Minutes of Meeting of the Masonic Motorcycle Association of Australia Inc (MMAA) held on Sunday 18 November 2007 at 3 Pier Restaurant, 3 Station Pier, Port Melbourne at 10.10am
Present:
Grant Bates; Dot Marshall; Terry Webster; Noel Weaver & Leonie Weaver
Apologies:
Greg Marshall; Dylan Weaver; Renae Weaver; Page Weaver; Terry Doyle; Michelle Duiker; Steve Lane; Ian Lanyon; Chris Nott; Lorraine Webster and Michael Fernando
Grant welcomed all members present. All members were asked to take a card from a playing deck and Leonie, having the highest number, won a bottle of MMAA VIC labelled wine.
Minutes of Previous Meeting:
Moved: T Webster
Seconded: G Bates
“That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 July 2007 having been distributed by email and/or mail be accepted.”
CARRIED
Corrections to Minutes:
NIL
Business Arising from Minutes:
Terry advised that the financial liability owing to the National MMAA re unpaid dues had been paid.
Terry also advised that Christopher Whittaker was advertising for prospective members to join the MMAA in Western Australia with little success.
Correspondence:
INWARDS
DATE | FROM | REGARDING |
4/8/07 | Carl Schembri | Thankyou for donation |
17/9/07 | Nick Rinkel PGDC Freemasons VIC | Approval of $1,000 grant |
OUTWARDS
DATE | TO | REGARDING |
16/7/07 | VIC Members | Invitation to Ride Scheduled for 26/8/07 |
18/7/07 | VIC Members | Minutes of Meeting & AGM 15/7/07 |
29/7/07 | Dylan & Renae Weaver | Congratulations on birth of Spencer |
26/8/07 | The Secretary Board of Benevolence Freemasons VIC | Progress with Community Connections |
26/9/07 | VIC Members | Notice of General Meeting 18/11/07 |
26/9/07 | VIC Members & Gary Duffy | Xmas Dinner 1/12/07 |
12/11/07 | VIC Members | Reminder re General Meeting 18/11/07 |
Terry offered to send a thank you letter to Nick Rinkel PGDC Freemasons VIC on behalf of Community Connections.
Treasurers Report:
Terry advised a bank balance of $3,284.83 which did not include $30.00 EFT funds received the day before from Chris Nott. He stated that $1,215.00 of the balance belonged to Community Connections which left an operating balance of $2,069.83 (not including C Nott monies).
Terry advised there were no monies owing to the MMAA VIC Chapter. A cheque amounting to $715.00 had been paid to the MMAA National Body which represented MMAA VIC membership to the 30/6/08 at $5.00 per member as per the decision made in previous minutes.
Moved: T Webster
Seconded: N Webster
“That the Treasurers Report as read be accepted.”
CARRIED
Leonie requested some funds to purchase 2 raffle prizes for the Xmas Dinner on 1/12/07.
Moved: T Webster
Seconded: D Marshall
“That Leonie is authorised to spend up to $50.00 for Xmas Dinner raffle prizes.”
CARRIED
Presidents Report:
Grant requested an email be sent to all VIC financial members to encourage them to attend the next National AGM to be held Australia Day weekend (26/1/08) next year, in the possibility of maximising attendance. He suggested Nomination Forms be attached to this notice.
Terry offered to book accommodation for any members wishing to attend the National AGM.
Terry proposed the following National AGM Agenda items:
“
MMAA Website
The website has not been updated for some time. I propose that we elect a webmaster to redesign the website and then update and maintain its content. If necessary, a small stipend is paid for this service from the national account. (Terry advised that he would propose that Steve Lane be contracted to Design the Website and maintain same on a yearly basis for $300.00 per annum.)
Membership
Membership applications have declined rapidly in the past year. It is important for the MMAA to be active, and visible, in NSW and it would be helpful if the occasional article or ad could be run in the NSW Freemasonry Magazine. The same applies for Victoria. We know that these ads work (e.g. VMMA’s success).
Additionally, it may be a good tactic to place a small article, or ad, in the Freemasonry magazine of each state.
Newsletter
Members, nationally, have not been regularly updated on rides and events. It is recommended that a bi-monthly newsletter be sent out to all online members as a means of maintaining contact and interest. I propose that a “Social Secretary” be elected to address this important issue.
Ride Calendar
Each Chapter should maintain interest through the organisation of activities and rides on a regular basis, at least monthly. As a means of regular update, all members of each Chapter shall have notification of these activities (Vic already does this).
National Incorporation
As nothing has been finalised to date, this must be actively pursued, by the executive, with the view to national incorporation at the earliest opportunity.
National Membership Fees
Much discussion has taken place on exactly what proportion of Chapter membership fees should be paid to the national account. I propose it be confirmed as $5 per adult member.
Family Membership
As our Association is based on social principles and preferences, family involvement and involvement with non-Masons is an integral part of our function. I propose that family members under the full licence age (say, 18 yrs) be admitted as “Associate” members of the MMAA, free of fees, until attaining that age.”
Grant advised that Roger Coates was getting frustrated with NSW members as he was trying to organise meetings and rides with little success.
New Business:
Dot advised that the Xmas Dinner (1/12/07) numbers were needed by the venue together with a $100.00 deposit. Dot was requested to ring the restaurant with the final numbers of 13 (Bates (1); Lane (2); Marshall (2); Nott (2); Weaver D & R (2); Weaver N & L (2); Webster (2)) and pay a deposit over the telephone which would be deducted from her bill on the night.
Terry advised the MMAA VIC WebSite was now up to date and he was going to be shown how to put Reports on the WebSite. He advised the WebSite had been getting a lot of “hits” from overseas. Terry requested more photos for the site.
Dot was requested to email the Road Captain (Page Weaver) to organise a ride before Xmas. Broadford was suggested as a possible ride.
It was suggested that Dot put a postscript on the bottom of all emails sent to members, to alert members to advise the Secretary of names of members who were experiencing serious health issues. This would enable the MMAA VIC to keep other members informed and also for the membership as a whole to help any member, where help was necessary.
Moved: T Webster
Seconded: L Weaver
“That Terry organise for 6 dozen mixed “clean skins” to be labelled with MMAA VIC labels and sold to interested members and friends.”
CARRIED
Next Meeting:
No meeting date was set.
There being no further business the meeting concluded at 11.25
MD/DOT/LODGE/MMAA Minutes 18-11-07
