We have 177 current members. As a comparison, prior years’ memberships were 181 last year, 215 in 2001, and 69 in 2000.
The annual membership drive is approaching in January. We try to contact as many current members as possible via email, but we would like to personally contact those without email and those who had previously been members but didn’t renew last year. We need volunteers to help with this. Please contact Chuck if you can find some time to help.
Compliant with our bylaws, nominations for the offices of Director, Secretary, and Membership Chair were accepted until the end of the October meeting. The nominees are Phil Ward for Director, Val Schwandt for Secretary, and Chuck Barsness for Membership Chair. Our bylaws state that no further nominations may be taken unless no one is nominated for an open position. This isn’t the case, so since these offices are uncontested, the slate of candidates will be officially approved at the December meeting. Ballots will not be mailed out, nor are votes necessary.
Next year’s elections will be for the offices of Assistant Director and Treasurer. Be thinking ahead – let’s get some of these offices contested.
Although the Fall Picnic was not well attended, those who made it had a good time. The County Park near Le Sueur was a good location. It was agreed we should hold the picnic earlier than October next year.
There is interest in shifting the dates of the 2004 Rally later to be just before Sturgis. This would put the Rally Wednesday August 4 through Sunday August 8 (Sturgis is August 9 through 15). After much discussion, we saw the advantage would be for those who attend both our Rally and Sturgis from the East half of the country…it would allow them to extend their Sturgis vacation a few more days and attend both events. The impact of the change in Rally dates appears to be minimal to locals who don’t attend Sturgis as long as we announce it soon. We’re not sure how this will affect our West Coast attendees. Also a consideration, on what day do the Sturgis-bound members leave? Saturday has been our biggest Rally day, but it is also the best day to depart for Sturgis. Also a consideration: If the Chapter is organizing a ride to Sturgis departing from our Rally, what are our responsibilities regarding a support vehicle/trailer? We cannot guarantee support, but if it’s an organized ride, will we be expected to take care of those who have bad luck?
Although John’s Repair is a good meeting place during riding months, it was suggested we could hold some of the winter meetings at various locations around the Twin Cities as we’d done the first three years of our Chapter’s existence. It was decided that the meetings will remain on Sundays, and volunteers will set up these meetings in advance so enough notice is given to the membership. Note that the next meeting is at John’s on Sunday December 21.
There were many ideas tossed around for our involvement in Sturgis. Any events would be planned early in the week. The best options are to communicate to our members a place and time E-H owners can meet. We will discuss this during our upcoming meetings. If anyone has suggestions, direct your input to Chuck soon.
The year 2005 is arguably the 100 years anniversary for Excelsior-Henderson. If anyone has any ideas/interest in something we can do which is special, please contact Chuck
What will next year’s membership gift be? Any ideas, contact Chuck.
If anyone has information about our bikes, new E-H groups, etc. that should be shared with other owners, contact *any* of the officers. If it’s something which should be on our Website, contact our Webmaster.
It may be a good idea for the Chapter to print flyers or business cards to distribute to members so if they run across an E-H or an owner, there is an easy way to inform them.
The meeting was adjourned and we ate brats & hot dogs with smelly but tasty condiments.
Dec. 21, 2003, 1:00 pm, at John's Repair in Le Sueur, MN.