Portage Central Baseball Boosters

January 27, 2010

Main Street Pub, Portage, MI

Members Present:   Monty Porter – President (Sr.), Kathy Irwin – Vice President (Sr.), Don Pobuda – Treasurer (So.), Bill Templeton -- Secretary (So.), Diana Butler – (Jr.), Julie Londry – (So.), Peggy Jones – (Sr.), Joe Krill – (Jr.), Charlie May – (Jr.).

Guests:                   Paul Schneider, Varsity Head Coach, Chris Gates, JV Head Coach

Agenda Items:

1.       Review/approve minutes of last meeting.

2.       Budget Update

3.       Web-site

4.       Coach’s Update

5.       Projects Update

7.       Spirit Wear

8.       Fundraisers

9.       Banquet Date

10.   Other Business

11.   Next Meeting – Wednesday, February 24, 2010 7 pm (Main Street Pub)

Discussion/Action:

1.       Minutes from the November meeting were reviewed and approved.

2.       Budget Update – Pobuda reported a bank balance of $6535.00.  Porter reported that a total of $2,200.00 for fence post signs was ready for deposit, and that another $300.00 had been committed. Porter also again reminded Board of two outstanding commitments for flagpoles ($1200-1500) and fence cap ($500-600). Porter presented a proposed budget for 2010. The budget reflects the expected/estimated 40 percent reduction set forth by PPS for extra curricular activities. It was noted that PCHS has already purchased baseballs for varsity and junior varsity teams, as well as catcher's equipment. Krill will conduct research on bats in an effort to reduce proposed cost of $400.00/bat.Player fees were dicussed and Board decided to institute a flat fee of $130.00/player, across all three levels of the program.

3.       Website – Templeton reported that varsity and JV schedules had been posted on the website.    

4.       Coach’s Update - Chris Gates introduced as new head coach for JV team. Varsity coaches remain the same for 2010 (Schneider, along with assistant coaches Don Ampersee, Fred Oppel and Brian Haske). An assistant for Gates is being sought. Mike Webster is head coach for the freshman team. A freshman assistant coach is being sought. Sign up meeting for prospective players is March 10, 2010 at 3:15 p.m. in PCHS cafeteria. Tryouts are scheduled for March 15-17 (Freshmen/Sophomores: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Juniors/Seniors: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Parent meeting scheduled for March 18 at 7 p.m. in the PCHS cafeteria. An additional basketball (girls) concession stand date has been secured: February 23. Schneider said he would recruit workers. Players released for Spring Break on Thursday, March 25 THROUGH Sunday, April 4. Optional practice will be conducted beginning Thursday, April 1. Schneider reported that a participation fee of between $150.00 and $200.00 has been projected beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. Schneider asked that new tarps for the pitcher's mound and home plate area be added to the "wish list." He will research/report cost(s) to Porter, and indicated he planned on requesting one half of the needed funding to come from Dr. Edlund and one half from the Booster budget. 

5.       Projects Update. Porter reported that flag poles were in, but that they did not go into the ground in November. Porter will follow-up with former Board member Cary Mulvany to check on the source/status of the fence cap. School groundskeepers rebuilt clay pitcher’s mound and home plate area prior to the first snowfall. 

6.        Spirit Wear – Londry now in charge of this initiative. She will create order form in PDF format and forward to Templeton for inclusion on website. Spring order deadline set for Wednesday, March 24.    

8.       Fundraisers – Lawson clean-up dates are full. Major League Baseball raffle: Porter and Schneider will discuss options with MLB umpire Tim Welke. Membership flyer will be circulated at Parent Meeting on March 18. Baseball concessions will be spearheaded by Irwin, with assistance by Butler.

Banquet Date -- Set for Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at Kalamazoo Country Club.

10.   Other Business – Irwin putting together window stickers and scoreboard numbers. Irwin also assured Schneider she would order enough numbers for freshman helmets. 

11.   Next Meeting – Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 7 p.m., Main Street Pub.

Prepared by: Bill Templeton, 1/27/2010