ROAMIN’ CATHOLICS SOUTHWEST
MA TAR AWA RCSW RALLY MINUTES
Viejas Indian Reservation
June 2, 2006


The meeting was called to order at 9:15 a.m.. Twelve members were present. President Helen White opened with a prayer and the salute to the flag.

Minutes: The minutes of the last meeting were read. As there were no additions or corrections, all were in favor of accepting the minutes as read.

Treasurer’s Report: The treasurer’s report was read and accepted. The records show that there is $1,623.44 in the RCSW account. The treasurer reported that so far money has only been spent for Father Carney’s rally fees and thank you gifts; office supplies and stamps; and a one time gift to St. Thomas Aquinas College after a wonderful guided tour we had there. Helen had paid $20 for name badges for members who didn’t have them. Of the badges given out to those who were present, 3 out of 4 had mistakes. Helen said she would request that they be remade. We are thankful to Bob Gummersal for making them for us at such a low cost. We all voiced that we like the design, also.

Unfinished Business: - Web-site: Helen thanked Donna Avila for setting-up and maintaining a great web-site. Donna reported that she’d like to add the member’s birthdays. She also noted that there was an extra “ / “ in the web-site as listed on our roster. The correction will be made.

- Newsletter: Helen reported that Wally Craven had sent 2 newsletters over the internet. There seems to be a problem with some members receiving the newsletter and some members don’t have internet connections. It was suggested that hard copies might be a better option and that we all help Wally continue a newsletter by submitting materials to be used.

New Business: - Donna and Ben Avila would like to try to set-up a RCSW rally in the fall if there is enough interest. She mentioned places they were looking into. There was discussion about Santa Ynez Mission, camping at a Casino, Beulton, a Benedictine Monastery, Santa Barbara Campgrounds, Lake or, and the possibility of hooking-up with Habitat for Humanity. Donna and Ben will formulate firmer plans and submit them to our members.

- We next discussed that 12 couples or rigs had signed-up for this rally and only 6 attended. Three who couldn’t come notified us and sent in the $25 for the rally fee. Ondina had made a $200 deposit for the site reservations and we still owed $50.00. We next tried to reconcile the amount that each person attending this rally would have to pay if we returned the checks to those who paid but were not able to come, plus cover the other three sites for those who didn’t come, didn’t notify us, and didn’t pay. We covered the following points.

1. Most RV grounds have a policy that a deposit be made to hold the required number of sites. This amount is nonrefundable but applied to the total amount due for the sites on the rally dates.

2. RCSW members may be reluctant to become Rally Masters and plan future rallies if they fear they won’t be reimbursed for the money they put down to hold spaces if members don’t show.

3. Should all present “kick-in” the extra amount we need to pay for our commitment to the Ma Tar Awa Campgrounds and return the money to those who couldn’t make it?

4. Since this rally was so inexpensive, should those present pay their $25.00 and we cover the amount we are lacking with RCSW funds this once, or would it be setting a bad precedence?

5. In the future we need a rally form with all the information on the top of the page to be kept by members, with a tear-off reply at the bottom of the intent to join the rally, to be accompanied with a down payment determined by the amount required for the deposit divided by the number of rigs going. There should be a cut-off date for reimbursement when someone has to cancel, if the obligation to the facilities could not be made without that deposit money. This would be fair to those who attend and those who through no fault of their own, cannot make it.

Richard H. made a motion that for this rally we adopt # 4 and charge each rig present the $25.00 that was asked for and make-up the rest with RCSW funds. We would then not charge those who could not make it to the rally. It was seconded by Donna A. and all voted in favor. All agreed that we should also use #5 in the future.

Helen closed the meeting at 10:10 with a prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Betty Goodin, Sec.

ADDENDUM – When Ondina went to the office to pay what we still owed, they kindly charged us only for those who attended and reimbursed her the rest. The Good Lord was looking down on our little gathering at Ma Tar Awa.