Board meeting conducted online and at the National Cage Bird Show in California, November 14th, 2002, starting at 6:30 p.m. and adjourning at 11:00 p.m. Many issues were discussed, both at the National meeting and online, including:

1)	A letter received from an attorney representing Mr. Scott concerning the publication of biographies in the NFSS Journal. attorney, representing the NFSS, has sent a response. issue has been resolved.
2)	Ginny Allen, Liaison Officer, announced that there are currently 51 clubs affiliated with the NFSS, and a lot of interest from people calling for affiliation/membership information.
3)	Martie Lauster, Membership Director, announced that membership is up 20% over 2001. her attached membership report.
4)	Paula Hansen, Band Secretary, stated that the color of the 2003 NFSS bands is violet and that the first shipment is due to arrive during December 2002. second shipment is due in February. . Hansen stated that she is researching for best prices for the plastic split-bands.
5)	A discussion took place regarding the exceptional job that our webmaster, Harry Bryant, has done for the NFSS website.
6)	Martha Wigmore, Director of the Judges' Panel, announced that the judges nominated for the 2003 National in Dallas/Ft. Worth are, in order of preference, Patrick Vance, Dale Laird and Armando Lee.
7)	Ginny Allen announced the results of the election, held in November, 2002, to fill three Pro Tem positions: Band Secretary, Ms. Paula Hansen, Executive Secretary, Patrick Vance, and Region 8 Vice-President, Vince Moase.
8)	Bylaw Committee formed with Ginny Allen as chairperson. volunteers are Paula Hansen, Kerri McCoy and Julie Duimstra.
9)	Patrick Vance appointed Chairman of the 2004/05 Election Committee. Dandre has graciously offered to serve on the committee. members with questions regarding the election, nominating other members or themselves, please contact myself or Darla Dandre. BIG thank you to Kerri McCoy for her assistance!

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Motions voted on during the 4th Quarter Board meeting are as follows:

Motion 2002-19: Motion by Ginny Allen, seconded by Patrick Vance, that the NFSS offer incentives to advertisers in hopes of gaining future advertisers.
Passed: 9 YES, 2 NO

Motion 2002-20: Motion by Kerri McCoy, seconded by Patrick Vance, that Finchshop proceed with Sue Haberkorn's proposal to produce a "Finch/Softbill Cookbook”.
Passed: 10 YES, 1 NO

Motion 2002-21: Motion by Ginny Allen, seconded by Paula Hansen that the NFSS produce 5,000 flyers to be given to Carol Heesen, of Birds2Grow, who has agreed to send one to each finch person who places an order with her. period to last for 6 months.
Passed: 10 YES, 1 NO

Motion 2002-22: Motion by Ginny Allen, seconded by Patrick Vance, that there should be a review of the NFSS Bylaws whenever deemed necessary. officer would write a "job description".
Passed: 8 YES, 0 NO

(See attached report from Ms. Allen regarding this motion.)

NOTE: Regarding motion 2002-22 (This was voted on at the NCBS, when we had a quorum which included the president)

Motion 2002-23: Motion by Kerri McCoy, seconded by Ginny Allen that the NFSS institute an award for exhibitors 16 years and younger.
Passed: 9 YES, 2 NO

Motion 2002-24: Motion by Kerri McCoy, seconded by Martie Lauster, that the NFSS secure an outside source to handle all NFSS election tallies.
Passed: 8 YES, 3 NO

Bylaws Review:
The NFSS Bylaws were reviewed and updated approximately 10 years ago. the past 10 years, technology has reached a point where many members are now computer-oriented and on the internet. fact, the present NFSS Board conducts its quarterly meetings on the internet. addition we have an active NFSS Finch Forum with 200 members. Our www.NFSS.org website allows us, today, to renew, purchase memberships, shop at FinchShop and send forms electronically.

Our NFSS Bylaws need to reflect the acceptance of technology. wording may need to be changed.

Each board position, whether elected or appointed, needs to be clearly updated and defined so they include specific responsibilities. need to list these either in the Bylaws themselves or as an addendum to the Bylaws.

We might want to consider creating new positions, combining some positions, eliminating others, and, in general, bring NFSS into the 21st Century.

An NFSS Bylaws review should begin immediately so the general membership is aware of the responsibilities of each office prior to the beginning of the 2003 election process.

Respectfully, Ginny Allen

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REPORTS

1st Vice-President, Armando J. Lee
I'm still working on the "Prohibited Birds in each state" project. working on a portable display for the NFSS shows. 'll update later on.

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Membership Report:
The following is the 4th Quarter2002, Membership Report. numbers listed under "Dual Memberships" are second names on Dual Memberships. 's been a great year. of today, we have increased our membership by 25% from the 4th quarter 2001 Membership Report.

Total Membership: 658 Single/84 Dual Memberships = 742 total members.

The following is a breakdown by region:

Region	# Memberships	Dual Members	Total Members
1	142	14	156
2	135	14	159
3	153	20	173
4	59	15	74
5	32	4	36
6	116	18	134
7	11	0	11
8	10	0	10

Respectfully submitted, Martie Lauster

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Report of the Office of the NFSS Fourth vice President, Judges Panel Director, Standards, Points Manager and Research, 4th Quarter, 2002

MINUTES OF THE 2001 NFSS GENERAL MEETING, MANCHESTER, NH

As requested by the President, I have contacted NFSS' 2001 President, Executive Secretary and editor for the unpublished minutes of the 2001 NFSS General Meeting held at the National Cage Bird Show in Manchester, NH. regret to inform the membership that NFSS has been advised that the minutes will not be available.given are that no hard-copy of the minutes can be located, electronic copies were lost due to hard drive failures, and the information has not been reconstructed. NFSS General Meeting is a time of recognition and accountability to the membership, and some items of business conducted there, such as announcing the results of the 2002/03 elections have since found their way into "The NFSS Journal." expresses its deepest appreciation and regret to those NFSS members whose contributions to NFSS were recognized at the 2001 General Meeting, but which have not been publicized to the Membership-at-large in minutes or other information from the meeting.

NFSS SHOW SECRETARY WORKSHEETS WARMLY RECEIVED

Sixteen of our affiliated clubs requested the NFSS Show Secretary Worksheets that were offered to all clubs this year when they were sent the latest NFSS Classifications, and several of these took the time following their shows to express their enthusiastic appreciation for them. me anytime for a copy, electronic or hardcopy.

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NFSS AT NCBS - 2002
At the time of the writing, NFSS' annual show will be held in 2 weeks at the National Cage Bird Show in Santa Clara, CA. you in advance to dale and Eileen Laird, Mark Phelps, Darla Dandre, Charlie Anchor and Martie Lauster for letting us know that they will be there to help in the Finch and Softbill Division. to all our help at this - and every show - a BIG THANK YOU! NFSS Annual General Meeting will be held at 10 a.m., ending promptly at 11 a.m. on Saturday, 11/16/02, in Room 209 of the show hotel. the weekend, as Judges Panel Director, I am administering the NFSS Apprentice Judge written test to two qualified applicants. will provide the NCBS Club Liaison over the weekend the updated NFSS Show Classifications (reflecting the addition of the Timor Zebra classes, etc.) for inclusion in their 2003 show catalog. will submit to NCBS at their annual membership meeting NFSS' three nominations for our NCBS judge in 2003 in Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX. 3 nominees, in order of preference, are Patrick Vance, Dale Laird and Armando Lee.

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FUTURE JUDGES AT GABS
Per contacts with the Great American Bird Show, as of 9/29/02 GABS had not yet made their finch and softbill division judge selection for their 2003 show. NFSS Board's vote for judge nominations for the 2004 GABS show will be conducted early next year.

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NFSS STANDARDS UPDATE

(1)	The proposed Star Finch Standard is being published in the Nov/Dec 2002 issue of "The NFSS Journal" for member input.
(2)	The General Standard has never been formally approved by the NFSS Board; the NFSS Judges Panel were polled recently for their suggestions for the Standard, and the Standard will be re-published for member comments in early 2003.
(3)	Nothing reported from the Red Headed Finch Standard committee.
(4)	NFSS members are invited to suggest birds for which they would like to see an NFSS standard. contact me with your comments.

Respectfully submitted, Martha Wigmore

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Band Secretary’s Report:

September orders	rec'd. $493.15	Pay pal 16 orders	13 mail-ins
October orders	rec'd. $422.10	Pay pal 16 orders	9 mail-ins
November orders	rec'd. $1,019.10	Pay pal 19 orders	22 mail-ins
December (as of the 15th day) orders	rec'd. 1375.30	Pay pal 16 orders	22 mail-ins

Balance yet to receive on projected bands for 2003, estimated at $1,911.00 with S&H. (I've had a $491.00 order from PR which may botch my projections for "D" bands.) I think I need to verify how much of an increase in membership into the factor later on in 2003.

• Orders tallied for 2002 to date:
• September -29
• October -25
• November-41 (contains 2003orders)
• December - (as of the 15th day) 38 (contains 2003orders)

Plastic band history from June to Dec:

Size XCS - yellow -1, pink-1, purple - 2, black-1, red-5, lt green 4, drk green 6, drk blue-10, lt blue-3

Size X3 - yellow-3, pink-1, purple-0, white-0, black-0, orange-0, red-0, lt green -0, drk green -0, lt blue-1, drk blue-0

Size XCL - yellow-0, pink-0, purple-0, white-0, orange-0, black-0, red-0, lt green-5, drk green - 4, drk blue-0, lt blue-1

Size XB - yellow-0, pink-6, purple-1, white-1, orange-1, black-3, red-1, lt green-1, drk green-5, drk blue -0, lt green -0.

Size XF - Yellow-34, Pink-15, purple-34, white-15, orange-17, black-15, red-41, lt green-30, drk green-24, drk blue-8, lt blue-12.

Split plastic bands reflecting a sale of 5 or more will be replenished depending on existing inventory. Greens/Red/Yellow/Purple are hot colors this past year.

Have inserted banding procedures for either split or closed bands, membership sheet & "new" band order sheets into shipping envelopes for all orders. Perhaps business will pick up here.

Will be including NFSS flier created by Martie in 2004 orders.

Respectfully submitted,
Paula Hansen
NFSS Band Secretary

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This concludes the 4th Quarter Minutes of the NFSS Board Meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Patrick Vance
Executive Secretary

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GENERAL NFSS MEETING

Conducted on Saturday, November 16th, 2002 in Santa Clara, CA

Meeting started at 10:00 a.m. with a statement that the Newcastles Disease situation has been seen as no problem so far. President, Sally Huntington, introduced Board members and then discussed the "Afternoon of Aviculture".

Mark Phelps, NFSS Treasurer, announced that the Society is in good financial shape. current balance is $23,836.65, income of $31,267.66 and expenses totalling $20,328.68.

Darla Dandre, Awards Manager, stated that she's looking into another ribbon supplier that may save the Society 50% of what we are currently spending. , ribbons cost $4.00 each and the NFSS sells them to affiliated clubs at a "break-even" cost.

Paula Hansen, Band Secretary, told the membership that the 2003 bands, violet in coloration, would be received in December, 2002.

Martie Lauster, Membership Director, announced an increase of 20% in membership so far this year.

Martie Lauster, NFSS Journal Editor, requested member's input as to what they wish to see in the Journal.

Sally, NFSS President, spoke about Liability Insurance and that, per an attorney, is only needed if NFSS served in a fiduciary capacity, which is not the case.

Finch/Softbill Save and Census have taken a nosedive in the past 4-5 years and is necessary to get them both "up and running".

Martha Wigmore, Director of Judges Panel introduced the judges present at the general meeting. Champion exhibitors were announce. to Harold and Margie McBrayer, Clara Gontero and Darla Dandre. is one Exhibitor of Excellence in 2001, congratulations to Felipe Bonilla.

The Dr. Val Clear Award for the Best Softbill in Show, was awarded to Sally Huntington, who also won the Higgins Trophy for Best Finch/Softbill in Show, and went on to win the Scannell Trophy for Best in Show. to Sally!

Meeting was adjourned at 10:58 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Patrick Vance
Executive Secretary

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4th Quarter / End of Year 2002 Financial Report
Please find listed below the final figures for the period 01/01/2002 - 12/31/2002.

The total gain for the year is way above what was projected/budgeted due to several fortunate, unforeseen occurrences and one vendor not sending us a major invoice in time to be paid this year:

1)	Membership Income was approximately $5,200.00 over budget (increased membership!)
2)	Band Income was approximately $3,400.00 over budget (extra members buying extra bands...)
3)	FinchShop Income was approximately $1,900.00 over budget (extra members buying extra items from the expanded selections...)
4)	The printer hasn't sent us the bill for the November/December Journal (approximately $2,000.00 not shown as an expense, and therefore not taken out of the total gain).

The increases in income can most likely be attributed to our increased presence on the Web and the fine job that Harry Bryant did of making shopping at our website a breeze and an attractive feature to new and current members alike.

Respectfully submitted,
Mark Phelps
NFSS Treasurer

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CASH IN ACCOUNTS:
• Checking - Main & Bands 1,070.63
• Checking - Membership747.49
• Checking - FinchShop869.65
• Savings 20,071.52
• Advances700.00
• Total Cash in Accounts - 23,459.29

INCOME:		EXPENSES:
Band Sales 9,861.51 Membership Sales 16,716.75 FinchShop Sales 2,942.43 Affiliations 1,300.00 4th VP/Judges Panel Fees 250.00 Journal 1,015.00 Awards 2,205.00 Finch/Softbill Save 240.00 Advertising 35.72 Misc. Income 568.33 Total Income 36,134.74		Band Expenses 5,867.43 Membership Expenses 660.80 FinchShop Expenses 2,524.95 Affiliations Expenses 62.99 4th VP/Judges Panel Expenses 111.16 Journal 11,294.92 Awards 2,058.21 Finch/Softbill Save 0.00 Advertising 509.00 Misc. Expenses 2,468.18 Total Expenses 25,557.64
Net Gain = 10,577.10

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