The Minnesota Streetcar Museum

MINUTES

Board of Directors meeting
9:00 a.m., Saturday, February 19, 2005
Nicollet Garage

Attendance:

Keith Anderson Rod Eaton, Director Dave French, Director Louis Hoffman, Director

Mike Miller John Prestholdt Greg Taylor, Director Jim Vaitkunas, Director

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order by Jim Vaitkunas at 9:07 a.m.

Approval of Agenda.  The agenda was approved.

Approval of minutes.  The minutes of the January 19, 2005 Board of Directors meeting were approved.  The date of the Board’s March meeting was changed from March 19 to March 12, 2005.  It was not discussed whether the meeting would be held at the Linden Hills Carbarn and Shops or at Nicollet Garage.

Discussion and approval of By-laws and Organizational Memorandum.  The By-laws were discussed and approved with changes (see attached By-laws as amended and approved).  Discussion of the Organizational Memorandum, which will be revised to conform to the By-laws and the Membership Policy, was postponed to the March 12, 2005 Board meeting (see attached Organizational Memorandum as revised).  Louis Hoffman will research whether the By-laws require approval of the membership.

Discussion of membership program, dues, and publications.  The proposed membership program and dues were discussed and approved with changes (see attached membership program as amended and approved).

Discussion of policies.  Discussion of policies was postponed to the March 12, 2005 Board meeting.

Report of Interim Finance Committee regarding bank accounts, chart of accounts, and financial procedures.  Bill Arends is setting up the software.  A checking account will be opened at US Bank in Edina.  Louis Hoffman and Jim Vaitkunas, two of the three authorized signers, will meet there at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 to do so.  Greg Taylor, the third authorized signer, will make arrangements to sign the appropriate forms at a later date.  Secretary’s note:  The meeting was postponed to 11:00 a.m. and the checking account is open.  Greg Taylor will make arrangements to sign the appropriate forms on Saturday, February 26.

Review of purchase agreement and lease with Minnesota Transportation Museum and results of audit of Traction Fund.  It was noted that the purchase agreement and lease have been signed.  The meeting between Dave Kettering, Russ Olson, and Dave Schultz, the MTM Treasurer, is currently scheduled for March 5, 2005.

Review of Action List.  Jim Vaitkunas handed out an updated Action List. There was a discussion about the Museum’s website.  Progress is being made towards obtaining the domain name “trolleyride.org” and another more “local” one and migrating the current information about the Como-Harriet and Excelsior Streetcar Lines there, subject to being redesigned at a later date.  Rod Eaton may have found a person who will perform this work for the Museum. John Prestholdt agreed to find out if the Museum could use the second telephone line in his house after it was concluded that the Museum could not use the existing telephone lines at the carbarn and station without interfering with the security system.  It was agreed that the Museum could obtain an answering machine that would have the option of several mailboxes.  Secretary’s note:  The Museum will use the Prestholdt’s second line, 952.922.1096 as its telephone number.

Other business.  It was agreed that the season at both Como-Harriet and Excelsior would open on Saturday, April 30, 2005 to provide an extra weekend of revenue in the event operations cease mid-season for TEA-21 – related construction.  Greg Taylor and Dave French agreed that operator recertification and training could be scheduled around regular operations that weekend.

Adjournment.  The meeting was adjourned at about 11:25 a.m.

Next meeting:

9:00 a.m.
Saturday, March 12, 2005 (note change in date from the third Saturday)
Linden Hills Carbarn and Shops or Nicollet Garage