FREEDOM FIRST RIDERS 
February 2010 Meeting

Officers present…President: Mike “jeppe”jeppesen
                                     Vice president:  chris Thomas
                                     Secretary:  joni schmitt
                                     Treasurer:  roxanne hedine
                                     State rep: Ray Stach
                                     Master Sergeant of arms: Brent Bernardy
Meeting called to order:  6:00 P. M.
Pledge of allegiance and moment for the veterans (Mary)
Members present:   43        Guests present: 0              New members: 0

Secretary minutes:  Murf made a motion to accept Secretary Minutes as issued.  John seconded and the motion carried. 
  
Treasurer report: Cindy made a motion to accept Treasurers Report as read.  Ernie seconded the motion and the motion carried.

State report: 

• Nominations continue tonight
• Two changes were made on the state level – neither of them affecting FFR.
• Continue to write your legislators!!!  Should you be inclined…make a copy of your letter and the written response from your representative and give them to Ray.   However, it is not necessary that you share the letter you wrote –but to get a patch, a copy of the response is required. 
• In your letters, please include “no use” of the money in the motorcycle safety fund for balancing the budget.  That money was paid through motorcycle license fees for education purposes.

VICE PRESIDENT REPORT:

•  Chris apologizes for clucking and ducking on his Stuff the Bus for Biker Day on the Hill….job had to come first.
• Bike Show: 
• Can Coozies are done and can be purchased this evening – $2.00- See Doc.
• Many fliers are up– there are some left!  Feel free to grab them and hang them up.
• There are 2 booths left if you know of anyone ($25.00). 
• WE STILL NEED A LEATHER VENDOR!!!!  Call Chris if you know anyone!
• There will be a volunteer sign-up sheet at the next meeting!  Please sign up to help
• Custom labeled bottles of wine – see Chris if you want to pre-sign for a bottle.  Only a few will be made.
• Encourage people to enter their bikes in the show.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Education REPORT/Bob:  none
PUBLIC RELATIONS/HOWIE:  Keep those pictures coming! 
GAMBLING/RAY: 

•  Motorcycle raffle tickets ($100.00 ones):  Ray is out but will be getting more.  Remember, FFR will receive $10.00/ticket that our group sells. 
• FFR raffle tickets are going fast (remember only 1000 were printed).  Please turn in money and stubs at the March meeting.  NOTE:  There were some with no numbers on them….please watch for this and make sure you give the buyer a ticket that has a number (you shouldn’t be short on tickets but the one with no number is an extra)!!!

BUDDY BEARS:  We need to get an order in.  Mary made a motion that we order 40 Buddy Bears.  Murf seconded and the motion carried.  The money for these will be coming out of the General Fund.
WEBSITE/GLENN: 

• Due to spam hits on Shout Out ~There is now a login and password .  Ask a member for the login and password.
• Glenn is working on an online registration form for the Bike Show.  He believes that this will be a print and mail form.

DIAL-A-RIDE/JOHN:

• Currently working on a commercial ad campaign.
• Working on purchasing another trailer or two.  The Dial-A-Ride group has received $7500.00 from “Bikers in Need Foundation” to go towards purchasing trailers.
• Coasters are being made up with Dial-A-Ride info on one side and beer company on the other (the beer companies will be paying for these).
• John will be passing around a volunteer sign-up sheet for the upcoming season…Please volunteer!

MEMBERSHIP/MURF: no report
 
OLD BUSINESS

•  ABATE U/Chapter Challenge:  each chapter is being asked to contribute in order to offset costs.  Robert made a motion to donate $100.00 to ABATE U to offset costs. The motion was seconded by Steve and the motion carried. A centerpiece is needed for ABATE U _ Roxanne and Joni rose to the challenge.
• Biker Night @ the Blizzard Game:  This has been moved to March 26th.  The cost is $25.00 which includes the cost to get in, food, beer and pop …. Not to mention a good time!
• Shirts:  See Murf to pre-pay and order.
• Membership Challenge:  Check with friends and family to see if they are current on their membership … find new friends and family to join …
• MEMBERSHIPS MUST BE PAID UP IN ORDER TO VOTE IN ELECTIONS AND WILL BE CHECKED.

NEW BUSINESS

•  There is a bus outside waiting to take us to Glacial Ridge’s Fund Raiser – it will return to Leaf Valley to finish out the evening dancing to Whiplash and helping Jesse (Leaf Valley’s Illustrious Owner) celebrate his birthday.
• REST AREA WASHOUTS: (this would be the washing of windows at a rest area; talking to motorists about motorcycles soon to be on the road again)

This is in May during Biker Awareness month.  No cost to us. FFR officers will get to work on this…i.e. choosing a weekend and place.

•  There are some Chapter fund raisers coming up that Ray has some free tickets for – so check with him to see if he has any that you may wish to attend. 

ON TO NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICERS…Chris made a motion that Jeppe NOT read every officer job description this time.  Motion was seconded by Jeff and motion carried.

NOMINATIONS for:

• SGT AT ARMS: No new nominations.  Jeff Beattie, Brent Bernardy, Mary Wessel and Ritchie Theusch are still agreeable to be on the ballot.
• SECRETARY:  Donna Olson is a new nomination.  Joni Schmitt still agrees to remain on the ballot.
• TREASURER:  No new nominations.  Roxanne Hedine agrees to remain on the ballot.
• STATE REP:  No new nominations.  Ray Stach agrees to remain on the ballot.
• VICE PRESIDENT:  Gary Goracke  is a new nomination.  Robert Hedine and John Nelson agree to remain on the ballot.
• PRESIDENT:  No new nominations.  Mike Jeppesen agrees to remain on the ballot.

Don made a motion that nominations cease.  Sandy seconded the motion.  Motion Carried.

Motion to adjourn:   John         SECOND:  Don                MOTION CARRIED

 NEXT MEETING: 

• Date: March 27, 2010
• Place:  Leaf Valley Merchantile 
• Time: 6:00 p.m.

Minutes taken and submitted by:  Joni Schmitt