· There are 61 members per the Society roster. [However, there are approx. 37 inactive members]. Members are urged to check and update their own personal information on the Society roster.
· Feedback from COTS is that barbershopping is both a hobby and a business. The Society head-quarters executives must run the Society as a business, and we must keep the singing in focus.
· Tom Koch read to the board the recently defined duties of the VP of Marketing and Public Relations. It was noted that the BMI fee is overdue. Bob Parker stated that all PR correspondence to newspapers, radio, etc., must go through Tom.
· The current version of the chapter mission statement is acceptable: "The Greater Pittsburgh Chapter will provide to any man who enjoys the art of singing: 1)camaraderie with other men who also enjoy singing, 2) instruction and guidance in how to become a better singer, and 3) the opportunity to share his joy of singing with others."
· Don Redshaw [VP Chapter Development] was requested to submit a plan to follow up on new members to keep their interest and involvement.
· President Bob Parker will get committee members for the Awards Committee.
· Motion was passed to drop the singing valentines program for 2005 (lack of volunteers]. However, members who know of potential sales can pass the information on to a chapter quartet.
· The board recommended that we make visitations to two other chapters per year and invite them to reciprocate.
· Members are to keep an eye out for our 2006 (and beyond) show venue (location]. Bob Parker will check will Gateway High School. Advantages of a high school include free and plentiful parking, and potential for a matinee performance with little additional cost.
· Jay Garber is investigating the possibility of a Riverboat Cruise for local chapters. One problem is high cost to rent an entire boat, so an approach might be to suggest to the Gateway Clipper Fleet that the cruise be billed as a "Barbershop Singing" cruise, so the public will be aware before they buy tickets that there might not be dancing or other music. In this manner we could have a cruise without committing to fill the entire boat with barbershoppers.
· The Travelers Quartet will be on our show this year and will start the second half.
· The chapter must pay a fee to the Society for copies of "Everyone Wants to Go to Heaven."
· Greater Pittsburgh will be working with Metro Chapter to bring an awareness of barbershop harmony to local high schools and colleges.
· Guy Russo will continue to coach/instruct us at selected rehearsals.
· Chapter Counselor Steve Wyszomierski will help us in our director search. The director search committee consists of Bob Parker, Gary Corpora and Bernie Sinwell.
· Motion was passed to withdraw funding previously allocated to send Rich Stevens to Director's College.
· Motion was passed to have the chapter go to Divisional competition this year. Membership will be approached indicating that the board is in favor of going, but we need a reasonable number of members willing to support it.
· A copy of the latest Chapter Bylaws and Code of Regulations was provided to the officers and board members. Comments will be discussed at future meetings.
Following are some additional actions from a follow-up meeting held Jan.25
· Motion passed to attempt to sponsor two high school student to this years Singing Buckeye, Harmony Camp.
· Discussed the possibility of re-establishing divisional structure in JAD. A SWOT analysis has been recommended by the chapter.
· There was further discussion of the potential for a river boat cruise this summer. A letter from Gateway Clipper Fleet with cost options was reviewed.
· A copy of the 2005-2006 JAD Strategic Plan was passed and board members have been asked to review it.
· John Kirwan will not be handling the show tickets after 2005. Would like to get two people to work with him this year to prepare for take over in subsequent years.
· The show flyer mailing list is very out of date and needs revision.