BEC Minutes for SIR Los Gatos Branch #141,
November 18, 2015,
Three Flames Restaurant San Jose
BEC Meeting Attendees: Tom Smith, Joe Antuzzi, Ken Begley, Brian Serpa, Bob Greenly, Frank
Leone, Richard Bischoff, Ray Holly, Bill Burr, Dan Eastman, Jim Hill, Fred Shirey, Jim Hicks, Bart
Raynaud, Paul Smith, Freeman Branch, Cliff Burdin, Alan Baker, John Unger.
A quorum was present at the 10AM meeting opening and the agendas for the 18 November BEC and
Membership meeting were approved.
Introduction of Guests Sir Jim Hicks will have a guest at the general meeting today, Mr. Keith Forster
Secretaries Report: Sir Richard Bischoff
It was moved, seconded and carried that the 19 October 2015 BEC minutes be accepted as sent.
Dwight Sale sent an email to all Branch Treasurers re some IRS tax exemption issues and IRS
Form 990. No branch action is required, only patience.
Treasurer’s Report : Sir Frank Leone
The Treasury balances for the month of November ending:
Checking: $1,436.34
Savings: $ 625.43
Oct. Buck-bucket total was $161.50
Big Sir Report: Sir Tom Smith
Big Sir Tom Smith thanked all the BEC members for their cooperation and support over the past
year and praised them for their support to our branch activities. He also thanked Sir Brian Serpa for
stepping in to fill our Little Sir office, and wished him well for the next year.
Little Sir Report: Sir Brian Serpa
Sir Brian Serpa reported on the training session for all new (Year 2016) Area 5 branch officers at The
Villages in San Jose, held on Monday the 26th of October at The Villages. There were training manuals
provided to the attendees, and separate sessions were held for each branch office, Big Sir, Little Sir,
Treasurer and Secretary. Sir Brian Serpa, Sir Bill Billings, Sir Frank Leone and Sir Jim Hicks.
The theme of this event was how to re-vitalize SIR and that there are no “Magic bullets”, only hard
work.
Committee Reports
Membership: Sir Freeman Branch
Sir Freeman Branch reported the active membership count for November is 96 and with 2
inactive.
House: Sir Jim Hill
See Old Business, Christmas Party.
Database : Sir Bart Raynaud.
Sir Bart Raynaud requested to Sir Bob Greenley that he would like to know (feedback) if those
that they contact each month are receiving the e-mail copies of the Bulletin that are sent out to them
each month. (Action Sir Bob Greenley)
Also, he needs pictures of three specific branch members for the new 2016 Membership
Roster, and will get air-time at the General Meeting today to name the parties who need to be
photographed,
Guest Speaker: Sir Ken Begley
Today’s Guest Speaker is Richard Holmboe a docent at the Pigeon Point Light house North of
Santa Cruz.
January’s Guest Speaker will be Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone (on Property
Theft?).
February’s speaker will be Craig Harwood who will talk about John Montgomery, the first real
“heavier than Air” flier.
Web site: Sir Alan Baker
The website address is www.sir141.org. Please look it over regularly.
Alan is now back here. Best wishes to Gloria re her near-term surgery.
Hardware: Sir Paul Smith
Sir Bart Raynaud was able to get a price of $115 for 24 Sir Br. 141 coffee cups. They will be
priced at $7 per cup for sale to branch members, and will be presented to Speakers as a gift from the
Branch. Sir Paul Smith received them today.
Sunshine: Sir Cliff Burdin
Both Gloria Baker and Stan Kaufman will have surgery this month.
Garden Club : Sir Freeman Branch There is no Area 5 November meeting. Contact Freeman for details
re the December meeting and future events.
Activity Reports
Golf: Sir Jim Hill
NCGA membership dues for the year 2016 are due and payable for Sir Branch 141 Golf Activity.
(Checks are to be provided to SIR Jim Hill) The amount is $37 each for all 2015 players. This will be
announced at the membership meeting today.
Bocce: Sir Bill Burr
We are looking for new members for the Bocce activity. We play every Wednesday at 9AM at
the Almaden Lake Park. Show up and be assured you can play and we’ll help you learn, if you haven’t
played before. Sir Ed Klaus is now an active player in the activity.
Travel: Sir Brian Serpa
Brochures for the Hawaii 2017 trip should be available to view at the Christmas Party. Brian will
talk to the membership re the 2016 South America trip today.
Book Exchange: (new activity) Sir Tom Smith has brought some books to share with branch
members. Tom has agreed to mother this new activity into 2016. This will be covered in future BEC
minutes.
Old Business:
Buck bucket dues:
Sir Bart Raynaud brought up the issue of Buck Bucket contributions and the sustainability of
Branch finances via the Buck Bucket (BB) for discussion.
A long series of comments and discussion followed, and it resulted in a proposal (M,S&C’d ) that
for the year 2016, we assess each active member $25 for dues and drop the Buck Bucket concept,
except for special occasions (These occasions, for now, are TBD). Big Sir Tom Smith will announce this
to the membership in today’s membership meeting.
The conclusion from an estimate is that we would have run a $ 640 deficit for year 2015. If instead, we
had received $25 per active member in dues for calendar 2015, our income would be ($25 times 95
equals) $2,375 and our expenses were estimated at @2,294, which would result in a surplus of $ 81
for the year. Wow!!
Christmas Party
Tickets are on sale today for $35 per person. Sir Bart Raynaud provided the dinner tickets and Sir Jim
Hill provided the color-coded menu-selection tickets for the Tri-Steak, Stuffed Chicken or Fish entrees.
Around the Table
Bart will provide to the Branch Secretary the list of members who become 90, 95, 100 in 2016.
(Sir Bart Raynaud Action)
Discussions re the $1 price and the format of the 2016 Roster were deferred to the January BEC
meeting (Sir Brian Serpa Action)
Adjournment
General meeting
November Buck Bucket results $157.59
Attendance was 74, including 2 guests and the speaker.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 AM.
Respectfully Submitted on 20 November, 2015,
Richard Bischoff, Sir Branch 141 Secretary