OMGBA Board Meeting Minutes
OMGBA Board Meeting Minutes October 20, 2014 Meeting Called to Order: 7:00 p.m.
Guests: Mark Beyer, Cathy Krier Board Member Changes (new to board, new positions, or leaving board): Cathy Krier was unanimously voted on to the Board. Information Director’s Report (Karole Hanson): A motion was made to approve the August and September minutes. MOTION APPROVED Treasurer’s Report (Gary LaPalme): Financials are provided to the Executive Board each month electronically. If you have specific questions or need more information about the financials, feel free to contact any of the Executive Board members. Executive Committee Hennepin County Youth Sports Grant - OMGBA is once again applying for a grant from the Hennepin Youth Sports Program. Hennepin County makes grants (up to $325,000) to local governments to create, expand or improve youth athletic and recreation facilities. Grant requests were due on October 20th and decisions will be made by mid-December. Any money granted will be used to reduce OMGBA loans for the new facility. OMGBA was eligible to apply for the grant in 2013 and 2014, the 2013 request was not approved. The Maple Grove Sports Dome was a grant recipient in 2011, its second year of eligibility to apply for the grant. Facility grants are evaluated on: Partnerships among local government units and between local government units and nonprofit organizations. Ratio of matching funds and in-kind contributions to the amount requested. Development of new and improved athletic and recreational opportunities. User population characteristics and the number of youth served. Inclusion of environmental improvements. Sustainability, including the availability of ongoing operating and maintenance funds. Willie Vang - The basketball community within the Twin-Cities is rallying around Willie Vang (Director of the Minnesota Heat Basketball Program) who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Medullary Thyroid Cancer. Willie has made a huge impact on our community and its youth. OMGBA was one of the inaugural teams
to join his Border Battle tournament and numerous OMGBA players have played for his Heat teams over the years. A GoFundMe site has been established to collect donations to help with medical costs. A motion was made to donate $1,000. MOTION APPROVED Department Reports Elementary Commissioner Report (Cori Davison) First and Second Grade (Jennifer Schock) The program is going well. Winter registration opens on December 8th. There are a few players currently on the waiting list from fall registration who will be given an opportunity to register first for the winter program. Third and Fourth Grade (Carla Bredensteiner, Dan Liimatta, Greg Ault, Andy Aubut) Teams have been formed and full practices start this week. Registration was higher across all levels. There was some discussion regarding stopping the clock for free throws. Currently the 4th grade program does stop the clock for shooting fouls. There was debate as to whether this should be implemented at the 3rd grade level. Among the chief concern was length of the games and keeping them running on schedule. At this point, it was decided to table the issue. Jr High House (Phil Waljasper) The draft is coming up on October 25th. There are still a few coaches needed for the 8th grade boy’s teams. Registration numbers are slightly down. There were several travel players that didn’t try-out resulting in a few house players moving into traveling. There are a few additional communities that have expressed interest in joining the Northwest Suburban League, among them are Rogers, Rockford, and Armstrong. Sr High House (Ben Schwanz) Registration numbers are trickling in and are expected to increase once high school tryouts are complete. Gym Scheduling (Cori Davison) OMGBA continues to have issues with gym availability. There are new Activities Coordinators at the high schools pushing for more time for high school usage, Maple Grove Park and Rec started a new youth cheerleading program that runs in the evenings at MGJH, and there are new contact people at Community Ed handling permits. Cori is working with all parties involved and continues to utilize all available space.
Traveling Commissioner Report (Cory Binstock, Chris Hanson) Travel fees were collected at uniform try-ons this year. The process went fairly well and will be continued next year with some minor adjustments. Boys Traveling Tournament (Dave Moline) Participation has been capped at 232 teams (including 28 4th grade teams). Dave is still working on gym availability options for the increased number of games connected to this year’s tournament. There was discussion regarding using wristbands to use for admissions. Dave will work on finding a vendor to purchase the bands from. Equipment Report (Chuck Stern) Uniforms for traveling teams have been ordered. They are expected to be shipped shortly. Chuck would like to have numbers screen printed on both the front and back of the tryout pinnies. Currently numbers are attached to the player’s backs during tryouts which can make it difficult for evaluators to identify players. Chuck agreed to obtain a price quote for additional screen printing on the existing tryout pinnies. Spirit Wear (Teri Sides) The online store for spirit wear was a great success. The items will be sorted by team and shipped to Goldy’s Locker Room in Maple Grove for either a coach or team manager to pick up. The online store will reopen in November to provide for holiday ordering. In addition to the items sold previously, the holiday store will offer performance sweatpants, winter hats, and a full-zip men’s sweatshirt. Window decals are printed and will be sold at concessions during the upcoming tournaments and in the new facility. MG Community Gymnasium Construction Update (Todd Leyse) OMGBA has a commitment from all those involved that the building will be ready for occupancy on January 18th. OMGBA will be the site of the MLK tournament sponsored by the MN Timberwolves. There will be an official ribbon cutting ceremony at a future date yet to be determined. Construction is moving inside the facility. Once painting is complete in each gym, the hoops will be hung. The hardwood floors installation will begin in November. There will be more spaces available for public use within the parking lot as the area set aside for constructions zones is being reduced.
Building Usage Committee (Jim Davison) – The Committee has secured several tenants and is no longer pursuing an aggressive marketing strategy. Construction has begun at the high schools which may result in displacement of basketball activities at those locations and the new facility may be needed to cover for such displacement. Meeting Adjourned: 9:45 pm. Next Board Meeting: Monday November 17, 2014, 7pm at MGCC.
Guests: Mark Beyer, Cathy Krier Board Member Changes (new to board, new positions, or leaving board): Cathy Krier was unanimously voted on to the Board. Information Director’s Report (Karole Hanson): A motion was made to approve the August and September minutes. MOTION APPROVED Treasurer’s Report (Gary LaPalme): Financials are provided to the Executive Board each month electronically. If you have specific questions or need more information about the financials, feel free to contact any of the Executive Board members. Executive Committee Hennepin County Youth Sports Grant - OMGBA is once again applying for a grant from the Hennepin Youth Sports Program. Hennepin County makes grants (up to $325,000) to local governments to create, expand or improve youth athletic and recreation facilities. Grant requests were due on October 20th and decisions will be made by mid-December. Any money granted will be used to reduce OMGBA loans for the new facility. OMGBA was eligible to apply for the grant in 2013 and 2014, the 2013 request was not approved. The Maple Grove Sports Dome was a grant recipient in 2011, its second year of eligibility to apply for the grant. Facility grants are evaluated on: Partnerships among local government units and between local government units and nonprofit organizations. Ratio of matching funds and in-kind contributions to the amount requested. Development of new and improved athletic and recreational opportunities. User population characteristics and the number of youth served. Inclusion of environmental improvements. Sustainability, including the availability of ongoing operating and maintenance funds. Willie Vang - The basketball community within the Twin-Cities is rallying around Willie Vang (Director of the Minnesota Heat Basketball Program) who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Medullary Thyroid Cancer. Willie has made a huge impact on our community and its youth. OMGBA was one of the inaugural teams
to join his Border Battle tournament and numerous OMGBA players have played for his Heat teams over the years. A GoFundMe site has been established to collect donations to help with medical costs. A motion was made to donate $1,000. MOTION APPROVED Department Reports Elementary Commissioner Report (Cori Davison) First and Second Grade (Jennifer Schock) The program is going well. Winter registration opens on December 8th. There are a few players currently on the waiting list from fall registration who will be given an opportunity to register first for the winter program. Third and Fourth Grade (Carla Bredensteiner, Dan Liimatta, Greg Ault, Andy Aubut) Teams have been formed and full practices start this week. Registration was higher across all levels. There was some discussion regarding stopping the clock for free throws. Currently the 4th grade program does stop the clock for shooting fouls. There was debate as to whether this should be implemented at the 3rd grade level. Among the chief concern was length of the games and keeping them running on schedule. At this point, it was decided to table the issue. Jr High House (Phil Waljasper) The draft is coming up on October 25th. There are still a few coaches needed for the 8th grade boy’s teams. Registration numbers are slightly down. There were several travel players that didn’t try-out resulting in a few house players moving into traveling. There are a few additional communities that have expressed interest in joining the Northwest Suburban League, among them are Rogers, Rockford, and Armstrong. Sr High House (Ben Schwanz) Registration numbers are trickling in and are expected to increase once high school tryouts are complete. Gym Scheduling (Cori Davison) OMGBA continues to have issues with gym availability. There are new Activities Coordinators at the high schools pushing for more time for high school usage, Maple Grove Park and Rec started a new youth cheerleading program that runs in the evenings at MGJH, and there are new contact people at Community Ed handling permits. Cori is working with all parties involved and continues to utilize all available space.
Traveling Commissioner Report (Cory Binstock, Chris Hanson) Travel fees were collected at uniform try-ons this year. The process went fairly well and will be continued next year with some minor adjustments. Boys Traveling Tournament (Dave Moline) Participation has been capped at 232 teams (including 28 4th grade teams). Dave is still working on gym availability options for the increased number of games connected to this year’s tournament. There was discussion regarding using wristbands to use for admissions. Dave will work on finding a vendor to purchase the bands from. Equipment Report (Chuck Stern) Uniforms for traveling teams have been ordered. They are expected to be shipped shortly. Chuck would like to have numbers screen printed on both the front and back of the tryout pinnies. Currently numbers are attached to the player’s backs during tryouts which can make it difficult for evaluators to identify players. Chuck agreed to obtain a price quote for additional screen printing on the existing tryout pinnies. Spirit Wear (Teri Sides) The online store for spirit wear was a great success. The items will be sorted by team and shipped to Goldy’s Locker Room in Maple Grove for either a coach or team manager to pick up. The online store will reopen in November to provide for holiday ordering. In addition to the items sold previously, the holiday store will offer performance sweatpants, winter hats, and a full-zip men’s sweatshirt. Window decals are printed and will be sold at concessions during the upcoming tournaments and in the new facility. MG Community Gymnasium Construction Update (Todd Leyse) OMGBA has a commitment from all those involved that the building will be ready for occupancy on January 18th. OMGBA will be the site of the MLK tournament sponsored by the MN Timberwolves. There will be an official ribbon cutting ceremony at a future date yet to be determined. Construction is moving inside the facility. Once painting is complete in each gym, the hoops will be hung. The hardwood floors installation will begin in November. There will be more spaces available for public use within the parking lot as the area set aside for constructions zones is being reduced.
Building Usage Committee (Jim Davison) – The Committee has secured several tenants and is no longer pursuing an aggressive marketing strategy. Construction has begun at the high schools which may result in displacement of basketball activities at those locations and the new facility may be needed to cover for such displacement. Meeting Adjourned: 9:45 pm. Next Board Meeting: Monday November 17, 2014, 7pm at MGCC.
