Minutes of the Council of Chapters Meeting 30 November 2007

The Executive Committee [ExCom] of the Military Officers Association of America [MOAA], California Council of Chapters [CAL-MOAA] met at San Luis Obispo, California on 30 November 2007.

Voting Members Present:
Stumpf
Enos
Jarvis
Torres
Talmadge
Reals
Sturman
Butcher

Non-Voting Members Present:
Gavitt
Burke
Sammons
Isensee

Others:
Patton
Gustafson
Lange
Huss
Meyer
Giacoppe
Cahill

Call to Order

President Stumpf called the meeting to order at 2005.
Roll Call - Introductions
Quorum Established 2010

Actions

Minutes of last EXCOM Meeting Corrected to include Area 1, Jarvis and Area 5, Talmadge who had been omitted. Accepted with changes as noted.

Treasurers Report

Motion by Butcher to accept the treasurers' report for Budget Year 2006 as presented, seconded and passed with no objections.

Treasurer presented the proposed budget for 2008 which indicated an increase of $2750 over the 2007 budget. There was significant discussion as to why we were increasing the budget amount while membership and revenues were decreasing at about 6.7 % per year. The increase in the budget without concomitant increases in revenue would lead to the Council being bankrupt in about 4 years.

Torres (Area 2) moved to direct the treasurer to reduce the budget amount to $9000.00 which tracks with the decrease in membership and present it to the Council for adoption and to form a committee to develop the reductions. Significant discussion re the formation of a committee instead the EXCOM discussed each item and directed the Treasurer to prepare the 2008 budget IAW their desires to reduce administrative expenses from $1000 to $800, reduce EXCOM expenses from $4450 to $2600, reduce Area Directors expenses from $1500 to $1300 annual meeting support $700, contribution to CSVCC to $1500, eliminate contribution to Veteran Homes and Legislative Support at $700. This will result in only having to transfer $2010 from Savings and produce a $9000 budget.

During the debate the issue of our support to Pete Conaty our Legislative Advocate through the California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC) was thoroughly discussed. While the members did not question the fact that we must maintain a Legislative Advocate in Sacramento they did not feel that CALMOAA should be the major supporter through the CSCVC when most of the member organizations have chosen not to contribute to the CSCVC for this purpose. During this discussion it was pointed out by several members that the Council had only a few options to remain financially viable. Primary was the need to rectify the cash flow problem and since it would be impolitic to raise dues (tax supporters) the only option was to reduce expenses. Several ideas were proposed such as cutting down on meetings - when it was pointed out that this required a change in the bylaws a comment was made - "So change them." At the end of the discussion the consensus was that we must reduce expenses and subject budget to midyear review.

Torres amended motion to direct Treasurer to prepare a budget of $9000 IAW the direction of the EXCOM. Seconded and passed with no further discussion.

Additional discussion on recruiting new members and sustaining chapters ensued with no substantive ideas developed. Consensus was that decline in membership was critical but there were no suggestions as to how to reverse it.

Discussion on replacement Treasurer for Isensee - Comments made "We are working on it but no results yet" Enos brought up possibility of combining Secretary/Treasurer which was dismissed by feelings that the two should be separate individuals.

Adjournment

President Stumpf adjourned the meeting at 2130.
John H Sammons, Secretary


Attachments:
Treasurers Report and 2008 Proposed Budget
CALMOAA Checking Account 2007
Chapter Dues 2007
Membership Comparison and Trend Analysis
CALMOAA Membership North/South