THE HOUSTON VINTAGE RADIO ASSOCIATION

SEPTEMBER  26, 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND ELECTIONS

We will convene our last regular 4th Saturday GENERAL MEETING for the year at Bayland Park Community Center. As most of you are aware, the Center plans to curtail many activities during October and November. This decision was made by the County due to the location being a site for early voting, political candidates’ gatherings, the need for maintenance and repairs, and, last but not least, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for employees. Center closures for those holidays would prevent holding Saturday morning meetings during both months. However, during the last two years, we have held TUESDAY EVENING meetings the second Tuesday in December. This year we plan to do it again on December 8 starting at 6:30 PM.  

Now for the important matters we need to address, each one will require separate votes by the general membership 9 AM, on September 26, 2020:

As many of you are aware, we have a challenge: “to keep up with the times”.  When HVRA was founded in November 1978, there were four officers elected during our first meeting: President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Historian.  In the early 1980s the secretary/treasurer position was split into two separate positions resulting in five elected officers each serving one-year terms and eligible for re-election if desired.  As our organization grew, and things became more complicated, i.e. large conventions, expanded auctions, newsletter publications, handling estates, acquiring liability insurance, getting incorporated and becoming a 501 C 7 nonprofit, and finally, the internet, additional officers became a necessity. The current Board of Directors is composed of nine positions.

Our recent experiences with virtual meetings and associated programs has indicated that HVRA would benefit from the addition of a Board position dedicated to coordinating “in person” and virtual Programs during General or electronic meetings (Note: The HVRA V.P. will remain responsible for the Annual Convention Program).  In addition, during our major auctions, record-keeping and monetary transactions can get complicated and additional help is needed. Therefore, a Board of Directors’ consensus was reached that another office for an At Large Position III should be established. Article VI of the HVRA Bylaws defines the duties of the elected officers and this will involve a minor re-shuffling of the Sections under Article VI.  Quoting from HVRA Bylaws ARTICLE X – AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS, “These Bylaws can be amended at any regular meeting of the Association by a two – thirds vote of the attending members, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at a previous regular meeting and a notice of the amendment(s) appears on the Association’s website.”

If approved, the proposed AT LARGE POSITION III responsibilities will be added to the bylaws as follows:

Paragraph 1.  Shall serve as the Program chairman responsible for coordination and enablement of the Monthly meeting programs both in-person and virtual.  Shall seek input from the board and gain approval from the board for the schedule of programs. 

Paragraph 2.  Shall assist with the execution of the monthly and convention auctions in the capacity of electronic records keeping (auction software).

In addition to approving the amendment to the HVRA Bylaws to include an At Large Position III, members will be asked to vote for the following Officers to serve terms for the next two years.  Any HVRA active member is eligible to volunteer to run for a position on the Board of Directors.  Nominations will be taken from the floor during the meeting.

President;    Treasurer;    Historian,    At Large Position I,    (New) At Large Position III

We look forward to another wonderful meeting at Bayland Community Center, so stay safe and wear a mask – that is a requirement. Yes, you may remove your mask to enjoy some donuts, cookies, and other condiments. No, you won’t have to drink coffee or juice through a straw. I have heard even those are outlawed in some California cities – we still use straws here in Texas, but it is an option if you choose to do so if you want to get some strange looks. Coffee through a straw, maybe in a hospital bed – no thanks here while I’m still ambulatory! 

 Bill Werzner, President, HVRA              

The program will be  “Vintage Phonograph records” and “San Antonio Radio Station WOAI History and Photos”