The dragon finds his wings.

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I did not lift off as early as had been hoped, not leaving until shortly before 13:00 for an appointment at 14:00.  I was able to get to town in time to have a bagel and coffee.  I called to offer to bring the same to the man with whom I would be working but he had just dined.  So I scoffed my goodies and headed to his home for...  Actually I had no idea what to expect.  As it turned out, we went over the roster, focusing on those members with whom little or no contact has been had in some time, years for most of them.  Some, through various sources, my fellow knight was able to track.  Others remained quite elusive.  As well, we went over the list of active and senior members.  Some of the senior members, it is his hope, will be made life-time members.

Beside getting members involved, and trying to keep them involved, there is also a business reason for retention, of course.  While they are on our roles, whether they pay dues or not, our group must pay state and "federal" fees for those on our roles.  Now, there is a method by which to remove those who no longer wish to participate and those who cannot be contacted, but a specific course of actions must take place.  A record of those actions, and any correspondence, must be used to the end of clearing a member from our ranks.  State, of course, does not wish to lose membership (or the dues).  We, of course, do not wish to lose members but do not wish to pay for non-members.  There is a bit more going on than I had fully known, if I suspected from things said over time.

In any case, after several hours of working on a number of members, tracking and actually bringing one back for sure, I was given homework.  A number of members are completely lost, as to contact information.  None of my fellow's contacts could offer any information on some of these.  One fall-away member has an address in the state rolls, so we will try to contact him.  I will draft a letter, and with the knight I am working with and our senior knight, we will decide on that letter.  Not so much because one letter is important, though it has some importance too, more that we want to create a form letter for such cases in the future.  And there are rules, and decorum, as well as simply ensuring the information, all of it, needed to be relayed, is included.  So, I have a little work to do, and it was suggested that it would "be good" to have my work done and have another meeting Monday or Tuesday.  Striking while the iron is hot, and I think I can do that.

After the meeting I decided to do some shopping.  I purchased most of what my mother wanted, and most of what I wanted.  I remembered my list, well... where it was.  Right there, at home, where I had drafted it.  So I had to work blind.  I still haven't compared the list to what I bought.  I know I only added a number of cheeses to the list, the rest was on the list.  What I don't know is how much, if anything, of the list I missed.

Before I went to town, I called around for new tires.  With a long trip planned while my mother is here, I just... have to do that.  Tomorrow morning, it seems, I will be driving back into town.  The choice boils down to Big-O tires or the original tires that came with the vehicle.  I will do a bit of checking tonight, comparing the two.  Big-O tires come with a three year warranty, but I am more worried about 35-40k than three years to be honest.  Oh, I'll look.  I'll compare.  After that, I will look for a place to get an oil change and tune-up.  I have a place in mind.  If they can't fit me right in I will see when they can or find another place.  I am also hoping to check on a haircut and finishing any shopping I may have missed.  Coffee!  But what else?  And, by the way, I did order a 30 quart All-American pressure canner.  I delayed the canning tools and such, I just don't have it right now.  But at 2/3rds off, I didn't want to miss that price.  The rest will come over time.

I am tired.  I should hit it, but as usual, when I do a bit more during the day, sleeping can be a bit of a problem.  I will set the alarm and hope it all just happens from that point.  Oh, I did finish the dishes that were rinse-soaking, which is part of why I was late getting out.  I then set, nearly, the last load to be washed to soak.  I also cleaned up my mutton chops with the trimmer, then shaved the cut-outs clean...  It takes time to look as good as I do.  Grrrrrhahaha!

Well, just so you know, I haven't kicked the bucket.  And I can still motate a bit.  Good night.