MINUTES OF THE 369th MEETING
OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF THE
INTERNATIONAL PLASTIC MODELLERS SOCIETY
OF CANADA

MEMBERS

Jamie Leggo
Sid Arnold
John MacDonald
Randy Lutz
Debbie Lutz
Steve Sauve
Bob Migliardi
Jean Gratton
Steve Sauve 

POSITION

National Director
Random Thoughts Editor
Treasurer
Archivist/Back Issues
Membership/Circulation
Webmaster
Graphic Artist/Advisor
Chapter Liaison
Secretary

ATTENDANCE

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The meeting opened at 2000 hrs, 17 July 2002 at the Nepean Museum.

 

 ITEM

1.1

Old Business

Jamie talked to the IPMS/USA Convention folks at Virginia Beach.  We're all set up for presenting the IPMS Canada Award, and they've reserved a table for the attending IPMS Canada Executive and a party of favourites.

Action by:

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2.1
 


2.2

National Director

For the IPMS/USA National Convention, the ‘Best Canadian Subject’ award mug is now in hand.
  We sent $40.00 to the IPMS/USA National Convention to pay for the standard special award category.

Our presence at the IPMS/USA National Convention will be limited to some Meet & Greet activities, plus a few boxes of old RT to distribute to the conventioneers.



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3.1

3.2






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3.4

Random Thoughts Editor

Random Thoughts 27/4 was
mailed out on or about June 19.

A long discussion ensued regarding the appearance of RT 27/4.  Without going into a lot of gory detail, suffice to say that there were some very strong feelings around the table about:

  1. the quality of printing with the new printer;

  2. the changes to the magazine's appearance.

There were a number of opinions concerning: 

  • printing and binding quality, 

  • photo reproduction quality, 

  • design and layout, 

  • authority for design changes,

  • the cover design change in mid-volume, the loss of 'RT' as the magazine's main identifier (which has been in place since Vol.7 [1974])

Sid will be talking to the new printers to discuss their part in the situation.  The other stuff will be addressed on an individual basis. 



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Sid Arnold



4.1

4.2

Treasurer

All cheques have been deposited and all the bills are paid.


We are sitting at $8682.63 in our coffers at the moment.  A full financial statement will be presented at the next meeting.


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5.1




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5.3




5.4


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5.6










5.7

Membership/Circulation

Debbie is trying to determine exactly how many active members we have.  Our best guess is ± 610, out of the 3,200 names listed on the archival membership rolls.


Concern was raised over lost issues (in the mail) of RT.  For example, the Webmaster spent the last three weeks slagging the RT Mailing Staff for not mailing his issue to him, only to find out that it had been mailed and gotten lost.  This also happened to another local member, so it's not an isolated incident.  

After a search of the membership database (which apparently isn't that friendly for figuring out things like this), John announced that w
e're currently sitting at about 610 members, broken down to: 48 foreign, 99 USA, and the rest Canada.

The simple observation was made that we've got to stop losing members, which started a long philosophical discussion of the problem.

There was a brain-storming session on ways to
reach modellers that haven't heard of us:

  • Membership list exchange with non-IPMS groups like CAHS, 

  • Get IPMS Canada Chapters more involved with marketing the organization. 

  • Seek out publicity in forums like Airforce magazine, the CF's Maple Leaf, perhaps even Cadet Corps.

  • Museums, with links and exchange ads

  • Canadian Warplane Heritage, RCAF Museum in Trenton,

In a similar vein, we discussed ways of increasing our membership?

  • raise the percentage of IPMS Canada members required in each chapter

  • more 'merch' tables and other ways of increasing visibility at shows and contests.  

  • get the Chapters and/or individual members more involved with our marketing across the country

  • advertising flyers in contest literature and 'grab bags' 

All Exec members were invited to bring in ten solid ideas (i.e., names and places) for Jean Gratton to consider for ways to spread the word and raise the membership.



Debbie



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All Exec Members



6.1

Archivist

The Archives Cabinet, Part the 6th (or so).  Mike Belcher allegedly now has the cabinet in his garage, but has "stuff is in front of it", preventing access at the moment.  In his defence, Randy pointed out that at least it is now on the same level of the ground that it will be loaded from.



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7.1

7.2

Chapter Liaison

Absent, but see the discussion above


It was reported by another Exec member (no names, no pack drill) that Jean has stepped forward and declared that he would like to take on the Marketing portfolio as discussed at the last meeting. 

 



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Jean Gratton



8.1


8.2


8.3

Webmaster

The hit count is still up, and the Webmaster is striving to implement 'continuous process improvement' to the website.

We have been offered several links to hobby-related commercial websites.  These will be placed before the new Marketing Minister for his consideration.

A 'Members Only' area of the website will be investigated for possible implementation.  What will we put in there?  Well, just you wait!



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Jean Gratton

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9.1

Secretary

Nothing to report this month.

 



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10.1

Back Issues

The stock of back issues is rapidly dwindling, but Exec members are still finding stacks of old issues hidden in their closets, which get added to the list of what's available.



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11.1

Special Projects

Colour proofs of the new 1/48 'retail' sheet
and the profile artwork were shown around to the Exec members.  Without giving away the farm, this is another beauty that will really help deplete that stack of XXXXXX kits in your closet!



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(censored)

The meeting ended at 2200 hrs and the members adjourned to the Sergeant's Pump Pub for post meeting libations. The next meeting will be held on August 13 or 14 and will be a BBQ/Pool Meeting chez Sauvé.

Steve Sauvé
Secretary
IPMS Canada


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