Meeting details

Date: July 23, 2008

Location: Secretary of State’s Office, Blue Spruce Conference Room, 1700 Broadway, Denver, Colorado

Members Present: Dan Gincig, Don Kuzina, David Esses, Austin Gomes, Nick Pizzuti

Members Absent: Julia Eddy, Daniel Toussaint

Secretary of State Officials Present: Rudy Johnson, Phil Gehlich, Patrick Ryan, Norm Adams, Darleen Chacon, Shannon Bee

Meeting was called to order at 10:01 A.M.

The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted.

Secretary of State report

Rudy Johnson reported that Michael Shea has returned. Andrew Whitfield is on vacation and will be returning to the office in the next few weeks. Mr. Johnson next introduced Phil Gehlich from our IT division who would be conducting the presentation of the future on-line system.

Mr. Johnson stated that the financial report for the first quarter of 2008 which was distributed at the meeting would be made available on the web by the end of the week. The total number of licensees reporting bingo on the financial report is just a estimate as our current system does not differentiate among groups who conduct bingo only and those that do other types of games.

The presentation by Phil Gehlich was the next order of business.

Discussion of future law changes

Dan Gincig wanted to bring up for discussion the possibility of changing the Constitution to allow paying people to work bingo. Don Kuzina stated that from people he has spoken to, it is the number one agenda item of concern for many groups. David Esses said that he felt a lot of groups that have parents that volunteer would like to see their child getting credit for this (and not necessarily get paid cash) when it involves groups like swim teams, athletic groups, school groups, etc. Mr. Pizzuti said this change to the Constitution had been discussed in April 2003. An IRS agent had come to a meeting and had provided information that paying workers may affect a group’s non-profit status and paying workers would be considered taxable income. Mr. Pizzuti felt that non-profits who want to do bingo need to have the volunteers willing to help.

Chairman Gincig said there is a majority of the states that do pay workers for bingo. He would like to get an ad-hoc committee assembled to look at how other states deal with this.

Austin Gomes felt an organization should not do bingo if they cannot get their volunteer members involved enough to support conducting bingo.

Mr. Pizzuti felt organizations could get more players through better PR measures such as knowing customer’s names and having a pleasant attitude toward the customers.

Karen Shield, of Boys Club of Greeley, said that the group pays for security and janitorial, so she felt they should be able to pay callers as well. This position is hard to fill and needs some professionalism. Also, she felt in the rules it should be stated that all pull tabs (not just for last sale), need to have a notice posted if the whole deal is not in the receptacle on display.

Art Padilla, of Knights of Columbus 8268, felt that all pull tabs should be put out, that none should be held back for any reason. This way no sign would be needed.

Mr. Esses stated that the Board should bring in an IRS agent to provide information to groups conducting bingo games on reporting. Most groups, he felt, are not currently reporting correctly. He felt if it was the responsibility of the Board to protect the groups, then the Board should bring in agent to talk to these groups. Mr. Esses felt a committee of the Board should be organization to look into the IRS reporting issues concerning bingo.

Mr. Kuzina felt that a referred measure to change the Constitution to allow for paid workers in bingo should go forward. It then could be regulated by Rule as to who can be paid (callers, workers, etc.)

Chairman Gincig volunteered to be on the committee to look at other states as far as what they do to allow for paid workers at bingo.

Mr. Pizzuti stated that he lives in Colorado, not any other state, and he likes the way the laws are now. If you live in Colorado you need to follow the State’s rules. These rules were put into place as they are for a reason. If you don’t like the rules of Colorado, you need to go to another state where the rules meet what you want to do. Volunteers have to take an interest in their organization if they want to do bingo, otherwise, don’t do bingo.

Mr. Esses moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded and approved by the Board.

Meeting adjourned at 11:10 A.M.

The October 8th, 2008 advisory board meeting has been canceled.

The next advisory board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 at 10:00 at Secretary of State’s Office, Blue Spruce Conference Room, 1700 Broadway, Denver, Colorado.