Diamond Club Meeting

Sept 15, 2015

Head Coach: Mark Downey

Members present: Mark Fredrickson, Mark Downey, Sharon Cline, Kari LeMay, Dean Bonde, Lisa Holloman, Jeff Rholl, Troy Nichols, Cindy Nichols, Lisa Lovdahl, Chris Scholl, John Hakes, and Coach Gorman

The meeting was called to order by Mark Fredrickson at 7:00pm

Welcome & Introductions: -- Mark Fredrickson

  • Mark welcomed everyone.
  • Mark updated everyone that the minutes from the last meeting [May]were sent and are on the website. Jeff Rhollmade a motion to approve the minutes. Dean Bonde seconded themotion. Minutes were approved.

Treasurer’s Report – Mark F for Jeff Vaske

  • Jeff will be retiring from this position
  • Starting balance is $10,089.82 plus Mark F has two checks for 2 banners – Kath Fuel Oil – 1 year $300 and Impact Mail $800 for 3 years. Total starting balance is $11,189.82
  • One other banner is the Crave banner - $800 for 3 years. This check was made out to MVHS, so at the end of the year the Diamond Club will get a credit for this amount.
  • Taxes are due in November and Jeff will be coordinating with our agent.
  • Mark F read the Purpose statement for the Diamond Club. It can be found on the MV Baseball site

Coach’s Report - Coach Downey

Notes below. For the full write-up see attached document

  • Mark D recognized the efforts of the parents – thank you
  • MV schools have stepped up to fund athletics. The level of funding is significant. All transportation, equipment and uniforms essential to the program are covered. New uniforms in 2017.
  • Mark gave the example of the Turtle as something that would not be considered essential so would not be funded by the school.
  • For fundraising if we do it, we need to be clear about what the money will be used for.
  • Reviewed the anticipated number of players that will try out.
  • Reviewed the coaching staff. All are returning except Bobby Lynch, Nick Moen and Jon Chhay.
  • Also covered the VFW and Tri-City Red changes.
  • Financials – for the 2015 buses/umpires. The amount was over the $7000 budget. MVHS covered the additional $1,500.
  • Reviewed the difference between what we paid for 2015 - $19,042 to the 2016 budget where the school will pay most of the funding for is $2,892.
  • Covered Mark’s wish list – maintenance vehicle, fence behind the plates in both bullpens, outdoor batting cage net replacement.
  • MVHS account continues to have $22,000 for the storage facility. Looking to build the storage facility next summer. The funds that were in the MVHS account for banquet speakers are depleted.
  • Field – Championship Flag has been made and is ready to be hung.
  • Need to update the scoreboard for the 2015 Section Championship.
  • Batting cages will be coming down on October 1.
  • Season starts March 21. Mark has sent an email on the impacts and expectations around the start and conflicts with Spring Break.
  • Augsburg is not available the 1st week. Mark has been looking at other option. Potential options – Hamline, St Thomas, National Sports Center, Vadnais Heights Dome, West St Paul Dome. Most of these options are more expensive than the Augsburg option.
  • Reviewed potential dates for key items – SAYB day – May 7, Senior day – May 20, Season end banquet – May 22.
  • The league is concerned about arm injuries in the kids. May lead to pitch counts. More to come on this.
  • Question was asked about the bricks and what the status is. Jeff Vaske had provided an email update that he is working with Tom D and they are making plans to complete this task ASAP. Mark F will follow-up with Tom.

President’s Report – Mark

  • Topics to cover -- Fundraising discussion, Positions to fill, and direction on the field house.
  • Fundraising discussion:
  • Compost has already been reserved – Oct 25. Made $1,500 last year.
  • If we had targeted items we wanted to use the money for –we should do fundraising.
  • Benefits of compost and bagging groceries -- Presence in the community, kids have skin in the game, building relationships.
  • Coach Gorman provided the coaches perspective on the fieldhouse at Spring Break. He feels it is really beneficial to the coaches and that Hamline is not the best of the options. The domes would be more ideal.
  • Discussed the option of using Hamline for a couple of days and use the domes for the later days.
  • A suggestion was made to check Concordia – note this is not an option. Checked online and their Spring Break is in February.
  • Another opinion was that the domes – Vadnais or the Sports Center – is easier for the new drivers to get to than those that are further away.
  • There was a proposal made to do the Cub and Composting fundraisers to cover the fields. Cindy proposed and Kari seconded the proposal. Troy indicated it is against what the district wants us to do. He said he would be ok if Bob Madison says it’s ok.
  • We discussed prioritizing the fundraising activities -- #1 Dinner; #2 Compost; and #3 Cub. The decision was delayed as more discussion is needed on Cub. It was commented that we need to give up something.
  • Dinner discussion
  • Suggestion was made to set a budget to determine what amount we need
  • Mark F wants to do some homework on doing the dinner to ensure we have the resources to drive the work.
  • Discussion that the dinner is not a burden and the community looks forward to this.
  • Last year we brought in $12,687 from the dinner of which $8,870 was the auction and $2,866 was from donations.
  • Direction on the fieldhouse
  • Dean Bonde made the proposal that we move forward and give Mark D the authorization to spend money on the fieldhouse not to exceed $6K. Jeff Rholl seconded the motion. The motion passed.
  • Positions to fill
  • Mark F indicated we need a Treasurer, Secretary [after this year], President [Mark would like to step away at the end of the calendar year], and Vice President.
  • Lisa Holloman expressed interest in the Treasurer position. Jeff Rholl nominated Lisa for Treasurer. Dean Bonde seconded the motion. The motion passed.
  • Sharon Cline will continue to fill the Secretary position thru the 2015-2016 year. This position will be open next year.
  • President and Vice President – Troy Nichols is considering being President and will let Mark F know. Mark F asked that anyone how is interested or have suggestion email or call him.

Vice president Report

  • No updates

Other items:

  • No other item discussed

Chris Scholl made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Dean Bonde.The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM.

The next Diamond Club Meeting will be October 13at 7:00 at MVHS Room 150

Decisions Made:

  • Dean Bonde made the proposal that we move forward and give Mark D the authorization to spend money on the fieldhouse not to exceed $6K. Jeff Rholl seconded the motion. The motion passed.
  • Lisa Holloman expressed interest in the Treasurer position. Jeff Rholl nominated Lisa for Treasurer. Dean Bonde seconded the motion. The motion passed.
  • Sharon Cline will continue to fill the Secretary position thru the 2015-2016 year. This position will be open next year.

Agenda items for the next meeting:

  • Continue discussion on Fundraisers once we have input from Bob Madison

Action items:

  • Question was asked about the bricks and what the status is. Jeff Vaske had provided an email update that he is working with Tom D and they are making plans to complete this task ASAP. Mark F will follow-up with Tom
  • Mark D to talk to Bob Madison on fundraisers for baseball.
  • Mark F to do some homework on doing the dinner
  • Mark D to send Dean the names of the sophomore parents.
  • All – email or call Mark F if you are interested or have suggestions for the President, Vice President or Secretary positions
  • Lisa L to find out when the Twins Fest date is
  • Sharon to send the email from Montgomery Orthodontist to Kari.
  • Sharon to pull out the Dinner timeline and roles & responsibilities.