MINNESOTA BALLOONING ASSOCIATION

MONTHLY MEETING

Monday, March 15, 2004

Wynn Gustafson’s House

Members Present:

Becky Pope, Gus, Dave Johnson, Glen Terry, Annette Niedere, Kim Dickey

Treasurer’s Report

Cash on hand: $3,680.34

Old Business:

• Grand Excursion – This might be an opportunity to fly out of Harriet Island – it would be a goodwill event with no expenses paid, but an excuse to get a waiver to fly from that area. Corporate balloons might want to fly this event.
• Newsletter – Discussed an option to create a PDF online newsletter to hold the cost down
• Landowners – Rain gauges will be discussed at the Safety Seminar to see if there is interest. Glen will post the info on the website and we’ll table this for a month
• Safety Seminar – Everything is in place for the safety seminar and BBQ which will be held March 26^th and 27^th. The agenda is approved; the speakers are lined up; biographies are written; packets, certificates and nametags will be created by Annette Niedere; and everything is arranged for the BBQ. Keith Dahlgren has created a special presentation of ballooning/local balloonists to show during the seminar.

New Business:

• Glen will create links to other balloon organizations on our website from various mailing that the MBA receives.
• Social Committee
• To increase membership, we need to create a fun group that people want to be with.
• Need to organize more local flying events, maybe with a phone tree to call people and a map to identify areas from where it would be good to fly. Think of ideas for next month. Glen will post on the website to see if there is interest in this. Are there launch sites that could be designated?

• Jim Wiersgalla is a grandpa, his son had a baby boy, Errol.
• Glen has been updating the MBA website. A discussion was held on attracting paid sponsor ads to be on the website and in the newsletter….possibly $50 to be on the website with a link and an ad in the quarterly newsletter.
• Discussed having a store on the MBA website to purchase pins, shirts, hats, etc.
• The National Balloon Museum in Indianola has a new Director, Nancy Wigeland. She is trying to put together a display of women in ballooning. Send any stores, items, etc. to her at: P.O. Box 149, Indianola, IA 50125.
• Pediatrics Hospital is having a Silent Auction. Maybe someone would donate a balloon ride for this?
• Motion made to create a position of Historian for the MBA. Becky Pope was nominated to this position.
• Thank you to Glen Terry for doing a great job on maintaining the MBA website. It’s looking good!!!
• An interesting website is www.windwisdom.com

Next Meeting: Monday, April 19th at Gus & Betty’s