First Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Monday, October 14, 1996

The sixth meeting of the First Board of Directors of the Blue Line Club was convened by Club Vice President Henry Okleshen at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 14, 1996, in the Warren Street Center conference room on the campus of Mankato State University.

Voting Board Members Present

5 of 7 Seats

• Henry Okleshen, Vice Pres. (Excused)
• Larry Morales
• Brad Reeves
• Steve Duea
• Jim Bullard

Voting Board Members Present

2 of 7 Seats

• Kent Schwickert, President (Excused)
• Jim Turk (Excused)

Ex-officio Nonvoting Board Members Present

5 of 6 Seats

• Don Amiot - MSU Men's Athletics Director
• David Cowan, Club Secretary-Treasurer - Maverick Boosters Club Liaison
• Don Brose - MSU Men's Ice Hockey Coach
• Cheryl Regan (Excused) - MSU Athletics Promotions
• Ron Hybertson (Excused) - Conference Faculty Representative (NCC)
• Margaret Healy - MSU Student Affairs Vice President

Ex-officio Nonvoting Board Members Absent

1 of 6 Seats

• Don Brose - MSU Men's Ice Hockey Coach

Others in Attendance

• Starr Klirklin - MSU Corporate and Foundation Relations Director

Agenda Approved

Without objection the Board's October 14, 1996 meeting agenda was approved as distributed.

Minutes of Previous Meeting Approved As Corrected

Larry Morales moved and Jim Duea seconded that the Board's September 9, 1996 meeting minutes be approved. Objections were raised that the apparel pricing list on page two did not correctly reflect the Board's decision to ensure that prices charged Club members be at least 30% over the price the Club paid to Promotion Works which serves as the Club's supplier. On a Morales/Reeves motion the Board made it clear that the 9 oz. sweatshirt was the official 1996-97 memento. References to an 11 oz. sweatshirt would be deleted from the apparel list. The September minutes were then amended to include this revised list:

Board Price Apparel Flyer Listing

9 oz. Sweatshirt	$18.75	$35.00
Polo Shirt	$25.75	$37.00
Sweater	$52.45	$70.00
Cap	$9.40	$12.00
Suede Jacket	$90.95	$118.00
Stone Washed Denim Jacket	$64.25	$84.00

Based on a Cowan/Bullard motion the changes were also changed to modify the polo shirt and sweater prices shown on the September 9th minutes. The newly amended price list now has the polo shirt at $37 and the sweater at $70. The meeting minutes of September 9, 1996, were then approved by the Board of Directors as amended.

Wearing Apparel Update

Steve Duea reported to Board members that the officially approved 1996-97 Blue Line Club memento sweatshirt would not be given out to Club members at the first home hockey game on Friday, November 1, 1996. Sweatshirt samples would be available so members can they can let us know the proper size they need. The apparel flyer will be available at the Club meeting on November 1 and that flyer will include the apparel list of Blue Line Club embroidered products, their individual price, and provide space for those who wish to use the flyer simply to indicate the size needed for their memento sweatshirt.

Those working the special table at the first Club get-together November 1 will also know that should the Corporate member or individual member not want a sweatshirt (two units for Corporate; one unit for an individual member) then the member can apply the value of the sweatshirt toward the purchase of other products. No cash refunds will be allowed should the member choose to buy one or more items that add up to less than the value of the sweatshirt(s) they would have received. Each sweatshirt has an official value of $35.

Floor Sales to Game Spectators - University Bookstore Favored

The Board agreed to continue to favor the MSU's University Bookstore as the vendor of choice to handle generic hockey sales of clothing and other items to spectators attending MSU hockey events at the Mankato Civic Center. The Board first addressed this issue at its August 21, 1996, meeting and indicated then that it supported the idea that Perry Cuttino, University Bookstore Manager, would put up one or two booths to sell MSU related hockey items. However, no Blue Line Club embroidered items would be sold at such locations by the University Bookstore. The University Bookstore has already purchased at least one if not two "dasher board" spots though such income doesn't really land within the Blue Line Club's income plan.

Hockey Game Program - Proposed Inclusion of "Hockey Highlights" Text

Jim Duea moved and Jim Bullard seconded that the Board approved transferring up to $1,000 to the MSU Sports Information Office. Don Amiot explained that the funds would allow the Sports Information Office to publish a four color media guide which will be given to sports writers, hockey staff at competing colleges and universities, and other interested parties. The guides are important in the effort to promote Mankato State's standing as a new Division I program.

David Cowan, prime author of the original "hockey highlights" handout which was distributed free to thousands of fans last season, indicated that the Sports Information Office would include the text of last year's handout as part of the game program pages now given fans who purchase the $2 program offered at each home hockey contest. The game program should now become more valuable as a result and it is believed that program sales will increase. Cowan was not interested in reprinting the handout and then being responsible for its distribution, particularly if the game program could be altered to accept the text.

The Duea motion was then voted on. Motion passed unanimously.

WCHA Annual Meeting Invitation and Proposed MSU Hospitality Suite

Don Amiot indicated that in March, 1997 that the WCHA Conference (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) would have its annual meeting in the Twin Cities. He then asked the Club's Board if it wanted to rent a room or rooms which could serve as a hospitality suite where visitors could mingle with MSU staff and Blue Line Club members and talk about MSU's stated interest in the WCHA. This suite would be rented for one day, two days, or for the whole three day annual meeting. The Club's Board asked Amiot to present a forecast on related costs for the suite.

Kickoff Event Scheduled for November

It was noted that the Blue Line Club would host a grand "season opener" event at the Mankato Civic Center on Friday, November 1, 1996, beginning at 5:30 p.m. All Club members would be invited, including a representative of the WCHA. MSU Hockey Coach Don Brose and Ferris State Hockey Coach Bob Daniels would both talk about their programs on or about 6:20 p.m. The Club is furnishing all the free food but the bar is available on a cash bar basis. After that night's hockey game Club members are invited back to the hospitality suite to meet the MSU hockey players.

Board members did not object to how the event would be financed out of the Club's operating budget.

Public Relations Initiatives and Announcements

Without objection the Board agreed that any and all public announcements concerning the Blue Line Club would be reviewed prior to their release by MSU Athletic Director Don Amiot (or his designee). This would include proposed press releases as well as the Club's Hat Trick Newsletter. This approach would better ensure that both the printed and electronic media are given information that is uniformly consistent with Club views and the position of MSU's Men's Intercollegiate Athletics Program. It is assumed that should differences exist that the Club and the MSU Men's Athletic Office will resolve them to the mutual satisfaction of both parties before any media information is released.

It is critical that such an approach be used to avoid sending any missed signals to the public, particularly as Mankato State continues to seek WCHA membership.

Membership Renewals/New Member Prospects/Season Tickets

Cheryl Regan and Don Amiot provided Board members with an assessment on how the Blue Line Club corporate and individual membership sales were going. An update on season tickets was also given by Cheryl Regan.

Secretary-Treasurer's Report

Secretary-Treasurer David Cowan circulated an update of what has been spent on the Club's 12 month fiscal year spending plan of $18,901. To date only $343.14 has been paid out all of which has been for printing and postage. The Club's fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30.

Adjournment

Without objection the meeting then adjourned at 5:30 p.m.