MINUTES: ERA Executive Board of Directors Meeting Wed., Jan. 21, 2009 Start Time: 6:36 pm CST Attendees: Jim Thomas, Joe Bradish, Chris Thompson, Ronnie Charnes, Kenny Turner, Joe Davis, Mike Schroeder, Wes Grueninger, Tom Barrett, Jerry Kieffer, Mike Dietrich, Ken Plourde and Harald Kober MEETING AGENDA 1. TREASURERS REPORT Chris Thompson reported that there is currently $36,700.66 in the checking account with all bills paid. A check from the APRA for the Joe Davis seminar is still pending and Jim Thomas will call regarding non- receipt. Chris Thompson will send final 2008 financial totals in an email. 2. MEMBERSHIP REPORT Jerry Kieffer reported that as of Dec. 2008 there were 461 members with 3 new members and one member reinstated in December. So far, 1 new member has joined in January. The newly-formed committee of Jerry Kieffer, Tom Barrett and Chris Galbreath will meet to establish new membership goals. 3. TRAINING COMMITTEE REPORT a.) Mike Schroeder initiated talks with Juan Grube of JIMCO. Wes Grueninger then had many conversations with Juan Grube. The goal of these talks was to create a website for the JIMCO testing manuals which could be accessible to ERA members. The ERA would pay Wes Grueninger for the creation of the website. ERA members would have free access to the JIMCO website. The start-up cost to the ERA would be $7500 with completion of the massive project by the Kansas City show. Mike Dietrich made a motion that Wes Grueninger move on the proposed project with JIMCO and the ERA support it financially at a start up cost of $7500. The ERA agrees to develop a website to serve up this information. The ERA will pay the upfront cost in exchange for the test bench information provided by JIMCO. Ronnie Charnes seconded the motion which passed unanimously. b.) Mike Schroeder reported another Training Committe consideration: Wes Grueninger will develop a new proposal for the ERA to initiate short videos as a training method rather than webinars. 4. SHOW REPORT BY KEN PLOURDE Ken Plourde, Bob Thomas, Wes Grueninger, Hank Henke, Ronnie Charnes, Dan Poremba, Bill Skillings and Polly Shea held a 3-hr teleconference planning meeting for the upcoming Kansas City ERA show. Business management, Quickbooks, credit card processing, OE reps, ERA website seminar, heavy duty seminar, the Joe Davis seminar and a roundtable were all discussed. Polly Shea will furnish more details in the near future. The ERA has offered Polly Shea help as needed. 5. APPROVAL OF THE 2009 BUDGET SEE ATTACHMENT. Jim Thomas noted that an adjustment to allow for book keeping for taxes of $500 per year needs to be added to the 2009 budget. Ken Plourde made a motion to accept the 2009 budget with that change. Chris Thompson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 6. NEW BUSINESS Ken Plourde has established a 3-member Nominating Committee. The nominations for the April elections in Kansas City will be posted on the ERA website previous to the Kansas City show. THE NEXT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR FEB. 18, 2009 AT 6:30 PM CST. Meeting adjourned at 8:08 pm CST. Respectfully submitted, Joe Bradish Secretary