SnomadS Presidents Message

The old adage, “The only thing constant is change” really applied to this years Annual Membership meeting Election. First, Treasurer Mike Leppeck announced that he would be stepping down in September. Trustee Ray Williams then decided to run for that position. At the Boards’Annual Meeting, he was voted in. This left a three year Trustee position opening. After the Membership meeting election, Bill Green was chosen to fill Ray’s vacant position. The next position up was a two year term for President. Incumbent Ron Schroeder and Trustee Bill Sheldon ran for the position. Due to
a heavy amount of campaigning, the election was very close. The results were Schroeder 56% and Sheldon 44%.

Now, throw another monkey wrench into the mix. Less than a week before the meeting, Secretary Amy Saurini resigned due to personal reasons. Just 1 month after being re-elected as Secretary. So, at the October 6th Board meeting, per our Club by-laws, the Board will appoint and Bill Sheldon has accepted the position of Secretary. Clear as mud? Just wait. Bill’s move creates a trustee vacancy for the remainder of his term for one year. Once again, per the by-laws, the Board has to appoint a replacement. Beings as Matt Baxter received the 2nd highest vote total for the Trustee position vacated by Bill Sheldon, he has been offered and has accepted the Trustee position for a one year term.

So your Board for the 2008-2009 season will look like this.

President --------- Ron Schroeder
Vice President ---- Bill Chatfield
Secretary --------- Bill Sheldon
Treasurer --------- Ray Williams
Trustee ----------- Heath Crow
Trustee ----------- Bill Green
Trustee ----------- Matt Baxter

What does this mean as far as changes. First, the Club phone number will always remain the same, as we purchased a cell phone a couple years back with the Club number on it. Second the Club address will remain the same for the remainder of the season. The big change being,dues invoices, MSA raffle ticket stubs, and Kick Off Party responses will have to go to Ray Williams' address. When you receive your invoices, they will have Ray’s return address on them. What this also means is that even though two new officers will be learning to deal with our two most labor intensive positions. Also, two new trustees will have to learn their way onto a Board that allows for all input to be heard, yet they must be capable of compromise for the best interest of the Club.

With all of this change happening, the roles at the top remain unchanged. Bill Chatfield and I bring close to 20 years total Board experience to the equation. Now whether you consider this a blessing or a curse, it is what it is. Stability. sense of where we’ve been and where we’d like to go as an organization.

One issue we’ll have to deal with in the future is fundraising. As the economy tightens and the trail permit price rises, we will have to address whether the liability vs. profit margin of $1 per permit sold is worthwhile. To receive our usual block of 2000 permits, when prices rise to $35 each, puts us at a liability of $70,000. That’s right. seventy thousand dollars, in hopes of making $2000. Last year we actually only sold 1300 permits. When you account for Novi Show booth costs, we might have made $1000. As the permit price increases, we aren’t going to sell as many due to the reality of cash vs. credit. How many shoppers are going to come to Novi and spend $70 cash on 2 permits? They can buy permits anywhere. They’ll be looking for merchandise bargains.Most will look to purchase permits with credit cards or debit. For us to purchase a credit card machine, plus pay 3% to Visa on each purchase looks like this.

$35 per permit times 3% = $1.05 per permit.

We get $1 for each permit sold. Hmmmm sound like a good business proposition to you? Therefore, we will have to explore other funding options. One of the best bang for your buck deals going, is the MSA raffle tickets. When we turn them in as a Club, we get back 50 cents for every dollar taken in in total sales. If every member bought the $10 pack that we mail you, and then buys the $10 pack that the MSA mails you, that would result in $20 per household times 120 member households, or $1200 back to the Snomads. Wow! And no liability or expense out of pocket. So when you get your MSA raffle tickets in the mail, send the stubs (connected please!) to Ray Williams, so we can turn them in for credit to the Snomads. This is just one of the many issues that we as a Board will be dealing with this season. But rest assured, we have the right people in place and all you’ll have to worry about is whether there’s enough snow on the ground this season.

Ron Schroeder - President