Holzer motioned to accept the Nov. 19th minutes. Carmine Marinelli seconded it. The motion carried. The club’s web sight is: http://leejpappas.com/goiia.htm (case sensitive, all lower case). Sec. Bill Poleri reminded members that there the next meeting will be Jan. 7, 2006.

Treas. di Milo read the financial report for the Nov. 19th meeting. Income from the meeting was Luncheon, $168. Luncheon expenses were $300 and gratuity, $14 for a loss of $132. Other incomes were Dues, $175, and 50/50, $13. Expenses were $45 for Postage. The balance is $2690.77. John Murgo motioned to accept. Vincent Carbo seconded it. The motion carried.

The treasurer reminded members of the Christmas Party for the Handicapped Children to be held Dec. 17 and the club was still accepting donations toward the cost of the party and has not listed the donations collected so far in the treasurer report. Checks should be made out to G.O.I.I.A. and to Treasurer Tony di Milo at Box 2028, Toluca Lake, CA 91610-0028. He said that the needed volunteers will be called.

The $35 dues for 2005/2006 are now due.

NEW BUSINESS - The treasurer reported that one of our members asked him why there wasn’t a life time membership category where you only have to pay once. di Milo asked this anonymous member what the sum should be and he came up with a figure of $500 by figuring that a 10 year membership would be $350 and double that would be $700 so why not somewhere in between like $500.

Mike Policare felt that it was a good thing and moved it into a motion. Jimmy D’Arrigo seconded it. The following discussion brought out the pros and cons of the motion. Besides Policare, di Milo and D’Arrigo, Lee Pappas, Ed Mazzarino and others spoke in favor of it, while Marinelli and Poleri questioned it. Poleri thought an age limit should be established of 40 years old when a person would be eligible for this category. Policare refused to amend his motion to include this suggestion. The motion was called. Sec. Poleri took a hand count, the motion passed 11 to 5 with one abstention. Ronnie La Barbera questioned if we had a quorum to vote on a fiscal matter. Sec. Poleri said that he thought that fiscal matters could only be voted on at the annual general election in October. He said he would check the bylaws.

OLD BUSINESS: The question of attendance came up again due to the low turnout, 16. Policare brought the issue up, when he yelled, “we’re hemorrhaging here.” Before he could ask for a change in the meeting frequency, the secretary interrupted him. Poleri said that since telephoning members didn’t work, the club would try writing to them. Poleri explained that a committee consisting of di Milo, Mike Gileo and himself have been working on the matter. With contributions from the treasurer and secretary, Gileo wrote a letter, which will be sent out after the first of the year. Gileo read the letter, which states the importance of coming to the meetings and asked the membership to give their opinion to why so few attend. Policare thought the letter was well written and Gileo was lauded for it. Poleri added that if this doesn’t work then the meeting frequency should be discussed. Leo Matranga said that people who are here are people who want to be here. Pasta Jardula suggested getting new ideas to stimulate interest.

Pappas, who set up and runs the club web site, wanted to know how many members really read it and is it worthwhile to keep going? A third said that they do, which Pappas felt make it worthwhile.

Poleri asked for a clarification of a motion passed at the Oct. 1 meeting which stated that any member over 90 years and has been a member in good standing for five years will be made a life member. Poleri asked if the motion means 90 or over 90. The reply was 90. This means that Ed Mazzarino is a life member since he would turn 90 tomorrow. All wished him a happy birthday.