Western Reserve Rowing Foundation

Annual Meeting Minutes

January 20, 2001

John Carroll University- Jardine Room

1. Roll Call Introductions

Kathryn Kaczmarski- WRRF Maike Johnson-CWRU

Doug Carlson- WRRA Gwen Mateyo- WRRA

Jeff Jensen-WRRF Kristen Andrews-CWRU

Peter Gozar-WRRA Misty Matin- WRRA

Dan DiAngelo-CSU Harold Mazzarins- WRRA

Dave Werner-St. Ignatius/HOTC Pat Monroe-WRRF/CSRA

Kate O'Neil-CSU Toni Quagliata- WRRA

Neil Messner- JCU Jackie Virant- JCU

Pete Boukis- JCU Tim Marcovy- WRRA

Jeff Renston- WRRA Harry Fisher- WRRF

1. Approval of Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m.

The minutes from the November meeting were approved.

1. Approval of all WRRF Board Actions taken during 2000

All actions taken by the WRRF during the year 2000 were approved.

1. Treasurer's Report: 2000 Year-end Summary

Harry Fisher presented the year-end financial statement. It is a preliminary report. The official year-end summary will be presented at the February meeting.

Harry urged all the member organizations to get their 2001 membership numbers to him as soon as possible, so that assessments could be calculated. The 2000 taxes will be filed on time.

Harry is going to meet with the tax preparer to discuss the non-profit status. We are tax exempt for federal taxes only.

Harry started to meet with all the WRRF affiliates to move with a standard table of accounting for everyone so that everyone is on the same page. The goal is to have a consistent balance sheet for everyone.

The liability insurance due soon was discussed. Harry will meet with Doug Carlson to do an accounting of all boats currently under our policy. We want to make sure we are paying for everything that we should be. Currently WRRF, WRRA, CSRA, and CWRU boats and equipment are covered. We are encouraging all organizations to take advantage of the policy because the more that do the more of a price break everyone gets.

1. Presentation of the 2000 Burning Blade Award

The award was presented to Chris Sheridan for all her efforts with running the WRRA Competitive Crew program for the last 2 years. She volunteered to also assist coaching the CSRA program. Our hats off and thanks to Chris for all she has done for rowing in Cleveland. Kathryn presented Chris with a gift certificate to Potomac Rowing as a small token of our appreciation.

1. Approval of the slate of WRRF officers for 2001

Those in attendance voted for officers for the upcoming year. They are as follows:

• Kathryn Kaczmarski, President

• Peter Gozar, Vice-President

• Harry Fisher, Treasurer

• Jeff Jensen, Secretary

1. Dates for 2001 WRRF Meetings

2001 meetings will be held the last Tuesday of every month at the Market Avenue Wine Bar. The meetings begin promptly at 6 o'clock p.m. The dates are as follows:

February 27 May 29 August 28 November 27

March 27 June 26 September 25

April 24 July 31 October 30

1. Long term Lease Proposal from Forest City/Scranton Development Company

Greg Collins from Forest City Land Group came to present a 5-year lease proposal for our current space and the potential for additional space in the Barrington Building. Currently we are on a month-to-month lease with Forest City at $1000.00 per month. This rate is well below the market value.

They proposed increasing our rent to $2000.00 per month plus taxes, effective July 1, 2001. They are willing to sign a 5-year deal with us. The rate would be locked in for the first two years. The last three years would be at $2500.00 per month plus taxes. Each party would have to give 1 year written notice to vacate the space. With property taxes annually the rent will be $30,544.00. They may also look at installing 130-140 parking spaces across the street.

Greg indicated that he and the company he represents is very much interested in working with us for a permanent site in the future.

Right next door to our current space is the Barrington Building. The second floor is vacant, approximately 11,000 sq. ft. We could get into this space if we wanted to: however, it needs significant work. They would not begin charging us rent on this space until July of 2002. This additional space would cost $5,000 a month.

Kathryn mentioned that we would have to increase our assessments from $105.00 per year per person to approximately $140.00 per year per person to handle just the increase in rent for our current space.

Dave Werner motioned that we accept the proposal for the current space and ask for right of first refusal on the Morgan Linen and Phillips Electric spaces, and more additional waterfront footage, empowering the Foundation representatives to do what they have to do to make this deal happen. The motion passed.

On the Barrington Bldg., Pat Monroe, Don Saer, and Peter Gozar (or someone he knows) will look at the space to give us cost estimates at our next meeting on improving it for our future use.

1. Long-Term goals and Development efforts needed for the future of Rowing in Cleveland

It was agreed that securing permanent land on the river and building our own boathouse is the long-term goal of the Foundation. This will be a mindshift from where we have been. In the past we have been more membership and individual-rowing club focused, not really seriously thinking about sites and a permanent structure to house all the Foundation's affiliates.

We have a site committee, but it really hasn't been all that active because this is a volunteer organization and people have full time jobs. There are fund raising development companies out there that can help us plan and get organized to move our organization forward. Peter Gozar and Kathryn Kaczmarski met with Ken Haber from Missions and Money, along with two of his fund-raising colleagues. They do professional fund raising and development for non-profit organizations. A subsequent conversation with Ken laid out the approach he and his colleagues would take in helping us organize our long-range development and capital campaign efforts.

Over the next 4-5 months we can develop a timeline and a coherent plan. They are able to assist us with this and their fees are $1,500 a day. Their estimated activities could be completed in 16 days, with a total cost of $24,000.

Everyone agreed that we need professional, outside help. We are going to request a RFP from Missions and Money and go to WRRA and get their feedback on our thoughts.

Peter Gozar will also call Henry Eaton to get his thoughts on how we should proceed with our fundraising efforts.

There was a general call for additional volunteers for these efforts.

Caroline Hoepp requested that we be very careful in granting additional membership to other organizations. We should take care of the organizations that we have. As everyone knows we have space issues for our current equipment.

A motion was passed to have the Boathouse Operations Director (BOD) present a plan for increased storage space for equipment at the next WRRF meeting on 2-27-01.

1. Year-end reports from member organizations

• John Carroll

They have purchased a new boat, a Vespoli 8. They will talk to Don Saer about storage space.

• CWRU

No report

• CSRA

They are having winter workouts at Bay High School. They will be participating at the Hammer on the 17^th of February.

• St. Ignatius

They are practicing right now for the spring season. Looking forward to having a very good year.

• CSU

They have 20+ members and are coming off a very successful first season. Thanks to everyone who helped them out in their inaugural season. They plan to be attending the Hammer next month. Discussions are underway with the university about making crew a varsity sport.

• WRRA

They had a very productive annual meeting. 2001 officers are:

Caroline Hoepp, President

Doug Carlson, Treasurer

James Mack, Secretary

They are looking at the possibility of trading in their new trailer. The hitch is really more involved than what they thought it would be so they are hoping to salvage it for something more useful.

1. Boathouse Operations Report

Don Saer reported via email:

Administrative Projects:

• SOP rewrite and tests. Tim Marcovy has 2nd draft. If you have any inputs, get them in now and I will consider including them.

• I need current email addresses of all organization head coaches. I am missing some college and HS e-mail addresses.

Facilities:

• Oar rack for 13 oars. In progress

• Eights racks to go up to 7 high. Design stage.

• Dock mooring system. In progress. Present dock system gets beaten up during the winter when tugs go by faster than hull speed. Just before New Year's, ramp was knocked into the water, which is why the safety rope is

under it now. Some vertical poles are bent. New design in progress, which will be cheaper and more effective.

• Slings made out of steel. Prototype in progress. Raw material will cost about $30 each sling. Lighter, stronger and will take up 1/3 the volume of plastic slings.

• New double door for wood boathouse. Old one about to fall off.

• Move storage shelves for better space utilization.

• New location for shell repair bench.

Question:

1. What is WRRA doing to do with the new trailer?

• Would they sell it for $1? It is too heavy for use without a dually truck or a gooseneck design. They have not used it much.

• Perhaps I would like to modify it by moving the shell support racks so they are in a better position for the shells, and turn it into a 5^th wheel gooseneck trailer?

Boathouse Procedures:

Access combinations will change this week. I will give the new combinations to Organizations' Head Coach, President or Manager.

Work Parties:

• We need work-parties in Feb and Mar. Preferably weekday PM. I'll probably be flying on the weekends.

1. Old Business

Baldwin Wallace Rowing Class Proposal. Dan DiAngelo discussed the proposal at our last meeting. Charge an assessment for half a year, approximately $70.00. No other colleges offer a Rowing Class or at least those that Dan researched.

It was mentioned that we wouldn't have insurance coverage for these people. Arrangements would have to be made in that regard.

Tim Marcovy motioned to offer an Instructional Rowing Program to Baldwin Wallace students. BW would provide the coach but we would have to ensure that the coach meets all our teaching and safety requirements. The fee would be ½ of the new 2001 per rower assessment. The motion passed.

1. New Business

The Bow Ball is scheduled for Saturday February 3^rd from 7:30 p.m.- 12:30 a.m. at the St. George Orthodox Church.

Address is 2587 W. 14^th St. Handouts were provided. Please spread the word.

The 2001 Hammer Ergatta is being held at John Carroll University Saturday February 17^th. Please plan on attending.

1. Announcements

Safety. Tim Marcovy discussed making a new certification exam for this year. An official announcement would be made at the February meeting. We will be raising the bar but also granting more privileges. Every coach will be re-certified this year.

Please submit to Harry Fisher by next months meeting a good faith estimate of your membership numbers for this year. This applies to all schools and affiliates of the Western Reserve Rowing Foundation.

HOTC- Head of the Cuyahoga. The regatta this year is 9-22-01. Dave Werner will have short meetings after each of the WRRA and WRRF monthly meetings. These meetings will begin next month. We need more member leadership.

1. Adjournment

No further business was discussed. The meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m. The next meeting is February 27^th at 6 o'clock at the Market Avenue Wine Bar.

Minutes were respectfully submitted by:

Jeff Jensen, WRRF Secretary