The meeting of the Executive Committee of Department of Indiana, Chapter 7 was called to order by President Jim Bauerle at 1900, 25 June 2001, at the Carmel VFW.
Members present were: Jim Bauerle, Ed Danley, Art Bowers, Jim Patton
1. The first item of business was discussion of a request from Harold Henneke, President of the Indianapolis Chapter of the Air Force Association, to conduct a joint meeting with Chapter 7, on 9 August at the Best Western, Clermont. The speaker is to be LTG (Ret) Mutter. After some discussion, the concensus of the Executive Committee was to accept the proposal from the AFA for a joint meeting.
2. Treasurer Art Bowers presented a proposed budget for the current fiscal year. There were several items of discussion for this budget.
a. The department deducts delegate fees for conventions prior to sending membership checks to the Chapter. It is difficult to determine exactly what we are receiving for membership dues and how much is being deducted for delegate fees. That makes it difficult to establish accountability for chapter funds. Art would prefer to see an itemized listing of deductions with the checks.
b. Art pointed out that we do not now know how JROTC awards are paid for.
c. $ 500 was in the proposed budget for newsletters. The concensus was that the newsletter is a valuable tool to energize membership and that $ 1000 should be allocated for newsletters for the fiscal year.
d. A line item for "Membership/Recruitment" of $ 50/month will be added to the budget.
e. There was some discussion around ways to raise funds for the chapter.
i. Art offered that TROA mans a booth at IMS during race weeks as a fund-raiser. An item will be included in the next newaletter to solicit members' willingness and intent to participate in such fund-raisers.
ii. The chapter will sell coffee and doughnuts in the morning of the Global Affairs Conference to raise funds.
f. The concensus was that the proposed budget was a good step forward and that the chapter will use it as a working document going forward. Art will make the changes in the budget suggested by the Executive Committee.
3. Strategies to raise chaptyer membership were discussed.
a. While we have a list from national of ROA members who are identified with Chapter 7, we do not know how many national members reside within the Chapter 7 area who are not affiliated with the Chapter. Ed will get a listing of ROA members with no chapter affiliation by zip code from national.
b. It was agreed that taking the chapter to members in the form of monthly meetings at Reserve Centers is a viable way to raise chapter membership. Jim Patton will provide a list of centers that he has from ESGR to use as a planning document. This will be an item of discussion for next month's Executive Committee meeting.
c. We need to have a bigger supply of handouts and membership applicaations. Ed will get these from national.
4. President Bauerle reported that the 10 November Global Affairs Conference is on track. It will be at the War Memorial. A quality slate of speakers is invited. He knows of no specific chapter responsibilities for this session.
5. President Bauerle reported that the spring presentations of ROTC and JROTC medals went well. We had someone to present medals at all schools except Knightstown. All those who participated reported that it was a satisfying experience and they wanted to be asked to do it again next year.
6. The Executive Committee set the activities calendar for the current year:
a. 9 August 2001 - Joint meeting with AFA
b. 10 November 2001 - Global Affairs Conference
c. January 2002 - National Mid-Winter Conference, Washington, DC
d. 16 February 2002 - Chapter meeting, Time and place TBD
e. 4 May 2002 - Chapter meeting, Time and place TBD
7. The Executive Committee agreed to meet monthly for the next three months. After that time, meeting frequency will be reviewed and changed as necessary. The next scheduled meetings are 16 July, 20 August, and 17 September. Meetings will be at the Carmel VFW.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2050.
Respectfully submitted,
James R Patton
Secretary, Chapter 7.
