Absent Officer: Mitzie 'Lee' Stickley
Officers present: Steve Nemec, Sharry Starner, and Annette Smith.
Absent Officer: Mitzie 'Lee' Stickley
The meeting was convened at the East of Chicago Pizza Restaurant. The meeting began with a Social Hour where Club members, their friends, and family congregated and enjoyed each others company. The meeting began with President Steve Nemec, assisted by Kevin Landfair, drawing out the first 50 Reverse Raffle tickets. Taking a break from Raffle duties he presented the Club's business portion of the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
The President stated that the Club paid for four snow removals for the 2002-2003 winter season at a cost totalling $550. He also stated that the Club has given $1,350 to the Wayne County Fair Board for stone and race-track maintenance: grading the track.
NEW BUSINESS:
The President formally announced that his term as Club President has expired and he does not wish to continue in that capacity. He opened the floor for Presidential nominations. However, nobody came forward to accept the position so the position has been left open. With no President the Club's duties for the rest of 2003 will fall on Vice President, Sharry Starner, and Treasurer, Annette Smith.
The President then asked whether people want to hold a Matinee this year or cancel it altogether due to lack of participation and interest. The entry box was light last year and there were only enough horses to fill six races. The Club breaks even running a Matinee but does not make a profit. So, with approximately 26 people present a vote was taken on interest in having a Matinee. Sixteen people expressed interest, but suggested that it be a training session with only local people and their horses scoring behind a gate on the back of a truck. They expressed no need for a real starting gate, insurance, sound, and ambulance service. No specific date or time was established for having a training day-matinee, a 'wait and see' attitude was taken. Vice President, Sharry Starner, expressed the idea that the Club's focus could move away from Matinee racing and concentrate on annual fund-raising that would specifically benefit racehorse trainers on the Fairgrounds by providing funds for racetrack maintenance, track equipment, and snow removal.
A motion was presented and passed to refurbish Monroe Weaver's old aluminum starting gate, it currently will not fit on any pickup truck on the grounds. The Club will pay to have it made to fit on the back of Chevy pickup trucks for use by all racehorse trainers on the Fairgrounds.
Next the President turned the floor over to Annette Smith for a Treasurer's Report. She reiterated the cost of this season's snow removal: $550, and race-track maintenance: $1,350. Matinee Day costs: insurance: $125, Judge: $50, ambulance service: $125, sound system: $50, starting gate: $150. Matinee Day income: $345. Last year's Reverse Raffle income: $1,301 - thanks to Rich Mairs for donating back to the Club his winnings from the 2002 raffle. A printed version of the report was available for all interested Club members.
After the Treasurer's report the President took up drawing the rest of the tickets for the Reverse Raffle. The complete list of names drawn in order follows (if I mis-spelled your name, sorry!):
With the Raffle winners announced the meeting adjourned.