Typ 356 Northeast is dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment
of theTYP 356 NORTHEAST
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
February 7, 2006
Organization of the Meeting
The regular meeting of the TYP 356 Northeast Club
Board of Directors was held at the Stockyard Restaurant, 135 Market Street,
Brighton, MA at 6:00 PM on February 7, 2006.
Present:
Bob DiCorpo, President
Larry Bingaman, Secretary
Jerry Tulis, Treasurer
Peter Crawford, Spring Tourmeister
Tom Gentz, Technical Director
Ralph Hadley, Website Coordinator
Dick Chiasson, Member at Large
Greg Graham, Member at Large
George Huff, Member at Large
Jim O’Hare, Member at Large
Absent:
Len Cannizzaro, Member at Large
Bill Collins, Vice President
Ron Swenson, Membership/Newsletter
Membership & Sponsors Report
Bob DiCorpo provided the membership report for Ron Swenson. Bob noted there are 130 members in the Club, 91 of which have paid their 2006 dues.
Next, Bob reported that the four Club sponsors have
continued their support this year. The sponsors are Foreign Intrigue, G. N.
Engineering, Meister Restorations, and Stuttgart Northeast. Larry Bingaman
reported that KAM Motorsports is interested in becoming a club sponsor and he
sent the new owner, Gene Antico, information on the costs and benefits.
Administration
Jerry Tulis, Treasurer, reported there is currently $2,913.34 in the Treasury. He then discussed the receipts and disbursements including additional dues income that had been received and a $1,000 deposit made to the Ocean Edge Resort for the Spring Tour. Peter Crawford also commented that he will send to Jerry about $1,100 in registration fees received for the Spring Tour.
The minutes of the January 22 meeting were reviewed
and subject to correcting the information on the number of paid members from 93
to 90, with three new members joining, they were approved.
Event Planning & Scheduling
Bob then led a discussion on the Club’s upcoming events, noting that the details of which are posted on the Website. On February 18, at 10 AM, Tom Gentz will host a Powder Coating and Plating session at his home shop, 152 Sea Breeze Avenue, Charlestown, RI.
On February 24-26, Bill Collins will serve as the Event Chair for a visit to the L.A. Literature Show and Long Beach Swap Meet.
Peter Crawford is coordinating a viewing of “A Gullwing at Twilight” on February 25, a film on the life of gentleman racer John Fitch with director Chris Szwedo. After the film, there will be a question and answer session. The event will be held at the J.K. Lilly Automobile Museum and requires pre-registration no later than February 11th. The event will begin at 12:30 PM with a talk by Heritage Museum's Assistant Curator Steve Hatch on the museum's own automobile collection.
Plans are proceeding for the Club's kart racing event at F1 in Boston. The date/time is Sunday, March 12, 2006, from 12 to 2 PM. Twenty-four drivers is needed to have a full hour of racing, in multiple heats, on the longer two-level track. To date, 18 have committed to the event. Cost is the same as last year, $75.00 per driver. There is no charge for non-driving spectators. Lunch at the facility's restaurant will also be available. For more information, contact George Huff.
Larry Bingaman is coordinating a Technical Session at KAM Motorsports at 10 AM, on March 25, at the new shop in Waterbury, CT. Gerry McCarthy will lead a discussion on the history and development of the Carerra engine. Afterward, a review of KAM’s services and a tour of the new shop will be available. Peter Crawford will lead a group from the North and Bob DiCorpo will lead a southern group. Meeting points will be announced at a later date.
A TYP 356 NE Technical Session will be held at
Bentley Books in Cambridge on April 8. The topic is “How to do a PPI”
(pre-purchase inspection). The presenter will be Alex Finigan of Paul Russell
Motors and the event is being coordinated by Tom Gentz, who will arrange for a
car to be inspected at the event. George Huff volunteered his car for the PPI
discussion.
Peter Crawford, who is chairing the Club’s 8th Annual TYP 356 Spring Tour,
scheduled for June 2-4 2006, at the Ocean Edge Resort and Club on Route 6 A in
Brewster (Cape Cod), provided details on the event and announced that 44 members
have signed up.
On July 23, a TYP 356 NE drive and a picnic hosted by Greg and Christine McManus at their home in Brookfield, MA, are planned.
Peter also reported that a TYP 356 NE event is planned for the Watkins Glen 2006 Zippo US Vintage Grand Prix, to be held the weekend of September 8-10. More details will be forthcoming.
Tom Gentz will coordinate a TYP 356 NE Technical Session at Meister Restoration on September 16, the subject matter and start time to be set closer to the date. Additionally, Tom will coordinate a Technical Session at George Nelson’s shop in October or November.
A club drive to Tanglewood for a concert and picnic
and a boat ride on the Essex River are pending events yet to be planned.
Details for the 356 East Coast Holiday in Mystic, CT are still unavailable. Bob
talked to Dianne Morrill who is trying to contact the coordinator for the event.
Details on these and other events are on the Club’s
website.
Proposal for a TYP NE 356 Chat Area or Talk Page
Bob DiCorpo led a discussion on whether the TYP 356 NE should develop its' own 356 Chat Area or 356 Talk Page. This was prompted by a request from a few members who wanted this additional club service. After discussion on the benefits of a "Chat Area", and the software that would be required, the Board decided it would need constant monitoring by a Board member or volunteer and voted against the proposal.
Likewise, although the Board felt a TYP 356 NE Talk Page was a good idea, it already exists as 356Talk through the 356 Registry. Through this forum, any 356 related-question can be answered. After discussion of the idea, it was decided not to develop a Club Talk Page, but refer Club members who are not familiar with 356Talk to this informative Registry service. The Club’s TYP 356 NE mail through "Members @" will still be available to members who might want to pose a question or gather other member’s insight on a topic.
Bob DiCorpo will write an email to the TYP 356 NE
members explaining the Board’s action and the reasons.
Club Dues
Next, Bob DiCorpo led a discussion on the Club’s
dues policy, the assessment of a late fee and when that should occur and if the
By-laws should be amended. Currently, membership fees are due January 1 of each
year; however, they are considered late by February 1 and an additional 30-day
grace period is allowed before a member is considered a lapsed member, thus
incurring an extra fee. After discussion, the Board decided to maintain the
current practice and not to amend the By-laws.
Business Cards
Bob DiCorpo then noted that a member asked the Board
to consider having business cards to distribute to prospective members with some
of the fee being used to support a homeless shelter for cats. Discussion ensured
on the suggestion with the Board deciding not to have individual cards made or
to support the shelter. However, it was noted that Membership Chairman Ron
Swenson has TYP 356 NE business cards with his contact information and they
would be appropriate for Board members to give to individuals interested in
joining the Club.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be
held at 6 PM, on March 7, 2006, at a place to be determined.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the
Board, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Larry Bingaman, Secretary
lbingaman@typ356ne.org