May 11, 2020

CLIPPERS BASEBALL CLUB BOARD MEETING

Monday, May 11, 2020

Opening: Clippers Baseball Club Board Meeting was held Monday, May 11, 2020 remotely at 6:00pm.

Board Members Present: Nick Pfeiffer (President), Jeremiah Herdliska (Vice President), Kelly Weber (Treasurer), Matt Carlson (Secretary), Bridgette Schares, Ethan Smith, Sarah Seidl, Jamie Etscheidt, April Schmitz

Others Present: Golda Mohonan

  1. Open Discussion from Membership:
    • No updates.
  2. Update on Outstanding Action Items:
    • Ethan Smith will contact Don Hummer Trucking to check interest in club sponsorship opportunities – IN PROGRESS
      • No updates.
    • Nick Pfeiffer will reach out to the Coralville Panchero’s about scheduling a fundraiser again in April 2020 (Panchero’s allows organizations to do a fundraiser every 6 months) – IN PROGRES
      • No updates.
    • April Schmitz will contact Cookies & More about fundraising opportunities – IN PROGRESS
      • No updates.
    • Kelly Weber will contact Hometown Nutrition about fundraising opportunities – IN PROGRESS
      • Hometown Nutrition is interested in participating, but this fundraiser has been put on hold. The Club is considering doing one fundraiser in June, and one later in the year.
  3. Post COVID-19 Return-to-Play Guidelines, Procedures and Recommendations:
    • The Clippers Club established guidance for club teams to enact USSSA’s recommendations once the City of Tiffin opens fields for use. USSSA’s return-to-play guidance, and procedures and recommendations are available here: https://usssa.com/docs/2020/Covid19-ReturnToPlay.pdf.
    • Frank Haege is the new Tiffin Recreation Director. Nick Pfeiffer reached out to Frank about Clippers Baseball Club activities, and recreation leagues in general. Frank is waiting on the state proclamation update as an indicator for when baseball fields may reopen in Johnson County. A likely caveat when parks reopen is that gatherings will need to be groups of 10 people or less. This is in addition to USSSA rules.
  4. Waivers:
    • Discussion of requiring parents of each player to sign a waiver acknowledging that while precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be taken, participation is voluntary, and the risk is theirs.
    • Teams and the Club could be held liable if someone were to get sick at a sanctioned practice or game.
  5. 7U and 8U Season:
    • The Club has concerns that 6, 7 and 8-year-olds will be able to keep themselves at a manageable 6-foot distance from each other despite coaches’ and parents’ best efforts.
  6. Clipper Classic:
    • The Clipper Classic was moved to 7/18/20 and will be a one-day tournament.
    • Teams can get a 100% refund through 5/31/20 if they choose not to participate in the tournament.
  7. Sponsorships:
    • The Club received a $50 sponsorship from CarePro.
    • Kelly Weber will send stickers to sponsors.
  8. Fundraising:
    • The Cedar Rapids Kernels awarded the Clippers Baseball Club with a $1,000 grant to be used for equipment purchases.
      • Coaches will need to scan or provide photos of receipts or proof of purchase of equipment and email them to ccabaseballclub@gmail.com.
      • Once a team’s equipment expenses total at least $166.67, the Club will issue the team a check for that amount. Failure to do this by 5/31/20 will result in forfeiture of a team’s portion of grant money.
      • As of 5/13 only 7U and 9U teams have provided receipts for reimbursement.
    • Clippers Baseball Club Fund (GoFundMe Page)
    • Coralville Hy-Vee Grocery Delivery
      • The Clippers Baseball Club is partnering with the Coralville Hy-Vee. All Aisle’s Online deliveries to Tiffin and north Coralville will be taken by Club President, Nick Pfeiffer, on 5/14 and 5/15 from 8am-12pm. All delivery fees will go to Clippers Baseball Club, and $10-12 per delivery is expected to be donated.
  9. 2020 Season Mitigation:
    • The Board has a process in place if the entire 2020 season is canceled. Coaches will be asked to document all dollar amounts paid for equipment, practice facilities, and tournament fee forfeitures. The remainder should be refunded to players evenly or held over to the 2021 season if there are no player changes on a team.
  10. Club Debts:
    • Outstanding Debts:
      • City of North Liberty (Clipper Classic Field Usage) – outstanding balance of $1,231 owed.
      • Hills Bank (Hills Bank Negative Account Balance) – outstanding balance of $689.90 owed.
      • Quentin Gilselson (Unpaid Clipper Baseball Club Scholarship) – outstanding balance of $500 owed.
      • Prairie Hawks – 14U team (Clipper Classic Reimbursement & Plugs) – outstanding balance of $225 owed.
  11. Update on Pending Legal Details:
    • Former Clippers Baseball Club President, Adam Henderson, pled guilty to embezzling funds. His sentencing date is set for Monday, 6/1/20 at 11:30am at the Johnson County Courthouse.
    • About $38K is owed, and no restitution has been paid.
  12. Clipper Club 2021 Tryouts:
    • Club tryout dates are scheduled for Wednesday, 7/15, and Saturday, 7/25. More details to come.
    • The Board will revisit tryout dates at the 6/8 board meeting.
  13. Treasurer’s Report:
    • 5/13 Clippers Baseball Club checking account balance: $11,179.71
    • 5/11 Roster and Dues Update:
      • Families who have not paid second payment dues:
        • 9U Team
          • 1 unpaid player remains
  14. Open Discussion:
    • No updates.
  15. Decisions:
    • DECISION (10/14/19): The CCASD, insurance dues, and mound rental fees are the top debt priorities: $500 owed to CCASD, $793.10 owed for insurance dues, and $500 owed for mound rental fees.
    • DECISION (10/14/19): There is $479 left after CCASD, insurance dues, and mound rental fees are paid.Of the remaining funds raised $100 will go to Tiffin Parks & Rec, and $350 will go to North Liberty Parks & Rec.
    • DECISION (11/11/19): The Clippers Club Board voted in favor of making the Clipper Classic a one-day USSSA sanctioned tournament.
    • DECISION (12/9/19): $621.72 has been raised to repay debts. The club will pay $300 to the City of North Liberty, and $300 to the City of Tiffin.
    • DECISION (2/10/20): $899.23 has been raised to repay debts. The club will pay $450 to the City of North Liberty, and $450 to the City of Tiffin.
    • DECISION (3/9/20): $705.54 has been raised to repay debts. The club will pay $610 to the City of Tiffin, and $100 (rounded up) to the City of North Liberty.
    • DECISION (4/13/20): The Clippers Baseball Club Board will split the $1,000 grant money evenly among the 6 club teams. Each team may be reimbursed up to $166.67 for equipment purchased between 1/1/20 – 5/31/20.
    • DECISION (4/13/20): $187.23 has been raised to repay debts. The club will pay $180 (rounded down) to city of North Liberty.
  16. Outstanding Action Items:
    • ACTION ITEM (11/11/19): Ethan Smith will contact Don Hummer Trucking to check interest in club sponsorship opportunities.
    • ACTION ITEM (2/10/20): Nick Pfeiffer will reach out to the Coralville Panchero’s about scheduling a fundraiser again in April 2020. Panchero’s allows organizations to do a fundraiser every 6 months.
    • ACTION ITEM (3/9/20): April Schmitz will contact Cookies & More about fundraising opportunities.
    • ACTION ITEM (3/9/20): Kelly Weber will contact Hometown Nutrition about fundraising opportunities.
  17. Adjournment:
    • Meeting adjourned at 6:57pm. The next meeting will be Monday, June 8th at 6pm at Tiffin City Hall or remote.
    • Minutes submitted by: Matt Carlson, Secretary.