The meeting began online on 2-1-06. Present: Sally Huntington, Jim Heffernan, Cecil Gunby, Wick Goss, Bob French, Bill Parlee, Ron Castner, Brenda Josslett, Paula Hansen, Raspberry, Harry Bryant, Alana Honea, Cathy Luttrell, Doug White, Alfred Mion, John Wilson, Bob Peers

Discussions:

• After the treasurers report was submitted, the BOD decided to put $5000 into a savings account.

• Bill Parlee accepted the appointed position as Parliamentarian.

• The 2005 NFSS bylaws contain several errors and inconsistencies. Bill Parlee, Harry Bryant and Sally Huntington are reviewing and will make suggestions and present to the BOD for discussion 2nd quarter meeting.

• The Finch and Softbill Save 2006 census time frame has been requested so Harry can plan for space in the Journal.

• Discussion regarding what NFSS could do as an incentives for regional show and support local clubs....

• Ron has written a draft for a NFSS sponsored 'finch care handout'. A request was made to make it more general an not as lengthy.

• Discussion regarding the wisdom of investing $400 in GABS, would the money be better spent else where?

• Paula and Alana are working on a BOD packet for all incoming BOD to be reviewed at the second quarter meeting

• Afternoon of Aviculture that takes place at NCBS has 3 of 4 speakers committed 1. Vince Moase; 2. Grant Rishman; 3. Harry Bryant.

• AFA affiliation renewed.

• Shelly Ortman resigned as Awards Manager Bob Peers was appointed and approved by the BOD as her replacement.

• Due to some errors and omissions in the Jan/Feb 2005 show reports, Harry will reprint the corrections in the Journal as soon when he receives all the correct information.

Three motions presented for a vote:

Motion 2006-1 - Incentives for regional shows. Motion for regional show incentives. (1.) A half page ad in the NFSS journal advertising the regional show (2.) A basic rosette set provided to the club by NFSS at a discounted price. Alfred Mion - Seconded by Paula Hansen = PASSED

Motion 2006-2 - "I move to discontinue $400 support of GABS beginning 2007 and replace it with the same amount we give to our own regional shows." Jim Heffernan. Second Cecil Gunby = PASSED 

Motion 2006-3 - "I make a Motion that a committee be formed to investigate the updating of the zebra finch standards/points allocation". Jim Heffernan. Second Bob French= PASSED

Department Reports

Band Secretary Quarterly Report 1-06

NFSS Band sales experienced unusually higher sales during the last 2 months of this Quarter. 4 of the orders in December experienced delays due USPS delivery's up to 3 - 4 weeks. One due to a member moving. I haven't heard of any other problems. Each Pay Pal order receives a confirmation. I presently have a order in for more plastic bands and expect to see the inventory sometime February.

Band order forms will begin to reflect new increased USPS Insurance rates.

Estimated Band Sales as of 12/26/05 November Pay Pal 7/Mail in 11-Sales 409.95 December Pay Pal 46/Mail in 45 -Sales 3,541.70 January Pay Pal 47/Mail in 46 -Sales 3,406.17

Respectfully submitted, Paula Hansen NFSS Band Secretary

Treasures Report

SAVINGS: Fourth Quarter Interest - $1.49 Balance - $6,373.87 Transferred to Checking - $6,373.87 Balance - $0.00 

CHECKING: Transferred from Savings - $6,373.87 Balance - $10,675.56 Check #1443 1/22/06 NFSS $8,914.29 Balance - $1,761.27 (the balance represents all of the outstanding checks as of the last bank statement plus $100.00 cushion) 

Current Balance in checking accounts - $11,434.39 includes - $30 of my personal funds to open the accounts; checks received; and the above $8,914.29 from Mark.

Payments due: $850 for postage on NFSS Journal; $125 dues for AFA; $121.46 reimbursement to Cathy for Finch Shop inventory shipping; possible payment for the NFSS Journal printing for the Nov/Dec issue [checking to see if it has been paid or not]; $1,183.97 for Bands; $775 for 2 shipments of books "Breeding American Songbirds" for finch shop [including bank transfer fees]; $113.85 for new checks.

Balance - $8390.11, less the cost of printing the Nov/Dec Journal, if not paid. There is also a balance in the PayPal accounts of $2055.31, which will be transferred into our bank.

Our current balance will be $10,445.40.

Bob French 

2nd Vice Presidents report - 1st quarter

2006 Editor

The Jan/Feb issue has been printed and will be mailed out very soon. The March/April issue is being laid out, and will be sent to the printer on time. For this year, I basically have all the 2006 issues started, and I work at them when I can. As an example, this allows me to be able to receive a neat photo now, and set it up say in the July/August issue as the cover. Or if I know an ad is paid for the year, I can insert it in all six issues now. That way when the July/August issue is due, all I have to add is the time-sensitive columns, and the rest is already done.

With the change in officers this year, there are still a few "glitches" that need to be corrected out so we can all work together efficiently as a team, and I am sure these things will be worked out soon.

Website

The NFSS website has now been moved to the new host, and some of you may notice that it is running a little faster. I also have new reports available showing various statistics. For example, the first week after I moved it to the new host, we had 3720 people visit it, and they looked at 11,456 pages.

I can also tell exactly what pages they looked at. I can tell where they came from (what search engine, another site, etc.), what country they are from, and what browser they are using. All of this allows me to know what people are interested in and what the most popular parts of the website are.

Harry Bryant
NFSS 2nd Vice President/Editor/Website

Finch shop report

I received the finch shop merchandise Jan 4th, 2006, from Cathy Luttrell.

I re-inventoried all the merchandise received and have been organizing, reevaluating and clearing up any incomplete records/ information. Retail adjustments have been made to some shop items. Reducing of retail prices, putting on clearance some items that we are discontinuing or were slow/poor sellers or are simply no longer available to us. These changes will affect our profit potential but does not affect our costs or investments of the inventory.

The sale of these items will free up the budget to add new items which are more marketable, faster moving and thus increase our sales for the current year.

My goal for the Finch Shop in 2006 is to increase sales and there by increasing NFSS profits. By increasing public exposure, adding new more marketable and quality merchandise and educational materials. I see an avenue for achieving this goal successfully.

We are on our way already with the ability to again accept online orders and payments (thank you Harry) along with updating the price changes on some items. Sales were down for the Shop in 2005. I attribute that to the changes in Management, the temporary inability to accept online purchases and the decline of public appearances during the busiest time of Year for NFSS Shows. My current projects, I believe, will help to make positive changes for the Shop.

Current Projects/Events:

1. Evaluating current merchandise and making necessary changes to prices and items to be carried. (Completed)

2. Adding new merchandise: currently Species Identification Posters: for Zebras, Gouldians, African finches, European Finches, Australian Finches (6 different posters) < Work in progress >

3. Getting a clear, useable graphic of our NFSS Logo. To be used in getting quality merchandise made, banners, stationary etc. <Work in progress >

4. Scheduled to attend the following upcoming events and setup at NFSS Booth or Table's:

March 2006: Morganton NC Bird Fair, Fayetteville NC Bird Fair
April 2006: Bird Clubs of Virginia Convention & Shows (hosting 2 NFSS Shows), Columbia SC Bird Fair
May 2006: Raleigh, NC Pet Bird Fair & Shows (hosting NFSS show), poss. Baltimore, Md and maybe more All these events have/are generously donating space to the NFSS Finch Shop.

5. Working on updating the list of NFSS Journal Articles to aid in the selling of past issues of our greatest educational asset. in progress I am excited about the upcoming year and welcome suggestions and ideas from anyone for new merchandise or items they would like to see the Finch Shop offer for sale.

FinchShop Financial Figures:

2005 Retail Sales: $2,252.92 (down from 2004)
Year End Retail Value of Inventory: $5008.84
Adjusted Year End Retail inventory: $2,998.00

Difference of: 2,010.84 (The resulting adjustment is due primarily from the change in retail price of the 977 bumper stickers we have in inventory. They were reduced from $3.00 each to $1.00 each a total retail reduction of 1954.00. The remaining $56.84 is spread out amongst other items in inventory) Again these changes do not affect the actual out of pocket cost or investment. 

January Sales 2006

TOTAL SALES: $67.00 (down from Jan 2005 sales of $228.59)
COGS: $20.00
PROFIT: $47.00
POSTAGE Received: $17.40
POSTAGE PAID: $8.10
POSTAGE Balance: $9.30

Alana Honea
FinchShop Manager

 

Respectfully submitted Jim Heffernan, Executive Secretary

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