August 24, 2023 - Booster Meeting minutes

Blair Booster Club Meeting Minutes
Date: August 24, 2023, 6 PM
Location: Montgomery Blair HS Media Center
Download PDF of 8/24/23 Minutes
 
Attendees:
Barbara Efantis - President
Rita Boule – Athletic Specialist
Magda Fulton – Vice President
Danielle Brabazon
Eliza Booth
Paula Sanjines – Secretary
Danielle Willis
Darryl Gray
Alison Jovanovic
Deatrice Williams
Maria del Carmen Loaeza
Julio Chan
Susan Nicodemus
Ed Wilhelm - Treasurer
 
Meting Notes
President Welcome: Barbara Efantis

• Meeting called to order, welcome and round-robin introductions

Athletic Specialist Update: Rita Boule

• Facilities Update:
  • The field inside the track has been renovated, new irrigation, new sod/grass.  It is complete and it is playable.
  • The softball field is also complete with new irrigation and new sod/grass.
  • The practice field (located between the stadium and the basketball courts) will not be open for athletics until the spring. 
  • The tennis courts and basketball courts have been completely redone.
  • Field reservations for general use will be conducted through Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF, a separate organization, associated with Montgomery County). 
  • Blair has exclusive use of the school facilities until 7 pm guaranteed.  Any use after 7 pm needs a reservation through CUPF.
  • The Blair school building was closed until Monday 8/21 – the roof replacement project is complete for now (Stages 1 and 2). Stage 3 remains to be done next year.
• Fall Sports Update:
  • 571 students registered for fall sports
  • All teams are returning this year
  • Football starts next Friday night (September 1st)
  • Boys’ Soccer has their first home game on Friday September 8th
• With a few exceptions, all the coaches are returning.  Ms Boule has also added paid coaches so there will be better supervision, buses, coach compliance, etc.
• Discussed the direct donation option on the Blair Athletics Website
  • Blair Athletics has contracted with a 3rd party vendor that will help manage and publicize the direct donation to the teams.  This is a one-year experiment and Ms Boule will assess how effective it is.
    • Teams are supposed to create a video showcasing the team and what they need (what the donations will be used for). Coaches will inform the athletes that they need to do this.
    • All teams should do this (not just fall sports teams)
    • The videos can be shared with friends and family to request donations
    • Will do a follow-up on the next meeting so we know how things are going.
    • Ms Boule is working on a link to the direct donation videos that is more obvious and easier to find on the Blair Athletics Website:  https://blairblazersathletics.com/
    • There are now two ways for folks to donate to specific teams:
      • Donating directly through the athletics website for teams that have made their donation video (note that this donation is not tax deductible)
      • Donating via the Booster Club (this donation is tax deductible)

Treasurer Update:  Ed Wilhelm

• New regulations allow for school teams to use the booster funds in the summer.
• Mulch
  • Mulch fundraiser will be opened to other teams. We will discuss this item in more detail in November when it is closer to time.
  • For now, Booster club is focusing on concessions as a fundraiser (see concessions section below).
• Concessions and Apparel:
  • In 22-23 school year, we made more than budgeted but also spent more. The figures from 22-23 were anomalies.  Discussed that concessions sales can vary greatly depending on teams making it to playoffs, weather conditions, etc which we cannot predict.  Apparel expenses were high last school year but that means we have a lot of inventory for this year so the expenses should be lower.
• Coach appreciation
  • Discussed different options. Will table the addition to the budget until the next meeting when we have a better idea of what we want to do.
  • There are approximately 77 coaches.
• Cleanups 
  • Ms Boule has scheduled community cleanup days for the teams to help clean up the outdoor and indoor spaces. Discussed that the teams can use concessions supplies such as trash bags, gloves, etc.
• Reviewed budget and voted on it.  Passed with the following amendments:
  • Award night expenses increased up to $500.
  • Discussed adding outside team banners (for the outdoor teams) and senior athlete banners to the budget
    • 10 outdoor teams x $300 = $3,000
    • Senior athlete banners for $3,000
  • Additional expenses will come up during the year and we will have to vote on them.
  • Sponsorship for the stadium scoreboards and the banners?
    • Members will work to sell advertising on the scoreboards and add banners to the backstops of the softball and baseball fields.
    • Added $1,000 line item for Income from sponsorship (a goal).

Committees
Fall Concessions:  Barbara Efantis
Home Football Games:

• September 1
• September 7
• September 29              
• October 13- Homecoming
• October 27- Senior Night

 
Concession’s workers will be offered to all teams to work for a flat rate towards their team.           

• Varsity football- $100
• JV football- $75
• Outdoor concessions stand (large events)- $75
• Outdoor satellite concessions-$50
• Indoor satellite (in gym)-$25
• Indoor concession stand, (both games)- $50

 
Concessions requires adult help.  There is a sign up on the booster website for 4 adults per game.  Barbara will be watching the game this year so will spend limited time in the concessions stand.  Noelle Mason will be in charge when she is available.
 
To sign up for concessions, click here:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4FABAC238-football2#/
 
 
                        APPAREL:  Kara and Rick Counihan

• We will be restocking and setting up the cages this Saturday.
• Online sales:  Discussed that we will not have online sales for now.  Barbara will put a banner on the website stating that apparel can be purchased in person at Blair HS on a list of dates (Ms. Boule to provide)
• Sign up is ready for distribution, we still need to add a few dates.
• Apparel will be sold out of the garage this year to minimize movement of cages and make it easier to shut down. 
• Kara and Rick will be watching the Varsity game.

 
Need also help with apparel sales during the games.

• To sign up for apparel sales click here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E084FAAAE2EA13-apparel#/

 
 
Website Design: Chris Walsh

• Updates are underway.

 
Membership/Communication: Tanya Ang

• Memberships are coming in; we have a Free membership option this year.
• We have a new twitter account.

 
Other Items:

• Silver Chips – Eliza Booth will contact Silver Chips to buy an ad, she will work with Barbara and Ms Boule to craft the message.
• Will also advertise on BNC