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Board Meeting recap and April General Meeting reminder

March 18, 2015 Board meeting summary:

It was discussed that chapter meetings would become quarterly starting in 2016 and that the meetings would be the first weekends of February, May, August, and November. Board meetings could be held once or twice between general meetings, dependant upon the Board's ability to improve communication. The Board voted to procede with the intention to have a proposal for a member vote at the May meeting. 

The details are a work in progress. There was a suggestion to make the meetings weekend based was so that there could be more thorough classes. IDN Hoffman’s Tim Mathewson has offered to host at their warehouse, and Molly from Doyle will check in to whether they can host also.

Dana proposed that the February meeting would be the education weekend event also. There will be extra emphasis placed on securing instructors, and raising awareness. Input for class requests can be brought to the board, or Dana Lee.

Phil intends to complete a full treasurers report before the next meeting. Any inquiry of dues or memberships renewal can be addressed to Phil Babcock or Jim Elmwood.

Thanks to Molly, who attended the board meeting, for providing the recap info.

The next general meeting is Wednesday, April 1st at Grumpy's Roseville. Dinner and social hour in the meeting room from 5:30 until 7, meeting at 7 pm and education following the meeting.

Our speaker will be Mark Schrantz from Detex

2015 Dues are Due!

If you haven't renewed your membership for 2015, due it now!

There is a membership renewal form which you can download and print by clicking the tab "Membership Renewal Form" above.

If you have any questions about how to submit your payment, please contact our treasurer, Phil Babcock, phil(at)babcockandson.com.

April 1, 2015 Meeting, No Fooling!

April 2015 Meeting

Our next regular meeting is Wednesday, April 1 at Grumpy's Roseville, 2801 Snelling Avenue, 

Roseville, MN 55113, (651) 379-1180.

Dinner/social hour in the meeting room from 6:00 - 7:00 pm, with the general meeting at 7 and education following the meeting - come for all or part, everyone welcome.

Our speaker will be Mark Schrantz.

Are quarterly meetings right for the Minnesota Chapter of ALOA?

The question has been raised whether the membership of MNALOA would be better served by fewer meetings.

The quarterly, weekend meeting has clear merit for members outside the metro area who would prefer not to be driving two, three or more hours home after a Wednesday meeting that routinely gets out at 9 pm.

Neighboring chapter Fox Valley has quarterly, Saturday meetings and Iowa is on a less-set schedule than that, frequently incorporating their meetings into education events. It works well for them: the meetings are longer, often on weekends, and the education programming is generally more substantial than we are able to offer in the monthly, mid-week meeting format.

In favor of the monthly meeting: it's great to have a regular pattern that everyone remembers.  First Wednesday of the month? Synonymous with MN locksmiths (except in July and August). High frequency mid-week meetings offer a natural bookend on a work day and a casual, consistent networking opportunity.

It is also relatively easy to get a variety of free educational speakers for short presentations during the week. The targeted greater substance of Saturday programming would potentially come at a cost which would need to be accounted for.

It will undoubtably be a point of discussion at the next board meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, March 18th, 6pm at the Golden Gate Cafe located in the Midway Shopping Center, 1464 University Avenue West, St Paul, MN 55104. And, of course, at regular monthly meetings which will continue at Grumpy's until further notice (details under "Minnesota Chapter Meetings" tab above).

March Meeting Recap

Last night's meeting was a lively event!

Ricardo Ortizcazarin gave a very well-received marketing presentation; he described advertising in terms of identifying personal goals, morals and priorities and then using those dots to point to your customers and gain their patronage. There were many good lessons for business and life: we thank him for sharing his time and insight.

Some highlights of the general meeting:

• Renewed push to publish a newsletter on a regular schedule
• Advance scheduling and member notification of board meeting times and locations
• Updated paper and e-mail mailing lists (many members have expressed a desire receive the newsletter in digital-only format).
• Commitment to getting the financial side of things back on track by April’s general meeting.
• We have 2 vacant member at large positions as well as the vice chair open. A timeline is not yet established, but nominations and special elections are receiving some attention.
• Proposal to go to quarterly, Saturday meetings instead of monthly midweek.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18th, 6pm at the Golden Gate Cafe located in the Midway Shopping Center, 1464 University Avenue West, St Paul, MN 55104.