Board of Directors Meeting 01/09/2002

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
JANUARY 9, 2002

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Peter King, General Chairman, at Hackney's Restaurant in Lake Zurich. Board members present were Peter King, Tom Kinkelaar, Randy Steen, Bob Brown, Don Swanson, Rocky Nelson, Kent Desormey, John Rottman, Jim Bernardi,
Andy Harlfinger, Fred Swanson, Paul Kaufmann and John Sahlberg.

SECRETARY'S REPORT
The minutes of the June 19, 2001, Board of Directors Meeting were given to Board members and were reviewed by Peter King in the absence of Troy Whalen. The next Whistling Zebra will be published and sent out next month in February. The new billing cycle for dues will be sent out in March to prepare for the 2002/2003 season. NOA newsletters are now available on our web site and are accessible at any time by members and assignment chairmen.

TREASURER'S REPORT
Tom Kinkelaar indicated we now have a positive balance of $6,000, and we should be in good shape at the end of the year due to a healthy season. There were 93 football members and only two were dropped for nonpayment of dues. Tom indicated he updated the entire roster with Nelson Printing, and that we are in good order through our annual review this spring. He will work with the secretary on the rosters for football and basketball so that they are completely up to date when sent to the state this spring. John Rottman and John Sahlberg added that they are going over the entire baseball membership to make sure all are paid NOA and IHSA members. Tom reminded everyone that dues are now going to be due by March 31st in all three of the NOA sports for the IHSA roster.

FOOTBALL PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Paul Kaufmann, Football President, indicated the average attendance was about 35 members, and that the new introduction this year, the video session, was a big success. Discussion focused on where to hold the meetings for next year because the consensus was that the room at Carmel High School was too small for our group. Wauconda High School was mentioned as a possibility for a new site. Bob Brown has already talked to Jim LePage, Wauconda’s Athletic Director, on using the site, and Peter King will call him and follow up on the possibility. Doug Duval, AD at Mundelein High School, is also another possibility. The fall schedule of meetings will be as good as last year, Paul predicted, and he will have an update at the summer Board meeting. He also added that due to the snafu with the football officer elections, he will continue in the role as President of the Football group for next year.

BASKETBALL PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Don Swanson, President, said this past season was again a very good one with an attendance average of 48 members and a high of 54. He shared that it was one of best attended meeting years with many veteran officials along with numerous new faces and a few new female officials too attending the meetings. The sessions were lively and discussions were in depth amongst everyone. The first meeting next fall will be October 9, the week after the combined NOA/AOS dinner on October 2. Don said that the election of officers was very positive and that Rocky Nelson was elected President and George Mudd was elected Representative to the Board from the group. Don hoped the success this year would carry over into the 2002/2003 season.

BASEBALL PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Baseball President, John Rottman, said plans for a successful season are set and the baseball group looks forward to a great year. The meetings will start on February 13 and run through March at Mundelein High School in Room 187. John Sahlberg will assume the Assignment Chairman duties from Dave Lang, who has returned to coaching. It was also shared with the Board that Vince Cannon is the new Representative to the Board from the baseball group.

MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Randy Steen presented a two page detailed report on the NOA brochure, IHSA delegate meeting, call for certified clinics, Top 15 lists, IHSA grant money to the NOA, recruiting posters and applications, clinician responsibilities, and the NOA Banquet. Rocky Nelson volunteered to draw up the parameters for the clinician position so that clinics sponsored by the NOA would follow similar formats (fees, salaries, game assignments, presentations, food, etc.). Randy also shared his continued success (basketball, for example) in securing the names of new members in the area in the NOA’s sports. He has continued to send out updated flyers, contact officials by phone, and check with the state on potential officials.

ASSIGNMENT CHAIRMEN'S REPORT
Bob Brown proudly reported that many football crews were awarded state playoff assignments and that Jim Bernardi’s crew was selected to work the State Finals. At the annual Assignment Chairman’s meeting for football, all went well even though the yearly host, Ed Stanley, has now retired from assigning. There is a also a big concern for next fall with the lack of prelim crews, which means more varsity crews will be working double headers. Bob did indicate that he will no longer be handling Sunday football assignments. Finally, he will again be sending flyers out in July and will return to assigning games when additional schedules are completed.
Kent Desormey took over the basketball assigning for the group from Bob this past winter and indicated that it was a very successful season. He has computerized his assigning system and continues to notify assignment chairman of NOA member availability. He recommended that the NOA update its membership list so that his system can be more efficient next season. He also stressed that members need to update him on their open dates and overall availability of times to officiate.

John Sahlberg said he was eagerly looking forward to the upcoming baseball season and hoped the weather will be the best ever. He also plans to work with Tom Kinkelaar in the dues collection process for the baseball group so that members follow the new dues paying concept begun this year for the NOA. At last count, there were 72 baseball members, the highest in many years, and 22 new members. John will be making sure that all members are registered with the IHSA and dues paying members of the NOA.

I.A.C.A.O. REPORT
Jim Bernardi said the recent IACAO Basketball clinic, in which he organized, ran very smoothly. It was held at a different location this past November at Hoffman Estates High School. It will also be held there next year on the first Saturday in November. Overall, the goal of IACAO is to recruit, recruit, and recruit. New officials are desperately needed in football, basketball, and baseball. The Football Clinic is scheduled for August 17th at Naperville North High School. The 3rd Annual IHSA summer officials’ clinic will be held in Peoria on July 12th and 13th and will emphasize recruiting, assisting local officiating associations and training, a review of playoff selection rating system for officials, and an update on the top 15 officials list program.

BANQUET COMMITTEE'S REPORT
Randy Steen reported that the banquet’s new location last spring was excellent and that the food and bar were well received by members. Unfortunately, the last Saturday in April is not available this spring, but the Saturday before, April 20th, is still open. The committee will investigate other locations and options and will report back to Peter King on its findings. A decision will then be made on the day and location of this year’s banquet. The elections will also take place at the banquet for the new officers for the 2002-2004 term of office. Information on the banquet and voting will be mailed to members in April and also posted on the NOA web site.

OLD BUSINESS
Discussion centered on Lifetime Members and who was eligible. Recommended for the award were Wayne Kendall, Richard Hamilton, and Harry Owsley. They were all put on hold pending a check this next year to see if they were officially retired.

Kudos were given to Jim Bernardi, Mark Thompson, and Frank Moscardini on their State Final Selection for football. This was Jim and Mark’s first trip and Frank’s 2nd trip.

Bob Brown informed the Board that John Arreazola’s wife passed away recently. The NOA will send a card to John expressing their sorrow.

Peter King gave an update of the Norm Geske Scholarship Fund program. Tom Kinkelaar will lead the Norm Geske Fund once all the paperwork and files are received from Tom Fryer.

The revisions to the NOA constitution are still in process and will be brought to the Board at the summer meeting. The NOA constitution has not been revised in over 10 years.

NEW BUSINESS
Fred Swanson gave a brief update on the NOA web site and indicated he still needed an updated roster and any news about NOA business. To make the sit