Minutes of the NOA Board of Directors Meeting

(January 14, 2004)

Call to Order

• The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Peter King at Hackney’s Restaurant in Lake Zurich.  Board members present:  Mike Babicz, Jim Bernardi, Bob Brown, Ron Guy, Peter King, Rocky Nelson, Randy Steen, Don Swanson, Mark Thompson, Tom Vogan and John Widmayer.

Approval of June 11, 2003 Minutes

• Peter King made a motion to approve the June 11, 2003 minutes.  Rocky Nelson seconded the motion.  The motion passed.

General Chairman’s Report – Peter King

• An update on Tom Kinkelaar’s condition was provided.  Peter talked with Tom on the phone for a few minutes on Jan. 14th. 
• Peter mentioned that Mike Babicz secured all the treasurer’s stuff (checkbook, files, etc.) a couple of days ago. 

Secretary’s Report - Randy Steen

• The 2004 Official’s Conference will be held on July 9th and 10th in Peoria.  Rocky Nelson and Mike Babicz will be representing the NOA this year.  The NOA will pay Rocky and Mike’s registration fee.  Jim Bernardi and Peter King will also be at the conference.
• Harry Bohn is asking all associations to donate $100 and to bring a door prize to the Friday night social at the 2004 Official’s Conference in Peoria.  Randy Steen made a motion to make a $100 donation and the bringing of a door prize to the Friday night social.  Don Swanson seconded the motion.  The motion passed.
• Updated rosters have been distributed regularly at the sport meetings.
• Jim Bernardi made a motion to donate $100 to the Peoria Officials’ Association for the hospitality room during the boys basketball state tournament.  Rocky Nelson seconded the motion.  The motion passed.
• A get well card was sent to Tom Kinkelaar on behalf of the NOA.

Membership Chairperson’s Report - Randy Steen

12 new football members and 6 new basketball members were added to the roster.  Some of the additions were new members and some were current members who simply added a sport. 

Treasurer’s Report - Tom Kinkelaar

• Report given by Mike Babicz and Peter King on behalf of Tom.
• Current checking account  balance:  $10,237.50 (as of 12/30/03)
• Norm Geske Fund account balance:  $14,327.48 (as of 12/19/03)
• Bob Brown Fund account balance:  $1,000.00 (estimated)

Football Assignment Chairman’s Report - Bob Brown

• Every NOA crew received at least one playoff game.
• Bob attended the assignors’ meeting again this year.
• There are now 5-10 prelim crews in the Chicagoland area.

Basketball Assignment Chairman’s Report – Mike Babicz

• Mike received just 54 availability sheets this season, which is about half of our membership.
• Mike has created a website on yahoo for assignors to give games to NOA officials.  Assignors and board members have access to this website.  Officials will still need to call/e-mail Mike to close a date.

Baseball Assignment Chairman’s Report – John Sahlberg

• No report given.

Football President’s Report – Mike Babicz

• Mike is working with Tom Vogan in setting the dates of the meetings next season.  They would like to have a break between the football and basketball meetings.
• Jeffery Stern of NASO is the scheduled speaker for the first football meeting next season.
• Mark Thompson (immediate past football president) remarked that they had strong speakers at the meetings this past season.  Also, the Libertyville Sports Complex was a good location for the meetings.

Basketball President’s Report - Rocky Nelson

• The attendance at the meetings this season was about the same as last season.  The Cubs being in the playoffs was a possible reason why attendance didn't improve from last season.
• Tim Robbins is the new basketball representative.
• Rocky Nelson was re-elected as basketball president.
• Rocky felt the Libertyville Sports Complex was not very accommodating.  The room was poorly set up, no audio/video equipment was available and the group was asked to change rooms.  Mike Babicz will contact Randy Spilt to discuss the room usage.

Baseball President’s Report – Vince Cannon

• Report given by Ron Guy on behalf of Vince.
• It appears that everyone finally got paid the money that John Sahlberg owed them for umpiring.
• The upcoming baseball meeting dates have been set.
• It appears that around 30 NOA members are still in the group.
• Steve Taylor will be assigning the North Suburban Conference this season.
• John Sahlberg will not be the assignment chairman again.  It is undecided who will take his place.

I.A.C.A.O. Report - Jim Bernardi

• I.A.C.A.O. will loan out equipment (digital camera, overhead, etc.) if you contact Ed Stanley.
• Volunteers are needed to help out with the booths.
• This season’s basketball clinic had the largest attendance ever – 330 compared to 260 last year.
• Fred Allman is the new chairman for the basketball clinic.
• Feb. 28, 2004 is the baseball/softball clinic.

Banquet Committee’s Report – Jim Bernardi and Randy Steen

• The 2004 spring banquet is Saturday, April 24th at the Libertyville Sports Complex.  The banquet is free to all members, lifetime members and special guests. 
• It was discussed that the IHSA staff and assignment chairman should be invited to the spring banquet.  Randy will be responsible for inviting them to the spring banquet. 

Norm Geske Fund - Peter King

• See treasurer’s report for account balance.
• $1,000 will be given to one Buffalo Grove High School student.  The high school chooses the recipient and the NOA simply gives the student a check (made out to the student’s college).

Bob Brown Fund - Peter King

• See treasurer’s report for account balance.
• Rocky Nelson made a motion that a $1,000 scholarship be awarded this year.  Mike Babicz seconded it.  The motion past.
• $1,000 will be given to one student in the Crystal Lake High School District (South, Central, Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge).  The A.D.’s from each of the four schools will nominate one student.  The A.D.’s will then select one student from the four.

Old Business - Board Members

• Jim Meyers will receive the Mike Rose Award this year after the mix-up from last year.

New Business - Board Members

• The NOA board is still working on having the NOA become incorporated.
• Tom Vogan made a suggestion that the NOA host a holiday basketball tournament.
• A discussion on whether the top 15 lists should be posted or not took place.
• Jim Bernardi suggested that we have three names on the NOA checking account.  The three names will be Tom Kinkelaar, Peter King and Randy Steen.  It should always be the treasurer, general chairman and secretary.
• Jim Bernardi suggested that the NOA send Tom Kinkelaar a plaque for his service to the NOA.
• Randy Steen suggested we rename the positions of “assignment chairman” to “assignment coordinator”.
• Peter King announced that Bob Brown will chair the nominating committee for the elections.
• The next board meeting will be in June 9, 2004 at Hackney’s in Lake Zurich, beginning at 7:00 p.m. 

Adjournment

• Peter King made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Randy Steen seconded it.  The motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 10:24 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Randy L. Steen, Secretary