MASSACHUSETTS THROUGHBRED BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

Board of Director’s Business Meeting Minutes

November 19, 2009

Kingsbury Club, Medfield, MA

 

President George Brown called the meeting to order at  __7:30 PM.

 

 Board Members Present

Absent

Guests

Brown, George – Chair

Catapano, Frank

Brown, Arlene –Recording Secretary

Clarke, Mathew-alternate

Posco, Ken

Robbins, Harland -Financial Director

Currie, Joyce-alternate

Salim, Adel

Robbins, Bill - Accountant

Emry, Velma-alternate

 

Currie, Bob

Ferguson, Meg

 

Joyce, Beverly

Janjigian, Armand

 

Benson, Karen

Joyce, Daniel

 

 

Loebelenz, Lee

 

 

Rose, Gregg

 

 

Reagan, Kathleen

 

 

Spadea, Anthony/Treasurer

 

 

Stone, Ed

 

 

 

1.) Secretary’s Report:

Minutes from October 27, 2009  reviewed by board

 

Motion to accept: Lee loebelenz        Second:__Anthony Spadea                              

Objection:     None                                            Abstain:  None

 

2.) Treasurer's Report

Bill Robbins handed out the treasurer’s report and briefly explained them. Bill Robbins explained that as of 10/31/09 the restricted account had $0 in it but all stakes races for the season and all awards through 10/1/09 have been paid out.  As soon as the simulcast money comes in for October and November, all awards for those two months will be paid.

 

Motion to accept: _Kathy Reagan__      _________     Second:   Meg Ferguson                                                       

Objection:    None                                                   Abstain:   None 

 

3.) Chairman’s notes and comments

            a.  Legislative Report

George Brown reported that he had nothing new to report. The scheduled meeting for November 17 with Senator Rosenberg was postponed.  Ed Stone had asked for us to look into changing the legislation that established MTBA to allow MTBA to write restricted Mass bred races other that stakes races.  George assured Mr. Stone that we have already made efforts to that end but were told we should hold off until after the gaming legislation has been resolved. 

 

Anthony Spadea questioned the source of the 3.5% and 1% monies that the MTBA and HBPA receive from the track. No-one seems to be able to explain where exactly it comes from, who computes it and how we go about checking it.  A motion was made to have Harland and Bill Robbins and Andy Hunt to look into the legislation to see if we can come up with answers.

 

Motion to accept: _Anthony Spadea__      _________     Second:   Lee Loebelenz                                                       

Objection:    None                                                   Abstain:   None 

 

 

 

A copy of the “perpetual calendar” was distributed so that new-comers to the board could see the items pending each month. 

 

4.) Old Business

            a. George Brown told the committee about the grand opening at “Second Chances” a new thoroughbred

retirement facility at the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department Farm in Plymouth, MA.  This new facility was established with the cooperation of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, The Fields Family Foundation and Suffolk Downs.  MTBA would like to donate the money raised to this facility.  Arlene Brown mentioned that because it is a state facility, it is difficult to donate directly to them.  The donations could be given to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, or The Fields Family Foundation but we would not be assured that the money would stay in Massachusetts.  Arlene will contact Sheriff McDonald to see what can be done.  We will hold the money raised until our March meeting to allow time to check out the procedure. 

 

Armand Janjigian presented a letter from some lawyers who were proposing an organization to deal with the collecting and distributing of money for such purposes. Discussion to determine exactly what they were proposing took place.  It was decided to investigate the proposal further.

 

b. Equine Affair

Arlene Brown gave a report on expenses for Equine Affaire and donations to the various raffles held.  Many of the expenses were items such as printing of membership renewal applications and supplies that would be used over again by the board on other occasions.  The total amount of money raised between the golf tournament and Equine Affaire was $4775.72.  The total expenses for these affairs was $2623.01.  Discussion followed as to whether to charge all the expenses against the money brought in.  Since the Board of Directors had voted many months ago to give money to retired horse funds and that had not yet been done, a motion was made to leave the entire $4775.72 as a donation to retired horse funds.  Harland assured us that there was enough money in the administrative account to cover it.

 

Motion : _Anthony Spadea__      _________     Second:   Kathy Reagan

Objection:    None                                                   Abstain:   None 

 

Dan Joyce questioned whether MTBA could legally accept donations for the horse retirement fund.  Bill Robbins assured him that it was OK and Kathy Reagan confirmed.

 

c. Discussion as to whether or not to implement a motion voted on last August. Should we ask  members to pay for their own meals when attending our business meetings?  It was decided to hold off until the gaming legislation is decided and we have a better idea how much money we will have.

 

5.) New Business

      a. Contract renewal

      George Brown made a motion that we renew the contract with Harland Robbins for the coming year at the

      same salary. 

 

Motion : _George Brown__      _________     Second:   Lee Loebelenz

Objection:    None                                                   Abstain:   None 

 

      b. MA Farm Bureau

      Karen Benson will attend the annual meeting of the Farm Bureau in December and may possibly be going

      as a voting delegate.  Information was provided to her by Arlene Brown to show the impact on agriculture

in general as a result of gaming legislation in other states.  She will explain this to the other agricultural interest there that it could have a big impact on their business as well.  This is to try to influence other delegates to vote to support the horsemen in the slots & casino legislation.

 

A list of MA Farm bureau presidents was passed out and members of the board were asked to contact the president in their county to do likewise.

 

c. Equine Affaire 2010

A motion was made to sign up for Equine Affaire in 2010.

Motion : _Lee Loebelenz__      _________     Second:   Meg Ferguson

Objection:    None                                                   Abstain:   None 

 

 Harland will put the deposit on the booth which is fully refundable if we cancel.

 

d. Golf Tournament

The first Thursday in August was selected for the 2010 golf tournament. That would be August 5, 2010.

 

e. Discuss about a Christmas party took place.  It was decided to have it December 10, 6:30PM at the Kingsbury Club in Medfield.  Members will be invited to come.  Cost will be $35 per person and reservations would have to be made through MTBA@comcast.net .

 

f. Other new business

A motion was made to renew Andy Hunt’s contract for next year

Motion : _Anthony Spadea__      _________     Second:   Lee Loebelenz

Objection:    None                                                   Abstain:   None 

 

 

       6.) Next Meeting

            Date:  March 2010 Time:__   6:30PM        ______ Place:___TBA__________________

 

       7.) Adjournment:___        9:45                      PM

Motion to adjourn: _  Anthony Spadea___________ Second: Meg Ferguson                           __

 

        Respectfully Submitted

 

 Arlene Brown