Mountaineer Chapter of A.B.A.T.E Morgantown, W. VA.

August 21st
Discussion on T-shirts for Jan. 15^th A.B.A.T.E. State Meeting:
Member, Mary Stanley, having difficulty with current computer software program; handling issue with local business and hopes to be able to provide items prior to, or at, meeting in Charleston.
Discussion on A.B.A.T.E. lisence plate frames:
Member Tom Fowler presented updated information; plate frames are chrome with black lettering and would be $9.00 each with quantity of 25 or more ordered; plate frames will be sold to members @ $1.00 over cost; order forms provided for review. Also discussed selling any/all extra frames @ Mountainfest for cost of $15.00 each; on motion from Tom Fowler, with 2^nd by Andrew Lindsay, all members accepted to order plate frames.
Discussion on upcoming WV State A.B.A.T.E. meeting to be held in Charleston on Jan. 16^th:
Members planning to attend are Wayne, Billie Dawn & Jeff Price, Mary Stanley, Julio, April Statler and Jeff Fletcher; State Chapter will be paying for officer’s rooms; accomodations will be @ Smiley’s Motel, MacCorkle Avenue; dinner @ Tomahawks, Legislative meet-and-greet, etc.; Vice President, Carol Harvey, made motion of Mountaineer Chapter providing each member attending $25.00 from petty cash fund to cover gas and food expenses, with 2^nd by Mary Stanley, all members accepted $25.00 provision to each member attending WV State A.B.A.T.E. meeting.
Discussion on future WV State A.B.A.T.E. Party:
President Wayne Harvey inquired if any new thoughts, ideas, or actions regarding future WV State A.B.A.T.E. Party; member Andrew Lindsay presented detailed information regarding his meeting with owner of “Marvin’s Mountaintop” in Masontown, WV (“All-Good Festival); facilities are approx. 650 acres and include a permanent stage (16’x30’) with 200-amp service; Hart’s Handy House provides 100 porta-johns to facility; Preston County Sheriff’s Department must be contacted regarding event, as courtesy; Valley Ambulance company must be notified for safety concerns; for a fee of $150.00, Masontown Fire Department will provide drinkable water; on-site showers are provided for participants during event @ cost of $5.00 each; fires are allowed as long as contained – no ground burning.

Additional discussion regarding liability insurance and waiver’s of chapter responsibility; event must be kept to A.B.A.T.E. members only (same as Hazen), with membership purchase @ gate; good income opportunity for chapter and “win-win” situation for WV State Chapter, etc.; member George Raddish inquired as to how profits from events would be distributed – strictly submitted to WV State Chapter, or to all chapters equally?, as there will be several costs involved with 2^nd Annual WV State party, if successfully held; various members expressed concern of Mountaineer chapter “doing all the legwork” without realizing profit to continue yearly event production; Andy proposed idea of splitting profit 5 ways – 3 chapters / WV State Chapter / fund for year going-forward.

NEW BUSINESS
Discussion of need for chapter’s website “Schedule of Events” to be purged with updated information/current events to be added by Diane Henry.

New member, Susan Ross, gave presentation providing additional details on scholarship; “Chad Ross & Laura Lemley Scholarship Fund” with established account at Huntington Bank, Blacksville, WV; member , Mary Stanley, was honored to accept request to host CBHS Scholarship Run from her business, “Just One More” restaurant/lounge in Blacksville, WV; Mary also informed club that planned renovations to lounge & parking should be completed prior to run, etc.

Julio presented information regarding Mountaineer Chapter renting a tractor-trailer for purpose of hanging A.B.A.T.E. banner and storing items @ group functions, i.e., Mountainfest, etc.; Carl Sullivan of Mt. State Bit Service can provide for rental fee of $100-150.00 as courtesy to chapter; trailer would be brought to site and locked-down for period of one week; chapter would be required to enter into “Contract of Responsibility”; idea was tabled to next meeting.

President Wayne Harvey opened discussion regarding partnership between chapter and Carlo Basille to incorporate a custom bike division in Mt. Morris’s yearly “Rod ‘n Custom” car show held in August; entry fees for custom bikes would go straight to chapter as a fundraising tool; member(s) could serve as judges, but could not enter bike in show due to conflict-of-interest; member committee needed for forward progress; motion was made by Billie Dawn to form a 4-person committee, with 2^nd by Julio, all members accepted idea to create a custom bike division in “Rod ‘n Custom” show; committee members appointed are Julio, Wayne, Willie, & Andy.

Guest speaker, Earl, from Thunder Roads magazine, spoke of how future collaboration with A.B.A.T.E. chapters state-wide in order to both further each chapter’s local agenda, as well as spread word of A.B.A.T.E. cause as a whole; examples of collaborative efforts include monthly submissions from chapter, i.e., newsletter, editorials, advertisements, etc.; various members inquired of cost to chapter for advertising; Earl explained magazine offers 50% discount to non-profit organizations.

Member Mike Buege proprosed motion to support Julio in efforts to resume chapter newsletter and Safety Bulletin, with EBM or chapter providing portion of cost to Julio for computer equipment; a motion was made by Mary Stanley for chapter to provide monetary assistance, with 2^nd from Becky Sperandio, all members accepted motion for chapter to provide Julio with $250.00 from Petty Cash Fund to purchase a monitor and printer in order to re-establish newsletter and Safety Bulletin; payback term of 12 months with no interest.

President Wayne Harvey updated members on current events discussed at Green County A.B.A.T.E. meeting on Sunday, January 3^rd; audit revealed standing treasurer had embezzled approx. $10,000 over 3-month period and that prosecution (felony) was being pursued by State of Pennsylvania.

Motion to adjourn meeting by George Raddish, with 2^nd by Tom Fowler, and all members present in agreement.

Next Scheduled Meeting: