Minutes

FC Bozeman Board Meeting – June 13, 2001

 

Board Members Present:  Tim Owen, Ray Dore, Tom Simkins, Dave Bowen, Kate Beck, Todd Vandersloot, Jack Dockery, Pam Ransom

 

Also in Attendance:  Jeff McGuire, Steve Birrell, Rob Maus, Bill Locke (all ex officio); Carol O’Neill

 

Tim Owen brought the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.

 

It was M/S/P unanimously to accept the minutes from the May 16 meeting.

 

President’s Report: 

• Tim summarized the season-ending tournaments.  At the Snickers Cup, FC Bozeman was probably middle- to lower-third, competitively.  No teams won state championships, although the U14G team will represent the state at regionals in Albuquerque with a strong showing at State.  At the Montana Cup, five of our six teams competed in the finals, with three victorious and two falling only in shoot-outs.  Tim credited Micro with the strong depth of the Club, which bodes well for future performance.
• Tim is still working to play some Micro players/teams against U11 teams to cap off the season and pump the Micro players up for competitive play next season.

 

Treasurer’s Report: 

• Jeff circulated Balance Sheet and Profit/Loss statements as of this date.  Although some charges are still outstanding, this is clearly the first year in the last several in which the Club has increased its reserves.  Although major expenses (e.g., purchase of goals) were down, the major factor was strong enrollment at Micro and lower Competitive levels.  A discussion ensued regarding treatment of goals as expenses rather than depreciable assets and on the use of goals – of AYSO and BHS goals by us and of ours by summer Rec League.  No policy changes were formulated.
• Jeff Pearce seems Go for Sweet Pea fundraiser – the trailer needs electrical and paint work, and several volunteers have been found for that.
• We discussed support for Regionals-bound teams – this year, the U14 Girls.  Last year we supported two teams at $1250 each for coaches expenses – two $65 per diems, one hotel room (max = $50/night) and mileage ($0.20/mile).  After considerable discussion it was M/S/P with one abstention to assist the U14G at the same level this year ($1250).
• There are several partial player tuitions still outstanding.  Jeff will notify them by letter, mentioning Club policy that players with outstanding debts to the Club will not be allowed to register next year.
• Several coaches have asked for their final checks, which will be handed out or mailed after final equipment returns.
• There was a complex discussion of issues relating to late registrants for state tournament teams.  Several teams benefited from added players, but they may not have been covered by insurance if full fees were not paid.  The issue was referred to Policy Committee for summer discussion.

 

Coaching Coordinator:

• Steve also recognized the strong Montana Cup performances. 
• He will poll coaches in the next week regarding their interest in coaching next year and their availability for tryouts in early October (U11-U14).
• The U13G (Schwan USA Cup), U14G (Regionals) and U17B are still practicing, at Sacajawea Middle School.

 

Committees

Policy Committee:

• Kate formally announced a working meeting next Wednesday (6/20) at 7 PM at D.A.Davidson.  All Board members are committee members (with the exception of Tim) – all are requested to bring issues for discussion to this first meeting.

 

Equipment Committee:

• Jack reported equipment return underway, for the next week. 
• Lisa Prugh has requested to retain the Micro equipment – that will help keep it from getting mixed with the rest of the equipment.

 

Competition Committee:

• Dave reported a formal meeting tomorrow (6/14), primarily to discuss the (relatively small number of) complaints regarding coaches, referees, and players.
• Summer Soccer Camps were discussed.  By a telephone poll of Board members, Tim had M/S/P that FC Bozeman would not offer our own summer program, but rather would publicize local programs to our members.  Al Bagley thought he might propose such a program, but the only one that eventuated was the Soccer Shop program.  Dave will get mailing addresses from Anita and mail out both coach evaluations and summer camp flyers tomorrow (6/13).  A decision on access to mailing list and formal sponsorship of external programs (including return to the club) was left for the Policy committee.
• Bill reported that several published and on-line curriculum resources had been found, and that a preliminary curriculum was in progress.

 

Team Manager Liaison:

Pam reported that the program had gone well this year, and that it could work even better next year.

 

Referee Committee:

• Todd commented on the need for better timing on recertifications. 
• Tim suggested that Craig Stewart’s live-in summer camp would be a good opportunity for referee recertification and practice during evening competition.

 

Webmeister:

• Bill reported a total of 2500 hits in less than three months on the FC Bozeman home page.  Consistently, about 30 hits per day occurred throughout the competitive season and 20 hits per day during the wrap-up of developmental and Micro. 
• A good Web page is a changing Web page – keep the information flowing! 
• D. A. Davidson is still the only page sponsor.

 

Other Business:

• Tim reported that the Bronken fields are ready to seed as soon as the wiring and irrigation are tested and working.  The rocks are picked, but some grading may need to be done around the edges.  Service Electric will get the pump correctly wired soon.  There is still a surplus in the Bronken Fields budget, so there should be no problem getting the fields seeded and growing.
• Anita is resigning after several years of yeoman service as Registrar.  All Board members are asked to solicit possible candidates – contact Tim.
• Similarly, Rob has largely finished as referee assigner.  Qualified candidates are solicited in replacement as well.  A series of Assigner workshops was held around the state last Jan/Feb, and are likely to be repeated next year, for the benefit of any candidate.  Contact, Rob, Carson, or Todd.
• An ad for new coaches will be posted in the paper, at the Soccer Shop, at MSU, and on the Web well prior to October tryouts to try to get a full slate of coaches for next season as early as possible.
• Rob commented that he started the season very short of referees, but that registrations increased and recerts and new certs added to the mix.  Only two or three game slots were not filled during the year, in large part due to the contributions of visiting referees.  For Micro, in part thanks to the certification of competitive players and parents, there were more referees than available slots!  All referees who provided availability times were scheduled for at least three, and in most cases four, games, which at least covered the cost of the certification.  It was noted that some player/referees were not scheduled, but it appears they did not inform Rob of their availability status.
• The Board discussed the problem of referees for state tournaments – a large number required, including attendance at the Friday mandatory meeting, but many not scheduled for games.  There appears to be a disparity between State policy regarding referee numbers and Assigner practice regarding multiple games to known quality refs and few or no games to unknowns.  Steve has written in protest, but Bill suggested that the Club write a formal letter regarding this disparity.  No motion was made.
• Steve proposed that the Club bid for the State Cup (Snickers Cup) for next year.  Memorial Day is a very quiet weekend for the hotels, and he felt that we would be likely to be successful in such a bid.  Dave asked whether we should wait for Bronken Fields – Steve thought not, and that the MSU fields (if the football coaching tower is removed) might be adequate.  Options regarding sponsorships and concession income were briefly discussed.  Steve will prepare a proposal for the next Board meeting.
• The next full board meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 11, room 122 Wilson, 7 PM.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 PM.