2025-03 Board Meeting Minutes

March 12, 2025

In attendance: Glenn Champagne, Jeff Croteau, Dan Gramm, Mark Shane, Robert

Jacobsen, Andrea Smith, Kevin Moran, Av Silverman, BettyMae Mosley

Not in Attendance: Peter Palermo

 

Meeting began at 6:35

 

President’s Update:

Bi-Annual President’s Meeting: Glenn will attend the bi-annual president’s meeting in Albany, NY from March 28-30th. A key topic for discussion will be the dissolution of Zone 1, as our region will be the last to undergo this process. Despite becoming unincorporated, we will continue to be recognized as Zone 1. Other discussions will include the Clash At The Glen and the Board Walk Reunion in New Jersey, which will proceed with some management changes. If no region assumes control of these events, they may be discontinued. However, other regions have expressed interest in taking over or assisting with these events.

Teams Update: Kevin shared progress on the Teams product. The primary question revolves around the number of people we need to consider for full access, as usage is based on the total number of users. Teams offers notable features such as file sharing and access management, which can be tailored based on the number of board users. Additional licenses can be added over time if needed. The chosen option will likely include features for photos, videos, PowerPoint, and OneDrive access, with safety measures for editing/viewing and case-by-case permissions.

Regarding cost, it is important to note that NER/PCA does not qualify for non-profit discounts. Questions were raised about fund allocation, and the board agreed to incorporate the budget into the VP of Admin’s budget, as the product will be used for NER/PCA administrative duties.

Glovebox Usage: Jeff inquired about the necessity of glovebox. The President, VP Admin, and Secretary confirmed its usage as directed by the Policy Chair.

Membership and Credentials: Dan raised questions about having a one-stop-shop for credentials, moving away from personal emails for NER/PCA business. The Communications and Secretary teams will explore options within Microsoft 365 via the Outlook feature. Questions were also raised about email account management, including the creation of separate email addresses, universal addresses, and maintaining consistency during board transitions.

Password Management: Dan inquired about password usage, control, and audit trails. The board acknowledged these questions and tabled them for further discussion.

Email Address Usage: Mark and Dan suggested obtaining more insight into the use of porschenet.com email addresses. The board agreed to seek a simple solution for now and revisit the topic later. Discussions included subscription options (annual vs. monthly) and final pricing, which will be determined by the Treasurer and Communications teams.

Motion to Approve:

• Motion: Mark
• Second: BettyMae
• Outcome: All approved

 

Website Refresh Update:

Theme Selection: Ryan has identified several themes for staging, including some autorelated options that could serve as a starting point.

Membership Feedback: Dan reviewed three themes and shared his thoughts. The team expressed interest in exploring additional options beyond those already presented. Dan also reviewed websites from 5-6 other regions for further insights. The team has not met since, so more updates will follow.

Options and Opportunities: Mark mentioned a web designer colleague who is interested in assisting NER/PCA with this project. The board decided to table this option until membership can connect with the webmaster for a follow-up discussion.

Project Scope: Questions arose about whether the board is considering a theme update or a full website refresh. Glenn indicated that the board is interested in both. He also spoke with the Kansas City region president, who uses WordPress with limited plug-ins for event registration and other functions. She offered to share insights on how her team created their themes.

Board Vision: The board discussed their vision for the website, emphasizing the need to benefit the membership audience by making information readily available, readable, and enjoyable. Key site requirements include:

Considerations: A few other regions built their own sites, and the president shared some of those specific sites for the board to review. Glenn also stated when he attends the President’s meeting, he will ensure to connect with other presidents during that time and try to get a vibe around their process and have a conversation. 

 

Treasurer’s Update:

 

CD Maturity: Andrea reminded the club that two CDs are maturing. Anticipating a drop in rates, Andrea presented two options: an 8-month CD at 4% and a 5-month CD at 4.25%. The board agreed to proceed with the 8-month CDs.

P&L Update: Andrea provided an update on the club’s profit and loss statement. Due to securing venues for the year, there have been significant payments for various event contracts.

Ramble Costs: The board discussed the costs associated with the Ramble and emphasized the importance of providing the treasurer with accurate information to settle all outstanding payments promptly.

Treasurer Address Change: The address change form for the state of Massachusetts has been updated, completed, and mailed on March 10th. Andrea will follow up with a call on March 14th to confirm receipt of the information.

Motion to Approve the 8-Month CDs:

• Motion: Dan
• Second: BettyMae
• Outcome: All approved

 

VP of Driving/Treasurer: Ramble Update

2025 Ramble Budget: The treasurer and VP of Driving attempted to meet with Doreen for an updated budget meeting but were unable to connect. Consequently, Jeff and Kristin, the previous VP of Driving, met and reviewed the previous year’s budget for the Ramble.

Using historical data, Jeff and the treasurer developed a budget sheet. Andrea expressed confidence that she could incorporate this information into her master spreadsheet.

Clarification: Glenn inquired with Robert about whether a budget had ever been submitted for the previous Ramble. Neither Glenn nor the previous Ramble chair recalled submitting one. The board will collaborate with the Ramble committee and use the 2025 expenses to plan for the 2026 Ramble.

Motion to Approve the Ramble Budget:

• Motion: Kevin
• Second: Mark
• Outcome: All approved

 

Membership 

Newcomers Meeting Update:

Dan shared that the newcomers meeting is scheduled for March 23, 2025, just two weeks away. It is essential to ensure representatives from each discipline, including DE, AX, Social, and the entire group, are present to introduce themselves and their areas. This meeting is a key opportunity for our newest members to meet club leaders, learn about available activities, and understand how to get involved.

Event Preparations: Questions were raised about items to bring to the event and their current holders. Mark confirmed he has the PCA photo stock, flags, and tablecloths, which should be present at the newcomers meeting.

Mailchimp Billing: Mailchimp is still being billed to Anker. Andrea shared that she paid the February bill on March 2nd and Anker has been reimbursed.

 

VP Admin Update:

New Members Meeting: The goal is to encourage attendance at the March 23rd event. The

Newcomers Meeting is fully subscribed! Board members presenting include Av, Dan, Glenn, Kevin, and Peter. Jeff will confirm attendance with the DE, AX, Ramble, and other chairs.

Upcoming Events:

• Tech Session: KMC will host a tech session in April with a DE focus. The event is live on the website.
• Porsches & Coffee: A NER member has offered to sponsor a Porsches & Coffee event in the Boston area. Mark contacted the venue, which requested that the sponsor purchase food and coffee from local vendors. Additionally, the member expressed interest in sponsoring an Autocross-oriented Porsches & Coffee event on a date to be determined.
• South Shore Autoworks: Our partners at South Shore Autoworks will host a Tech Session and a Pizza & Coffee event this year. The SOBO events are now posted online.

Annual Gala Discussion: A longer discussion focused on the future format of the annual Gala. Some members prefer a holiday/celebration format. There is also consideration for holding the event later in January to avoid competition with December and early January holiday events. Feedback from previous attendees indicated a preference for less focus on DE awards and more opportunities for attendees to feel welcomed.

Robert inquired about other NER awards presented at separate events, besides Autocross. The board noted that Concours presents awards at their onsite event. Further discussion is needed, as the Gala also serves as the annual business meeting where the incoming board is introduced to the membership.

Summer Party Location: The location for the summer party has yet to be decided, with a return to Wachusett under consideration.

 

VP of Driving Update:

Monthly Newsletter: Jeff will share his detailed report for the monthly newsletter.

Rally: No updates to report on Ramble or Concours.

AutoX: Chris Ryan announced that the annual kick-off will take place in the next few weeks. The team has ordered AutoX t-shirts designed by Alan Davis, which were approved at the February budget meeting.

Justin Becker has been confirmed as a sponsor for an upcoming AutoX event, and Porsche Norwell will sponsor a separate event. The AutoX team will obtain which event they will sponsor and share them with the club.

Driver Education: Paul Skinner reported that motorsports registrations are coming in slowly, but we expect them to pick up for Calabogie. To break even, we need thirty registrants. If we cannot secure thirty registrants, the team will attempt to renegotiate for twenty-five. Paul is confident that the management team at Calabogie will collaborate with us.

The board discussed the need for a deposit if they decide to proceed with Paul’s plan. Robert emphasized the urgency of cutting a check if there is agreement. The board expressed support and requested updates.

Ground School: Attendance was encouraging, with a notable number of women participating. 

 

Innovative Programs:

• HPDE Primer: Scheduled for Friday, May 23rd, this event offers two driving sessions with an instructor in the passenger seat after riding along for one session. It provides a guided introduction at a lower cost, shorter day, and fewer sessions, similar to a novice DE experience and parade lap.
• Track Experience: Scheduled for Saturday, May 24th or Sunday, May 25th, this event allows members to ride on the track at speed with a National PCA Instructor. The instructor will explain track driving and the HPDE experience.

 

Communications Update:

Project Support and New Initiatives: The team has supported various projects, including Microsoft Teams, and is working to finalize payment. Communications and their interns successfully supported the Winter Warmer signature event in Boston, MA, and are bringing the same vision to the upcoming Newcomers Meeting.

Collaborative Efforts: The media team (interns) will continue to find new ways to integrate with membership and collaborate with Larry on NER’s social media presence. They will also support the upcoming Ramble in April, with a focus on conducting on-the-spot member interviews.

F1 Track Day Viewing Party: In collaboration with the VP Admin, the NER/PCA club will host an F1 Track Day – Miami viewing party at Kings Bowling in Burlington, MA, on Sunday, May 5th from 4-6pm. Kevin emphasized the importance of creating impactful events and providing a space for members to gather. This event, along with others like the Summer Party, Tech Sessions, Gala, and various social events, will enhance member interaction throughout the year.

Additional Viewing Party: Justin Becker has expressed interest in hosting a viewing party. The board asked Pete and Kevin to connect with Mark to plan accordingly.

Meeting Minutes: The board agreed to approve Jeff’s updates.

Motion to Approve:

• Motion: Dan
• Second: Mark
• Outcome: All approved

Meeting Adjourned: 8:17pm