Convention 2008

4.1. Proposal: European Blue Knights meeting in Waidring, Austria

There is the possibility to have a European Blue Knights Meeting organized by the city of Waidring / Austria.

The whole organization of this meeting including booking, invitations and program could be held by this city. There would be no work for any chapter. The event would be placed in Mai or June 2010 on a weekend from Thursday to Sunday. Please give your statements concerning this idea.

After a controversial discussion, the following motion which was seconded was proposed:

"Shall Stone, president of BK Germany XXI, have the mandate of the EC to get in negotiation with the city of Waidring, concerning one first BK festival in Mai / June 2010 as a pilot for may be other meetings to come".

Voting by roll call:

Yes: 16

No: 23

The Motion failed.

4.2. Proposal: International membership fees

Status Quo:

-Today, in the age of Computer, we still work with carbon paper and with unhandy US-A4 sized paper, the administration is stocked in the founding years of the Blue Knights.

-Each year, at the beginning of the European Convention, we have the same problem: Which chapter has paid the EC fees so far and which haven't.

-The money transfer for the membership fees to the International Headquarter can cause sometimes some problems

-In the latest past there have been some problems concerning the control for the Membership-Application (Croatia-Problem). There is also a problem about the control concerning the increasing number of Member at Large.

Suggestion:

-The Membership-Application Form should be generated electronically.

-The Chapter Renewal Worksheet should be electronically generated (Excell)

-The Membership-Application-Form and the Chapter Renewal Worksheet will be sent from the chapters to the European Board

-Members who want to found a new chapter, have to sent their applications through an existent chapter to the European Board.

-The membership fees and also the EC fees will be payed to the European Board by E-Banking. The chapters are paying the charging fees.

-The European Board transfers all the money to International by credit card (sponsored by International?).

Advantages:

-Less consumption of paper (save the nature)

-Less paperwork

-Saving postage costs

-Timesaving (nearly 2 weaks) !

-The European Board has the overview over the members and they would know, which member is listed in which chapter.

-The European Board has the fees for the Convention before the Convention.

-The European Board pays the membership fees with one credit card and is able to control it.

Disadvantages:

-slightly more work for the EC-Treasure

Suggested by:Henrik "Fretzmen" Fretz, BK Switzerland I, President

Supported by:Moritz "Mo" Caderas, BK Switzerland II, President

After discussion the following seconded motion was made:

Shall we transfer the dues for International into the EC – bank account?

Voting by rising hand:

Yes: 0

No: 37

The motion failed.

4.3. Proposal: Changing International By – Laws

The European Board proposes to bring the following point forward to the International Board:

Art. 7. Sec 7.03. Chapter Dues, International Bylaws should be dropped. Reason:

The International Bylaws are more than 30 years old. During the last 30 years inflation went on and most of the chapters are unable to get along with the fees, the International Bylaws allows. There is no need for maximum fee as in case of too high amounts nobody would join the club anyway.

Motion:

Each chapter may assess an annual membership fee. Chapters, which maintain a clubhouse, may assess an additional annual charge to cover maintenance and operating costs of the clubhouse.

Second: Chris Feick, President Germany XVIII

After questions and discussion the motion passed.

4.4. Proposal: Blue Knights Movie Promotion

The European Board stated out, that there only some videos in the USA for Blue Knights promotion but nothing in Europe. Many chapters have short videos about meetings, rides and charity. It would be good to send this material to the European Board to create a promotion video for Europe.

Motion:

The European Board should create a promotion video.

Second: Ralf Dartmann, Vice-President Germany XVII

Votes: 45 Yes, 1 No

The motion passed

4.5. Proposal: European Fees

For many years in the past all new founded chapters did not have to pay European fees in the first year of their existence. But to do so, there was no decision found in any convention minutes. Therefore, if we want to do so further on, we have to legalize it.

Motion:

To decide to legalize, that chapter who are founded don`t have to pay fees to the European Conference in the first year of existing.

Second:

Siegfried Gsodam, President Austria II

The motion passed.

4.6. Proposal: European Blue Knights meeting

The following Proposal (European Convention 2008) failed:

There is the possibility to have a European Blue Knights Meeting organized by the city of Waidring / Austria.

The whole organization of this meeting including booking, invitations and program could be held by this city. There would be no work for any chapter. The event would be placed in Mai or June 2010 on a weekend from Thursday to Sunday. Please give your statements concerning this idea.

After a controversial discussion, the following motion which was seconded was proposed:

"Shall Stone, president of BK Germany XXI, have the mandate of the EC to get in negotiation with the city of Waidring, concerning one first BK festival in Mai / June 2010 as a pilot for may be other meetings to come".

Now Stone brought up this idea again and to realize a European Blue Knights Meeting in the year 2014.

He was pleased to present a concept at the European Convention 2010.