August 9, 2017 Board Meeting

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

RANDONNEURS USA, INC.

Held AUGUST 9, 2017

 

 

A regular meeting of the RUSA Board of Directors was convened by telephone conference and called to order at 2001 EDT by the President.

 

The following Directors were in attendance:

  • Debra Banks
  • John Lee Ellis
  • Nigel Greene
  • Susan Otcenas
  • Paul Rozelle
  • Lois Springsteen
  • Dave Thompson

 

Invitees Janice Chernekoff and Mary Humphrey were present at the meeting for the first topic on the agenda regarding American Randonneur until the conclusion of that topic at 2023.  No others were in attendance. 

 

A proposal that had been circulated prior to the meeting concerning printing alternatives for American Randonneur was discussed.  The proposal would result in switching the vendor for the printing of American Randonneur to Progress Printing, which would result in the production of a full-color magazine while costing RUSA approximately 14% per issue less than the cost of the black-and-white production with the current vendor.  Additionally, switching vendors to Progress Printing could result in shorter production lead times.  In short, changing printing vendors would result in saving RUSA and its members and volunteers money and time while increasing the quality of American Randonneur.

 

Janice Chernekoff (Editor-in-Chief) and Mary Humphrey (Layout Editor) were present at the meeting to discuss and answer questions from the Board about the benefits and potential drawbacks of a switch in printing vendors as well as to discuss scenarios involving staying with the current vendor or using alternative vendors from whom proposals had been obtained.

 

Following this discussion, after which Ms. Chernekoff and Ms. Humphrey departed the meeting, a motion to move the printing of American Randonneur to Progress Printing beginning with the Winter issue was made and seconded and, after discussion, passed.

 

Next, the minutes from the regular meeting of July 12, 2017 were approved.

 

A motion to approve a request from the TX (Dallas) RBA to hold a 100K populaire on Sunday, August 12, 2017 was made, seconded, discussed, and passed.  

 

Three additional applications to hold new 1200Ks in 2018 were received by the July 31, 2017 deadline from the MD (Capital) region; the MI (Detroit) and IL (Chicago) regions; and the NY (NYC and Princeton) region.  Those applications were discussed, a motion was made to approve the three events being held and calendared in 2018, that motion was seconded and, following discussion, the motion passed.

 

An issue that had arisen in connection with an RBA whose RUSA membership had lapsed was discussed.  After discussion, it was decided that Rozelle would contact the RBA regarding the expired membership and its necessary renewal.

 

Discussion was had about the impending deadline on October 15 for the submission of the 2018 events calendar to the ACP and the attendant deadline for RBAs to submit their proposed ACP events to RUSA by no later than September 30, including the logistics of the Board reviewing the proposed events, discussing them, and approving them prior to the ACP submission deadline.

 

Discussion was had concerning the upcoming RUSA Board elections for the 2018 Term, with the nominations period to run from August 15 until September 15.

 

An update was received regarding the Rules Committee’s review of the electronic proof of passage for permanents.

 

A discussion was had concerning the Brevet Coordinator position and it was noted that Rob Hawks and Rob Welch would be assisting with the Brevet Coordinator duties.

 

An update was received concerning the Board Covenant.

 

An update was received concerning the creation of a RUSA members’ discussion forum, including opt-in/out options and forum moderation.

 

A motion to approve Theo Roffe’s application as the successor RBA to Mark Thomas for the WA (Seattle) region was made, seconded, discussed, and passed.

 

A motion to approve Debra Banks’s application as the successor RBA to Dan Shadoan for the CA (Davis) region was made, seconded, discussed, and passed.  Ms. Banks was not present at the meeting during the discussion of the motion on her RBA application or for the vote on that motion.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 2215 EST.

 

Next meeting: September 12, 2017, at 2000 EST.