Minutes FC Bozeman Board Meeting - April 4, 2001

Board Members Present: Tim Owen, Ray Dore, Tom Simkins, Dave Bowen, Pam Ransom, Jack Dockery, Carson Taylor,

Also in Attendance: Bill Locke, Steve Birrell, Mark Bryan, Teri Dore, Anita Palmer, Todd Vandersloot, Mary Ann McGuire, Phil Smith, Pam Smith

• Tim brought meeting to order - 7:20 p.m. MSP to approve March 7 minutes.
• Margaret Gamble has resigned as Club Secretary. Pam Smith has volunteered for the position.

(NOTE: In document, "MSP" - "Motion, Seconded, Passed")

Election to fill board position created by resignation of Jacobus Hollewijn: Three club members expressed interest in the board position: Todd Vandersloot, Mary Ann McGuire and Phil Smith. Motion to open nominations from the Board for the position - MSP. No nominees. Each of the candidates gave a brief statement as to qualifications and interest in the position. Pam Ransom suggested that all candidates and non board members be excused during board discussion. Todd Vandersloot was selected as new member of the Board.

Micro Soccer Report - Lisa Prugh:

• Registration closed Friday. Still receiving applications. She and her assistant are organizing teams. There will be a coach's clinic on Sunday and she will give them their rosters at that time. 59 applications were printed off the WEB. Numbers: First and Second graders - 150, 16 teams, three from Belgrade; Third and Fourth graders - 165, 14 teams, one from Big Sky and two from Belgrade; Fifth and Sixth graders - 90, 8 teams, one from Gallatin Gateway. Lisa will need equipment. Tim wants to be sure that Lisa has the equipment she needs. Dave Bowen and Lisa will make a budget. Lisa has ordered jerseys. First year she ordered from Bob Ward; second year from the Soccer Shop. This year she will order from Score. She said that she has always gone local. Score gives freebies - balls, etc. - and that her equipment needs a shot in the arm. Score is a state sponsor and will give her a better deal for the money.
• Tim wants people to think of Micro as a stepping-stone for the competitive league. He would like to think of these teams going through the program together - keeping them together for a long time. He realizes that out of the 90 fifth and sixth graders that maybe only 18 of these might go on. Would also like to think about the possibility of one or two games on a Sunday where these Micro teams could play the U11's.

Election of Vice President: Tom Simkins moved to open nominations. Mark Bryant said it should be executive session. Non board members were excused. Dave Bowenwas elected as Vice President.

Reports/Discussions: Because of the possibility of changing fields for Saturday or cancellations, Tim requested a volunteer to call the team managers, who would then notify the out-of-town teams regarding cancellations, change of fields. Carson Taylor volunteered. Dave will look at the fields and keep in touch with Tom. This info is also posted on the WEB.

Treasury Report - No report. Jeff not present (involved in a rescue). Will provide report at next meeting.

Fields - Tom Simkins:

• Tom wants to thank everyone who made last weekend possible. Will still be at Babcock this weekend. Hopefully will be able to play at MSU next week if we have dry weather. Tom wants to give a big thank you to Kevin, the Belgrade principal. He has been so accommodating with use of their field. Tom would like to give a donation as a thank you. MSP to give $100.00 donation.
• Jack Dockery said that he had been contacted by Butch at MSU that he wants the goals moved down to the Roskie fields by Monday and does not want trucks on the field. Jack talked to Richard Smith. Tom will talk to Butch, and they will decide on how to get it done.
• Steve Birrell needs another set of goals at Babcock for practice.

Equipment - Jack Dockery: Jack said that we were in great need of some new nets. MSP for Jack purchase 2 sets of nets @ $150.00 each. Jack has also ordered 23 new #5 balls and one game ball from the funds allocated to him. He is very concerned about equipment missing from the equipment room, especially the First Aid Kits in the black bags. Gordy Hall had told him there should be 6 and that all the kits came back at the end of the season. There are only 3 now. (All teams have been provided with adequate first aid kits.) Jack has talked to the hospital and there is the possibility of having supplies donated next year for the first aid kits. Tim recommended that the locks be changed. All of the equipment has to come back at the end of the season. If a tournament team needs equipment, it will have to be checked out.

Budget/Fund Raising - No Budget Report-Jeff McGuire not present. Tim stressed looking at a whole club effort for major fund raising, visiting with others who have been successful in their fund raising efforts. Not necessarily the board looking into this, but a formal Fund Raising Committee with one board member. The bottom line is that it is imperative that major fund raising be done. Pam Ransom asked the board policy on the possibility of having a club sponsor. Dave Bowen said that there is no reason is can't be done, it just has to come thru the board for approval.

Policy - Kate Beck Kate not present. No report.

Competition - Dave Bowen: No complaints to date. There is a meeting coming up at MSU regarding training options for coaches. Also working to develop a coaching program and will visit with Ric Plante. All coaches should have signed contracts. Dave will contact all coaches, including tournament teams, to be sure all have signed contracts. Major item of concern: there are two teams with more than 18 players - U14 Boys and U17 Boys. Our policy states 18 players per team. Who gets to suit up - only 18 can suit up for the game. This is a coaches' decision. If parents have problems with the coaches, then they go to the coaching committee. Discussion on what to do with the two teams and the rule that there will be no policy changes during the season. Two options - reduce rosters or change policy. MSP to suspend the rule that you cannot change policy during the season. MSP that Club policy will be amended such that the roster of any age team will allow a maximum of twenty (20) players and a minimum of twelve (12) players. It will be the coaches' decision who suits up and who is listed on the rosters for state and regional competitions (18 max) to be in compliance with state policy. Pam Ransom very concerned that there would still be parental action if their son was the one that was not suited up for the game. To be safe, parents should be required to sign statement. MSP (U17B and U14B Board members were excluded from the vote) that parents of players on these teams will sign a statement agreeing that the coach will determine the number that will suit up for any given game according to state policy.

WEB Site - Bill Locke: Over 500 hits in two weeks! He found a camps page on the WEB, but there were no Montana camps listed. He would like to add these.

New Business:

• There is advertising space available on our WEB site. MSP that the fee will be $250.00/year per sponsor for "off front page" advertising. There will be no alcohol, gambling, cigarettes. First come, first serve. Only one sponsor per page. We will actually be accepting sponsorships, not selling advertising.
• 2001 Tryout Schedule - October 1, 2 and 3, 2001, for younger groups - U11 through U14.
• Annual Meeting and Registration - September 19, 2001.
• Discussion of fee payment. Full payment will be due. If cannot do this, a voucher system will be used. If player does not make the team, all but $50.00 will be refunded. This money will go to field maintenance.
• May 5 and 6 will be the dates to work on the Bronken Fields. This has to be done. The seeding/sodding is scheduled for May 8. $2,500 has been committed by AYSO. MSP that FC Bozeman will match the $2,500. Pam Ransom volunteered to be team manager liaison to work with Teri Dore to get teams scheduled to work. Question - who cares for the fields? The city will take over after two years. For first two years, it will be responsibility of FC Bozeman, AYSO - have had volunteer offers from Lions Club, Rugby team and the adult soccer league.
• 2002 Uniforms - Someone will have to look into the new uniforms. Rumor has it that our Kelme uniform is to be discontinued.
• Tom Simkins has been asked by the Missoula folks with players on FC Bozeman if there was the possibility of reduced fees, because they were not here for all practices, etc. If they are going to play for FC Bozeman, then they will pay full fees.

Meeting Adjourned - 10:05 p.m.