LOWELL ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB
MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
February 17, 2010
PRESENT:
Don Bales, Steve Farrell, Sue Scott,
John Fenner, Jane Nelson, Sam Gruszkowski, Donna Szafranski,
Kelly Steuer, Mary Roadruck, Mike Austgen, Carrie Austgen,
Eddie – Sergeant at Arms
Absent:
Amy Justevich
OPENING COMMENTS:
Don suggested that we raise the prices at the concession stand by 25%. Don would like to have something in place tonight so he can share our decision with other AD’s. He would like to get all conference schools on the same page with concession stand prices. Don is going to look into changing the size of the water bottle. Right now we are selling a 20oz. for $1.50, what if we sell a 16oz. for the same price of $1.50? Don suggests we wait and see what the cost of a 16oz. is vs. 20oz.
New Prices
Popcorn 1.25 Water
Hotdog 2.00 Pop 1.25 Candy
Nachos 2.50 Pretzel 2.00
Super Nachos 4.00 Walk Taco 2.50 Coffee 1.25
Hot Cocoa 1.25 Extra Cheese .50 Cup Jalapenos .50
Pizza slice 2.50
Lowell House of Pizza wants to bring
in pizzas and a warmer for large events. Sue said we tried this
in the past and it didn’t go over that good. Mary said when
we had pizza before we actually lost money in overall concession stand
sales. People bought one slice of pizza instead of 2 or 3 items.
Don’t forget we still had to pay for the pizza. Sue didn’t
think it was a good deal. A motion was placed to approve all concession
stand increases minus the water (for now) and start the new prices this
spring. All in favor of the new price list.
The issue of volleyball using the concession stand for LMS track meets was brought up for discussion. In the past, boosters purchased all the items and volleyball worked the meets and kept all the money.
We need to continue to cover all programs
and in the past we did a kind gesture and let volleyball have all the
money, but we lost out. This needs to be looked into before the
season begins. Steve suggested that volleyball continue to run
the concession stand for LMS track meets but with an agreement we get
reimbursed for our items and supplies. Volleyball comes to work
the event but we order all supplies and keep it stocked. Donna
suggested a possible 70/30 split, she feels a 60/40 might not cover
our expense. We shouldn’t be taking a loss. Sue mentioned
that this is volleyball’s fundraiser and they make about $500 a track
meet. Steve suggested at the end of the night they take 30% of
the money. Motion was in place for a 70/30 split with volleyball
– motion accepted by all members.
SECRETARY REPORT:
Minutes reviewed. Motion to
accept by Mary and seconded by Donna.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Report will be filed for Audit.
Payment of $300 was received from
Winel.
DOLLAR FOR DEVILS:
Kelly brought us all up to date on
tickets, who still has them and asked for feedback on what will be returned
sold vs. unsold. Our next meeting is Sunday, Feb. 21 at 7:00.
Let’s try to get some new people that might be interested in helping
sell tickets. We have a meeting every Sunday from now until the
event. Kelly e-mailed the coaches about bucket prizes and asked
if anyone is available to help set up the stage the day of the event.
March 12 will be here before we know it. We need to get the tickets
sold. Steve got a call from someone regarding the license, Donna
said the check was cashed, he will follow up with this tomorrow.
Kelly asked that we keep pushing tickets.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR:
Events coming up:
National College Recruiting Program Feb. 25 @ 7:00
Dollar for Devils March 12 @ 8:00
Winter Awards Night March 17 @ 7:00
Eighth Grade Orientation March 18 @ 7:30 – Steve
Spring Pre-season Meeting March 23 @ 7:00 – Steve
Indoor Track
– March 8 & March 15 – we need workers
Good news was sent out
– did everyone receive the e-mail? Yes. Jane sent
it to Gigahertz for the web site.
National College Recruiting Program
– This is for any athlete that might be interested in playing a sport
at any level in college. There is a process to follow starting
in about 7th grade. The speaker will
share the 5 things you should know to help your chances to play a college
sport. Grades 6-12 are invited to attend. This is a great
opportunity for all. Do we want to set up a table or attend this
event?
For the 8th
grade orientation a mass e-mail needs to be sent to all 8th
grade parents. In the past this has always been a successful event
and a good turnout. Steve will speak at this event. Don
will ask John for e-mails.
Calling Night needed for spring events,
L-Club will work most gates because of the times the events start and
with so many rain outs. Girls Track Sectionals will be hosted
here. We need to plan accordingly.
Physical Night needs to be set.
Dr. Huxford is on board again for this year. Gwen Perfetti will
be the nurse in charge. Physical’s will take place June 9 &
10 starting at 3:45. We need to get a letter out to the doctor
to confirm the dates. Don will take care of this. Should
Gwen come to the next meeting?
Steve thinks it would be a good idea for her to come and ask any questions
she has. Spring Awards Night is June 8. John suggested Kris
Starevich to help. Sue will call her.
Don gave an update on the new concession
stand building. A second round of bids are due with board approval
for March 11. If all goes according to plan, the building should
start on March 29 with completion on June 28.
Don asked that a Booster Calendar
be in place with all the events and a timeline for each event as well
as meetings. He would like to see this done before the June meeting.
Steve asked someone to step up and make this happen. Herb can
get the dates for Dollar for Devils and Kay Sampson. Mary said
she will coordinate all the dates, so everyone can send her the info.
Don would also like to see all the POP manuals completed for the June
meeting. Let’s get a POP done for every position and event.
Kelly and Sam will work on the Senior
Banquet. Kelly will contact Mr. Sufana. Banquet will be
Sunday, May 23.
Don updated us on the fencing projects.
The funding for this is from the LMS coming in under budget.
Slats in south end of soccer field, fencing along drive from southwest
gate to soccer field, gate and fencing from tennis courts over to west
drive have all been approved. What remains to be done is jv baseball
and softball backstops and baseline fencing. Simple dugouts may
be done in the future.
Presentation of football season
patches, and rings will be on Sunday, February 28 at 4:00.
A DVD has been made of the season highlights and will be played during
the presentation. All players, coaches and anyone involved with
the season or team is invited to attend. The public is also asked
to attend this presentation.
Items submitted for approval to purchase:
Softball Uniforms $1804.00
State Patches $1071.00
Softball pitching machine, screen and sliding mat $ 717.50
Baseball plate cover and protector screen $ 579.00
Girls’ Track warm-ups $3150.00
All items were approved and checks
were cut tonight.
State Football Rings will be paid
next meeting $6700.00
Items to submit for approval:
Boys’
Golf shirts $234.00
$150.00 was donated through the Tri-Creek
Foundation.
Items to be tabled for next meeting:
State Budget
Football items
Boys’ soccer warm-ups
Volleyball uniforms
Concept of reserved seating in football
stadium
LABOR DAY RUN:
Joe is rolling along and all is coming
together. Joe will give an update at next meeting.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
Lowell
Business Expo is Sat. Feb 27 from 2 to 7. Steve, Sue, Mary, Amy
and Sam will work this event. Carrie asked if we knew where our
booth was located, and she will check into this and get in touch with
Sue. Sue would like to set up Friday night if possible.
Doors open Sat. at 10:00. 2 items will be sold at the event, the
new sweatshirt and hat. Kelly will talk to Patti with Marketing
Solutions to see about the new items.
Steve tossed around an event for August.
Possibly having something at DC’s Country Junction, an End of the
Summer or Red Devil Kickoff event. Steve would like it to be a
fun night, something easy. We would need to work around the football
schedule or have it on a Saturday night. We could advertise through
FB, local flyers, word of mouth and e-mail. This event should
be little to no cost and virtually labor free.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mike proposed to change the way we
pay for transportation and who pays what towards it. Currently
the boosters pay $20, the parents pay $20 and the athletic dept. picks
up the remaining balance of $22.05 per student.
How can we get this $22.05 to be the students responsibility?
The total cost for transportation is $41,140 with 663 athletes.
Mike proposed that we issue a parent participation fee of $30 where
$20 would be refunded if they worked an event. He feels we would
get about 20% of the parents to actually work and earn back their money.
Along with the increase in concession stand prices and participation
fees, the boosters could have a new income of approx. $43,863.
He would also like to sell dedicated seating for the football stadium
where each reserved seat would cost $250. If we sold 100 seats,
the club could make approx. $19,500. Is this something to consider?
Steve feels all this is a good idea, but we will need time to process
and get some pros and cons together. If everyone could think of
a few pros and cons by the March meeting. Dollar for Devils was
started to help the kids with transportation and the kids don’t have
a choice if their parents volunteer or not. This is for the kids
only and to help them. Do you go with a
“no pay/no play” policy? No, we will not turn a child away.
Boosters are here to raise money and support the
kids. Fees are going up and we need to adjust for this.
Corporate sponsors are used to help with the balance of the transportation
fees so the kids do not have to pay with whole fee, yet corporate sponsors
are down this year. Currently there is
no parent participation fee in place at LHS. Some schools are
doing this and currently have something in place. Parents need
to step up and help out more either by working or paying. This
proposal was done to help with the fees and a way to cover the rising
cost. Nothing will be decided tonight, but this is one example
we can use in the future. A few questions were brought up: who
collects the fees? Who writes the checks each month? Who will track
the workers? What do we do if a student cannot afford to pay?
Steve thanked Mike for all his hard work and time with this matter and
we will consider it for the future.
UPCOMING NEWS:
Booster Club Meeting:
Wednesday, March 10, at 6:30
MEETING ADJOURNED:
Motion to adjourn by John and seconded by Donna