Diamond Club Meeting

October 7, 2008

Members present:  Coach Downey, John Hoffman, Mike Blumer, Jessica Hagemann, Dave Stacy, Jeff Hershey, Diane Hershey, Dan Nickols, Marquetta Nickols, Mark Anderson, Mary Anderson, Dion Wikstrom, Ken Porter, John Evangelist, Patti Nouis, Julie Becker, Janet Wilson, Gordy Eicher, Randy Reichert, and Ben Gallagher

The meeting was called to order by Mike Blumer at 7:04.

Minutes from September meeting:

A motion was made by Dave Stacy to approve the September minutes. The motion was seconded by Gordy Eicher.  All were in favor; the motion carried.

Overview:  Mike Blumer:

Mike provided an update about the Silent Auction/Banquet in January. We will be using Kozlak's again, utilizing the space downstairs to spread out the silent auction items.  Bert Blyleven will be this year's guest speaker. If anyone has any items that can be donated for the silent auction, please contact Diane Hershey.

Coach Downey's update:  (See complete report on-line)

�         New field - Batting cages currently being constructed. Bull pen mounds are committed by the district and are due to be completed this fall.

�         Baseball Staff - has been finalized.  Jordan Moberg and Brett Theisen will be co-coaching the freshman team this year.

�         Let's Play Ball Informational Meeting - dates are being looked at - possibilities are Monday, March 2^nd or Tuesday, March 10^th.

�         Game Schedules - are listed on the website

�         Spring Break - Bethel is looking into the possibility of letting MV utilize their field house over spring break.

�         Season-End Banquet - We are looking at Tuesday, May 19, 2009 for our baseball banquet. This date will be confirmed at a later time.

�         SAYB - Number of participants was down this summer from 2007.  Players will help with setting up nets again next year, and upper classmen will again assist with the younger teams.

�         Player Apparel - The captains and Coach Downey met with All-Star Sports to discuss options for this year.  Another meeting is scheduled for October 21^st.

Vice President's Report - Mark Anderson will be handling the scheduling of parents for Captain's practices.  Nothing else to report this month.

Treasurer's Report:

John provided a new Treasurer Report for 2008-2009.  The balance is currently $6,052.  He prepared this year's report based on revenue and expenses from last year. The ending balance is currently $5,953.

Mike Blumer asked for a motion to approve the budget for 2008-2009. Dan Nickols made the motion with Mark Anderson seconding the motion.  All in favor; motion passed.

New Business:

Pitch to Pitch - sign-ups have been posted in the school - they will up remain until January 4^th.

Captain's practice - begins the first Tuesday in January.  More information will be provided at a later date.

Fundraising opportunity - Help out at the compost site at Sherwood and County Road J.  On October 25^th from 9:00 - 5:00 (shifts from 9-1 and 1-5) and October 26^th from 11:00 - 5:00 (shifts from 11-2 and 2-5).  Players can assist customers with unloading their leaves. Pizza and drinks will be served.  Also, grocery bagging has been scheduled for January 31^st at Cub Foods in Arden Hills.  Mike Blumer asked for someone to secure another grocery bagging opportunity at Cub Foods in White Bear or at Rainbow.  Give Mike a call if you're able to secure a date.

Pizza Pals - Options to selling Pizza Pals were discussed.  It is revenue that is budgeted and needed. Anyone with another idea - please contact Mike Blumer.

Other Business:

Dave Stacy provided an update about the Diamond Club Capital Campaign.  We have received an anonymous donation to match up to $50,000 in funds that the campaign raises. This generous gift will assist in providing most of the items on Coach Downey's list.  The district paying for the bull pen mounds has been another unexpected donation.  Various future fundraising options were presented.

Randy Reichert and Ben Gallagher discussed the need for the Diamond Club to establish its own 501(c)3 status. Ken George, Ken Wise, and Rob Leonard had prepared incorporation papers for SAYB and shared those with the Diamond Club.  The one-time fee for the preparation and filing of the incorporation paperwork is around $850 and will not be taken out of the booster funds. 

Ben discussed the documents in more detail; they were emailed to everyone prior to the meeting.  He went over changes made to the by-laws. He will be filing the articles of incorporation on Wednesday the 8^th.

Thank you to Ben Gallagher for all the time he gave to the Diamond Club in preparing these documents.

Randy asked for a motion to accept the documents and the filing of the articles with the State of Minnesota for corporate status for the Diamond Club; motion made by Dave Stacy; seconded by Mark Anderson.  All in favor - motion approved.

Dave Stacy made another motion to approve the by-laws and move the application forward; it was seconded by Mark Anderson.  All in favor; motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 with a motion by Dan Nickols and seconded by Marquetta Nickols.  All in favor.

Due to the election in November, the next regular Diamond Club meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 3rd at 7:00 pm in the Mounds View Forum.  All are welcome!