Minutes of the Oklahoma Chess Association Annual Meeting and Election 2004

8 AM 27 June 2004

Oklahoma Memorial Student Union on the campus of Oklahoma University at Norman

(as announced the prior day at the Oklahoma Open and previously published in the OCB, website, postcards and email broadcast)

Attending OCA and USCF Members

which received numbered and color coded election ballots upon arrival:

VP Chuck Unruh (Presiding), Treasurer Jim Gray, Secretary Mike Swatek, Board Member at Large Sergey Galant, Board Member at Large Jacqueline Bentele, Board Member at Large Steve Sawyer, Russell Abbott, Eric Abraham, Charles Beal, Larry Deputy, Skip Fritze, George Hulburd, Edward Hutchens, Jason Kalivas, Steve Kecskemety, Chris Lofthus, William Molton, Jeremy Moore, Emily Nasuta, David Nichols, Tom Pepper, Destiny Sawyer, Gail Sawyer, Stephanie Simmons, Royal Smith, Michele Swartz, Michael Taliaferro, Charles Unruh, Bob Van Sant, Bruce Wells and Rod Whitlatch.

Opening Comments (Chuck Unruh)

Point of Order: Robert’s Rule of Order 42 suspended by unanimous voice vote to allow Chuck Unruh’s participation in the discussion of motions.

Secretary’s Report (Mike Swatek) accepted unanimously by voice vote. See separate report.
25 additional OCA members from the Oklahoma Open (for a total of 161, and 232 OSCO scholastic members).

The OCA is now a legal entity, instead of being just a group of individuals using the name with no legal recognition.

Treasurer’s Report (Jim Gray) accepted unanimously by voice vote. See separate report.

The calendar year 2003 portion of the report begins at the point where the prior Treasurer, Frank Berry, only turned over a cashiers check with no supporting financial records. The OCA financial records and archives have still not been turned over, after multiple requests.

Annual Election:

Ballots confirmed to all eligible voters.

President – Chuck Unruh nominated by the OCA Policy Board and no floor nominations.

Vice President – John Dunlap nominated by the OCA Policy Board and no floor nominations.

Treasurer – Jim Gray nominated by the OCA Policy Board and no floor nominations.

Secretary – Mike Swatek nominated by the OCA Policy Board and no floor nominations.

The above slate of officers was unanimously elected by a single hand vote for 2-year terms.

Members At Large election

Policy Board nominations were Russell Abbott and Bill Molton.

Floor nominations were Jeremy Moore and Charles M Unruh.

Election results were: 28 for Russell Abbott, 24 for Bill Molton, 18 for Jeremy Moore and
13 for Charles M Unruh. Abbott, Molton and Moore are the 2004-5 Policy Board Members at Large.

Bylaws Amendment Proposal

Major improvements include: 2/3 majority vote of members at Annual Election to Amend the Bylaws, or ratify amendments implemented by a 3/4 majority of the entire Policy Board; process for handling Policy Board resignations; and other changes necessary for possible future IRS 501(c)(3) status.

Passed using ballots after a short discussion period with 26 votes for and none against the amendments.

New Business

Recommendation for the Policy Board to consider awarding an OCA Lifetime Achievement Award or Outstanding Service Award.

Player instruction ideas discussed.

Discussion of OCB publishing cost issue and possible solutions, including: raising dues; on-line OCB with hard copy only available upon request or for an added fee; semi-annual publication; thinner publication which refers to information available on-line, etc.

Adjourned shortly before 9:30

Minutes reported by Secretary Mike Swatek

The latest OCA bylaws are published in the Governance section of the OCA website at www.ochess.org where you’ll also find a version showing the exact changes that were made.