The Blues Blowtorch Society

GM Meeting – October 16, 2008
GM meeting called to order at 6:45 pm by Randy Hoffman, President.
Approved minutes of September GM meeting. 

GM meeting called to order at 6:45 pm by Randy Hoffman, President.

Approved minutes of September GM meeting. 

 Committee Reports:

Membership – Frank Black

284    General Members and 20 corporate Sponsors…= 304 total 

 Entertainment – Deborah Mehlberg  

Randy –IBC bus trip is cancelled 

Debbie – The membership was informed that we will not have a Combo Party this year.  We will direct our focus on education, but will discuss some live entertainment options after the first of the year.

Marketing – Dave Long 

Education – Steve Mehlberg 

Harmonica Workshop at St. Mary’s School

            This was a huge success, all of the teachers and student had a great time.  The music teacher is using the harmonicas in the class room to prepare for a Christmas concert.  One of the office ladies stated she is going to request the workshop for North Point elementary school in Bloomington.

 Inquiry- I have been asked to do a Harmonica Workshop for 100 disabled children in the Kankakee area. How far away do we want to travel?  Approved

 Steve Mehlberg has been nominated for the Official Blues Hall of Fame for conduction of our BBS Kids Harmonica Workshops. They will be monitoring our website and myspace site for his activities for the next six months before he becomes an ‘Ambassador’!

.Newsletter – James Walker

     Current plan is for James Walker as editor's last newsletter to arrive in late November covering Oct-Nov-Dec. Decided to make our newsletter available only on the website.

 Treasurer – Deborah Mehlberg

             Blues Blowtorch Society Treasurer Report September 18, 2008 

General Fund                                +$2,025.82 

Educational Fund Balance   +$ 530.95 

Total Balance 10/16/08                 +$2556.77 

Webmaster – Ralph Weisheit / Deborah Mehlberg 

            BluesBlowtorch.org 

            Debbie has this up and running very nicely.  Please review and offer suggestions.

                 Myspace.com

            Debbie - I have created a myspace account for the BBS the web address is http://www.myspace.com/blues_blowtorch_society we have had the House of Blues in Chicago and Sugar Blue join.  I would like to see our musician members with myspace accounts make available their music to be played on our site.  Members will also have the opportunity to have their gig schedules added to the calendar.  E-mail Deborah464@aol.com or send a message in myspace.com.

 New Business - Randy 

Ideas for Bylaw revisions – if adopted by the BOD – VOTE Approved

 Article III:  Meetings and Elections 

Section 2. Nominations for new officers shall be open only during the November General Membership meeting each year. Specifically, nominations shall be opened during the new business section of the November General Membership meeting and shall be closed when that same meeting is adjourned. The Board of Directors will accept nominations for new officers during the November Board of Directors meeting.  The Board of Directors may accept more than one nomination for a position, placing them on the ballot.  Additional nominations may be accepted from the General Membership, in writing and prior to the November Board of Directors meeting. All nominees must provide oral or written consent during the nomination process in order to be placed on the ballot. Elections shall be held during the December General Membership Meeting.  

Section 6.  No member shall hold more than one office at a time. No elected officer shall serve more than three (3) five (5) consecutive full annual terms in the same office. All elected officers shall serve without compensation. 

Article VI: Board of Directors

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to spend up to two three hundred dollars ($200.00 $300.00) over and above normal and recurring operational expenses without prior General Membership approval.

Article X: Addendum

 Section 1. Rules and Policies, will include but not be restricted to any rules or policies deemed to be necessary for procedure or behavior related to meetings, events or other activities of the Society and its members, will be set by the Board of Directors and not require a vote by the general membership.

Rules and Policies will be added to the By-laws and published on the web site as they are adopted, and provided to the general membership in print as an addendum to the By-laws at the first meeting of the year or as requested.

            Rules and Policies:

1.       The Board of Directors will not respond to unjust written or verbal criticism.  Such criticisms are to be discussed by the Board of Directors and appropriate actions will be taken, however, responding to unjust or unruly accusations only exacerbates the issue.

2.       The Board of Directors may censure a member by for behavior deemed inappropriate.  The Board may determine the terms and length of the censure, including revoking membership.

The Blues Blowtorch Society

GM Minutes – September 18, 2008
GM meeting called to order at 6:45 pm by Randy Hoffman, President.
Approved minutes of August GM meeting. 

Committee Reports:

Membership – Frank Black

258 General Members and 20 Corporate = 278 total

 Entertainment – Deborah Mehlberg

             Fall Ball  - 

Rick Tull -  

We are still in need of several volunteers for our Fall Ball on 9/21/08 at Tri-Lakes.
This will be an easy shift (2 hours) for us all, with me taking the gate for the first shift.
 Please drop me an email @ rick.tull@comcast.net  or give me a call at (309) 242-9464.
 If I can't answer, leave message and I'll call you back ASAP!

 I have the gate and BBS table covered for the first shift.
I need gate help from 2-4P, table help from 2-4P & 4-6P,
and auction help from approximately 2:30-3PM (Between Bands). 

Debbie -  I have secured Black Magic Johnson to play 1 to 3 PM and
Lil Dave Thompson from 3:30 to 6 PM.  This will allow a 30 minute break for the
workshop inside and the auction outside. 
The gate will be $10 for the general public and $5 for BBS members.

Auction Items- I have received donations from: 

Fox & Hounds – Manicure & Pedicure - $50.00 value

Extreme Hyundai – Oil Change - $25.00 value

Schooners – Dinner for 2 - $25.00 value

Miller Lite – TBA

Famous Dave’s, Hooter’s and DQ have donated items

J Balmer & Marci Hammerstrand is donating a handcrafted basket with other items. 

James - 3 original artwork panels of Buddy & Hopkins w/ frames for them.
2 are color panels, and 1 black and white.

2 autographed posters from Too Slim & Taildraggers.

We voted to send both RCBS & ICBC an email inviting their
members to attend the event at our member’s gate discount.

 Marketing – Dave Long

               Fall Ball – Pay Tri-lakes $75 for clean up after the event.

               Debbie - Auction items – Debbie has put together a letter to our current Corporate Sponsors.  
It asks for their current logo to update our website, and explains our Fall Ball 
and asks for them to donate to the auction or help sponsor our Education Fund.  

Dave will handle the Merchandise Table, the money from that will go into the General Fund, 
not the Education Fund.  We will also be handling merchandise for the not-for-profit organization, 
Computers For Quads.  They have given us t-shirts and button to sell at our events.

I sent the Fall Ball press release to Dan Craft, added it to the WGLT calendars 
Both the Art Calendar and the Community Calendar) and I put together a 
Public Service Announcement for GLT and WHIP

I sent Rick Tull the BBS Logo for promotions by WHOI

               Proposals - ongoing

               Golf outing is gone, bus trip to the IBC is alive, but failing so far

Education – Steve Mehlberg 

               288 harmonicas have been ordered with the new logo/web address.  
BOD Approved expenditure, GM Approved expenditure.

Fall Ball Workshop - Bill Porter and I have an outline of topics to cover during the 
How to start a band workshop.

 I have received two requests for Harmonica Workshops - St Mary’s School 
– 175 students details TBA and Peoria Park District/
The Kids Creative Art Center in Peoria Heights

Newsletter – James Walker

               Point: How many extra copies should we order each time?
For 8-22-08, we mailed 188, ordered 220, leaving 32 extra for the Fall Ball,
archives, special requests, and new members that come along.

 Ways to decrease costs for newsletters: - BOLD INDICATES Measures accepted

A. Have only four, quarterly newsletters instead of five per year.

B. Decrease the number of pages (have a page number limit; for example, 12 pages or less)

C. Decrease postage costs from .59 to .42 each by limiting pages to 12, or less.
(Save $31.96 = $110.92 vs. $78.96) Note: 188 copies x .42 = $78.96

 Current prices (August 29, 2008) from PIP using 20 lb paper, pastel color,
or 220 copies and even numbered pages in
increments of 4 (one 11x17 sheet yields 4 pages; 2 sheets yields 8, etc.):

8   pages = $225.08

12 pages = $284.99

16 pages = $344.91

Odd numbers require an insert, for example:
10 pages takes two sheets and an insert.

Inserts = $60 each

 Ways to reduce number of pages:

Note: While it is hard to know in advance when composing how many pages
it will take to print all the info sent in, it is not impossible.
PIP sends proof sheets before printing. Proofs are an opportunity to reduce pages.

Note: This latest issue, and any of them, can be made shorter.

A. Our sponsors’ business cards currently take 2 pages.
Bruce says we could go smaller in size, use three columns instead of two,
and probably get them on 1 page.

B. Use a smaller font, for example 8 or 10 instead of 12.

C. Put all reviews on the web site, not in the newsletter.

D. Put all “attaboy / way-to-go comments” on the website, not newsletter. 
Currently we are averaging over 31,000 hits a month.

E. Prioritize items for the newsletter.

     1. Note: I already do that by, generally speaking,
putting high priority items up front on pages 1 and 2 and

                   lesser towards the back.

     2. Our important sponsors are high priority, but traditionally in the back.

     3. Photos are also a high priority item as they add so much eye appeal and interest to the newsletters.

     4. The Buddy & Hopkins comic strip is high priority to me, and it only costs $10.00 per issue. 

Respectfully submitted,

James Walker, Newsletter Editor 2006 – 2008

Treasurer – Deborah Mehlberg 

            Blues Blowtorch Society Treasurer Report September 18, 2008

 BBS Account                            +$1995.82

Educational Fund               +$1000.00

Steve Mehlberg – NBTB HW       -$100.00
Hohner – BBS Harmonica’s        -$820.05

Deposit BIBF WKSH Sales         +$20.00

Educational Fund Balance   +$99.95

Total Balance 9/18/08                  +$2095.77.55

 Webmaster – Ralph Weisheit / Deborah Mehlberg

            Bluesblowtorch.org 

            We sold a raffle ticket for the Great Gibson Guitar Giveaway – the $5.00 is in transit to our main account. 

            Debbie has this up and running very nicely.  Please review and offer suggestions.

            We are submitting KBA nomination for website design. 

            Myspace.com

            Debbie - I have created a myspace account for the BBS the web address is http://www.myspace.com/blues_blowtorch_society we have had the House of Blues in Chicago and Sugar Blue join.  I would like to see our musician members with myspace accounts make available their music to be played on our site.  Members will also have the opportunity to have their gig schedules added to the calendar.  E-mail Deborah464@aol.com or send a message in myspace.com.

New Business - Randy 

The Mississippi Valley Blue Society, MVBS, was negatively impacted by the flooding in Iowa.  They are not able to maintain their Artist in Residency program and spent their ‘seed money’ for next years’ 25^th annual Blues Festival, held in Davenport, IA.  The BBS BOD agreed to send them $200 and, through the Blues Foundation, issue a challenge to the Affiliate Member societies to match our contribution.  Motion made, seconded, and approved at the GM.

 This item may be moved up to Thanksgiving if the Fall Ball is successful.

The Blues Blowtorch Society

General Meeting Minutes – August 21, 2008

General meeting called to order at 7:10pm by Randy Hoffman, President.

Approve minutes of June BOD meeting (no meeting in July). 

Committee Reports:        

Membership – Frank Black

241 General Members and 19 corporate Sponsors…= 260 total(7/7/08)

 Entertainment – Deborah Mehlberg

               Fall Ball - With the cancellation of the CIBC we have instead decided to hold the 
Fall Ball at Tri-Lakes.  
I have secured Black Magic Johnson to play 1 to 3 PM and Lil Dave Thompson from 3:30 to 6 PM.  
This will allow a 30 minute break for the workshop inside and the auction outside.  
After discussion with the members in attendance, 
the gate will be $10 for the general public and $5 for BBS members.

Marketing – Dave Long

               Fall Ball – Rick, WHOI will provide $3~4,000 worth of 30 second promo for 
the two weeks prior to the event. 
 We will in turn provide their logo on everything, call them our Partner, and provide a tax letter.

               Motion made, seconded and approved at the GM to pay Tri-lakes $75 for 
clean up after the event.

               Debbie - Auction items – I have put together a letter to our current Corporate Sponsors.  
It asks for their current logo to update our website, and explains our Fall Ball and asks for them to
donate to the auction or help sponsor our Education Fund.  

Dave will handle the Merchandise Table, the money from that will go into the General Fund, not the 

Education Fund.  We will also be handling merchandise for the not-for-profit organization, 
Computers 4 Quads.  They have given us t-shirts and button to sell at our events.

I sent the Fall Ball press release to Dan Craft, added it to the WGLT calendars 

(Both the Art Calendar and the Community Calendar) and I put together 
a Public Service Announcement for GLT and WHIP

I sent Rick Tull the BBS Logo for promotions by WHOI

               Proposals - ongoing

               Golf outing is gone, bus trip to the IBC is alive, but failing so far

Education – Steve Mehlberg 

               NBTB Festival – Steve – We had 84 students at the Harmonica Workshop!!

              Budweiser Blues Festival – August 30, 2008

               Jay Goldberg has booked the BBS Harmonica Workshop for the Budweiser Blues Festival in 
Peoria; the grant application date has already passed for the Illinois Blues Coalition. I spoke to Jay 
and he stated that he feels the application would be approved, that this is exactly what the 
Illinois Blues Coalition was formed to provide grant money for. 
We have the application for 2009/10 to fill out.

               Illinois Blues coalition

               Jay Goldberg has commissioned Deborah to create a Logo and web site.  
She would like to donate the logo to the BBS who in turn would to donate to the IBC 
for credit on the web site. The web site creation would also incorporate the logo 
which Deborah will bill the IBC for hours worked. – Check it out – link from our website

 
Steve Mehlberg has been nominated for the Official Blues Hall of Fame 
for conduction our BBS Kids Harmonica Workshops. 
They will be monitoring our website and myspace site for his activities 
for the next six months before he become an ‘Ambassador’! 

Newsletter – James Walker

               The JULY-AUGUST-SEPTEMBER issue of Blues News is done
and at the printers. Should be in mailboxes by Aug 26.

 Submitting the KBA nomination for Frank in the Public Radio category.

       Treasurer – Deborah Mehlberg

             Blues Blowtorch Society Treasurer Report August 21, 2008

 General Fund_______________+$2653.55

 Educational Fund Balance   +$1000.00

 Total Balance 4/17/08                  +$3653.55

 Webmaster – Ralph Weisheit / Deborah Mehlberg

            Bluesblowtorch.org 

            Debbie has this up and running very nicely.  Please review and offer suggestions.

            We are submitting KBA nomination for website design.

             Myspace.com

            Debbie - I have created a myspace account for the BBS the web address is
 http://www.myspace.com/blues_blowtorch_society we have had the House of Blues in
Chicago and Sugar Blue join.  I would like to see our musician members with
myspace accounts make available their music to be played on our site. 
Members will also have the opportunity to have their gig schedules added to the calendar. 
E-mail Deborah464@aol.com or send a message in myspace.com.    

New Business - Randy

 This letter is being sent out as a means to introduce ourselves,
enhance public awareness of The Paul Butterfield Fund and
Society (PBFS) and hopefully increase our membership support for PBFS. 

Although this is a worthwhile organization, we opted to support
another local organization. 

Thank you for renewing your affiliation with The Blues Foundation
for the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.   

I am attaching: 

·        a digital Certificate of Affiliation that you may utilize as you deem appropriate

·        2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award nomination cover sheet

·        a digital guitar raffle ticket

·        Photo of guitar

The BBS BOD decided to list this on our website and sell raffle tickets
both on the web and at our events. 

The South Florida Blues Society would like to present a terrific
opportunity to win a cabin for two on The
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise (SOLD OUT!!), leaving
Ft. Lauderdale, January 24-31, 2009!  As we did last year,
we hope you might pass this along to your membership,
or possibly might want to purchase some tickets yourself to
in turn raffle off to raise some money for your own society
or to use for some other type of incentive.  Many Blues societies
around the country (and world for that matter) purchase
a few tickets to offer as raffle prizes at their meetings,
estivals or on their websites.  It's a terrific deal!  
t $20 it's a very affordable investment!

The BBS BOD decided to list this on our website and Who’s Playing email.

Dear Fellow Blues Organization,
My name is Ruth Atherton of Raising The Blues, Ltd. a newly founded
charitable and educational organization in MA.
Primarily through the use of Blues music, our mission is to Raise the
spirits, abilities and aspirations of children undergoing medical treatment
and recovery and children with physical, emotional or educational
challenges.
Like many of you, we are an affiliate of the Blues Foundation.
I am writing to ask for your help and experience. Below is a press release
that will tell you more about Raising The Blues.

You can also help us in our efforts to bring Blues music to children in
hospitals in any of the following ways:
1) Let your members know about us.  www.RaisingTheBlues.org
2) If you know of musicians who would be interested to perform for children
in hospitals in the Boston MA area, please let me know.
3) Provide us with your feedback and thoughts.
4) Send a note of encouragement and support to the Raising The Blues kids.

Thank you kindly for your time and consideration,
Ruth E. Atherton, Ph.D
President
Ruth@RaisingTheBlues.org
www.RaisingTheBlues.org
646-643-9919

The BBS BOD decided to list this on our website and Who’s Playing email.

The Mississippi Valley Blue Society, MVBS, was negatively impacted by the

 flooding in Iowa.  They are not able to maintain their Artist in Residency program and spent their

‘seed money’ for next years’ 25^th annual Blues Festival, held in Davenport, IA. 

The BBS BOD agreed to send them $200 and, through the Blues Foundation,issue a challenge

to the Affiliate Member societies to match our contribution.  Motion made, seconded,

 and approved at the GM.

The Blues Blowtorch Society

BOD/GM Meeting Minutes – June 17, 2008

OD meeting called to order at 6:05 pm by Randy Hoffman, President. 
The General Meeting was an extension of the Board meeting without a start time.

Approve minutes of May BOD meeting.  Approve the minutes of May General Meeting 

Committee Reports:        

Membership – Frank Black

235 General Members and 19 corporate Sponsors…
 254 total, 31 members have not renewed...and two corporate sponsors 

Entertainment – Deborah Mehlberg 

               CIBC

               The date for the 2008 Central Illinois Blues Challenge has been set for September 21, 2008 
1-6pm to be held at Tri-Lakes in Bloomington.  I have sent e-mails to various agents and record companies as 
well as our standard Press releases in our newsletter, STLblues.com and IllinoisBlues.com.  

Marketing – Dave Long

               NBTB Festival – We have confirmed merchandise and plans to have the best looking tent 
at the festival this year.  
The BOD AND GM approved up to $100 for any other expenditures for the tent at the NBTB Festival.

               International Blues Challenge Bus Trip – We announced the rates in the Blues News.  
We think 55 seats will fill up fast.  
Contact Dave Long at 309-275-5666 id you want to sign up.

               Golf Outing – Also in the Blues News, and same contact if you are interested.

               T-Shirts – The BOD AND GM approved a tentative design for 144 new t-shirts, 
and $300 for the artwork to Mitch.

Education – Steve Mehlberg 

               Mulberry School in Normal had 23 students and two teachers participate in 
Steve’s Harmonica Workshop.

               Budweiser Blues Festival – August 30, 2008

Steve will hold a Harmonica Workshop

                              Illinois Blues Coalition

Deborah has donated the logo to the BBS, who in turn has donated to the 
IBC,for credit on the web site..

Newsletter – James Walker

           In the mail     

Treasurer – Deborah Mehlberg 

            Blues Blowtorch Society Treasurer Report June 17, 2008 

Starting Balance                         + $4762.71

Total Balance 4/17/08                  +$3524.07

Webmaster – Ralph Weisheit / Deborah Mehlberg

            Bluesblowtorch.org 

            Debbie has this up and running very nicely.  Please review and offer suggestions. 
Debbie is setting up a Paypal donation button and we’ll see if that brings in anything. 

            Myspace.com

            I have created a myspace account for the BBS the web address is
ttp://www.myspace.com/blues_blowtorch_society we have had the House of Blues in
Chicago and Sugar Blue join.  I would like to see our musician members with
myspace accounts make available their music to be played on our site. 
Members will also have the opportunity to have their gig schedules added to the calendar. 
E-mail Deborah464@aol.com or send a message in myspace.com.

 New Business

We plan to add a trailer to all of our membership emails to remind folks that we
have our cd donation box at all our events, the IBC Bus Trip and the Golf Outing.

The Blues Blowtorch Society
General Meeting Minutes

May 15 , 2008

The Blues Blowtorch Society
General Meeting Minutes

April 17 , 2008