Sunday September 12, 2004 (Location:  Sandberg Middle School)

The meeting was called to order at 18:00 by ECC president John Godinez.

ROLL CALL
Present:                                                                                                 Absent:
1. Bonita                      4.  San Gabriel Valley       7.  Pomona           1.  Winchester
2. Freeway                  5.  Santa Anita
3. La Puente                6.  Palm Springs

MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING:  Kristin Swift-Ramirez read the minutes from the meeting of August 08, 2004.  A correction was made by Susan Smith that the Palm Springs club was incorrectly marked as absent from the the August meeting.  The motion to accept the minutes with the one correction was made by Sonny Cangiarella, seconded by Steve Whitmer. The motion passed.

FINANCIAL REPORT: Kathy Bagu read the financial report. Kathy reported a balance of $3,386.71 in the combine account as of 9/12/04.  There was a $16.00 service charge and $0.57 interest earned for a balance of $3,386.71.   Sonny Cangiarella made a motion to accept the financial report with a second by Steve Whitmer.  The motion passed.

OLD BUSINESS

RACE SECRETARY:
Sonny Cangiarella had nothing new to report at this meeting.

STAGING OF THE TRAILER DURING THE RACE SEASON:
The new location to store the trailer during racing season is at Charlie Ettensburger’s Arcadia mobile home park at the cost of $100/month.  Urban Paulus will pick up the trailer from Sonny Cangiarella’s on Sunday September 26th and move it to the new location at a cost of $100.

WIRE BOTTOMS:
Susan Smith reported that the wire bottoms would not be ready by the first race.  Sonny asked for a sample bottom to take it to someone he knows for a new bid.  Susan referred Sonny to Dan Huddock to arrange this and Sonny will update the combine at the next meeting.

COMITTED FLYERS:
The following clubs submitted an updated number of committed flyers for the 2004 Young Bird season as follows:
Bonita – 20 teams, Freeway – 6 teams, La Puente – 12 teams, Palm Springs – 6 teams, San Gabriel Valley – 6 teams, Santa Anita – 9 teams, Winchester – 0 teams at this time, Pomona – Possibly 3 teams.

Pomona club has possibly 3 flyers that want to participate in the 2004 YB season.  They were instructed to get in touch with the Bonita club or the Freeway club to fly with them during the season.

SHIPPING COSTS:
The shipping costs of $175/team and the $10 per member assessment cost is to be collected by each individual club an turned in to Kathy Bagu at the Oct. 3rd, 2004 meeting.
 

TRAILER CAPACITY:  
Each club is to supply the combine with an accurate count of total birds flying for their club in the YB 2004 season by the Oct. 3rd, 2004 meeting.  The combine will address capacity issues at that time.

WINSPEED:
Vito Frankini reported that Santa Anita’s computers were updated and ready to go.
 
 

ROUTE 66 RACE:
The deadline for lists to be turned in for the Route 66 race was today at the meeting.  Alex reported that there were approximately 385 birds entered.  The bird list would be available online within 2-3 days.  Make sure to check the lists and report any mistakes as soon as possible.

CRATE CLEANING:
Pomona club was asked to attend this meeting to address the charges made against them in regards to the dirty crates.  Rafael Reyes Sr. and Rafael Reyes Jr. were present at the meeting.  They stated that the crates from the last 2004 OB season and even from the 2003 OB season were coming very dirty and unlined but they never reported it.  They accepted the warning and agreed that any further complaint against Pomona club would result in a $5/crate fine.  Urban Paulus offered to change the crate form to show clubs responsible for crates when they are put ON the truck versus coming off the truck to better police the cleanliness issue.  It was also brought up that the last pick up site should be responsible to make a run through of the truck to also check for liners and cleanliness.  A call to Lyle Loomis was going to be made to see if he was in agreement to be in charge of this.

NEW BUSINESS:

CONVEYER CONTRACT:
John Godinez signed and passed the contract to Kathy for signature.  An amendment was made by Urban Paulus that the cost per week was to be $220 not $215.  This was just a type and not a change.

CRATES:
Kristin Swift-Ramirez volunteered to take the responsibility of finding how many crates and the numbers of the crates each club had as soon as possible.

The crate issue that arose with the Pomona club was confirmed that there was a total of 13 crates.  Sam Quinones had paid for 12 and Harry owned the other which had never been reimbursed from the combine.  Harry agreed to sell his crate to the combine for a credit of $120 toward his shipping cost for the 2004 YB racing season.  It was agreed and a letter was drawn up to be signed by all parties to conclude this transaction.  Pomona club agreed to let John Godinez to pick up 6 crates to be used during the YB season.  In the meantime the combine was to contact Sam and come to an agreement to purchase back these crates for the combine.
 
DATA BASES:
Urban Paulus handed out a printed copy of each club’s database.  Each club was to look over the database and contact Urban by email or phone to approve or make any changes necessary as soon as possible.

SHIPPING SCHEDULE:
Urban Paulus asked each club to review the shipping schedule sent out earlier to make sure all were familiar with the schedule.

ROUTE 66 RACE:
Sonny Cangiarella announced that anyone NOT participating in the Route 66 race will be charged a $10/person cover charge.  This charge comes because of the low participation rate and the need to cover costs for the hall and food for shipping that night.

ATTENDANCE AT ECC MEETINGS:
Kristin Swift-Ramirez wanted to make it aware the importance of the representation of ALL clubs at Combine meetings.  There are many important issues discussed and many issues that are voted on which effect all clubs.  In order to make sure all clubs have the opportunity to give input, attendance is necessary.  Kristin asked all clubs to make sure to have a representative at each meeting even if the club is not participating in that flying season.  If you are unable to attend make sure to notify John Godinez.  Remember a strong Combine benefits EVERYONE!

NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday October 3rd, 2004 at 18:00 (6:00 p.m.). To be located at the Sandberg Middle School.

ADJOURNMENT:
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Lolo Ramirez with a second by Kathy Bagu.  The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at approximately 20:00.
 

Respectfully Submitted,

Kristin Swift-Ramirez/ECC Recording Secretary