Meeting Minutes

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board approved a motion to allocate up to $1,500.00 for the purchase of necessary materials to support the (previously approved) Bomb Squad Course to be given during the 2022 Convention. The Board approved a motion to continue to publish the PGI necrology in the convention program, to also publish the necrology via Convention apps to be determined, and published in the Bulletin following the convention. The Board approved a motion to adopt the 2022 Class-C Guidelines as submitted. The Board approved the...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The PGI Board of Directors convened a meeting via Zoom on March 7, 2022, at 7:00 PM EST. President Paul Smith called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM. Paul recognized Eddie Hostetter for an update on progress of the new online system. Contractor Dwight Odelius of Go Creative Arts LLC believes he is currently about one week behind the current schedule. The ‘old system’ has been successfully repopulated for Julie Wozniak’s use in the interim as a way to record paper registrations by hand. It appears that there are problems with...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The PGI Board of Directors met on 2 October in Newton, Iowa during the Fall Planning meeting. All Board Members and the Recording Secretary were in attendance, as were PGI Members Bob Hollenback, Jim Beardmore, Paul Wagner, Ray Lee, and Rick LePage. The meeting was called to order by President Paul Smith at 3:56 PM CDT. Paul noted that there was too much business on the agenda to get through in the available time. He indicated that the meeting would be adjourned in time to meet a 6:30 dinner reservation, and that the...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board approved by consensus the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $7,000.00 to fund a short-run production of the Display Fireworks Operator Certification Study Guide in order to avoid an anticipated shortfall later this year. The Board approved by vote a motion to expend an amount not to exceed $1,600.00 to purchase a software upgrade, including installation, training and warranty services, for the Guild badge printer. On 21 April, the Board voted to go invoke Executive Session to discuss and resolve a sensitive...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. A meeting of the PGI Board of Directors was convened via the Zoom platform at 7:00 PM on Monday, November 16, 2020. All five Board members attended. President Smith called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. He introduced the first subject for discussion, which was the development, progress, and status of the online system. In particular, he wished to discuss the proposal made by Kurt Medlin (manager of the online system development) to change the nature of PGI memberships. Current memberships are “calendar year” memberships...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board approved a motion to grant the request of an artist (who is not a member of the PGI) license to use our logo for non-commercial purposes for a period of one year. Eddie and Carol Hostetter were traveling and not available to vote on this motion. The Board approved a motion authorizing the payment of $4,850.00 in additional premiums to add professional liability protection to the PGI’s general liability policy. This insurance is required to cover Guild production and dissemination of on-line seminars. Additional...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board ruled in favor of a motion to approve a final draft of the Joint Operating Agreement between the Board and Aaron Enzer, Chairperson of the DHS/Chemical Supply Strategy Committee. The agreement defines relationships, processes, authorities and responsibilities of the parties involved. John Steinberg, as a member both of the Committee and of the Board of Directors, abstained. Other matters that received significant attention from the Board during this period included issues still pending related to occurrences...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board approved a motion to supplement funds provided by the Fireworks Foundation ($5,000.00) by an amount not to exceed $3,000.00 in order to provide certified trainers and otherwise fully support a planed Display Operator training course to be offered in January or February 2020 in New Mexico. The Board approved a motion to accept the bid of the Sunnyview Facility in Oshkosh, WI, to host the August 14 – 21 2021 PGI Convention, and to authorize Carol Hostetter, as PGI Business Manager, to generate and send a letter of...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. First Vice-President John Steinberg has recently been appointed as a principal member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Hazardous Waste Technical Committee, giving the PGI a seat at the table and a voice for the first time to help ensure that code developed by this committee does not unduly burden the fireworks community. Unfortunately, he will not be able to attend the next scheduled meeting of the Committee (24-27 June) in Denver due to a prior commitment. He has appointed PGI President Paul Smith as his...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board approved a motion to delete the following language from the inside front cover of the Bulletin and similar language from the application for Guild membership or Renewal of membership: “Note: Persons joining the Guild after the PGI Convention will have their dues applied to the following year, and may purchase the current year’s Bulletins (if available).” Based on a demonstration provided to the Board on 27 November 2018, the Board approved a motion authorizing Kurt Medlin to continue development of the new PGI...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board approved a proposed contract between the PGI and Kurt Medlin to secure the latter’s services for a period of two years in order that he may continue to lead, coordinate and oversee various on-going PGI information technology efforts following the termination of his current service as Publications Vice-President in August 2018. Kurt Medlin and Eddie Hostetter, as proposed signatories to the contract, abstained from the vote. The Board voted to adopt a policy regarding conflicts of interest which formalizes and...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. By unanimous consent, the Board approved the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $5,249.00 to replace the aging and unreliable badge printer used by the Membership Services Manager with a new model (including new driver software and software maintenance agreement, on-site setup and training, etc.), purchase stock consumables (blank badges, printer ribbons), and to have the old badge printer refurbished and returned to us for use as a back-up to the new unit if necessary. The Board approved a proposal to subsidize the...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board agreed by consensus to unanimously support the three proposed Bylaws amendments that were published in PGI Bulletin #201. Celebration Fireworks suffered an accident prior to the 4th of July in which one of their employees was very seriously injured. At the request of the owner of the company, the Board agreed by consensus to permit posting on the PGI Mailing List of an appeal for charitable contributions to defray the injured person’s medical expenses. John Steinberg abstained from all discussion and took no...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board approved a new policy regarding timing and other criteria associated with acceptance of registrations for the annual convention. The approved policy is as follows: Registration for the annual convention will not be accepted until the convention fees for that convention have been established, the convention logo has been selected, and the convention registration form(s) are made available by the Guild. Only members in good standing will able to have their convention forms processed. The Board approved a draft...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Fall Planning Meeting for the 2017 Convention was held in Fargo, ND on 22 October 2016. In attendance were President Paul Smith, First Vice-President John Steinberg, Publications Vice-President Kurt Medlin, former Secretary-Treasurer Karl Maerz, Media Assistant Tom Sklebar, Production Chairman Daryl Marmon, Publications Vice-President Emeritus Mike Swisher, Board Recording Secretary and Archivist Tom Handel, several additional Guild members, and representatives of local organizations involved in Convention planning. Board...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. At the request of a member, a motion was made to reinstate room night compensation at Convention for the NFPA representative, said compensation having been eliminated earlier (2013) by the Board. Paul Smith made a superseding motion to table the room night compensation motion, suggesting that it be tabled until the newly elected (at Convention) Board is convened and can address it. The motion to table was defeated, with Paul Smith voting in favor. Following further consideration, the Board defeated the motion to restore room...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board agreed without objection to appoint Cheryl Mulich as Afterglow Co-Chairperson. The Board approved a motion authorizing the expenditure of $2,850.00 for fees, document preparation, and filing related to securing protection of the PGI trademarks for the next seven years. The Board approved a plan proposed by Rick LePage, Fire/Medical Chairman, for accomplishing necessary repairs to the Fire/Med trailer. The Board approved a plan presented by a member to survey alternatives to the present awards (physical...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. After careful consideration, the Board denied a request made by a third party for the reinstatement of a former member to the Guild. The Board approved a hotel reimbursement rate for the Gillette convention of $115.00. As supported by receipts, those entitled to room compensation will receive the lesser of $115.00 per night or the actual expense incurred for the number of room nights authorized and used. The Board approved the introduction of a “Preview Membership” pilot program on a limited basis at the Gillette...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board approved renewal of the Membership Services contract, with minor modifications, for a period of two years, ending December 31, 2016. Paul Smith and Carol Hostetter voted in opposition. The Board voted to accept Josh Lazarus’ resignation as Secretary Treasurer of the PGI, to be effective 31 December 2014. Josh Lazarus did not participate in this vote. The Board voted to appoint James Mulich to fill the position of Secretary Treasurer on an interim basis for the remainder of the current term, beginning 31...

Consistent with the requirements of the PGI Bylaws, in reporting the minutes of the Board of Directors, unless the issues listed were decided by unanimous vote, the votes of the individual directors are reported. The Board approved a motion to award one night’s room compensation at the 2014 Convention to the person occupying the position of Cart Wrangler. Josh Lazarus voted in opposition. The Board approved a motion to eliminate (or allow to expire) the ATF Type 54 license held by the PGI. Note: The following three actions were taken by the Board during the Spring Planning Meeting in Mason City on 26 April 2014. The Board voted down a motion to stop charging manufacturing fees at conventions. Josh Lazarus voted in favor of...