Red Knights Massachusetts State Meeting
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Charlton Fire Department
10:30 a.m. -- Meeting called to order by State Rep George Colby
12:10 p.m. – Meeting adjourned
Opening
Moment of silence held for members who have passed since the last meeting, and all our service men and women who are serving.
Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
George Colby, Massachusetts State Rep
Robert Felt, Massachusetts Assistant State Rep
Mass-1 (3 members)
Mass-2 (8 members)
Mass-3 (5 members)
Mass-4 (8 members)
Mass-7 (2 members)
Mass-8 (1 member)
Mass-13 (3 members)
Mass-15 (1 member)
(Mass-15 rep had to leave at 11:15)
Mass-5 absent with regret
Mass-9 absent
Mass-11 absent
Mass-12 absent
Mass-14 absent
Voting cards were given to the voting delegate of each chapter.
One chapter – One vote
If Member-at-Large contingent were to participate in State Business they as a collective group would have One vote.
State Reports
Minutes from Spring 2011 minutes. Motion made (by Mass-3) that minutes be accepted as circulated to the Chapter Presidents. Motion passed.
State Treasury
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-$166 was collected at Spring meeting during 50/50 raffle. $83 of that event placed in control of State Rep for business purposes. Balance still remains at $83o
50/50 raffle held during this meeting. Total collected $68. Sandy Colby won the $34 dollar drawing and donated winnings to State Rep for RKMC businessState Rep report (State of the State)
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Trademark License Agreement issue resolved for State Rep (see old business)o
Don Moore, of Vermont-3, was elected as Region-1 Rep at the annual convention.o
All chapters have the required Trademark License Agreement filed with International Secretary.o
RKMC Memorial – Don Parker continues to work to keep the memorial up-to-date when Red Knights pass away.§
45 Red Knights have passed in last year§
3 Massachusetts members passed in the last year, two were from Mass-11. George reported that he represented the Red Knights at the Funeral of Kelly McGonnel, president of Mass-11 and presented the Red Knights flag to Kelly’s widow Kim.o
2011 Killington Classic – George had made arrangements for lodging and a hospitality room for the event. Hurricane Irene’s damage to Vermont cancelled the event. He plans on similar accommodations for the 2012 Killington Classic.o
Tom Caisse (Mass-4) stepped in as George’s representative to the International convention held in Maryland as George could not attend.o
2012 International Convention is being held in Gettysburg. There is already information on the event and the host hotel on the International web page. PA-12 has posted a video that discusses much of their plans for the convention. http://www.redknightsmc.org/annualconvention.pyo
RK Massachusetts contingent participated in a community parade in Newton, MA during the summer.Old Business
RKMC State T-shirts. George Colby reports that Michael David of Mass-15 is working with vendor for production ideas. Design is in process. George will report back.
State Trademark Licensing Agreement (TMLA). George Colby reported on the long-running conflict in getting a TMLA to operate web page and other related state business as "State Representative." This has been resolved with the help of International VP Chris Gadway, Mass-4 Tom Caisse, and George.
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At International Board meeting at convention vote was 8 to 3 to issue TMLA to State Repo
Issue spurred other actions at board level including allowing RKMC Chapters the right to use social media as long as the chapter executive board has control of the site and not just one person.o
Massachusetts state web page is up and running. http://www.massredknights.org/
RK License Plates
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George Colby reports that he has a good, personal working relationship with a RMV manager within the Special Plates Division. The RMV is reporting a plate delivery time of six weeks when approved.o
RKMC Members can have more than one RK plate assigned to them as long as the motorcycle is registered to that Red Knight (and must be an "Active" member).o
State Rep has a detailed list of assigned plate numbers with members names and chapters. He uses the original chapter assignment of numbers whenever possible when assigning low number plates that become available
New Business
State E-mail Voting – George Colby brought up that there are times that he needs decisions to be made for unforeseen state expenditures and would like authority to contact Chapter presidents for approval to spend the needed funds via an email vote. Mass-4 made the motion to authorize the state rep to solicit chapter presidents via email for expenditure approval. Vote was 8 yea, none opposed, motion passed.
RK License Plate – Motion made by Mass-4 to add a restriction in the State Rep SOG’s to require a one year waiting period for new active members to be eligible for Red Knights "RK" motorcycle license plates. Discussion ensued about the Chapters’ responsibilities and the State Rep responsibilities, RMV involvement, etc. Caucus was held so chapter members could come to a voting consensus. Vote take, motion failed, 0 yea, 7 nay.
Special License Plates – Mass-13 made a motion to have the State Rep investigate with the RMV contact the possibility of altering the RK plate to say "Red Knights" at the base of the license plate (instead of "The Spirit of America") and/or have a RK Logo – similar to the layout of the Blue Knights Plates in Massachusetts. Motion passed 7 yea, 0 nay. George will investigate and report.
Red Knights International Convention, September 2011, Ocean City, Maryland. Tom Caisse (Mass-4) made presentation to attendees discussing changes in bylaws that affect the chapters, and on the new voting methods to be put in to place beginning in 2012 for the election of International Board members.
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Voting for Regional Representatives for the International will now be done by just those chapters within that Region. For example, Massachusetts Chapters will only vote for the Region-1 representative rather than all the representatives.o
The Red Knights have now formed two parallel corporations. One is the corporation that has been in place already (incorporated in Massachusetts) and the new corporation is the RKMC Regalia Corporation with the same board of directors (incorporated as an LLC in Vermont). This secondary corporation was formed because the assets and income of the Red Knights was at a level that it could have affected the not-for-profit status of the Red Knights.o
Electronic Voting. The bylaws have been altered to allow electronic voting for the International Officers.§
This change allows all chapters to be involved in the voting of the International leadership and not just those in attendance at the conventions.§
Electronic voting will only be for the officer positions and other circumstances outside of "debatable topics." It could also be used for non-binding questions – but any issue that is debatable, like a change in bylaws, would be debated and voted on at the convention.§
Chapter Preparation – To participate a chapter must be "in good standing." This means dues paid, roster current, and Trademark License Agreement (TMLA) on file. If your chapter is not "in good standing" you as an individual are also not in good standing.§
Chapter email address – The voting will be ONE chapter ONE vote, and the information and ballot will be distributed via the RKMC email address that the International Board has set up for each chapter. This is a yahoo.com address and if your chapter has not accessed this and set up your individual password then this needs to be done.§
Nominations. To be nominated for an international board position, an individual must be nominated by two different chapters. The president or vice-president of a chapter can submit the nominations to the nominations committee at nominations@redknightsmc.com§
Timelines for 2012 Election:·
Incumbent intent to run for reelection must be received by the nominations committee by February 20 (180 days prior to convention meeting)·
Nominations are closed (and all nominations must be received prior to) May 20 (90 days prior to convention meeting)·
Ballots are sent to Chapters via Chapters yahoo email addresses and Chapters start to vote on June 19 (60 days prior to the convention meeting)·
Voting is closed (all chapter voting must be complete to be counted) July 19 (30 days prior to convention meeting)·
Vote results are announced at the convention meeting on August 18, 2012.o
If you as a chapter have not received information and/or have not been able to access your Chapter’s International yahoo email address, contact State Rep George Colby and he will contact the International to get guidance to help chapters prepare for the electronic voting.§
Candidate review and Chapter voting. Chapter officers have a responsibility to review candidate profiles and to work with chapter membership in the selection of and voting for the candidates of the chapters’ choice·
Review candidate profiles that will be posted on-line·
Ballots emailed to chapters·
Select candidate (as a chapter)·
Submit ballot·
Print receipt confirming chapter vote§
If there is a tie between candidates, the tie vote will be broken at the convention with a run-off election with the delegates at the convention.o
Thank you to Tom Caisse for his work on the electronic voting issue over the past few years, and his briefing on International business.Good of the Order
Mass-4’s Charter location has officially changed from Fiskedale, MA to Charlton, MA.
Founding fathers of the Red Knights were given Life Membership at the 2011 Convention and their names will be placed on a special plaque at the Red Knights memorial.
Mass-11 has asked that the late Kelly McGonnell’s RK license plate be "locked" so that the number cannot be re-issued without the Chapter’s prior authorization. State Rep Colby has taken care of this administratively.
Chapter Dues – State Rep Colby reminds all chapters that we are approaching the season where chapter dues are due to the International for 2012. This is especially important in light of the electronic voting initiative that will be in place in 2012.
Motor Vehicle Tire on Motorcycles – Bob Laford (Mass-2) passed out a flyer that was distributed on-line after the 2011 Wing Ding in regards to the differences between automotive tires and rims and motorcycle tires and rims and how some motorcyclists are mounting automotive tires on the rear rim of their motorcycle as a cost savings (but potentially dangerous) alternative.
Get Well/Thinking of You greeting cards were circulated for Al Briand (Charter member and first president of Mass-3) who is ill, and for Randy Benn (Ontario 7) who was in a very serious motorcycle crash and is in ICU.
Red Knights Memorial WTC Steel – MA-1 President David Hamilton reported that an architect is working with the Memorial Committee on how best to integrate the 9-11 steel to the Red Knights Memorial. It is stressed that it will remain the Red Knights Memorial and not a 9-11 memorial.
Ground Zero – Steve Alvarez (Mass-3) visited NYC Twin Tower site this fall and spoke on its humbling and sobering emotional affect on visitors. He said he is looking at a 2012 visit that may include a larger group of Red Knights (possibly by bus).
Election of Assistant State Representative for Massachusetts
State Rep George Colby brought forward that one member had been submitted as a nomination for Assistant State Rep. Mass-3 moved that the current Assistant State Rep Robert Felt (Mass-8) cast one ballot for the election of Robert Laford (Mass-2) as Assistant State Rep for the two year term. Motion was 7 yea, 0 nay, Motion passed.
The membership thanked Bob Felt for his service to the Massachusetts Red Knights.
2012 State Meetings
Mass-1 volunteered to host the Spring 2012 State Meeting in Boylston
Mass-13 tentatively volunteered to host the Fall 2012 State Meeting in Ayer, contingent of Fire Department administration approving use of facilities. Mass-4 volunteered to be back-up location for the Fall meeting if necessary.
The attending membership thanked President Tom Caisse, the Mass-4 members, and the Charlton Fire Department for hosting of today’s meeting.
A lunch was provided and the social time was enjoyed by all present.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Laford
Assistant Massachusetts State Representative