1 Minutes NLA Board of Directors Conference Call Wednesday, July ...

Call to Order
Sorci called the meeting to order at 2:06 PM.
Minutes
NLA Board of Directors Conference Call
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Roll Call
Directors Present: President, Ron Sorci; First Vice President, Richard Kane; Second Vice President, Joe
Cirruzzo; Treasurer, Bob Beutel; Secretary, Barbara Curtis; Directors Robert Alexander, Richard Azzolino,
Robert Boroday, Dean De Beer, David Eckstein, George Jacobs, Sue Jarvis, Craig McCutcheon, Mark
Munoz, Deena Papagni, Stuart Rothstein, Dawson Rutter and Scott Solombrino
Vendor Directors: Ray Gooley and Jeff Nichols
Staff: Patricia Nelson, Executive Director; Sara McLean, Bobit Liaison
Excused: Vendor Director Steve Edelmann
Unexcused: Vendor Director Arthur Messina
Approval of Minutes from June 8, 2009 Board Conference Call
A motion to approve the minutes of the June 8, 2009 board conference call was made by Azzolino,
seconded by Beutel and unanimously approved.
Financial Committee Report
Beutel reviewed the May 2009 financials and indicated a negative cash flow in the amount of $48,935 for the
month, a positive cash flow of $425,614 for the year to-date and assets totaling $1,352,735 as of 5/31/09.
A motion to approve the May 2009 financials was made by Curtis, seconded by Jarvis and
unanimously approved.
Beutel also indicated $4,181 in new member and renewal dues for the 2 nd quarter 2009 would be rebated to
member associations. YTD rebates total $48,781.
Beutel said the three remaining companies, sent to collection for non-payment of their 2008 $1,000
sponsorship, have refused payment and the collection agency is advising filing liens against the companies
as the final recourse (collection has been withdrawn from the fourth company as directed by the board at the
June 8, 2009 meeting). In lieu of this recommendation, the board directed Nelson to send a certified letter to
each company indicating the collection is being withdrawn and stipulating the company may not rejoin the
NLA until/unless the outstanding $1,000 is paid (all three companies have not renewed their NLA
memberships for 2009).
President’s Report
Sorci confirmed he had sent a letter to NYTLC commissioner Matthew Daus requesting his support in
securing shutdown of the nine remaining AVIS/WeDriveU locations in New York City. To date, no response
has been received from Daus.
Sorci briefly reviewed five opinions requested and received from NLA counsel Michael Morrone, namely:
• New membership/renewal forms: Delete three questions regarding insurance and motor carrier
operating authority from the forms.
• First Observer Program: Join the program and encourage members to do the same.
• Video for display on members’ websites: Redo/Revamp this video to delete scenes of alcohol
consumption in chauffeured transportation vehicles.
• Advertising disclaimer: Display disclaimer (use Morrone-provided text) on www.limo.org and
www.nlaride.com pages that display advertising; do not implement several suggestions from the Vendor
Liaison Committee regarding NLA member and NLA office responsibilities in cases of complaints against
advertisers.
• Harold Berkman Memorial Fund: Confirm executive director Patricia Nelson as the sole officer and
director of the fund (as with previous NLA executive directors); secure The Company Corporation as the
fund’s registered agent; file reinstatement of the fund in Virginia by August 31, 2009 as required.
Without any objections being registered, Sorci indicated the NLA office would carry forth the five
recommendations as outlined.
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Sorci asked if any directors planned to attend the BusCon trade show in Chicago on September 15-16.
Several indicated in the affirmative. It was agreed that the NLA would not take a formal presence, e.g. booth
on the exhibit floor, at the show.
Sorci confirmed a DOT Advisory Committee would be formed to work with the Department of
Transportation (DOT) and/or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as agreed upon with
the FMCSA officials who spoke at the June 10 Association Presidents’ Summit. He indicated the committee
largely would be composed of current NLA Legislative Committee members.
Sorci announced the Limousine Association of Houston had extended an invitation to host a NLA board
meeting in 2010. The directors expressed unanimous appreciation of this and Nelson promised to accept
the invitation on behalf of the group.
Lastly, Sorci thanked all board members who actively have worked on their committee assignments this
year and requested that all directors make the greatest effort possible for the remainder of the year.
Executive Director Report
Membership
Nelson reported, as of 7/6/09, the NLA had 1,911 total members including 237 new 2009 members and
1,674 members who have renewed for 2009. The latter, she said, is a 70.1% YTD renewal rate and noted it
could be compared to a 75.7% renewal rate recorded one year previous on 6/30/08.
She continued by saying the 1,911 membership figure is 108.1% of the 2009 total budget figure of 1,767.
Moreover, the $621,007.50 dues revenue collected YTD is 111.0% of the budgeted $559,468 total revenue
for 2009.
2009-2010 NLA Directory of Members Advertising Sales
Nelson advised, as of 7/6/09, commitments for 2009-2010 NLA Directory of Members advertising sales
total $136,630. All but $6,550 of this has been collected as of this date. Should the NLA office be unable to
collect the outstanding amounts, the ads in question will not be included in the book. This year’s total sales
can be compared to the $100,000 figure targeted for this year and the $127,800 figure realized for last year’s
directory advertising.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The National Limousine Association once again is encouraging members to take advantage of the NLA’s
federation partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to activate their own membership with the
Chamber. The NLA office has been unable to extend this promotion for almost a year due to the Chamber’s
database shutdown and revamp. U.S. Chamber membership includes complimentary dues valued at
$365/year + and a variety of other benefits. NLA members need only email info@limo.org to activate their
U.S. Chamber of Commerce membership through the NLA.
Legislative Committee Report
Kane advised the proposed RIDE Act amendment reintroduction to the Senate still is awaiting go-ahead from
Senator Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) office. There is no apparent reason, other than matters deemed more
pressing, for the delay.
Solombrino said he has secured endorsement for the RIDE Act amendment from the National Business
Travel Association (NBTA) and expected a press release soon would be released by the NBTA confirming
this. He also said he recently met with longtime NLA supporter Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) who
reiterated his continued support of NLA efforts.
Kane explained a letter for the signature of Congressman James Oberstar, chair of the House Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, has been prepared by Cornerstone Government Affairs in coordination
with the Taxi, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA), for disbursement to the Department of
Transportation (DOT) in compliance with Oberstar’s personal request for the same on the NLA’s 2009 Hill
Day. The purpose of the letter is to advise RIDE Act enforcement has not been implemented as prescribed
by the 2002 law and new legislation likely will be introduced to correct this.
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Political Action Committee Report
Alexander and Rutter called the directors’ attention to the letter soliciting donations to the NLA PAC, also
prepared by Cornerstone Government Affairs, which recently was distributed to NLA members by e-blast and
as a “From the President” column in LimoScene. Both encouraged all directors to make regular monthly
donations to the PAC and to encourage their affiliates to do the same. Rutter indicated he planned to send a
follow-up e-blast to all members as additional promotion.
Technology Committee Report
Eckstein and Jarvis recommended adoption of the bulletinboards.com tool for use on www.limo.org
explaining its features would permit “intranet-type communications” (ones that will not be detected on search
engines) for NLA board members, local association presidents and, possibly, all NLA members. They
confirmed the cost for using the tool would be $10-$15/month only.
A motion to move forward with the bulletinboards.com project – in a test mode for NLA board
members only – for the next 30 days (until the August 12 board conference call) was made by Curtis,
seconded by Jarvis and unanimously approved.
Vendor Liaison Committee Report
This report was deferred to the August conference call due to time restrictions.
New Business
Azzolino said AVIS/WeDriveU has been suspended from operating at the San Francisco International
Airport.
Solombrino advised the Show Committee is requesting approval for a potential additional $5,000 speaker fee
expense (to budget) for the 2010 International LCT Show. Sorci indicated the monies should be viewed as
an investment to help attract the greatest number of show attendees – which, in turn, will bring revenue to
the NLA.
A motion to approve a potential additional $5,000 speaker fee expense (to budget) for the 2010
International LCT Show was made by Azzolino, seconded by Cirruzzo and unanimously approved.
The meeting adjourned at 3:32 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Nelson
Executive Director
Barbara Curtis
Secretary
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