First Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Monday, May 19, 1997

The twelfth session of the First Board of Directors of the Blue Line Club was convened by President Kent Schwickert at 4:09 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 1997, in the Warren Street Center conference room on the campus of Mankato State University.

Voting Board Members Present

6 of 7 Seats

• Kent Schwickert, Club President
• Henry Okleshen, Club Vice President
• Brad Reeves
• Jim Bullard
• Steve Duea
• Jim Turk

Voting Board Members Absent

1 of 7 Seats

• Larry Morales (Excused)

Ex-officio Nonvoting Board Members Present

2 of 6 Seats

• David Cowan Club Secretary/Treasurer - Maverick Boosters Club Liaison
• Cheryl Regan MSU Athletics Promotions

Ex-officio Nonvoting Board Members Absent

4 of 6 Seats

• Margaret Healy (Excused) - MSU Student Affairs Vice President
• Don Brose - MSU Men's Ice Hockey Coach
• Ron Hybertson (Excused) - Conference Faculty Representative (NCC)
• Don Amiot (Excused) - MSU Men's Athletics Director

Agenda Items Reviewed

Vice President Okleshen moved that the Board's May 19, 1997 meeting agenda be approved as distributed. Motion passed without objection.

Minutes of Previous Meeting Distributed

The meeting minutes of the Board's March 24, 1997 regular session and the meeting notes of the Board's session of April 21, 1997 were then reviewed. Director Bullard moved the approval of documents. Without objection the motion carried.

Secretary-Treasurer's Report

Club Secretary-Treasurer David Cowan then provided the Board with an overview of the Club's existing 1996-97 income and expenditure budget dated 5/7/97.

Blue Line Club Budget for 1997-98

Board members reviewed the budget detail showing up in Column 6 of the 5/7/97 financial update provided by Secretary-Treasurer Cowan. It was noted that the plan called for $23,000 in spending with two income elements: $21,850 from FY'98 club membership fee collections and $1,150 in estimated embroidered club clothing sales. Without objection the Board approved the line item detail displayed in the 5/7/97 financial document.

Status of Men's Ice Hockey Budget for 1997-98

Because of Athletic Director Don Amiot's excused absence there was not update on the 1997-98 overall ice hockey budget.

WCHA Watch

President Kent Schwickert reported that it looked like MSU would soon receive a formal invitation from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Conference to play in their annual "Final Five" tournament next April. Apparently at the WCHA's April 24 meeting held in Margo, Florida, the green light was given to MSU President Richard Rush that he could expect such an invitation within the month. At that Florida session MSU was allowed presentation and answer questions from the delegates representing the existing nine WCHA member schools. Current members of the WCHA include:

• U of Minnesota Gophers
• U. of Wisconsin Badgers
• Colorado College Tigers
• St. Cloud State Huskies
• U of M Duluth Bulldogs
• University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
• Michigan Tech Huskies
• Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves
• Denver Pioneers

Club President Schwickert indicated it was his belief that though Mankato State would be playing in the April 1998 Final Five Tournament of the WCHA, and that the schedules for next year and 1998-99 would be full of WCHA members schools, that full membership for MSU would not occur until the 1999-2000 academic year. Other Board members indicated that such a situation would not necessarily be a problem insofar as spectators are concerned, but that a delay would be confusing to potential student athletes being recruited by the men's program.

Membership Recruitment and Retention Drive & Season Ticket Sales

Athletic Promotions Coordinator Cheryl Regan provided the Board with an update on season ticket sales and Blue Line Club membership purchases for next season. She indicated orders were still being received from a giant mailing dated April 4, 1997. The deadline for returns was May 15th.

Club President Kent Schwickert indicated that area towns should be canvassed and Blue Line Club memberships and season ticket sales heavily pitched to civic groups.

Director Duea suggested the Board hold off on such a campaign until the WCHA Tournament Invitation letter actually arrived as the letter would help with promoting MSU as a quality team with a great home schedule. Board members suggested that ads in area weekly newspapers would be well received.

Apparel Update & Future Civic Center Floor Sales Management

Club President Schwickert reported that the floor sales at hockey events at the University of Wisconsin were handled by their alumni group which kept all proceeds. Whereas, the University of Minnesota actually bids the concession and doesn't get involved in the details of maintaining inventory, scheduling staff, etc. Schwickert indicated that he would try to get a hold of a Mr. Hicks to obtain a same copy of what the U of M uses as a RFP (Request for Proposal) or bid.

The Board reaffirmed its belief that the Club wasn't interested in running such an enterprise. The Club's own embroidered apparel sales would be more than enough to handle for next year. Board members agreed that whatever vendor is selected should pay a percent off of sales (gross or net) with such percent dedicated to MSU's hockey program. The issue of whether the percent should go into the Blue Line Club's budget or the general MSU hockey program budget was not addressed. Presently all dasher board sales go into the general MSU hockey program budget but the Blue Line Club embroidered apparel sales revenue is deposited into the Blue Line Club's MSU cost center.

Director Steve Due felt that any RFP or bid should guarantee the winner at least a three year contract for services with up to another two as a renewal opportunity. He indicated that there should also be a thirty day cancellation clause if either side wasn't satisfied that the other was performing up to expectations.

Juel Meyer Voted Honorary Membership Privileges

In memory of Dan Meyer, and in recognition of the scholarship fund established with the Meyer family participation and support, the Board of Directors unanimously agreed to provide Juel Meyer all the privileges normally associated with an Individual Membership.

This honorary membership would be valid for 1997-98 and could be renewed annually.

MSU Hockey Blue Line Club Memorial Scholarship Fund

Director Steve Duea that only one solicitation letter had actually gone out to prospective donors of a planned three letter campaign. Duea wondered at what point does the University's normal fund raising system take over. Is it the Club's responsibility to ensure that a second and third letter are written, duplicated, and mailed? The three letter solicitation strategy would have had a letter landing every three or four weeks at the home of a prospective donor.

Payment for Funeral Flowers Authorize

Director Brad Reeves moved and Duea seconded that $82.18 be spend out of the Blue Line Club's cost center to pay Hilltop Florists for the flowers for Dan Meyer funeral. Motion passed.

Next Board Meeting - Monday, June 9th

It was agreed to have the next Board meeting on Monday, June 9th, at 4 p.m.

Adjournment

Without objection the meeting then adjourned at 5:26 p.m.