Pickerington Panthers Athletic Boosters Meeting Minutes
December 17, 2003

Panthers Officers, Committee Chairs and Sport Club Officers and Representatives Present:  Mark Uher, President
Gene Montgomery, Vice President
Bob Cruse, Chairman, Holiday Classic Tournament
(Several officers and committee chairs indicated they had conflicts – Hope Boren on vacation; Patti Williams at wrestling match; Vince Krivda at basketball game; and Mitch Wilson unable to attend. Mark Aprile was at an Athletic Directors conference)
Acer Club - Marsha Stewart, President
Cross Country - Jim Marn, President, and Brenda Flask, Secretary
Diamond Club - Greg Boone, President
Goal Club - Dave Wolfe, President
Lady Panthers Rebounder Club - James Packer, President; Paul Smithberger, Vice President and Beth Smith, Treasurer
Par Busters Club - Paul Smithberger
Pizzazz Club - (Lynne Neike, President unable to attend due to illness)
Quarterback Club - Bob McFadyen, President
Relay Club - (Robin Nichols, President unable to attend due to conflicting swim meet)
Softball - Dick Schultz, President
Spikers Club - No representative
Spirit Club - (Scott Meyerrose, Booster Representative unable to attend due to late flight
returning to Columbus)
Takedown Club - (Joel Melin, President unable to attend due to conflicting wrestling meet)
Tip Off Club - (Ed Geers, President and Phil Jablonka unable to attend due to conflicting boys basketball game)
Track & Field - No representative
Volleyball Club (Boys) - No representative

At 7:30 pm Mark Uher convened the meeting in Lecture Hall at Pickerington High School North.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2003
Minutes from November 19, 2003 meeting were moved for approval by Greg Boone and seconded by Jim Packer. Minutes were approved as written. Minutes are available on website: PickeringtonPanthers.com

TREASURER’S REPORT
The 11.26.03 bank statement was included in the meeting agenda package showing $76, 502.23 in the bank. In terms of budget, actual net income included $25,060 in membership, $12,328 in concessions, $1051 in programs, and $7,608 in scoreboard. Motion made by Jim Packer to accept treasurer’s report and seconded. Treasurer’s report approved.

FUNDRAISING AND RAFFLE COMMITTEE REPORT
Bob McFadyen reported that the Fundraising Director, Dennis Schone, had informed him earlier in the week that the raffle tickets would be available for distribution between January 7 and January 15 with each athlete receiving 10 tickets to sell at $10. Each sport club should receive between $4 and $7 on the sale of each ticket depending on the overall number of ticket sales. A Ford Explorer will be the grand prize and given away in mid-April.

KROGER HOLIDAY CLASSIC TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE REPORT (Bob Cruse)
Cruse reminded all sport clubs that they need the list of workers for the Kroger Holiday Classic so their names will be a list at the pass gate. Cruse and Beth Smith brief the group on the promotion of the tournament including the varsity team going to Krogers and various schools to sign posters promoting the event. The Classic begins on Saturday, December 27 at 3 p.m. (Lady Panthers play at 8:15 p.m.) and continues with five games on Sunday, December 28 (3:00 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.). On Monday, December 29th, the championship game is at 8:15 p.m. with third place game at 6:30 p.m.; fifth place at 4:45 p.m. and seventh place at 3:00 p.m. Teams are from Nequa Valley, Illinois; Mercy Academy, Kentucky; Cardinal O'Hara, Pennsylvania; Cleveland, Tennessee; Nashua, New Hampshire; Ankeny, Iowa; Heritage, Tennessee and our own Pickerington Lady Panthers!  Click here for brackets.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
$32,550. 394 Members. Acers-18; Cross Country- 35; Diamond -55; Goal- 76; Lady Panthers-46; Par Busters-14; Pizzazz – 7; Quarterback- 105; Relay- 11; Softball – 30; Spikers – 27; Spirit-46; Takedown – 29; Tip Off- 75; Track & Field- 64; Volleyball Boys- 25.

CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE REPORT
Gene Montogomery indicated that Gina Geist was working with Coke to provide fountain drinks and Bob Daniel was working on the window to be put in football concessions stand. Jim Packer commented that we need two windows for concessions inside the high school as we had at PHS Central as the lines are extremely long. Following a question by Beth Smith regarding the sport club’s share of the profits from the concessions, it was indicated that the decision on concessions split would be made in June 2004 when the revenue from concessions is fully known. Consistent with the resolution approved on 6.25.03, each club may share in the proceeds of the concessions up to $2000 based on a number of factors including the number of athletes (see June 25, 2003 minutes for more details).

SPORT CLUB ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Acers – Marcia Stewart shared that they looked forward to the raffle as a fundraiser for the club.

Cross Country – Jim Marn reported the season had concluded and they had a success banquet & video highlighting the season. Concern was expressed about the cross country course and the grading of the hill to make sure the grading did not impact the excellent course that was lay out.

Diamond Club – Greg Boone briefed the group about the challenges facing both North and Central baseball teams due to the ‘hiring freeze’ placed upon baseball, preventing all assistant, JV, freshman, and 7-8th grade coaches from being hired. At this time, only the head coaches at both Central and North have been hired. In addition, Boone reported that baseball fields are in ‘awful’ conditions with the junior high field being ‘horrible’ Many in the club have spent extensive time helping the head coach with the field conditions. Boone commented that if the fields are not in substantially better condition, all baseball games in the spring will be played away. Uher commented that part of the allocation budgeted to go to the Athletic Department was designed to help capital improvements such as improvements to softball & baseball fields, football equipment reconditioning, and cross country course improvements. Boone shared that the club is conducting a joint mulch fundraiser with Central and participating in a Toys for Tots program.

Goal Club – Dave Wolfe reported very successful banquet at Hickory Lakes and the video & DVD made of the highlights of the season and given to each athlete. Wolfe commented that the complex was a bit more expensive but was worth it.

Quarterback Club - Bob McFadyen commented about the Quarterback Club meeting that week in preparation for the raffle sales in mid-January and the Valentine Day party planned for adults for a fund raiser. He indicated that over 400 had attended the banquet in the commons at PHS North and all indicated what a success it was.

Lady Panthers Rebounders Club – Jim Packer shared that the Lady Panthers are off to an excellent start (5-0) and the club was working hard to promote the Kroger Classic.

Softball Club - Dick Schultz reported that the softball fields are too in need of improvement. The Club did successfully build a storage shed for equipment prior to the weather turning. On a side note, the Columbus Comets football team will be playing football games in Panthers Stadium with games beginning at 7:30 p.m. on April 3, May 1, May 22 and June 5. Schultz has made arrangements for the boosters to receive 50% of the net income from the operations of the concessions without having to provide staffing (except for Gina Geist’s coordination). That additional income will assist the boosters’ bottom line.

There was a consensus that Panthers boosters could help all sport clubs by asking each sport club to bring a list of ‘vendors’ and costs of vendors along with them at the January meeting to share with all sport clubs. In particular, the following types of vendors were sought:

1. Printers - many sport clubs use different printers for programs, banquets, etc. Useful information would be service levels of printers and costs. (January’s meeting would be ideal time to discuss since Hope Boren will lead a discussion on the 2004-5 fall & winters sports program)

2. Banquets–location and costs of banquets. Useful information would be decorations (could other groups use as well), menus, costs, and facilities. Goal Club’s use of Hickory Lakes intrigued the group.

3. Videos/DVD – most liked the idea of a video and DVD for athletes but costs may be prohibited. Ideas on low-cost, high quality vendors and/or techniques sought.

Next meeting Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at Pickerington High School North Room 101