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bricklin128
Former BI Member
BI Treasurer
USA
18 Posts |
 Posted - July 14 2011 : 12:14:51
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Hello Guys:
First off I dont post much on here, but I am the treasurer for BI. Since there has emerged the status of the club financially I felt I would address a couple of things, both for our current status and for the extent of where we came from financially at the point I became treasurer.
Gullwings, I am so sorry you have had such a year!!! Micheal, thanks for the response posted, you have been right on.
As treasurer, I look at this club differently than most, for me it is a business that needs to make a profit to survive. I saw my first Bricklin in the summer of 1993 while on vacation in Canada. Came home (Oklahoma where wind comes sweeping down the plains, but no Bricklins exist) and promtly bought a Bricklin in Houston, #38, now owned by Micheal Roberson. I joined BI and attended my first meet in 1994, Frankimouth, Michigan. I becam treasurer in 1997, at Canton Ohio meet. Scott Hanish was the new President. When I finally recieved the funds, the club had $2,500, but the bills on my desk were $5,000 and another $1,000 owed came in, in the next 30 days. Scott took $10k and put in the account, he also put $1k in the color cover account so the magazine would have colored front and back covers for the next year. It took a couple of years but Scott was paid back the $10k. He refused to take the $1k color cover money back. Those were lean years, and all officers promised to not nickle and dime the club, but rather pay things out of pocket, and we did! Scott Hanish does not get the credit he deserves (nor do I ...lol). A few years later when Jim became president of the club, he had ideas to spend money to get returns. I was reluctant, I was wrong. With his guidence, we were introducted to Herb Grasse, Malcolm Bricklin, Dick Dean and others. It costs to comp a room and travel, but it has been worth it.
The membership brings in $12,500 a year usually. The Brickline Magazine costs $12,500 a year to print and mail. Any extra our club recieves is from donations, the meets, the raffles, and the auction, thats it!!! If we want to be solvent we MUST have a good meet.
That brings us to the present. As treasurer, I have had 2 goals. !st goal: to have one years cost to do the magazine in reserve. We reached that a few years ago. ($12,500 in a CD). 2nd goal: to have double that, ie $25,000 in a CD. We have not reached that. At present we have $17,500 in a CD. When we reach $25k I will retire.
Keep in mind our only coushion comes from the meet. A couple years ago we lost money on the meet, it happens.......Please, remember that we have to pay for banquet rooms, guarantee at least 100 meals each time, pay for a meeting room and brickinalia room, pay for speakers room and expenses. ALWAYS ASK, WHAT CAN I DO FOR THIS CLUB, NOT WHAT CAN THIS CLUB GIVE UP TO ME. When you register, go ahead and come to the banquet, bit on things at the auction, buy raffle tickets even if the raffle stuff is cheap, it is for the survival of this club.
I will end. We have come a long way and it is because of good stewardship on the treasury. I want this club to be solvent for the next 35 years, double its current life with no problems!!!
Sincerely, Doc Shreck, Treasurer BI |
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brick75
Former BI Member
Senior Member
Canada
1843 Posts |
Posted - July 14 2011 : 20:55:55
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I have admired this Club since my membership in 2005 and the benevolent contribution of all.
Doc Shrek, you and the executive have done amazing.
I know it is not popular but we are all committed to the Bricklin.
Have we considered any corporate sponsorship money, raise the membership rate, a one time capital oontribution by members as opposed to relying on the meet.
I am in American standards a CPA and understand this succinctly...let's just look at some right brain ideas to preserve the future of this great club.
Marty
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Vin2889
Former BI Member
BI Chairman
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - July 14 2011 : 21:42:15
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All great ideas. With the webcam technology, it would be possible for future auctions.
Something to perhaps plan for.
As an aside, Jim Cowan, from Automodello, has a room with two beds for Friday through Sunday and is looking to cut costs. If anyone is coming to the meet stag and is looking to share a room, contact him through the private messaging here on the site.
Lastly, George Curley, the meet director and I met with the hotel staff this evening and lined up the banquet meals and worked out the final details. (Beef Medallions (70 meals) or Grilled Chicken (30 meals). We are at around 50 for those that have registered early and I am kind of interested in taking an informal poll of those on the forums to see who is planning on coming but not registered.
Please reply if you are.
Thanks, and I'll see those that are coming in Manassas in less than two weeks.
Steve
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VIN's #1339 & #2889 |
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Bricklin1155
Not Registered with BI or E-Mail mis-match
BI Regional Director - Ohio
USA
1697 Posts |
Posted - July 15 2011 : 05:32:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Vin2889
As an aside, Jim Cowan, from Automodello, has a room with two beds for Friday through Sunday and is looking to cut costs. If anyone is coming to the meet stag and is looking to share a room, contact him through the private messaging here on the site.
Lastly, George Curley, the meet director and I met with the hotel staff this evening and lined up the banquet meals and worked out the final details. (Beef Medallions (70 meals) or Grilled Chicken (30 meals). We are at around 50 for those that have registered early and I am kind of interested in taking an informal poll of those on the forums to see who is planning on coming but not registered.
Please reply if you are.
Thanks, and I'll see those that are coming in Manassas in less than two weeks.
Steve
Poll setup at http://www.bricklin.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2462&results=1
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Michael V. Mitchell - VIN 1155
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Bricklin1155
Not Registered with BI or E-Mail mis-match
BI Regional Director - Ohio
USA
1697 Posts |
Posted - July 15 2011 : 05:43:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Gulwings
Michael;
Please don't think I was in any way 'taking a shot' at the club's finances. I apologize if it came off that way; it was in no way my intention.
Thanks for the outline; I have learned more about the club, yet again!
... and thank you for your wishes; I am sure we aren't the only ones with stories to tell...
MP
No apologies necessary. I appreciate your enthusiasm and you didn't come off that way. I just didn't want rumors getting started. I'm especially glad Doc chimed in and gave us the lowdown. (Thanks Doc!)
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Michael V. Mitchell - VIN 1155
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Bricklin1155
Not Registered with BI or E-Mail mis-match
BI Regional Director - Ohio
USA
1697 Posts |
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bricklin128
Former BI Member
BI Treasurer
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - July 17 2011 : 01:17:51
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Micheal,
I cant enter the above link, whats up with that? Doc |
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sjzukrow
Former BI Member
Auctioneer
USA
789 Posts |
Posted - July 17 2011 : 04:23:20
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| The link worked for me. |
Stuart
#0824 |
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Bricklin1155
Not Registered with BI or E-Mail mis-match
BI Regional Director - Ohio
USA
1697 Posts |
Posted - July 17 2011 : 06:42:41
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quote:
Originally posted by bricklin128
Micheal,
I cant enter the above link, whats up with that? Doc
It's because you show up as 'Not Registered with BI or E-Mail mis-match'. The system doesn't recognize you as a Member of BI and won't let you in that area. You've GOT to use the e-mail address that George and John maintain in the database for things to work correctly here.
Just go to 'My Profile' and change it to your sbcglobal.net address. You'll get a confirmation mail to that address that you'll have to use to verify the change before it is effective. |
Michael V. Mitchell - VIN 1155
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jblair
Former BI Member
BI VP Publications
USA
860 Posts |
Posted - July 25 2011 : 08:50:32
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Hey Gang,
Unfortunately, I'm not going to make it to the meet this year. My 2 boys have scheduled vacation time together and are coming home for a week. So, I'll be spending some time with them.
Just a reminder, take lots of pictures!!!! For those with digital cameras, if you could burn me a cd with the pictures and mail it to me that would be great!
If you are still using film, then when you have the film processed, see about getting doubles, so you can mail some to me.
If you can, either write up something that explains each picture, where it was taken, who's in it, etc.
Finally, think about your trip, how did it go? Any problems? I'd like some articles about the meet, your trip, etc.
TIA
John
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John T. Blair WA4OHZ
Virginia Beach, VA
VIN #0887
(757) 495-8229 |
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Event: 
USA - VA - Manassas - 2011 Bricklin Nationals
