November 7, 2006

Diamond Club Minutes

Diamond Club Meeting                       November 7, 2006

 

Members Present:   Jerry Walen, Craig Dickison, Randy Reichert,  Brian Marshik,  Al Barkve, Mark Rosin, Bob Freed, Dorothy Pedersen,  Coach Mark Downey, Ken Porten, Mark Anderson, Bob Harris, Jeff Hershey, Ben Gallagher, Ken Wise.

 

Minutes from October meeting: 

Approved as written.

 

Treasurer’s Report:

Jon Hoffman was unable to attend tonight’s meeting, but submitted the following:  We currently have approximately $2,487 in the Club checkbook.   He is working to put together reporting similar to the Mustang Club accounting system.  It will have a proposed budget, approved budget, revenues and expenditures.  The budget will be distributed the members. 

Jon questioned an expense from last year for coach’s mileage:  Coach Downey stated he’d rather the expense go to the coaching staff vs. mileage reimbursement.

 

Coaches Report:

Coach stated he has a $7,000 budget at this point, but needs an additional $750 for transportation costs.  This takes into account the JV and Varsity players drive themselves to Roseville and White Bear games.  We also need $400 more for new baseballs.  The group agreed to cover those expenses although we’re unsure how much we’ll raise this year.

 

Coach Downey reported as per AD Bob Madison that having individual player fundraising accounts is not allowed under MSHSL rules, so we should not reward or track individual accounts.

 

Bob Freed suggested we try to promote a scholarships for those kids who’d like to attend a spring break trip in the future.

 

Old Business:

 

Player Apparel:  Brian Marshik reported the Captains have decided on shorts, a jacket, sweat pants, and sweat shirts for the team.  They suggested buying a jacket that would carry over from year to year to save on funds.  Players are currently required to buy their own hat and socks.  After the teams are selected, turnaround on the outfits would be April 1 (as per the vendor).

 

Pizza Pals:   Jerry Walen reported there is very little written on prior year’s efforts and results.  He estimates we produced $9,600 in revenue last year less a cost of $3,600, for a net profit of $6,000.  He will continue to work on the Pizza Pals effort for this year.

 

Dinner/auction Randy Reichert and Bob Harris reported they have contacted Kozlak’s for a suggested Sunday evening January 27 or February 11.  We could try to have a speaker, as well as auction donations.  The cost of the dinner would be $23 to 25 per plate; we would sell tickets for $50 each.  Randy estimates we could raise $3,000 to $5,000 with the dinner.  Minnetonka currently raises large funds in this way, and has found corporate sponsorships build in subsequent years.  This could replace our salt sales.

 

A motion was made and seconded to support the Dinner/Auction.  Parents will not be required to purchase tickets to the event.

 

Salt sales:  Mark Rosin reported we made $1400 last year at a very huge time and effort commitment.  Mark recommended we discontinue salt sales.  A motion was made and seconded to discontinue same, and the motion carried unanimously.

 

Section Programs:  Al Barkve and Mark Anderson reporting:  Mark displayed last year’s program in which 14 pages of advertising were sold at a profit of about $5,800.  Mark recommended we keep this fundraiser.  Al Barve will call on Midway restaurants to elicit coupon ads for eating during sectionals.  Al also has a kit ready for the players to sell ads.

 

Year end banquet:  Coach Downey requested that the banquet be for ALL players from this point on, not just varsity players.  All Coaches will speak briefly at the banquet.  This should promote some cohesion and support between the teams.

Cub Foods grocery bagging:  Randy Reichert and Mark Rosin reporting:  We have reserved two dates for our players to work at Cub Foods, with the possibility of fund raising $800 to 1,000 per day.  We’ll need about 30 players to make the event work, along with parental supervision.  A motion was made and seconded to adopt bagging as a new fundraiser for this year.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Spring Break trip:   A spring break trip will happen next year; this year Coach Downey has reserved the MV gym Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; the school is not open on Thursday and Friday of spring break.  He is still working on reserving the Metrodome for a few hours during the week at $400 per hour.  He’s like to split the time into two groups:  freshman and sophomores, and juniors and seniors, and have them play a controlled scrimmage.  Bethel College is open Monday through Friday from 9 to 1 each day at a rate of $135 per hour.  AD Bob Madison is working on getting Bethel for a reduced rate.  Coach Downey estimates the cost of spring break training to be $3000.   He will report on the final arrangements at the December meeting.

 

New Business:

Coach Downey reported the State High School League is discussed a change to school designations based on enrollment size, which would decrease the number of teams from 125 to 95 in our designation.  Basically, only large schools would stay within the same league.  In addition, the League is discussing a proposal which would require a student athlete would have to sit out one year in athletics at a new school if they change schools.

 

Our baseball schedule is now 95% complete.  We have a 20 game schedule for each class; everyone will have at least one scrimmage.  We have scheduled a SAYB kids day when we play Irondale.  Totino Grace has been added as a nonconference game, as well as Minnetonka.

 

A Batting cage bubble has been built in the practice area in the sandy location in the “back 40” for batting practice.

 

Other changes this year will be freshman and varsity teams will practice together at least once during the season.

 

Coach Downey would like a website for the team, and is looking for help build and maintain it.  If you are interested, please contact Coach.

Any one needing a recommendation or having questions concerning a baseball clinic or camp should contact Coach Downey.

 

Coach Downey will be coaching the 16 year old Mickey Mantle team this summer, and as well as conducting a “Summer Fun at the Ballpark” series during the summer for kids ages 5 and up.  Kids can come and play ball Monday through Thursday at a local park and have fun with good instruction for a reasonable $30 to $40.

 

Captain’s practices start after the New Year, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 to 10:00 with parent supervision.

 

Mary Ann Marshik will be selling cake pans as a fund raiser during parent teacher conferences at the High School.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.

 

The next regular Diamond Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 5, from 7:00 to 8:30 in the Mounds View Form.

 

Your attendance is welcome and highly encouraged!

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Dorothy Pedersen, MVDC Secretary

December 1, 2006