Minutes of February 2005 Meeting
This months scribe, John Q. Lawrence
 
In Attendance:
John Q. Lawrence, Melinda Mitchell, Steve Mitchell, Russ Greene, Cheryl Wilson, Skip Wilson, Tom Warren, Gary Steinweg, Bill Edwards, Peter Drake, Debra Smith, Thomas Cassidy, Bonnie Cassidy, Kent Saxton, Carole Helstrom, Sean Brooks,
 
Meeting called to order promptly at 10 am by Vice President Melinda Mitchell
 
“Minutes of last months meeting?” said Melinda
“Move to approve as posted on the club website” intoned a much slimmer and trimmer Carole Helstrom, a motion seconded by Steve Mitchell.
“Treasurers report?” Melinda again, moving things along smartly
Treasurer Gary Steinweg reports the addition of one new member (Russ Greene) for an additional $15 in the treasury; payout was the monthly bill for the club checking account.  Total currently in the treasury $807.42
Someone probably moved to accept the treasurer’s report but the scribe didn’t pick it up.
 
Old Business
 
Christmas in July
 
Steve Mitchell provided a detailed update for Christmas in July, the clubs annual charitable event. 
Steve has visited a couple of retirement homes during the past month and has discovered both wanting not only in ‘stuff’ but people living there are starved for someone to talk with, tell their stories to.  One of the homes he visited is right next to our meeting place.  Steve is suggesting they be the beneficiaries of our event this year.   Steve has contacted several local motorcycle outlets plus Barons in Fallbrook to see if any can contribute funds or supplies that can be used or sold on E-bay to help raise funds.  Steve also suggests we all scour our garages for items we no longer need that might be sold on E-bay.   During the coming month, Steve will be meeting with his committee to finalize details and will report back next meeting.  The event will probably be held the same weekend as last year.
 
Two-way communication
 
This is a subject brought up during the January meeting.  Steve has investigated and has come up with a very low cost solution.   He has devised a throat mike that is held in place by a bow around the back or the neck and a hollow tube fitted to an earpiece so users can hear transmissions by others.   The unit plugs into an inexpensive FRS walkie talkie.   This creation is perfect for those who do not want to mount speakers or microphones in full-face helmets or who choose to wear smaller helmets where speakers and traditional microphones aren’t practical.   Russ Greene shows us the unit he has been using during club rides, a combination FRS/GMRS (long range) handheld radio he found at www.outpost.com (Frys) for under $15 for two radios.   
 
With this new development making it easy and inexpensive for all members to be equipped with radios, all Wanderers are being strongly encouraged to equip themselves with FRS radios if only so you can listen to lead and sweep riders.
 
Steve is working with a company that can produce he throat mike/earpiece combo in mass quantities (they will also work with Chatterbox radios) and will let us know when they are available.
 
Ride Captain Certification
 
Doc is on top of this one and is putting together a plan to train all members to be ride leaders and sweep riders.   The class may be held in lieu of a monthly club meeting or possibly early April in the Fellowship Hall at Doc’s church (just a couple of blocks from our meeting place).  
The class will discuss ride planning and techniques to encourage more members to lead.    The Fellowship Hall has a full kitchen and Carole volunteers to do food planning for what could be a day long session.     The class may include a CPR certification if enough club members are interested.  Please contact Doc if you are interested in this certification.  Melinda mentions a free CPR certification is planned for next weekend at the San Diego Community Concourse.  Check the NBC 7/39 Website ( www.nbcsandiego.com ) for details. 
 
A certificate complete with embossed (Wanderers patch design) gold seal will be issued to every member attending and completing the ride leader certification.
 
As part of this discussion Bill Edwards suggests the club create the position of “Ride Coordinator” who’s job it would be to encourage more members to plan and lead rides and also coordinate ride proposals. 
 
New Business
 
Ride Safety
 
Kent recaps his Salton Sea ride beginning with the importance of a club tradition, the reading of ride protocols at the beginning of each ride.  There is much discussion of the ‘incident’ that occurred during the ride with the trailer coming loose from the truck pulling it, going airborne and threatening to crash into our riders.    There is a discussion of all the things riders did from beginning to end including detailed descriptions from those attending the ride of what they saw and did.
 
Kent passes out more copies of the “Accident Scene Management” and rider skills booklet which are also available in the club website “Members Only” area. 
 
In Memoriam
 
Between meetings there has been some discussion among board members about possibly creating a memorial page for club members who have passed.    Webmaster Jeremiah Culp presents several ideas for a page, one of which is unanimously approved by members.  It consists of a road running to the horizon.  A bikers poem will be provided by Doc as text and the names of members who have passed will scroll over the road.   Clicking on scrolling names will produce individual pages showing pictures of members and their contributions to the San Diego Wanderers.
 
Thanks
 
Carole Helstrom passes along thanks from ‘the boys’ for the clubs thank you for their Christmas party efforts.   The club presented the guys with a certificate for a meal at Hooters.   There were several kind offers by club members to accompany the boys just to be sure they were served promptly and properly.   Carole thought they probably wouldn’t need the assistance thankyouverymuch.
 
Ride Skills Test
 
Kent offered up an idea for an annual ride skills test for all members and a test for all potential new members.   The “off the top of the head” thinking during member discussion was that we make this a basic test based on the MSF basic riders course final exam.    Doc offers the church parking lot where he can paint a course consisting of dots for weaving and a circle to test turning abilities.   The club will host at least one annual “jamboree” where members can practice skills and take the test if they wish.   Anyone who has taken the MSF ‘Experienced Rider Course” within the last three years will be considered skilled and will get a pass on taking the annual test.   A committee of Kent, John Q and Doc is charged with coming up with a course and test.   Members enthusiastically approve the idea.     A specific plan along with guidelines for members will be available for the March meeting.
 
Dues Increase


Carole offers an alternative to traditional club practice of collecting charitable donations during meetings and rides.    The thinking is those who attend the most rides end up contributing a larger share toward club events than those who seldom attend.    Carole’s idea is a dues increase from the current $15 for each member to $25 with the additional $10 going directly into the club charity fund.   There could also be an increase from the current $5 for spouse members to $10 with the additional $5 going directly into the charity fund.   
There would be no additional charity collections during the year but a charity box might be made available during meetings for anyone who would like to contribute.
This is offered only as a proposal for members to think about with a full discussion and vote to be taken at the March meeting.
 
Elections Coming Up
 
Election of board members is coming up in April.   If you would like to nominate a club member to one of the voting officer positions ( President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Member Representative) please check with that member first to see if they will accept the nomination and then fill out the form available in the ‘Members Only” area of the club website.   Forward the filled out form to Secretary Rose Fleming between now and the April meeting.    If you would like to hold one of the elected positions you may nominate yourself or ask any member to do it for you.
 
Toys
 
Our newest member, Russ Greene, demonstrates some riding/reading glasses he has found.  They are called “Warp Style Cheaters” and are available through www.duluthtrading.com
 
Meeting adjourns with Sean Brooks volunteering to lead the post-meeting ride to Potrero at 11:15
 
 
Respectfully Submitted 2/26/05
Member Representative John Q. Lawrence