The Amherst Club
Annual Meeting
June 7,2011 12:45 AM
Hickory Ridge
The 28th Annual
Meeting of The Amherst Club was held at Hickory Ridge in Amherst on Tuesday,
June 7, 2011. Michael Greenebaum presided in the absence of President, Vivienne
Carey.
The Minutes of the Annual meeting
of June 8, 2010 were
accepted. It was noted that the
minutes can be found on the Club’s web site along with the policies, by-laws,
luncheon notes, etc. (amherstclub.org)
Michael Greenebaum expressed the Club’s gratitude to
President Carey for a job well done this past year. He directed members’ attention to the President’s e-mail
message of May 6, 2011. (It is
included at the end of these minutes).
Michael also thanked the Board and all members of the Club
who devoted time and effort on behalf of the Club’s various activities this
year.
Amherst Club Tax Status
In response to a member’s question, clarification of our tax
status was again offered by Secretary, Joan Hanson. The Amherst Club is a civic organization, and as such
receives the designation 501 c (4) under the Internal Revenue Code. Being a civic organization provides
that the Amherst Club pays no income tax, but does not allow for contributions
to the Club to be tax deductible.
A business donation to the Club is deductible as a business
expense.
Only contributions to educational or charitable
organizations are tax deductible and these organizations are designated 501 c
(3) under the tax code. The
Amherst Club’s endowment falls in this category.
Comments on the Club’s finances in the absence of the Treasurer
The Board has been very aware of the Club’s fine line
between solvency and insolvency.
We pay Hickory Ridge for a minimum of 35 meals each week. Two years ago the Board made a decision
to not increase dues, but eliminate luncheons on the 5th Tuesdays of
certain months. There was also an
active drive to expand the membership and as of this date the Club is
financially relatively stable.
Report of the Amherst Club Membership
Committee
Rachel Mustin
July 2010-June
2011
I. New Brochure: The Amherst Club produced a new Brochure with the
leadership of the Membership Committee.
The theme of the Brochure is “Community Philanthropy and Friendship.”
II. New Application Form:
The Application Form was revised by
the Committee and approved by the Board. It asks for service to the community,
in which club activities the applicant would like to be involved, and two
references rather than a sponsor.
III. Amherst Club Projects: The
Membership Committee encouraged the club to engage in more projects to increase
community service and visibility as well as camaraderie among members. The
Committee stressed involvement as part of membership retention.
IV. Increasing Guests: The Membership Committee encouraged an
increase in luncheon guests, even if not prospective members, so Amherst Club
goals, program of speakers, and fellowship would be better known in the
community, and attendance at lunch would be larger.
V. New Members: A Membership Initiative was inaugurated in August
2010 with considerable success. The Membership Committee reviewed 19 new member
applications and recommended approval by the Board. With Board approval, six
applicants joined as Full Members and 13 as Associate Members.
Membership
Committee
Ellen
Kosmer and Rachel Mustin, co-chairs Cynthia
Brubaker and Arthur Kinney
Report of the Love Notes Chairs – Carolyn Holstein and
Karin Wilburn
Love Notes 2011 was very successful. We held a great concert, party, and
were able to allocate about
$14,000 to the local service agencies. Carolyn noted that the recipients’ luncheon was especially
moving. Nearly all Club members
participated in the fundraiser.
The wrap-up meeting was well attended and an ideas list was
generated. Next year there will be
3 party chairs and the Transportation Committee will be separate.
Jacquie Price and Carolyn Holstein will co-chair Love Notes
next year.
Question to be referred to Board of Directors: Can Love
Notes money be used for the Club’s operating expenses?
Report of the Nominations Committee – Larry Siddall
Michael noted that the Membership is very grateful to Larry
as he had a particularly tough job finding members to serve on the Board for
next year.
Larry presented the list of nominations and there were no
further nominations from the floor.
President:
Arthur Kinney
Vice President: Bonnie Isman
Secretary: Lois
Kakley
Treasurer:
William Vickery
Registrar:
Roger Webb
Attendance:
Claude Tellier
Lunch Notes:
Marian Mepham, Nancy Brose
Membership:
Karin Wilburn, Cynthia Brubaker
Program:
Phyllis Lehrer
Love Notes:
Carolyn Holstein, Jacquie Price
Activities:
Tina Berins, Ruth Miller
Archives: Joan
Hanson
Webmaster:
Peter Snedecor
Nominations:
Vivienne Carey
The nominations for Officers and Board were approved. Larry and Michael expressed particular
appreciation to new people joining the Board - Lois Kackley, William Vickery, Marian Mepham and Peter
Snedecor.
Other Business:
Question: What
happened to the idea of paying dues for the whole year?
Answer: Too few
participated and it was not worth the bookkeeping effort.
Cynthia Brubaker thanked the Program Committee,
especially Phyllis Lehrer, for the fine luncheon programs at the Club this past
year.
Comments: Arthur Kinney, incoming
President
Arthur presented two issues that he will bring to the Board
for discussion.
1)
The donations to the Survival Center at luncheons have
decreased to almost nothing and should the idea be continued?
2)
Can the Club introduce a process to announce folks who are ill
and find a way to show concern?
Discussion of the Endowment Fund:
Michael noted that the fund is 10 years old. It currently seems to require more
energy and effort than the Club can sustain. It has only grown to about $15,000. Michael handed out a questionnaire, the
results of which he listed here and will be presented to the new Board of
Directors for discussion and direction.
Thanks to all who participated in the Endowment Fund
Survey. Here is a summary of the
results.
Twenty-seven surveys were returned.
There were four choices offered on the survey.
"Do nothing and let the Fund continue to grow
slowly" received five first
choices.
"Take it seriously as an Amherst Club fund"
received fourteen first choices.
"Collaborate with other civic groups" received
three first choices.
"Dissolve the Fund" received three first choices.
When asked "Are you willing to work on a fund drive or
other fund enhancement activities?" eighteen members left the answer
blank. Four answered yes, three answered
no, and two answered maybe.
Several members wrote comments and I will turn the set of responses over to Arthur for the
new board's consideration.
Michael Greenebaum
To post to this group, send an email to
AmherstClub@googlegroups.com,
but please use this only for Amherst Club business.
The Annual Meeting dissolved at 1:30 PM.
Note From President Vivienne Carey:
Dear Everyone, May
6, 2011
I am really sorry that I shall be missing the club's annual
meeting on June 7th. However, I will be home on June 20th so will have two more
Tuesdays before the term of my presidency expires. Had I been present, I would
have taken advantage of the annual meeting to say a few words as a summary of
my experiences this year. Instead, I am sending our this message by email.
I can still remember how my hands were shaking on that first
Tuesday when I walked up to the podium. I was terribly nervous about taking on
such a responsible position. However, after a couple of weeks the nerves
disappeared and I began to realize what an enriching, challenging, and
satisfying experience this would be.
At board meetings, members were respectful and orderly
whilst also being forthcoming and dynamic with their comments and suggestions.
At luncheon meetings I came to really look forward to greeting you all and
exchanging news and views.
The year has been filled with interesting and diverse
speakers and deeply satisfying community events. Last weeks fashion show served
to illustrate all the best aspects of our club and its raison d’être. An
enormous number of you either
helped organize, modeled, contributed, or attended the event. The team spirit
was deeply satisfying, and we had a good time into the bargain. Of course, it
was not on the scale of Love Notes, which has equal merits in its own way, nor
like the backpacks project that also saw a generous response from a large
number of you.
I do feel that our club is going from strength to strength
and the many new members who have joined us this year testify to that. Thank
you so very much for having welcomed me as president and for having been so
willing to to participate in all these ventures. I have felt honored to have
worked with you all and am looking forward to following Arthur's lead as he
takes over the reins and guides us along the path that he has chosen to lay
down.
With gratitude and affection,
Vivienne.
Other announcements
at this luncheon included information about Shutesbury’s 250th
parade on this coming Saturday, a concert announced by Ruth Hooke, and Ruth
Miller’s information on the upcoming Connecticut River cruise on the Lady Bea.
Jacquie Price has had spinal surgery and will be going to
rehab.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joan Hanson, Secretary
