WANDERERS GENERAL MEETING
March 22nd, 2003
Country Choice Restaurant
John Q Lawrence (subbing in the lineup for Rose Fleming) Reporting
ATTENDING: John Q. Lawrence, Greg & Seanna Huber, Carole Helstrom, Kent Saxton, Joe Baker, Al Sessler, Joe
Durham, Thomas & Bonnie Cassidy, Mike Calderone, Linda Wheeler, Bill Edwards, Leon Smeiska, John & Ursula
Hartman, Michael Wheeley, Kevin Gayken, Ron Growel, Jeremiah Culp, Gery Marcelino, new member Beato Moneda and
guests Shane Lawrence, his S.O. Trisha and AMA spokesman Dennis Reamer.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: By Vice President Greg Huber at precisely 10 am
MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING: Approved as posted on the website
TREASURERS REPORT: In the treasurers absence, Greg presented new numbers supplied by Gary showing a previous balance of $564.19. Member renewals in the past month have bumped this figure up to $634.19.
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS: (better get comfy)
AMA PRESENTATION:
As a result of the Wanderers recent charity committee meeting which included a discussion of insurance and the possible benefits of affiliating the club with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) to be eligible for it's one million dollar event coverage, Dennis Reamer, a Representative of AMA District 38 (San Diego) was invited to make a presentation to the club for informational purposes only.
Dennis told us there is a $35 charter fee for an organization and then for each event to be covered by insurance there is another $25 to $35 "sanction fee" (depending whether the event is scheduled early enough for the AMA's annual sanctioning meeting or is added later) An additional $115 for the event would cover the club and its officers with one million dollars in insurance for up to 200 riders. The only requirement for a club to be chartered by the AMA is that ten or more of its members already be AMA members. (we qualify, no problem)
Dennis fielded other questions about individual memberships which many members became interested in when it was noted the $39 per year membership fee brought not only a membership pin and patch but a monthly magazine and many discounts including a 10% discount on insurance coverage through Progressive (which for many covers the cost of the annual membership) [webmaster note: for more info on the AMA go here http://www.ama-cycle.org/index.asp ]
CHARITY RIDE:
Following Dennis' presentation, John Q detailed the meeting held two weeks ago by the club charity committee. The presentation was substantially as follows:
1. On Sunday March 9th, a volunteer committee made up of myself, Greg & Seanna Huber, Carole Helstrom,
Al Sessler & Tom Cassidy (aka doc) and able visitors John & Fran DelSanto met to discuss a workable charity
for the club, designed to replace the annual toy run.
2. The debate roamed around a bit but eventually focused on Children's Hospital in San Diego, a non profit facility
dedicated exclusively to the treatment of children from birth to age 18.
3. A tentative date has been set for Saturday, July 12th
4. The idea is to hold a Christmas in July for these sick kids taking them items shown on the lists being passed
around now.
5. Children's hospital is thrilled with the idea and is cooperating in every way possible.
6. Another idea is to have Ronald McDonald hop on the back of one of our bikes and ride a short distance to the
hospital too. This is entertainment value for the kids but benefits us if media shows up and we can get them to
take pictures of Ronald aboard one of "our" bikes rather than focusing on a rider wearing an illegal
helmet running illegal pipes. It's about perception, not reality. A contact at Ronald McDonald house is currently
working on this to see if Ronald is booked on that date and whether there are any corporate restrictions on his
participation.
7. The ride idea is for our club to invite other similar organizations to go for individual club rides Saturday
morning the 12th. All clubs will then meet at the McDonalds Restaurant parking lot on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
near the Municipal Courts building. We would take off about 10:15 or so for a short ride down either Kearny Villa
or Ruffin Roads to Mesa College Drive and the hospital, only a couple of miles. . (much later than this and we
run into the kids meal time) Al is going to contact the restaurant manager or owner for permission to do this.
(Al, if you have any trouble, Ted Cox, the Development Director at Ronald McDonald Charities wants us to call him
858-467-4750 ex 15)
8. On arrival at the hospital we will deposit our toys, books and whatnot in a method that the hospital will determine.
At the moment it looks like we will simply pile everything at the hospital entrance for collection.
9. The hospital is trying to work a way for some of the kids to be able to come outside and see the bikes, maybe
sit on them and have their pictures taken but that could fall through due to a lack of volunteers.
10. We will not be allowed to go into the hospital units for one main reason, the privacy of the patients. Hospital
staff will give anyone who wants one, a tour of the facility (excluding units)
11. Publicity and toy collections for the ride will be handled in several ways. I will contact local media. Greg
Huber is going to print up fliers that each of us can take to work along with the toy and book lists for posting.
Doc is going to hand the information to other Pastors in hopes their congregations will contribute.
12. Al and Carole are going to contact book and toy stores to see if they will contribute items on the lists or
perhaps do a "donation in kind". For every coloring book we buy they donate one. They are prepared to
bribe people if necessary.
13. The question of insurance was raised. John DelSanto has checked this out with a motorcyclist attorney friend
who assures him we do not need special coverage for the event. His take on this, as long as the Wanderers do not
do anything to cause a motorcyclist to fall off his or her bike, we can not be held liable. Basically all we'll
be doing is telling people we start here at McDonalds and we're all riding to the hospital.
Another charity issue was raised during our meeting.
Last year the club collected a buck, small change, whatever members cared to contribute at meetings and on rides.
We collected $300 dollars, all of which was given to St. Vincent DePaul.
If the club agrees, we'd like to continue collecting a charitable contribution each time we get together.
The money could be used in many ways and suggestions are certainly welcome. Among those discussed.
1. Give some cash along with books and toys to the hospital for use as a sort of "kids slush fund" for
when there's a crayon crisis or something.
2. Give money to a San Diego area organization that is helping the families of service members sent overseas. There
are hundreds of families who had a nice income until recently and suddenly the main income is coming from a sergeant
in the Air National Guard, naval reserves or whatever. Many of these families are being helped by public assistance
but cash never hurt either. We still have to identify an organization for this if it's what the club chooses to
do.
I offer this up for a vote, yay or nay from the Wanderers present at this meeting.
Shall we commit the club to a "Christmas in July" charity run to Children's hospital to be held Saturday
July 12th, 2003 using the broad template just described?
Shall the Wanderers continue to collect cash charitable donations during rides and meetings on a purely voluntary
basis with a proper charity to be determined later?
The result of both votes were overwhelming YAY.
As a result of this vote the previously scheduled Anti Destination Ride will be re-scheduled.
CHARTER ISSUES:
More than a month ago a proposed revision of the Wanderers By-Laws was approved by the board and posted for consideration by the membership on the club website. The proposals have caused considerable discussion on the club list-serv and this discussion continued at the meeting with good points being made by many.
Primary presentations and comments were made by Ron Growel, Thomas (Doc) Cassidy, Carole Helstrom and Mike Calderone.
The presentations ranged from the history of the club with its focus on family to the fact that the copy of the proposed changes posted on the website is exactly that, the 'proposed changes' which may be creating some confusion since that particular posting does not show the entire charter test. For reference the entire charter as currently approved is posted under "the rules" on the website. There are few if any arguments with adding a 'member representative' to the board or with making the official name of the club the "San Diego Wanderers." There is a major issue with section 6 as proposed.
Without detailing all the specific arguments which could go on for many pages (and could never capture the earnestness with which members spoke), proponents of the section six revisions point out that it is simply a revision of existing text which make clear to members how they might go about resolving issues with other members. Opponents point out that the current text has always worked fine and a recently approved revision in the membership process (requiring prospective members to join us at least three times, two of those times for rides) should take care of any difficulties that the item six revision is also designed to accomplish.
At the end of the discussion it was agreed the board should gather before the April meeting to discuss revising the item 6 revision. Some members suggested an item by item vote. Whether we can actually do this will also be discussed by the board. The item will not be tabled.
SAFETY ITEMS:
Club Safety Officer Kent Saxton passed out a three page package prepared by Leon Smeiska to each member present titled "Street Survival 101" detailing the many things riders can do and can think about to improve our odds on the road. Additional copies will probably be available at next months meeting.
MEMBERSHIP FORMS
Membership Coordinator Carole Helstrom passed out some pre-printed membership forms to those who wanted to renew their membership for the upcoming year. This form is also available online in the clubs "members only" area. You can simply fill out the form on your screen, print and then mail to Carole (her address is at the bottom of the form). Membership renewals are due at the end of April.
MEETING ADJOURNED: 11 am
POST MEETING RIDE:
It was a beautiful day and many of our members wanted to check out Potrero County Park where our April club campout will be held. It was a simple tour out highway 94 ending at the campground and disrupting the lawn bowling efforts of some folks already in the campground. (they were good sports about it) We also drew the interest of Mr. Ranger a couple of times who wanted to be certain we weren't a group of motorcycle rowdies in his park to pillage the place.
All in all a terrific meeting, ably chaired by Greg Huber in the absence of Rod Fleming.
Submitted
John Q. Lawrence,
designated secretarial hitter