Page address: https://web.mnsu.edu/sports/bluelineclub/clubhouse/minutes/BLCminutes070797.html

First Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Monday, July 7, 1997

The fourteenth session of the First Board of Directors of the Blue Line Club was convened by President Kent Schwickert at 4:03 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 1997, in the Warren Street Center conference room on the campus of Mankato State University. This was a special meeting called to review two private vendor responses to a MSU circulated Request for Proposal (RFP) dealing with a hockey home game clothing and novelty concession at the Mankato Civic Center.

Voting Board Members Present

6 of 7 Seats

Kent Schwickert, Club President
Henry Okleshen, Club Vice President
Brad Reeves
Jim Bullard
Jim Turk
Larry Morales

Voting Board Members Absent

1 of 7 Seats

Steve Duea (Excused at his own request.)

Ex-officio Nonvoting Board Members Present

3 of 6 Seats

Don Amiot - MSU Men's Athletics Director
David Cowan, Club Secretary-Treasurer - Maverick Boosters Club Liaison
Ron Hybertson - Conference Faculty Representative (NCC)

Ex-officio Nonvoting Board Members Absent

3 of 6 Seats

Cheryl Regan - MSU Athletics Promotions
Don Brose - MSU Men's Ice Hockey Coach
Margaret Healy - MSU Student Affairs Vice President

Preliminary Review of Vendor RFP Submissions

Board members examined three documents prior to the first vendor presentation. Those documents included: 1) Request for Proposal distributed by MSU's Purchasing Department; 2) Response submitted by the University Bookstore; and 3) Response submitted by Promotion Works.

Review of the Existing Lease between MSU and Mankato Civic Center

Secretary-Treasurer David Cowan then provided the Board with an overview of the existing "Facility Usage Agreement" between MSU and the Mankato Civic Center. Cowan assured the Board that MSU had every right to solicit proposals and award a contract to a private vendor to sell clothing and novelties at home hockey events held at the Civic Center. However, the agreement requires that MSU notify the Civic Center about the terms and conditions of such a contract and which vendor will be operating the concession.

Specifically, Article IV. A. states:

. . . Programs and novelties may be offered for sale in leased space during period of this agreement with approval in advance from CENTER.

Elsewhere in Addendum A of the agreement this "non-compete" clause states:

All revenue generated from novelties may be retained by MSU. Items sold by MSU shall be approved, prior to sale, by MSU and shall not compete with those offered by MCC.

Presentations by Competing Vendors

Each vendor had a 15 minute block of time to orally review their written proposal and answer any questions Board members had. The University Bookstore began its presentation at 4:15 p.m. with Perry Cuttino and Stephanie Wendt as presenters. At 4:32 p.m. Promotion Works' Dale Wacholz and Steve Duea had their chance to talk about the merits of their RFP submittal. Neither team of presenters was allowed in the room when the other made their individual presentations.

Recommendation of the Board

Once both vendors completed their presentations and left the meeting, Board members then discussed at length each vendor's proposal. Both vendors were thought to possess the skills necessary to accomplish what was detailed in the Request for Proposal. Board members believe that the general public home game sales potential of MSU clothing, hockey specific clothing, and novelties will be far greater in the coming years than what has been experienced in the past two seasons primarily do to an upgrade in the hockey program's caliber of competition. The potential membership in the WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) Conference was viewed as triggering an increase in fan attendance at home hockey events.

Financial considerations, though not the only things considered, shook out with Promotion Works offering a 25% return to MSU on each game night's sales (pro-rated when sales are in effect), versus the University Bookstore's 15% or $150 per game guarantee, whichever is the greater figure. Board Director Brad Reeves moved and Director Jim Turk seconded, that the Blue Line Club Board of Directors recommend to MSU that Promotion Works be awarded the contract. Motion passed.

Next Board Meeting - Monday, July 21, 1997, at 4 p.m.

Board members agreed to convene a regular meeting on Monday, July 21, 1997, at 4 p.m. in the Warren Street Conference room at Mankato State University. Key agenda items for that meeting include: 1) Campaign to Recruit New Members; and 2) Select Official 1997-98 Club Memento which has already been guaranteed as part of the dues paid by each Club Corporate and Individual Member.

Adjourned

The special meeting then adjourned at 5:12 p.m.