Parties in attendance: Greg Adams, Sponsorship Director; Brenda Noelke, Secretary/Treasurer; Doug Noelke, Membership Director; Rich Schaefer, Communications Director; Tim Hall, Vice President; Dan Patrick, Technical Advisor to the Board; Nigel Morris, Director, European Affiliates; Marty Garza, Consultant to the Board; Ed Beckley, Promoter Advisor to the Board
• SHOCK FAILURE: The board discussed a situation in which one of a vehicles rear shocks failed during a freestyle performance. Ed Beckley, promoter of the event where the failure took place, will continue to investigate the situation and report his findings to the board concerning the part.
• RADIO ISSUES: Up next the board addressed a situation in which Ed experienced a radio issue at an event earlier this season. It was stated that the event staff switched out radios, which were then operated by Jim Kramer and continued the event with no further difficulties. It was briefly discussed that the MTRA should consider developing a protocol to follow for future situations. Nigel expanded on the differences between the digital systems used in Europe against the analog system historically used in the states. It was stressed that as promoters and teams involved with the MTRA, our members should always have their radio systems fully charged and ready to call into action as backup to the primary radio systems during any and all performances.
• POWERTRAIN: Discussions continued surrounding ways the MTRA could address powertrain protection features in light of recent events. Marty Garza and Scott Bryant are currently researching alternative ways to contain powertrain components after a parts failure. Tim Hall and Dan Patrick are also engaged in conversations with a variety of outside sources on the topic. There are a variety of opinions on what design changes may be implemented. All directors will continue to gather their ideas independently and reconvene on the issue in the next conference call, at which time much clearer ideas will be developed.
• WEBSITE: The board needs to get some fresh information and coverage on the MTRA website, including the fast approaching deadline for truck membership enrollment at the $200 price. We also need to find out before the next conference call from Ross Bonar and Destiny Conley what needs to be done to allow multiple contributors to access and upload content to the site.
• RULEBOOK: The rulebook has been delayed in getting to print in the timely fashion we would all prefer due to a page formatting issue. Kyle Doyle has been ambitiously working to help bring the new, easier to use rulebook into play. Other members of the board volunteered to help take some of the load off of Kyle on the formatting. The idea was also discussed of putting the rulebook online exclusively in order to save on printing cost while allowing crucial changes to be made in a more efficient manner.
• MTRAE EXEMPTION: Nigel addressed an issue specific to the MTRA European division members, asking for an exemption to one rule change made for the 2009 season. Tim Hall will check notes from previous discussions and confirm with Nigel the exemption pertaining to harness rules for European member trucks only. (No objection from any parties on the phone call.)
• MTRA LOGO: A suggestion was offered that we allow members one more month, March, to decide on retaining the existing MTRA logo or accepting one of the 4 proposed new designs. One more month of general membership discussion will continue through the member’s forum. Then a voting process will take place during the first two weeks of April. (Voting process will be decided and published before the end of March.)
• BOARD CALL NOTES: Monthly call notes will be published exclusively in the MTRA member’s only forum, not the general website.
• DISCLAIMER: A legal disclaimer will be added to the MTRA member’s forum login page declaring terms and conditions of using the private forum.
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• INSURANCE: MTRA will ambitiously pursue communication with insurance companies offering the resources of the organization and its members in an effort to help ease concerns about the industry, and how events can be executed to the highest of safety standards. Schaefer and Garza will take point for now.
• MTRA NAME INFRINGMENT: There is a concern about a new motorsports company/sanction operating non-monster truck events under the acronym “MTRA” which may cause confusion in the market, and poses a great liability risk to our organization. Several options were discussed. An effort will be made by our MTRA to reach out and communicate with the opposing motorsports group to see what can be negotiated.
• DIESEL MONSTERS: Dan Patrick will take point on reaching out to the diesel powered monster trucks that were in attendance at the 2008 MTRA banquet. General consensus is that embracing the growing number of diesel enthusiasts can benefit the MTRA.
• MTRA TAXES: Thanks to the great efforts of Brenda Noelke and June Hall, along with many others, in fundraising activities and solid money management, the MTRA owes approximately $1,000 in taxes for the 2008 calendar year. Funds are in place. MTRA has done its part to stimulate the U.S. economy!
• 2009 BANQUET: The next MTRA banquet is tentatively scheduled for December 4-5, 2009. Relocating the annual meeting to a different city was discussed. But due to the great amount of improvements the banquet has made over the last few years thanks to the hours that Brenda Noelke puts into the project, it was determined that for now the banquet remains in St. Louis, centrally located in the United States. (Nigel graciously suggested London as a future alternative.) The banquet may return to Westport Plaza. But Brenda and Rich will look at a few other options that offer fresh entertainment options.
• GEORGE JR! STICKERS: Approximately $750 has been raised so far for the Eisenhart family through memorial stickers. Patches are now also available for $5. Both will be available at events throughout the year.
• MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: Marty addressed an issue in which a “potential” member did not join because he thought that the TRUCK must pass tech before the PERSON can join the MTRA. The board agreed to make a stronger effort to reach out to potential members about joining the MTRA and clarifying any such issues. An option was suggested – but not voted – to break the truck membership fee away from the driver. This would allow a driver to join immediately for $100. The truck would be an additional $100 once tech was passed. The board must consider several variables before it can be voted on, including how to provide events with accurate information on certified truck/driver combos as well as a change to the tech sheet.
• PAST DUE WAGES: It was addressed that the MTRA has not yet paid Brenda Noelke for the duties she executed during the past year. A motion was made by Tim Hall and seconded by Nigel Morris to retroactively increase the 2008 wages for the Secretary/Treasurer from $1,000 to $2,000. The motion passed unanimously. Further, it was discussed that the board will revisit the topic on the March conference call to consider returning the Secretary/Treasurer’s reimbursement to at least the $100 per week rate set many years ago. This would NOT be a new increase in pay, but a return to what the set compensation was many years ago. In great part to the efforts of the Secretary/Treasurer, the MTRA is once again financially capable of (at minimum) honoring its previous compensation rate for the position. Meanwhile, the Secretary/Treasurer has experienced an increased workload as the organization transforms itself into a modernized unit that better serves the industry and it’s members. 2009 compensation package will be voted on during the March conference call.
Sincerely,
MTRA Board of Directors
contact@mtra.us