February 2007 Board Minutes

Arrowhead Mfg. & Fabricators Association

Board Meeting Minutes

February 14, 2007

The AMFA Board of Directors meeting was held at 10:35 a.m. at the Country Inn & Suites in Duluth on Wednesday, February 14, 2007.  Members present: Dan Larson, David Hogan, Dave Sarvela, Tom Vacca, Gene Betts, Byron Helland, and Mary Brandt.   Speaker Phone: Sandy Kashmark.  Not able to attend: Gary Werkhoven, Rusty Hoglund.

Minutes from the December 2006 meeting were unavailable for approval.   Tabled.

Financial reports were approved on a motion from Betts, 2^nd by Hogan.  The 2007 proposed budget Draft A was approved as printed, with a request to change the format to include the cash balance carried forward from 2006.  Sandy will come up with one or two new reporting formats that allow for quick comparison of “monthly actual” versus “monthly budget” and distribute to the board for feedback.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Marketing/PR/Web/Newsletter:  Betts/Sandy working on improved look for Shoptalk – make it look like a magazine.  Highlights on cover.  Quick links to articles.  Suggestion: Rather than attach PDF of Shoptalk to an email, have the direct email link to the PDF for Shoptalk on the website.

Mission Statement:  Betts suggested modifying the mission statement to add the words, “member companies, their employees …”  Business Cards: Put contact names on the back so we only need to print one type of format.  Brochure: Sandy will send latest version to Betts for updating.  Brandt will send paper to Sandy.  Board will review the final version of the brochure.

Website:  Betts would like more content on the “What is the AMFA?” page of the website. 

Benefits:  Suggestion to have this on a separate page.  Testimonials:  Add to benefits tab.  Motion Hogan, 2^nd by Betts to make changes to “About AMFA” as per Betts’ suggested changes.  This includes above mentioned changes to the mission statement.

Program Committee – Mary Brandt

March 14 – Hibbing.  Seminar on Internet search techniques from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

April 11 – Program needed.  Suggestion from Brandt is Northland Works.  Brandt will arrange speaker.

[Heidi Timm-Bijold arrives.]

May 9 – Grand Rapids.  Sandy will arrange location.  Tour Northland Machine.  Program on Hill Library – Sandy will present.  Brandt will assist with equipment.

Membership Committee –

New Member:    Motion to approve Precision Waterjet Concepts, Pequot Lakes.  Byron, 2^nd by Hogan.

Delinquent:        CNC Solutions – Sandy will email Werkhoven to ask him to follow up

                        Premier Products – Vacca and Larson

                        MN Twist Drill – Brandt

                        Hibbing Community College – requst for funds has been submitted

Government Affairs Committee – No report.

OLD BUSINESS

Hill Reference Library:   Sandy is researching updates and pricing.

Nonmember Policy: Tabled.  One meeting free?

NEW BUSINESS

Two-year Term for President:  Tabled.

Safety Training:  Scott Huberty, Meadowbrook Insurance Group.  Present the two options (1/2 day or 10 hour training) to the membership for input. Include in Shoptalk or separate email.

AMFA Credit Card:  No action.  At this point, the card will stay with Sandy.

Labovitz Awards:  Nominating deadline is March 1.  Larson/Betts will distribute criteria and past winners so we can make nominations. 

Next BOD meeting: Wednesday, March 14^th at Hibbing Community College.

Motion to adjourn:  Vacca, 2^nd by Larson.

Respectfully submitted by Dave Sarvela, AMFA Secretary