The Annual Meeting of the Montana Cross Country T Association – 2013
The meeting was held at the Community Center in St. Regis, Montana on October 13, 2013.
The meeting was called to order by President Mike Cuffe at 1:05 p.m.
Officers, members, and guests present included: Mike Cuffe, Nan Robison, Tony Cerovski, Brandon Langel, Bill Mullins, Rick Carnegie, Tom Carnegie, Dave Cooley, Doug Langel, Janet Cerovski, and Susie Carnegie.
Mike Cuffe opened with his agenda for the meeting to include the president’s report, stating it’s been a good and enjoyable year. We will have our annual election, treasurer’s report, committee reports, as well as old and new business. He was sorry to see several people who had planned to come were not able to attend. Mike stated he felt Tom’s write up in the newsletter regarding cheating was a good dissertation. Lastly, he stated he would like to discuss what the rules are regarding impromptu inspections, E-Timers, and nitrous oxide gas.
Tom Carnegie read the minutes from the October 14, 2012 meeting. A short discussion was held. There was a motion to approve the minutes as read. It was seconded and passed.
Janet Cerovski presented the treasurer’s report. There is $3,208.00 in the bank account. The only expense outstanding is the newsletter. Janet stated she did not have a breakdown on expenses and revenues for this Montana 500, but our current total in our account is as stated. She noted money had been taken from the account to cover the picnic this year. Of note, the Rocky Mountain Club had generously provided our picnic provisions since Missoula as a contribution from their club.
The floor was opened for elections. Currently Mike Cuffe, Mike Stormo, and Janet Cerovski’s terms are through 2015. Garrett Green and Nan Robison’s terms are through 2014. Discussion took place to determine what positions were up for election this year. The President, Vice President, Treasurer and Directors positions are three year terms. Every year three directors are replaced or re-elected. It was determined that Mike Robison, Doug Langel, Tom Carnegie, and Mark Hutchinson had come to the end of their terms.
Mike Cuffe stated that Garrett Green asked that he submit Sergio Hernandez’s name for a Director position. It was agreed to move Tom Carnegie’s term to 2014. Doug Langel and Sergio Hernandez were then nominated to fill a Director position term through 2016. Ballots were passed out. The President counted the ballots. Doug Langel was elected for this 2016 term.
The following candidates were then nominated for the last two 2016 Director positions to be filled: Mike Robison, Mark Hutchinson, or Sergio Hernandez.
Ballots were passed out to vote for two of these three candidates. The President counted the ballots. Mike Robison and Mark Hutchinson were elected.
Discussion took place to determine which positions will end and need to be filled at next year’s meeting. They would include Nan Robison, Garrett Green, and Tom Carnegie’s positions as Directors. However, the President,Vice President and Treasurer’s positions will be up to vote on as well, so overall positions could change, depending on who is elected for president and vice president.
Committee reports:
Tony stated he has ordered a new crimper (the original crimper has been missing since Conrad).
Old Business:
Discussed this years Montana 500 in Fort Benton. There was a motion to have Susie Carnegie send thank you cards to Jim Taylor Motors, the Grand Union Hotel, and the Museum-Upper Missouri for their kind hospitality. It was seconded and passed. Mike Cuffe plans to send a letter of thanks and review of our event to these businesses as well as to their local newspaper and Chamber of Commerce.
New Business:
There was a motion to hold the next annual meeting on October 12, 2014, the second Sunday in October. It was seconded and passed. The president chooses the location of the annual meeting. It will be held at the Community Center in St. Regis, Montana.
There was discussion about the location for the 2014 Montana 500. Tom Carnegie suggested Libby. Rick Carnegie read a letter he received from Meghan Carnegie who suggested several locations to include: Choteau, White Sulfur Springs, Harlowton, Cutbank, and Billings. Mike Cuffe suggested White Sulfur Springs, Libby, and Hot Springs. Discussion was held. There was a motion made to run the 2014 Montana 500 out of Libby. This was seconded and passed. There was then a motion to have the alternate location of choice be White Sulfur Springs. It was seconded and passed. There was a motion to have Choteau be a third alternative. It was seconded and passed.
Mike Cuffe will research Libby motels available to best accommodate us with the most reasonable prices. There was a motion to have the next Montana 500 inspection held on Sunday, June 15, 2014, with the run to be on June 16th, 17th, and 18th, and the tour on June19, 2014. It was seconded and passed. Mike Cuffe will work on finding a backup inspection location, if needed, other than the hotel parking lot, and a good tear-down location in Libby.
Mike Cuffe presented, for Sonny Bishop, that Sonny stated we have a good tear-down manual that we should either follow or throw away. We should tear the top three cars down all the way and not stop part way. Discussion was held. Tom Carnegie read the Tear-Down Manual. There was then discussion regarding clarifying how the tear-down manual is currently worded. Specifically the sentence in the middle of the third paragraph that states: “The inspectors may choose to forgo higher level operations on the second or third car, if they so choose, although they are free to perform all allowed operations.”This could be understood, as written, that you need to perform all three levels on the #1 car. There was a motion to strike “on the second or third car, if they so choose,” and have the sentence read: “The inspectors may choose to forgo higher level operations, although they are free to perform all allowed operations.” It was seconded and passed.
There was a motion to include the Tear-down Manual to the Rules, adding to the Rules: “E10. The Tear-Down Manual is a supplement to printed Rules. If there is conflict then the printed Rules will take precedence.” It was seconded and passed.
Mike Cuffe brought up impromptu roadside inspections (see Rules, A12) which may take place as you are entering or leaving a town. Discussed nitrous oxide and E-Timers, their use, how to check for and test for them. Mike Cuffe and Dave Cooley will check with a couple sources regarding the availability and possibility of obtaining a testing kit.
Other:
Tom Carnegie received a phone call from Dan Brown who brought up a couple issues. Dan suggested we increase dues of folks who don’t get a newsletter electronically. This was discussed. The decision was made not to do so.
Dan has an adjustable cam gear. Is this legal? It is not specifically mentioned in the Rules. This was discussed. We’ve never checked for this before. It was agreed to “let
it ride” and discuss it if it should come up as an issue.
Tom Carnegie suggested increasing the fee to $35.00 for touring entrants. The touring entrants receive the same amenities, so it makes sense to have the fees the same for both racing and touring entrants. There was a motion to increase the touring entrant fee to $35.00. It was seconded and passed.
A couple tear-down scenarios were discussed where a penalty might have been a good option for the Directors to have over disqualification. A time penalty given by the Directors was discussed. Tom Carnegie suggested, rather than the only result being disqualification for deviating beyond what is in the Rules (per Rule A1), that the Directors have the option to give a time penalty if they so choose. Said racer may be knocked down in placement of the race, but not disqualified. There was a motion to have A1 of Rules to read: “Deviation beyond these practices may result in disqualification or time penalty. Directors are responsible for interpretation of all the rules pertaining to the Association and assessment of time penalties. Decision of the Directors is final.” It was seconded and passed.
Drafting was discussed. In Rule A7 tailgating is not allowed, but there is no mention of not allowing drafting. Tom Carnegie stated he would like to have included in the Rules that no intentional or persistent drafting be allowed. An in-depth discussion ensued describing various drafting scenarios, the legalities, and issues of safety. There was a motion made to add to Rule A7, “No intentional or persistent drafting allowed.” It was seconded and resulted in a tie vote, with one member abstaining, and the president breaking the tie. The motion did not pass.
Janet Cerovski asked about paying for our use of the St. Regis Community Center. Mike Cuffe will double check on the fee amount. There was a motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:58 p.m. It was seconded and passed.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Susie Carnegie
for Jillian Robison