Old meetings

General meeting

Alacosta membership voted to have a contest to name the new boat, currently known as Pépé. The prize is one free day of diving from Pépé; the usual cost is $5 per day, but may soon be raised. The final decision will be at the June general meeting.

Rocky Rockafellow is investigating meeting space for the general meeting after April. Rocky is also placing an ad to sell Big Bertha, which will not be sold for less than $750.

Executive board Meeting

At the May executive board meeting, it was suggested that the fee paid for hauling a boat and engine to Catalina be reduced from $60 to $30. The executive board voted to send this fee change to the general membership.

The executive board voted that Catalina non-divers will not pay a boat fee. This decision needs to be approved by the general membership at the June meeting.

Boat Fund:  There was a lot of discussion on the issue of money for the care and feeding of the fleet.  Bill McDowell made a motion to increase the boat fee for dives from any of the club boats from $5 per person per day to $8 this year and $10 next year.  Seconded by Carolyn.  Arguments in favor of the increase focused mainly on the need to get the engines in more reliable condition, including the engine purchased with the new boat.  Arguments against the increase included the fact that hardly anyone uses the boats anymore and there's still several thousand dollars in the boat fund that hasn't been spent yet.  The motion was later amended to an increase to $8 for this year only.  This motion passed 3-2 and will now be presented to the general membership for a vote at the June 4 general meeting. 

Membership status check:  There was discussion of whether or not to continue sending snail mail Blurbs to members of uncertain status.  Kevin will check historical records to attempt to bring the roster status column up to date.  Then the club can determine which members will receive snail-mail Blurbs. out-of-state and relatively inactive, and should be surveyed to see if they still wish to receive the Blurbs at an annual cost of $12.  This matter will be referred to the Membership Chair for action.

Big Bertha:  Rocky reported that the black boat has not attracted any prospective buyers to date.  Rocky and Bill McDowell met at Mike Dailey's house last Wednesday to deflate and repack the boat to make space in Mike's yard for a family affair this weekend.  At the same time, a friend took some digital photo's of the boat that might be useful if we advertise the boat in any electronic notices, to other dive clubs for example.  Rocky will place an ad in the Contra Costa Times to be effective next Tuesday.  The ad will run for a week.  Asking price will be $1,000, as originally approved by the membership.  Kevin will look into E-Bay ads. 

Bill McDowell suggested revising the by-laws to set the annual dues at $20 per person as a flat rate.  This would eliminate reduced rates for additional family members.  Bill will draft up a proposal for language changes needed and bring it to the June 4 meeting. Other suggested amendments suggested extending the $12 fee for additional family members to cover any additional household member.