GNYBA Board Meeting Minutes – August 13, 2020
In Attendance (by ‘Zoom’)
V. Apter, D. Garber, B. Gellas, J. Hu, P. Lentz, F. Levine, S. Levine, L. Lin, Mark Mariaschin, J. Meyers, G. Miniter, R. Moller, D. Moss, A. Parrish, A. Rhodes, J. Rothstein, A. Rudary, W. Sigward, A. Silverstein, N. Trabulus, J. Wank, L. Weisbrod.
President’s Report
B. Gellas stated that the purpose of the meeting was to receive an updated report from S. Levine regarding the status of future tournaments.
Tournament Report
Steve announced that, due to circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the regional tournament scheduled for May, 2021, at the Hilton has been canceled. Steve further reported:
* At this time, the Hilton cannot offer us our preferred November, 2021, dates for a prospective tournament; but can offer our traditional last-week-in-December, 2021, dates. Pricing for December 2021 would remain unchanged.
* After August 14, 2020, we lose our option on the 12/21 dates, although the Hilton has informally stated we could have additional time if needed in order to make a decision regarding 12/21.
* The Hilton continues to hold our $13.5 thousand deposit from the cancelled May 2020 tournament.
* The Hilton has added language to its “Impossibility Clause” in their contract which affords us additional, but not complete, protection from the risks associated with a potential need to cancel a contractual arrangement given prevailing circumstances.
Steve concluded by requesting the Board decide what to do regarding a prospective Nov/Dec 2021 tournament.
In the discussion that ensued, the sense of the Board was that we have no idea what the Covid-situation will be in December 2021, that the risk was too great to sign any contract at the present time, and therefore the most prudent course of action for today would be to defer a decision until a future date. Subsequently a motion was carried to defer until November 15, 2020, any further consideration of staging a tournament anytime in 2021.
Steve will revert to the Hilton with what we have decided; and, pursuant to related discussion at the meeting regarding our deposit held by the Hilton, he will request the Hilton return the deposit.
GNTs
A. Rhodes reported that GNT competition soldiers on. The ‘A’ Flight finished in July; while the ‘B’ Flight will end around the beginning of September and the ‘C’ Flight will be completed on September 19th. Accordingly, we will be finished by the end of September.
D. Moss stated that we should assume there will be a national GNT at the NABC in Providence in July 2021.
Other Business
Bonnie brought to Members’ attention two forthcoming matters of importance:
- Election for the District’s 2nd-Alternate. Later this month, Board members will receive by email from the ACBL a ballot with which to cast a vote for the position of the District’s 2nd-Alternate. Board Member Lee Lin is running against a candidate from Long Island, Alan Kudisch. This is a significant position for several reasons including that 2nd-Alternate is a voting member of the ACBL’s Board of Governors.
- Nominating Committee for GNYBA Board. Due to the pandemic, we will be deciding how to handle nominations/elections to the Board for 2021. Bonnie stated that we will follow ACBL recommendations for how to conduct Unit elections, which will likely involve voting by email and will be conducted by year-end. An important consideration will be to clarify how many people wish to remain on the Board.
Next Board Meeting
The next Board Meeting will be held via ‘Zoom’ at 9:00 am on Tuesday, September 22.
Respectfully Submitted by
Bill Sigward,
Secretary of the Board
August 16, 2020