Agenda Items:

1) Tom encouraged the membership to give Marlee their home e-mail addresses for the e-mail distribution list for our local website and e-mails. Period important e-mails are sent, but they can only be sent to the home e-mail.

2) Bob handed out a two-page document with last year's actual budget and this year's (2006-07) proposed budget for approval by the membership. It was generally discussed that we didn't spend all of the funds appropriated to our local, and we were looking to possibly make changes to the rebates and/or scholarships.

Betsy Katz made a motion to propose increasing the amount of two annual rebates to $15. Barry Bedrosian seconded this motion.

There was a discussion about what type of events can be rebated, specifically some members were interested in whether Weight Watchers would qualify for a rebate. In the past, the rebates could only apply to Department of Public Service sponsored events. The Weight Watchers program in Delmar is sponsored by the Health Department, with invitations to DPS staff. Several of the PEF nominees for Statewide office said that other agencies have offered a subsidy (not correct to call them rebates) for jointly sponsored activities such as Weight Watchers. We will look into this for Delmar Weight Watchers meetings. It was also mentioned that subsidies (rebates) can also be used for the defensive driving course that is given by PEF.

A vote was taken on this motion: 18 votes for, 0 against. The motion passed for Delmar and will be added into the vote for Albany members on Wednesday, May 10, 2006.

Rick Peil made a motion that we offer five scholarships at $300 each, which would be a change from the current offering of three scholarships at $300 each.

A vote was taken on this motion: 4 votes for, 7 against, 7 abstentions. The motion did not pass.

Patrice O'Connor made a motion that we offer three scholarships at $500 each. Pam Carter seconded this motion.

There was a brief discussion regarding the cost of full time college tuition and how $500 would be a more substantial scholarship. A vote was taken on this motion: 15 votes for, 2 against, 1 abstention. The motion passed and will be brought to the Albany members on Wednesday, May 10, 2006.

Lea Ann Rosenthal made a motion that the budget be amended regarding the change in rebates and scholarships. Laura Getz seconded the motion. A vote was taken on this motion: 18 votes for, 0 against. The motion to amend the budget passed.

3) PEF Election. Several representatives from each of the two election slates was present to give a brief presentation on their positions for the upcoming PEF statewide elections. Present from the C-ME slate were Mike Delpiano (Presidential Candidate), and Carlos Garcia (Secretary/Treasurer). Present from the Members First slate were Joe Fox (Vice President), Arlea Igoe (Secretary Treasurer), and Tom Comanzo (Region 8 Coordinator).

4) Tom discussed the 2006 Delegate Petitions and made the membership aware that we are looking to fill a slate of delegates from DPS for the convention, and that information is available in PEF's website.

5) Tom also mentioned the Contract Survey in the April Issue of the "Communicator" or on-line at www.pef.org.

Barry made a motion to adjourn the meeting, and the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 pm.