 p.m.

Board Members present: Joe Brouillard, Nancy O’Donnell, Judy Biegner, Bill Shockley, Lou DiOrio, Dave Prentiss, Bill Niemi, Brenda Iemma, Bob Erwin, and Sue Erwin.

Meeting minutes from the February 28, 2007, meeting were read and accepted.

The Treasurer’s Report was presented by Joe Brouillard. All accounts are up to date. A detailed accounting of all expenditures and income to this point in 2007 was presented. Donations were made to the Women and Infants neonatal intensive care unit and to the East Providence Headstart program. A thank you has been received from the neonatal intensive care unit. (Post-meeting note: A thank you was received from the East Providence Headstart program on 1 June.) Deposits have been paid for the June sectional, the October sectional at the Warwick Knights of Columbus Hall, and for the 2007 Gala at the Shriner’s.

Tournament Manager (Bob Erwin) reported that the contract was signed last week at Patrick’s Pier One in Providence for the June sectional. We are paying less for the first usage than we will if we opt to use it again. The situation at Buttonwoods was discussed as well as the efforts made to find a new site for sectionals.

Mentoring Program. Bill Niemi reported that the two sessions that have been held in Peacedale were well received. Lou DiOrio reported that the RI Bridge Club in Providence holds mentoring sessions on the first Thursday of the month. Bill and Lou will be writing a column for Bridge Bits to document these two efforts and provide points of contact for interested members.

Joe Brouillard requests that he is continuing to obtain member email addresses. Please send any that you may have to him.

Bob Erwin still has about 100 copies of the new RIBA membership handbooks for distribution. Problems with their distribution were discussed.

Board Membership. Efforts to reach Loretta Krebel have been unsuccessful. Kevin Pilkington (bigk111@msn.com) was elected to the board by vote of the board members. Welcome, Kevin! The board would like to get someone from the East Side to join the board so that there is representation from those members.

A nominating committee of Judy Biegner, Dave Prentiss and Bob Erwin has been formed. Joe Brouillard has said that he would be willing to take the Presidency. Sue Erwin will continue as secretary. Brenda Iemma has indicated willingness to work with Joe, the current acting treasurer, to learn the treasurer’s responsibilities.

Bridge Bits will be written in June. Please submit articles to Bob Erwin. He has offered to hold a cookout at his home in late June to fold Bridge Bits and prepare them for mailing.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.