Delegates Report November 6-8, 2015 Indianapolis, IN

Saturday, 7 November 2015

The annual fall AHCA delegates meeting was held at the Cambria Inn & Suites, Indianapolis
Fred Dabney, President,  opened the session at 9 AM on Saturday morning.  

A moment of silence was called for to honor those club members who had recently passed away.
President Dabney also asked all veteran’s to stand to be acknowledged for their service as this was actually Veterans’s Day weekend.

Roll Call - Twenty eight clubs were represented (some by proxy) and 17 clubs were not represented.

Edie Lowry was confirmed as Ass’t Secretary and it was moved, seconded and passed that the minutes from the Enclave Delegates Meeting be accepted without amendment.

Delegate reports 
Each delegate gave their report which includes; their club activity, membership numbers, special events, fund-raising endeavors and charities they sponsor. In general, most clubs reported that memberships were “up”.  One particular note was that the Manitoba Club produced a 309 page book to celebrate their 25th anniversary. A copy was on hand and proved to be an “item of interest” through the weekend.

Officer Reports
Fred Dabney, VP Insurance, reported that there were no issues with insurance for Enclave as both AHCA and AHSTC had the same insurer and underwriter for their policies.  The only difference was that AHCA had a higher limit and therefore, assumed full liability.  No rate changes for the coming year are expected.

Reid Trummel - Healey Marque, passed out a budget sheet showing increased paper costs for the upcoming year.  These changes were incorporated into the AHCA budget.  He also indicated that he plans to continue as editor.

Gary Feldman, VP Club Support, began by thanking local member, Dick Storrs, who provided tours for early arriving delegates.  There was a recap on the “local-only” members as regards insurance and a form was provided to the delegates showing the current status of these clubs.  Gary also passed out a second sheet on New Member support.  He has developed a “new member” kit that he provides to “national only” members. He is anxious to get NEW “national only” members into some of the local clubs. He provides a welcoming cover letter, a list of all the local clubs and a membership directory. Gary reminded everyone that many times checks for new members arrive at Mike Schneiders without any clarification as to what they are for, creating some ambiguities with the record keeping.  

	Gary also reminded all that there is a ONE YEAR FREE New Member program to encourage people to join.  If you have one of the post card forms, and cannot get your prospective new member to join due to cost, simple write “FREE MEMBERSHIP” on the card and send it in and they will receive a ONE-YEAR, free, membership.

Break 10:35AM - 10:45AM

	Don Klein, VP Safety, reported on some safety issues that came to his attention this year at various 		meets;
	1 - check tire dating and DO NOT run on tires over 10 years old (he is able to provide information on how 	     to correctly read the federal dating codes.
	2 - Brake fluid issues with water retention.  Change brake fluid every 3 years, if possible use a “heavy”
	     race car type fluid with a 500º boiling point which reduces water absorption.  Also, store brake fluid in 
	     metal cans as these are better at keeping moisture out of the brake fluid.

	Don updated everyone on SEMA, (Special Equipment Marketing Association), a national lobbying group that is currently a driving force to get ethanol out of gasoline as well as the restricted use of “blue” headlights.  
He also announced that the Federal government has announced The 7th annual Collector Car Appreciation Day, July 8 2016, and suggested Delegates view the web site (http://www.semasan.com/page.asp?content=collector-car-appreciation-day-plan- event&g=SEMAGA)  For those members interested in finding gasoline without ethanol, go to www.pure.gas.org to find listings, by state, of filling stations providing non-ethanol gasoline.

Michael Schneider, VP Membership, began his report by passing out a comparison sheet that helped to show the membership numbers over the past few years.  He indicated that the national website is responsible for a large number of the new memberships, of which there were 222.  This is most definitely a positive increase. Mike has gone to monthly membership updates to help the local clubs keep track of new members. Mike recommended that there be some changes as to how new members pay for and receive their benefits. (ed note: see under New Business)

Laurie Wilford - Commercial Advertising, was not in attendance and there was nor report. 

Steve Bell, National Regalia reported on the first year of the new program.  Much too difficult to navigate through the club website in time to meet order deadlines.  A new program will be instituted where all regalia items will be displayed in a half-page ad in the Healey Marque with a direct posting to the sellers dedicated AHCA website. Sales from the first year were not up to expectations.

Beverly Sealand - Treasurer, presented the current budget, there were no questions raised. Bev reported on donations concerning the DMH Fund.  In addition to two scholarships given to UK youths, Baird Foster is trying to implement a similar program available to students in the USA. Don Klein suggested at this time that many of the local clubs that reported large bank balances might want to contribute to the DMH Fund. Perhaps donations can be made as “In Memorial” to a club member etc.  It was noted that Baird Foster directly receives check and monies for the DMH Fund.

Ben Moore, Club Promotion & Marketing, encouraged members to use the “New Membership” cards at all local events and car shows but especially other British Car meets and shows. There is a new movement to target folks in the 25 to 55 year old age bracket who can afford to buy Austin Healeys.  He strongly suggested (several times) that local clubs move away from websites to a Facebook presence as the way to go.  Social Media is now the way to reach the audience we are targeting. Too many websites are poorly maintained, are not updated frequently.  He also mentioned “Instagram: as a way to post Healey photos.  Local clubs need to supply Ben with articles for our own website that may include ;
	1 - original owner stories
	2 - short Healey videos taken with Smart Phones
	3- Selfie pictures with Healey at various events or with kids sitting in your car.

Lunch Break 12:03PM to 1:00PM

Steve Byers, Delegate at large indicated there were no changes to report. There is no budget for this group and there are no activities.

Edie Anderson, Historian, reported that the “Delegates Handbook” is now online. There is a new project underway to digitize all of our records from 1961 to the present.  She introduced Ass’t Secretary Edie Lowry, who has taken on this two-year project. This is to transition into using modern technology (Iron Mountain) and she will have a motion to make under New Business.

Enclave 2015 Report was presented by Steve Bell as no one form the committee was available at the meeting. Steve presented a written report from Peter Sturtevant, then expressed his own thanks and commendations to the governance committee and received several kudos from the members present as to the success of the event. Especially noted was the effort by Ray Donovan and Larry Swift to bring in $20,000 in sponsorship money for the event.  President Dabney responded to a question as to the status of our relationship with AHSTC and indicated that there is a very gentle nurturing going on, certainly no pressure, to AHSTC. He suggested it would be a great idea for AHCA members to attend and support their events.

Enclave 2016 was reported on by event organizer, John Jacobs. A colorful brochure was passed out and he re-enforced the enthusiasm that he and his committee have and they are very excited about what they want to do at this event. He mentioned some of the innovations the committee was preparing for this event as well as some unique prizes!

Jim Frakes, VP Conclave, reported that the there was a bid from Golden Gate for the 2017 Conclave.

David Nock , delegate from Golden Gate made a video presentation to the delegates. A very interesting and somewhat heated debate followed as to whether or not this was actually a bid for a Conclave or an invitation to a Haley event that Golden Gate was going to run by invitations. The event was planned for Monterey, CA  in September of 2017, but the main contention by those present is that the format presented did not conform to that of a Conclave event and that Golden Gate was unwilling to share in the preparation, resources etc of the national club and therefore; saw no reason to split any proceeds from the event.  There was a great deal of animated discussion. Eventually, Jim Frakes was directed to meet with David Nock and any committee that may already be organized to discuss there matter. All further discussion was tabled by vote.

New Business
President, Fred Dabney began by confirming the following Registrar appointments;
	BN4-1006		Gary Feldman
	Nasty Boys		Russ Keep
	Jensen Healey	John May (Interim ONLY!  We need a regular replacement!)

Afternoon Break 2:45PM to 3:05PM

New Business (continued)
President, Fred Dabney proposed two new by-law changes.
	1 - Local club officers, those being president, treasurer and delegate MUST be members of AHCA.  The 		     change was to add “president” to the by-law already in place. After much explanation and 			     conversation it was approved as the “First reading” and will be actually voted upon at the next 		     Fall Delegates Meeting.

	2 - An Associate Member will be any person under age 25 and will be offered a club membership at
	     50% off price as determined by actual costs and delegate approval. There was an approval of this 
	     First Reading and a vote will be taken at the next Fall Delegates Meeting.

Mike Scheider proposed that the time line for paying partial dues for new members be moved to August 1st to better handle all of the information and processing issues.  After good discussion the was approved.

Don Klein suggested that a new woman’s driving award at Conclave be set up to honor Anne Wisdom Reilly and Pat Moss. A great deal of discussion ensued as to the process by which the winner would be determined. Combined best scores from the Gymkhana and Rally/autocross events would be used to determine the winner.  This motion was approved.

Breakout Sessions - President Fred Dabney.
Fred decided to change the usual format of Breakout Sessions due to the importance of the issues before us.  All members participated in discussion on the following two subjects;
	1 - Changes in Future 50 target audience age
	2 - Change in Conclave administration - local club support

Under discussion 1, Ben Moore lead discussion and brainstorming as to ways to target this new age of 25 to 55 as potential Healey owners.  While many suggestions were made, nothing was confirmed and discussion will continue at a later time. 

Under discussion 2, Fred Dabney indicated there was a reluctance by many clubs to take on the “awesome” responsibilities of a Conclave event.  His idea was to ask local clubs who have run successful events like gymkhanas, funkhanas, rallies etc to support the smaller clubs and take on those events from the outside. Use other clubs expertise at events or programs to add support to the Conclave host. It was suggested that a “Short List” of necessary duties by a potential HOST CLUB be determined, so as to minimize the impact on a smaller club and their resources. Discussion ended at 5PM so that the hotel staff could re-organize the room for dinner.

Sunday 8, November 2015		9:00AM

Due to the cold temperature outside, President Dabney organized the group delegate photo at the back of the room to start the Sunday morning session.

Financial Report Beverly Sealand, Treasurer, presented the proposed 2016 budget (enclosure) She also reported that the auction at last night’s dinner netted $950. After a small amount of discussion pertaining to adding a line item for the digitizing project and the eventual removal of some line items, the budget was accepted as amended.
Additional New Business 
After the previous afternoons discussion, Fred Dabney proposed that the delegates give permission to the officers to find a venue that would conform to Conclave guidelines (none being currently available). The motion was passed.  A site does need to be in place by the March 2016 Officer’s Meeting.
Lifetime and Honorary Memberships
Gary Brierton began by offering the names of Peter Sturtevant and John Heffron as Honorary Member for 2016 and therefore receive one-year free membership.  This motion was passed.  Gary reported that there were no nomations for Lifetime Memberships.
Nominating Committee 
Gary Brierton, Nominating Committee Chairman offered the slate of officers for 2016
President - Fred Dabney VP safety - Don Klein VP Club Support - Gary Feldman VP Conclave - Jim Frakes VP Marketing & Promotions - Ben Moore
Secretary-Anne Johnson
Treasurer-Bev Sealand
These nominations were approved.   Gary Brierton also moved that one additional delegate be added to the Nominating Committee, bringing the total to three.  Each delegate would serve a three year (alternating) term.  After approval of the change the name of Bruce Gearns, Delegate, was raised in nomination and approved. 
Fred Dabney reported that he would like to involve more club members by trying to find potential “back-ups” to all of the officers.  There was some discussion, but nothing that would involve a by-law change was introduced.
Fred also introduced a change to the delegate forms that are filled out each year, adding some new, pertinent information, which would encourage local clubs to be more aware of community involvement.
Steve Bell suggested that AHCA look to underwrite the full expense of some member clubs based upon need as seventeen clubs were not represented at this delegates meeting. Much discussion followed as to the reasons and the potential cost.  It was left in the hands of Gary Feldman, VP of Club Support to contact these clubs, determine the issues, if any, and offer additional financial support as he is able to garner The resources from the existing budget.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:25AM
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Bell
NER Delegate