2003 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes (18 July)
(UNOFFICIAL and Edited for website presentation)
President Pat Marsh called meeting to order at 9:34 A.M.
Those present were: Pat Marsh, President; Richard Parks Bland, Vice-President; Charles L. Bland, Historian; LaVerne Bland, Bertha Dunn, Dorothy Bland, Alternate; Vernon Sellars, Linda Ludecke, Patricia Elliott, Robert O. Bland, Past-President; and David Bland, Treasurer (via telephone). Absent was Secretary, Dee Bland Sellars due to illness.
1. The Bland Heritage Foundation Website is being worked on.
2. 1986 we gave $600 to Richard Bland College. Monies mentioned in the 2002 minutes were about us possibly increasing this trust fund, which now stands at $4,430.00. It would need to be increased to $20,000.00 to be effective for scholarships. It was decided by the 2002 board that our group could not do this.
3. A Longevity Award needs to be developed that will be given to those who have been long-time attendees of the reunion. No further action was taken on this item.
4. Questionnaire for those not returning to the next reunion was discussed and approved at the 2002 meeting. Due to the timing, it was not done before the 2003 meeting. This needs to be discussed again. No further action was taken on this item.
Minutes for 2002 meeting were presented by Pat Marsh, and approved.
Profit and Loss Statement showing a net
income of $232.80 from August 1, 2002 through July 6, 2003.
Balance Sheet shows the following balances:
General Reserve Fund $20.00
Current FY Operating Fund $632.54
Historic Sites Maint. Fund $1365.05
Total Assets of $2017.58
Charles stated that he was gratified that so many cousins have hung together to keep the family group together. He thanked David & Joan Bland & Patricia Marsh for their contributions.
Did not have a report since she had not spoken with site organizer, Janice Friel.
Vernon Sellars gave report that he had collected $2070.00 in reservations, and paid out $123.59 for Reunion Buttons, and $22.39 for postage, leaving a balance of $1924.02. Other expenses would be coming out of this amount for the Restaurant and other expenses Janice Friel hand incurred. The balance would be sent to the Treasurer.
We are expecting to be in Salt Lake City next year. It was suggested by President Pat Marsh that we have a Co-Chair for the Reunion Committee. We would like to also include a Pre-reunion Conference to do research at the L.D.S. Library. It was recommended that Linda Verbeck Ludecke be co-chairperson with Patricia Elliott of the Reunion Committee. This was agreed to by all present. A motion was not made on this item.
Guidelines for future reunions need to be drawn up and put into practice. A meeting between Pat Marsh, Patricia Elliott and Linda Ludecke will be scheduled for a later date. No motion was made on this item, and no further discussion was made. (SECRETARY’S NOTES: It will need to be handled via Internet meetings later in the year)
The 2004 Salt Lake City Reunion: Mildred Hunter will be Honorary Chairperson, and her daughter Alice Walker is co-chairperson. Registration fees for reunion and pre-conference will need to be set. Reunion committee will need to meet with Salt Lake City sponsors to tie down location. Linda Ludecke proposed a 60-day deadline for obtaining Hotel and Restaurants locations. Charles Bland is to contact sponsor and start the ball rolling to that end.
Charles suggested that the 2005 Reunion be held in Tennessee and will try to locate a sponsor for that, and the possibility of the 2006 Reunion to be held in England.
The budget was proposed of $175 for hosting and domain registration, and a one-time fee of up to $150 for software purchase of ADOBE ACROBATÒ, for a total of $325.00. Motion made by Charles L. Bland and seconded by Richard P. Bland. APPROVED unanimously.
A request was made that David look into income from Amazon.com as Charles & Patricia had made purchases totaling $210.00.
Charles L. Bland moved,
Richard P. Bland second, the adoption of the Fiscal Policy submitted by the Treasurer, including the following funds:
General Reserve Fund
Operation Fund
Bland Historical Site Maintenance Fund
National Reunion Fund
Operating fund would be funded each year for website. Auction funds beginning in 2004 will go to general reserve fund. Reunion fund will be funded from Registration fees. Any profit/loss will go to General Reserve Fund. Motion was APPROVED unanimously.
A letter from Vera Moore was read with attachment copies for service from Timmons to set corner boundaries of cemetery.
Discussed contents of who was buried in Bland Plot. The Armastead Sisters say stones have been bulldozed. DAR Historical marker has been refurbished and will be re-erected – IF Developer grants “right-of-way”.
Richard asked if this was the ORIGINAL plot of land or a revised site? Ann Armastead and her sister were at the dedication and said the original site was larger.
Richard asked for copies of the survey report from Timmons. This will be requested from Vera Moore. David Bland asked if survey was filed with the County? Do we want to put a fence around the site? Pat Marsh asked if we could reimburse Vera Moore for the survey at some later date?
It was suggested that we established a committee to investigate establishing WHO was buried where and the exact boundaries of the site and what land is NOW owned.
We have to make our presence known to developer and show that we are a preservation group.
Richard Bland made a motion that someone makes up a list of questions to present to be researched by someone who lives in the Virginia area, and a board member designated to this process. David Bland seconded the motion.
Robert O. Bland, Charles L. Bland, and Richard Parks Bland were appointed to organized a list to get with Vera Moore. APPROVED unanimously.
Pat Marsh distributed a list of items that should be considered:
(SECRETARY’S NOTE: A copy will be attached to these minutes)
We need to include a variety of family lines on the board. Pat requested permission of the board to revamp election of President, vice-president, and past-president to serve a two years term.
Revise Constitution and By-laws, and she volunteered to serve as coordinator of this project.
Review Constitution and give Pat Marsh a response by AUGUST 31st…or 30 days from date Pat Marsh mails copies of Constitution to board members.
Suggested we revise Constitution to include more families and more board members with a maximum of Twelve (12) voting members on the board. Some members thought this was too many. It will be discussed at a later meeting. Maybe only increase to nine (9) members instead.
Guidelines APPROVED.
a. Secretary – Dee Sellars has request that she not be reappointed to this position. Linda Ludecke was appointed as Secretary.
b. David Bland was appointed Webmaster
c. Charles L. Bland was appointed Historian
d. Patricia Elliott was appointed Reunion Committee Chair, with Linda Ludecke as co-chair
2. Nominations of Board of Directors.
a. LaVerne Bland
b. Richard Parks Bland
c. Linda Ludecke
David Bland made a motion to make Terese Bueker coordinator of DNA program. Seconded by Charles Bland. Passed Unanimously.
Terese Bueker presented a program explaining the DNA program. A 25-marker test cost $169 for a “group” rate, vs. a normal rate of $250 per person.
She will present the same program at the general meeting requesting that all males with the surname of Bland participate.
A suggestion was made that we might be able to start a DNA Fund to help sponsor volunteers. This item was tabled for a later date.
The purpose of the testing was quoted by Terese Bueker as:
“The Bland DNA project was initiated by Bland researchers whose ancestors settled in Edgefield Co., SC. The idea is to try to sort out unconnected Bland’s from that county. The next step in this process would be to determine if there is a connection between the Edgefield Co. Blands and the James River branch. The project is intended to supplement conventional genealogical research to identify families who share a common male ancestor. The long-term goal is for this project to become a clearinghouse of Bland DNA world-wide to further research for all Bland researchers.”
Pat Marsh proposed the name of the organization be, “BLAND HERITAGE FOUNDATION”.
David Bland seconded motion. There being no discussion, the motion was APPROVED unanimously.
Pat Marsh distributed samples of the flyer that she wants to distribute to all who sign in. All agreed that the flyer was good. It will be given to all who register for the 2003 Reunion.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:55 A.M. until the general meeting on July 19, 2003 when nominations will be made for election of board members.
At the general meeting the following names
were presented for election:
Richard Bland nominated by Bertha Dunn and seconded by Walter Greenlee
LaVerne Bland nominated by Vernon Sellars and seconded by Alice Napier
Linda Ludecke nominated by Terese Bueker and seconded by Wyatt Miler
Alice Napier nominated by Richard Bland and seconded by Patricia Elliott
Janice Friel nominated by Wayne Bland. Nomination declined by Janice Friel.
Nominations were closed at 12:45 P.M.
Ballots were passed out to all present to vote on Three Board members. The fourth nominee would become an alternate to the board.
Those elected to the board are: Richard Bland, LaVerne Bland and Linda Ludecke. Alice Napier will be an alternate.
Respectfully submitted.
Linda V. Ludecke
Secretary
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