The meeting was called to order by Mike Feeback at 5:15pm on 8/30/09 at Brackins.  Mike told the members the SMBS Website is now up and running at a cost of $142.00 for three years.  The Website is   Smokeymountainblues.org.

Tim Spencer, Entertainment Committee Chairman confirmed that the SMBS will hold a Brews and Blues Boil and Barbeque at Baker Peters on September 20, 2009.  He reminder everyone that printed tickets for the event cost $25 each and any member can sign for tickets they feel they can sell prior to the event.  Twenty five tickets have been given to Baker Peters.  Soul Finger and Black Jack will be the bands hosting the Blues Jam and all musicians are welcome to play.  The Baker Peters event will be the third quarter event for this calendar year.

Tim Spencer also indicated there will be a battle of the bands to decide who the SMBS will send to the IBC competition in Memphis in January, 2010.
- There are three categories for consideration:
a.  Song Writer (must submit a CD)
b. Single/ Duo
c.  Band

All bands will be judged on a) ORIGINALITY ; b) BLUES AUTHENTICITY AND c) APPEARANCE.  Each band will have twenty minutes to perform, including set up time.

Information will be channeled to the SMBS website describing how bands can compete and what they will be judged on in Knoxville and in Memphis.

The battle of the bands competition will be held at Brackins on October 14-15, 2009.
Each band will pay $25 to compete.
The deadline for application to compete will be September 30, 2009.
One person in the band has to be a member of the SMBS to qualify for competition.

There will be a $5.00 cover charge for the competition.
There will be a membership table at the door.
There will be a donation jar.

Mike Feeback suggested the following changes in membership fees.
a.  $40 for a band membership (Only one band member has to be a member of the SMBS for the band to compete in this year's competition)
b. $25 for a single
c. Military and Students with a valid ID, $10

Mike Feeback advised that Board Member Louis Kittrell has missed over three meetings and did not pay his dues.  A vote of the Board Members decided to drop Louis Kittrell from the membership of the SMBS. 

Mike Feeback stated that John McCormack wrote an e-mail to Dave Mills, Betty Clark and Tim Spencer indicating that Larry McCray is scheduled to play at Brackins  in the near future and asked if anyone knew about this event.  Randy Ross indicated that Herman Long will be coordinating this event and this is not a SMBS event.

Mike Feeback showed a six foot banner that Steve Michel had printed and that will be used at all future events for the SMBS.

Sharon Kniffin indicated she had $300 worth of gifts/prizes to be raffled at the Baker Peters event on September 20, 2009.  She encouraged everyone to secure additional prizes to be raffled as a great way of fund-raising.

Mike Feeback had an advertisement for ways the SMBS could use various machines to charge credit cards.  He will give the information to Dave Mills for further investigation.  (Note:  Dave Mills' father was in the hospital the evening of the meeting and therefore Dave was not in attendance.)

Tim Spencer advised that Soul Finger will be starting a Blues Jam every Wednesday night at Baker Peters and reminder everyone that Smokeys has a Blues Jam every Tuesday night.

The September meeting will be held on the last Sunday of the month, rather than during the Baker Peters Shrimp Boil. As of this writing it the location is not finalized.

Members in attendance:
Dick Qulia
Kitty Qulia
Doug Harris
Randy Ross
Steve Michel
Michael Feeback
Emily Feeback
Ron Keasler
Mark Smith
Donna Smith
Sharon Kniffin
Angelia Garrison
Aaron McClain 
Scott Ramsay
Tim Spencer
Greg Benoit
Simone Farquarson
Frances Payne

Respectfully submitted by Richard F. Qulia