NIBGA Board meeting, Oct. 19, 2014

Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association Board Meeting at South West Conservation Club, Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana

The meeting was called to order by President Jim Winger at 1:05 P.M.
  Roll Call: Officers present are:
    President - Jim Winger                                     Board Directors:
    Vice-President - Joe Steiner                                   TJ Collins
    Secretary - Barbara Collins                                     Pam Keiper
    Treasurer - Linda Winger                                        Paul Saurborn

Others present: Chris Steiner, Sandra Carnes, Dave Keiper, Greg Aldrich, Brenda Aldrich

• Secretary - Barbara Collins emailed minutes of the August 24th & 28th meetings at Noble Co. Fairgrounds,  Kendallville, IN. to all officers on September 12, 2014. Paul Saurborn motioned to accept. TJ Collins seconded. All say yes. Motion carried.
• Treasurer - Linda Winger reviewed August and September Financial reports that were emailed to all officers on November 14, 2014. Pam Keiper motioned to accept. Paul Saurborn seconded. all say yes. Motion carried.
• Linda also reviewed the Fall 2014 Preliminary Festival Tally as of this date. More is being done to complete totals. 

INFORMATION ITEMS

• President - Jim Winger reviewed with the board, analysis of Income 2014 vs 3 highest previous years 2003, 2004, 2005

OLD BUSINESS

• Pam Keiper reports: A new merchandise second chair person is needed for the NIBGA festival merchandise table.  Louise McClouth has expressed interest in taking the job. She might do 2 days and Jeanette Young would continue doing 2 days. 

NEW BUSINESS

• Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association Officers and Directors for 2014/2015. All current officers have agreed to continue their positions. No one else has shown interest in a position. 
• Review of stage set up @ Labor Day Festival: What will we do about the stage in 2015? Jim Winger listed 5 options to consider. After discussion, Paul Saurborn motioned we continue with the same set up we used for Fall 2014.   TJ Collins seconded. All say yes. Motion carried. 
• TABLE =  For Nov. meeting. Katelynn Lowe, a High School Senior has requested a NIBGA Scholarship to help with Bluegrass music lessons. Also Doug and Any King have applied for music Scholarships for their 3 Elementary school age children. Due to shortage of time at the meeting, there was no decision made.
• TABLE = Nov. meeting" 2015 Advertising - Strategies: Review results of 2014. Which methods to use for 2015? There are many options to study. 
• Band Budget:  If we don't buy a new stage, should we/could we expand the band budget? 2014 was $15,000 with a cap of $17,500. 2013 was the same. After discussion Vice -President Joe Steiner purposed $22,000 with a cap of $25,000. Joe purposed more bands with each day different.. Joe Steiner made a motion for $22,000 with a cap of $25,000 for 2015 for Band Budget. Paul Saurborn second. all say yes. Motion carried. 
• TABLE = Suzuki Fiddlers Scholarship for 2015.  Yes or No?
• Grants for 2015 = Who will lead? Chris Steiner says, "We need Grants large enough to hire a good A Band to attract the crowd." Another suggestion was to use a Grant to subsidize the Thursday evening show. Another suggestion was a Grant to subsidize the Nursing Home Shows when we send a band to do a Friday show. Also it would be good to have a grant to help give back to the community. (Jim Miller's son is a Grant Writer.) 
• TABLE = Discussion and decisions on All Day Workshops at the festivals. 
• Expense: One expense receipt submitted for postage. Joe Steiner. 

Paul Saurborn motioned to adjourn. Pam Keiper seconded. President Jim Winger called the meeting adjourned at 2:45 P.M.

Sincerely - NIBGA Secretary - Barbara Collins
   Sent Nov. 22, 2014