Expoland ... more bylaw changes for tonight's meeting

But will they consider the buyout offer for the motocross track?

ARTICLE V
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

1. MEMBERS: The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed, conducted and controlled by a Board of Directors composed of not less than twelve (12) elected members, or more than sixteen (16) elected members who have been members for at least six (6) months prior to his/her election, and a Secretary and Treasurer which may be elected by the Board from within, or outside, its membership.

Change: 6 months to 1 year Approve YES_________ NO_________


ARTICLE VIII
DISSOLUTION

1. AMENDMENTS: These by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed and new by-laws may be adopted by a majority vote of the members present or represented by ballot, at any annual membership meeting when the proposed amendment has been sent out and the notice of such meeting or at any special membership meetings.

Change: and to with Approve YES___________ NO____________

Tonight: Augusta Expoland meeting ... will they accept Argenbrights' buyout offer?

Augusta County's tax-exempt non-profit Expoland (foreground) overlooks I-64 and the industrial area on the north side of the interstate including Augusta Medical Center hospital.

Expoland, which has reportedly been in financial trouble for years, has had an offer from Terry and Doug Argenbright to purchase the facility intact to keep it as a recreational facility for the citizens of Augusta County and surrounding areas. (See photos here.)

So what is the status of Expoland? Are they selling off tracts of land to pay the bills? Why were the Argenbrights encouraged to follow through with their proposed motocross track ... only to be turned down after eight months of meeting the requested demands?

The annual Expoland meeting to include all shareholders and the board of directors will be held tonight, Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at 7:00 pm at Expoland in Fishesville (I-64 & Rt. 608). Proposed changes to the bylaws have purportedly been suggested with the ballot below.

Four Board of Director members will be voted on at Tuesday's meeting. The ballot has the four names of the people who are already on the board with space for write-in votes. It is open to the public, and the press will be there.

Ballot
The Expo Board of Directors are recommending the following changes to Expo’s By-Laws.
Vote to approve all changes as recommended:
YES_______ NO_______
Otherwise, vote on each change below leaving above YES/NO blank.

BY-LAWS
OF
AUGUSTA AGRICULTURAL & INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITION, INC.
ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP
2. Termination: Membership shall be transferred upon the death of said member to his or her remaining spouse or, in the absence of such spouse, shall be terminated. Membership shall also be terminated upon the request of said member, presented in writing to the Board of Directors.

Change: Delete Article III paragraph 2.
Approve YES___________ NO___________

ARTICLE IV
MEETINGS

1. ANNUAL MEETING: The annual meeting of this Corporation shall be held either in the month of March, April, or May each year, at a time and place designated by the Board of Directors, for the purpose of electing Directors and transacting any other business as may lawfully come before the meeting.

Change: Delete MARCH. Approve YES_________ NO________

2. SPECIAL MEETINGS: The President, acting for the Board of Directors may call Special meetings. Ten (10)
Percent of the members may file a petition with the Board of Directors, stating their specific business, and demand a special meeting at any time.

Change: from 10% to 25% Approve YES________ NO________

4. QUORUM: At any meeting of the Board of Directors, the presence of a majority of Directors shall constitute a quorum. At any membership meeting of the Corporation, ten (10) percent of the members, either present or represented by a ballot, shall constitute a quorum.

Change: from 10% to 25% Approve YES_________ NO_________

Augusta's Expoland ... selling off land to pay debt?

Is Expoland selling off land to pay debt? If so, why did they turn down a potential financial windfall earlier this year by rejecting the proposed motocross park?

In today's Waynesboro News Virginian, Bob Stuart talked with local businessman Terry Argenbright about his plans for Expo ... plans that included providing recreational activities for families in Augusta County and the surrounding area ... plans that included keeping Expoland intact without selling off land ... plans for the Xtreme Sports Park ... plans to make Expoland a vibrant part of the community.

Records show Expoland has apparently been chipping off pieces of property to pay the bills.

According to tax records on file with the Internal Revenue Service, the nonprofit sold 20 acres of land in 2006 for about $722,000. That sale did not wipe out Expoland’s debt.

In an April 23 letter from the Expoland board to Augusta County’s Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Board of Supervisors, board members acknowledge plans to sell more land. For two years, Expoland has been negotiating with a local business for the sale of land, the letter states. The letter states the sale is necessary to pay off debts and provide air conditioning in Expo’s main building complex.

That April 23rd letter was sent after Expoland turned down the motocross park.

The two brothers who were behind plans for the Xtreme Sports Park, Terry and Doug Argenbright, have sent a letter to the Expoland board of directors. In it they said:

"The Argenbrights are willing to forgo the $250,000 lawsuits against every individual listed above and the $12 million lawsuit against Expoland if the board will make the right decision and allow the Argenbrights to buy out Expo in order to save it for the community."

Expoland sits in the middle of an industrial area alongside I-64. Opposition has come from neighboring farms but there is no house immediately adjourning the property which is bordered by trees on one side, fields on another side, industrial businesses on the third side, and I-64 on the fourth side.

According to the News Virginian article:

While there was strong community opposition to the track largely because of concerns about noise, the zoning at Expoland allows for both industrial and business development.

John Wilkinson, Augusta County’s zoning administrator, said approximately 30 acres of the 182 acres at Expoland are zoned industrial. That zoning designation would allow for a wide range of uses, including manufacturing, trucking companies and warehouse distribution.

The remaining land at Expoland is zoned for business, and that designation would allow retail operations such as a shopping center or restaurant, offices, car lots or car repair shops.

Expoland's annual meeting is May 27 and is open to the public. At that time four new board members will be voted on as well as a proposed change in the bylaws for the property. All are welcome to become members by paying $10 annually by Monday for voting privileges at Tuesday's meeting. Stop by Expoland to pick up a membership application, or contact Terry Argenbright.

Expoland motocross - Part 1: "Trying to meet a local need"

There has been much written about the Motocross Recreational Park that was proposed but then shot down by Expoland's Board of Directors. But what is known about the young man behind that proposal?

Terry Argenbright, 38, was born and raised in Stuarts Draft, Virginia ... a child of the Valley who has lived his entire life in the shadow the Blue Ridge Mountains. He attended school in Stuarts Draft in the southern part of Augusta County, was active in baseball and basketball, and was Most Valuable Player on the Stuarts Draft High School Golf Team in the 1980s.

Married with two children of their own, Terry and his wife Michelle are also foster parents who balance a busy lifestyle of work with family and church. Terry has served as a deacon at Blue Ridge Church in Fishersville; Michelle is Sunday School director. Terry coached soccer for three years, and the family participates in motocross racing throughout the state.

Motocross ... that is what brought Terry Argenbright onto the front pages of the local newspapers last August when he approached Expoland in Fishersville to ask about locating a motocross track at that facility -- a track that would offer quality entertainment for families and especially for the youth of the area. At a time when gangs are moving into the Valley, and when this area produces more meth than anywhere else in the country, the idea of offering recreational entertainment seemed to make sense.

After nine months and jumping through many hoops, and after receiving approval from the Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals, the Argenbrights were unexpectedly turned down by the Expoland Board of Directors with no reason given.

It all began with a first email sent in August 2007 by Terry Argenbright to Expoland inquiring about the possibility of providing a family-friendly recreational facility at that location since it was already used for the county fair, truck pulls, gun shows, and other events.

That email began a nine-month-long series of events that culminated with the Board of Zoning Appeals' approval only to be shot down five days later by Expoland.

As we follow the events that unfolded, we will see Expoland appeared to encourage Mr. Argenbright with his project which required substantial financial output for lawyers, engineers, track construction, and more ... major requests that would not normally be expected if not interested in the project. Why would Expoland's directors encourage a young businessman unless they were truly interested in providing year-round entertainment for the community?

The first email inquiry sent by Terry Argenbright to Expoland:

To: expoland@ntelos.net
Sent: 8/8/2007 5:16 PM
Subject: Trying to meet a local need

I'm trying to find someone to talk with about the additional land in the back of Expo. I would like to put in a permanent motocross track with a local shop. There is always a constant struggle for our local riders to find a place to ride and practice. I am a member of the AMA and I'm always getting updates on our government trying to do away with any recreational riding especially on your own property.

My goal is to establish a business that would provide a place that could allow our riders to practice at a safe facility. I would also like to have classes for riders. The classes would teach the proper techniques on body position, how to look at the race track, teach how to handle problem situations to help minimize injury.

Racing motocross is not going to go away. It is continuing to grow larger. With that in mind, I would like to help by offering fellow riders not just a place to ride, but a place to teach safety and provide help and knowledge with bike set-up.

At every race, I see so many kids and adults that love to race but because they are not riding correctly they are an accident waiting to happen. My dream has always been to find a way to give to the community and help with our younger generations coming up.

Racing is more than just riding a bike. Even with my own children you can see their self esteem and confidence grow. Racers are always willing to help each other and reach out. I still believe that the benefits that one gets from this sport helps carry over in life as you get older and can help provide a more positive future for our younger generations.

In with helping the community I would be able to bring additional races to our area which helps with the local businesses as well as a percentage of all the proceeds would go to Expo.

If you could get this into the hands of someone who can help me with this and set up a meeting so I could discuss this in more detail, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for helping with this need and your quick response.

Terry Argenbright

And so it began....