The Third Quarter NFSS Board Meeting began online 07/05/05 concluded 7/23/05 In attendance Jim Heffernan, Randy Taylor, Sally Huntington, Patrick Vance, Raspberry, Bill Parlee, Darla Dandre, Alfred Mion, Ron Castner, Armando Lee, Harry Bryant, Martha Wigmore, Mark Phelps, Robert Mehl, Shelly Ortman, Paula Hansen & Bob French Martha Wigmore and Armando Lee were appointed by NFSS president Sally Huntington to conduct an audit of the 2003 financial records and found everything to be in order. Martha Wigmore and Bob French have accepted the task of auditing the 2004 financial records.

Martha Wigmore stated she will be submitting to the board for approval the General Standard during our "special" Board meeting in Aug / Sep at which time we'll also look at changes to the NFSS Show Classifications.

Ron Castner announced the Treasure Coast Exotic Bird Club donated $100 to NFSS to cover the cost of the NFSS table at AFA. Ron Castner asked about the NFSS banner. Since it was in bad condition, Paula Hanson ordered one 3 ft x 5 ft for AFA and other events.

There was a discussion on politics on the yahoo group. The BOD decided to have John Wilson look set up a second forum for business and politics leaving the original forum for bird husbandry only, thereby meeting all the needs of the membership.

Robert Mehl sent in a picture of a new bumper sticker the cost of which would be $399 per 1000 Paula Hansen brought up the idea of NFSS exclusively carry the Finch book from Rob van der Hulst from the Netherlands in the finch shop 

Motion 2005-10 - I motion that the junior fees be dropped to $10 a year (any junior member joining within the last 6 months would get a pro-rated extent ion) submitted by: Robert Mehl - Membership Director, Pro Tem, second by; Raspberry - PASSED 

Motion 2005-12 - That a code of conduct be developed with consequences for violations and that such code be included on the opening page of each Forum and included in the initial mailing to new Forum Members. I further move that such a code be periodically posted on the forum. Submitted by: Shelly Ortman, Second by: Robert Mehl - DID NOT PASS

Motion 2005-13 - I would like to submit the following item to be considered by the Board: I believe we should raise the affiliation fee for clubs from $25.00 to $30.00. submitted by: Harry Bryant- 2 VP, second by: Raspberry - PASSED

Motion 2005-14 - I move that the NFSS donate $500 to the Philadelphia Zoo for the Bird House Renovation Project. Submitted by: Shelly Ortman, Second by: Robert Mehl - DID NOT PASS

Motion 2005-15 - I would like to submit the following motion to be considered by the Board: "That a new appointed position of 'Associate Editor' be created, whose job will consists of assisting (and/or filling in for the editor - if the need arises) the editor in the production of the Journal, and is such position is approved, that the NFSS purchase a second copy of the Quark software ($525.00) that we use for the Journal to be used by the 'associate editor'". Submitted by: Harry Bryant, Second by: Ron Castner  - PASSED

Special election results reported by Ginny Allen. Total of 161 votes including 10 clubs.

Region 1...........(total of 41 ballots) 
Shelley Ortman 38 
Bob French 3 

Robert Mehl was elected Membership Director

Jim Heffernan was elected Executive Secretary

The Revised Bylaws passed 154 for and 7 against. (Seven voted against the revisions. Most cited specified articles.) These were copied to the BOD and will be discussed by BOD

Robert Mehl was elected Membership Director

Jim Heffernan was elected Executive Secretary

The Revised Bylaws passed 154 for and 7 against. (Seven voted against the revisions. Most cited specified articles.) These were copied to the BOD and will be discussed by BOD

Respectfully submitted Jim Heffernan
Acting Executive Secretary

Department reports:

• Band secretary Report 
  Paula Hansen May Mail In 10 / Pay Pal 15 Total Sales 453.00 June Mail In 9 / Pay Pal 11 Total Sales 441.60 July Mail In 6 / Pay Pal 11 Total Sales 362.13 The 2006 have been ordered and will be mailed out Christmas week. The manufacturer is changing the packaging from metal stem with rubber stopper to cable ties which are lighter and will keep handling charges down.

• 2nd Quarter 2005 Financial Report

For the period 1/1/05 - 7/4/05 (all numbers in parenthesis are the 2005 budget figures for comparison) 

CASH IN ACCOUNTS:

Checking - Main & Bands $5,000.00 
Checking - FinchShop $237.33 
Checking - Membership $773.62 
Savings $14,164.95 
Advances $1,190.32

Total Cash in Accounts: $21,366.22

INCOME: 

Bands $8,642.95 ($16,150.00) 
FinchShop $1,607.63 ($4,000.00) 
Membership $14,183.50 ($23,770.00) 
Journal $473.00 ($2,500.00) 
Affiliations/Awards $2,147.47 ($4,250.00) 
Finch/Softbill Save $0.00 ($150.00) 
4th VP/Judges Panel Fees $170.00 ($240.00) 
1st VP/Regional VP's $0.00 ($0.00) 
Advertising $0.00 ($0.00) Misc. $35.25 ($1,210.00)

Total Income: $27,257.80 ($52,270.00)

EXPENSES: Bands $7,499.09 ($12,275.00) 
FinchShop $827.53 ($2,075.00) 
Membership $453.89 ($1,117.00) 
Journal $17,854.04 ($27,000.00) 
Affiliations/Awards $400.51 ($3,025.00) 
Finch/Softbill Save $0.00 ($300.00) 
4th VP/Judges Panel Fees $319.71 ($200.00) 
1st VP/Regional VP's $0.00 ($1,000.00) 
Advertising $0.00 ($1,000.00) 
Misc. $615.92 ($1,905.00)

Total Expenses: $27,970.69 ($49,897.00)

Total Gain/Loss -$712.89 ($2,373.00)

Respectfully submitted, 
Mark Phelps, NFSS Treasurer

• 2005 Second Quarter FinchShop Report
  
  The FinchShop is now offering Finch and Softbill Mouse Pads and sales for that item have almost covered the expense to produce them with more than 2/3 left in inventory. The logo cap is now back in stock and during the next quarter a long sleeve logo shirt will be added. I am search for a supplier of NFSS logo stickers that would be similar in design and size to the country indicators seen on many cars. I hope that this product will be available before the National Show. Sales are down slightly but I hope with the busy Fall Show season that we will be able to make or exceed our projected budgeted figures. A FinchShop table has been set up at many of the show east of the Mississippi and I hope to continue to be able to do that in the Fall. I'd like to thank the clubs that have donated a table and space for the NFSS FinchShop.

• Membership Report

Incoming renewals and new membership funds are up about 2% of the projected amount. If the current rate of new members continues unchanged we will have added 285 members. Renewal continue to be a bit problematic with over 200 not renewing in the first half of this year.

Remember your benefits technically end on the last day of your membership. This includes the privileges to participate on the forum. N.F.S.S. does provide a 30 grace period before removing members from the Forum. To assist members in knowing when they are due to expire that journal label will now include this information If at any time you have questions or concerns please contact Robert Mehl.

Current Membership Figures: Total Single Memberships - 646 (includes one of each dual); Total Dual Memberships - 95 Total Affiliate Memberships 41 - Total 782 

Report of the NFSS Fourth Vice President and Judges Panel Director Martha Wigmore:

• JUDGE'S PANEL REPORT:

There are currently 24 members of the NFSS Judges Panel. I am happy to announce that we have an applicant to the NFSS Apprentice Judge program who has met the basic qualifications and will be taking the written Apprentice Judge examination at NCBS 2005.

RESEARCH AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE:

(1) Society Finch Standard Revision Committee

A in-depth review of the proposed revision to the NFSS Society Finch standard will be undertaken at a Society Finch specialty show in July 2005. Thank you to all who have contributed their knowledge and time to this valuable effort!

(2) Proposed General Standard

No additional comments from the NFSS membership have been received about the recent changes to the proposed General Standard published in "The NFSS Journal." The Board will be asked to approve the Standard shortly.

SPECIE CLASSIFICATIONS:

Proposed class changes in some Sections will be submitted shortly to the NFSS Board for its approval. Watch "The NFSS Journal" for announcements of changes.

JUDGE CHANGE FOR NFSS NATIONAL SHOW AT NCBS 2005

NFSS has recently been advised that NFSS Panel Judge Dale Laird will be judging the Finch/Softbill Division at the National Cage Bird Show in Dallas/Ft. Worth this year on November 18. We are sorry that NFSS Panel Judge Julie Duimstra will not be able to attend. Thank you, Dale, for stepping in for us. Come and join us at NCBS for the FUN - and those great birds!

THANK YOU TO NCBS AWARDS SPONSORS

A big thank you goes out to all of our generous award sponsors at NFSS' upcoming National Show, held in conjunction with NCBS! Thanks to Janis Clark for sponsoring the Finch/Softbill Division for us, and to the following

Section sponsors: Robert Mehl, Softbills; Sally & Vince Huntington, Zebra

Finches; anonymous donor for Gouldian Finches, Australian Finches, and Doves & Quail; Charles Anchor for both Indo-Pacific Finches and European Finches; Clarence & Ola Culwell, Society Finches; Chryoe Seeman, Finches of Africa; Clint & Cathy Harris, Finches of the Americas; and Denise Hofer, Pairs.

Respectfully submitted
Martha Wigmore

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