Meeting Minutes – 10/7/08
Meeting Held at Avon Lake Public Library
Present: John Kenny, Daegen Duvall, Randy Srail, Linda Glasser, Cindy Herzberger, Joe Kowalski
Purposes for forming a soccer boosters club:
Provide a foundation and support system to enable the program to move into an elite level in the Cleveland area.
- Ensure continuity in the program so that future generations do not have to “reinvent the wheel” but rather will be able to take the program and continue to step up to higher levels.
- Create an environment where our players can expand and develop their skills.
- Create an environment where the valuable lessons of teamwork and goal achievement can be realized through a positive 4 year experience in the program.
Topics covered:
1) Coaches Update – Among the topics of interest covered were the possibility of new uniforms next season so that all girls and all teams would be wearing the same style of uniform. There will also be some sort of budget planning meeting in November to lay out our program for the next year and determine the amount of fundraising that will be needed.
2) Concessions: A big Thank You to both Cindy & Will Herzberger and Ingrid Mills for their work with the concession stand this year. Since the Herzberger’s daughter is a senior, we will need new volunteers to run our concession stand next year. Let me know if you are interested.
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1) Setup – this would involve getting the stand ready to go by the 5:00 p.m. start of the JV games. We will need a new volunteer or team of volunteers for next year.
2) Staff – this is usually not a problem as people sign up and work their shifts. Ideally, people only need to work one game per season. JV parents work Varsity games and Varsity parents work JV games.
3) Close –up – we need someone to close down the stand, pack up the food, secure the money, etc. Once again, we will need a new set of volunteers for next year.
4) Inventory – we need a volunteer to keep the food and equipment between games and over the offseason. Need new volunteers here also.
5) Purchaser – we need a volunteer to purchase the food supplies we need to stock the stand. We are looking to fill this position also.
6) Financial – volunteer to manage the booster club account, deposit receipts, and dole out money for apparel & other items. This will fall to John Kenny initially.
7) Looking for incoming freshmen or sophomore parents to complete our staff. We would like to have parents from each grade level familiar with the operations of the concession stand to ensure a stable transition from year to year.
4) Fundraising:
A new idea that we have been approached with is selling discount cards for various businesses around Avon Lake. An outfit by the name of MyBoosters does all the work of getting businesses to participate in the card. The card sells for $15 and we keep approx. half. You sell to family and friends and then we do one teamwide “blitz” day. Other schools are making $4 to $5,000 using this fundraiser program. A problem for us is that the Choir already sells a similar card, so we probably will not be able to do this fundraiser at this time. Need to have this clarified from ALHS administration.
Update – The premise of the card has been changed to a discount pizza card so as to not directly compete with the choir. We have received clearance from the ALHS administration to go ahead. It is too late for this soccer year, but the idea was discussed of possibly doing this fundraiser in July before our season starts and before the Fall sweep of fundraisers by other groups.
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5) Team Related Activities:
These are activities that we do during the year for and with the girls. We need to find volunteers as coordinators for next year for the activities listed. A brief summary of what we have done over the past year is listed below:
1) Father’s Day Tournament – We work at two field locations during the two days of this tournament. We need someone to coordinate the logistics of the two locations including the purchasing of items, getting volunteers to work at the two locations, and setup/closeup. We have general instructions on how to run the stands as well as data on what needs to be bought and how much. We will need a volunteer for next year.
2) Relay for Life – Our main community service project as a team. We raise money by walking, having car washes, and running games at the Relay itself. Our “score a goal and get a stuffed animal” is always a hit. Yes, we do stay the entire night. Need an overall coordinator and two parents per shift to oversee the girls. Need new volunteers for next year.
3) Alumni Game & Picnic – We are going to try and move this game into July to enable more participation and we have some ideas to recruit more girls to come back for the game. Another area where we will need someone to coordinate the event.
4) Lorain County Showcase – As of right now, I don’t think this is going to be an issue as we will probably not be participating in this event next year.
5) Annual weekend outing – This is a team building event to get the girls comfortable with each other and revved up for the season. Usually held during July at a location outside of Avon Lake. This is an important event on a number of levels. We will need coordinators if we plan to go ahead with this next summer.
6) Team Dinners – We discussed the pros and cons of the team dinners held in the format that we used this year. There seems to be a strong sentiment to going back to the full team format which has been done in the past for at least a few times next year. The Srails, the Glassers, and the Kowalskis have all volunteered to host one of these full team dinners for next year.
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7) Senior Night – Next year’s senior parents will need to coordinate. After 4 years in the program, we need to ensure that the girls are properly recognized in a dignified manner.
8) End of season gifts – Need coordinator; also parents of seniors plan on helping.
9) Findlay game – We need to determine if we are going to sign another contract with them. Anyway, it would be our turn to travel to Findlay. But, perhaps Kiko will be scheduling another long distance team to come in. We will wait and see how the schedule shakes out.
10) End of season party – This is a new idea and I kind of like it. I think the parents enjoy the socializing more than the girls, but it is a positive way to end the season no matter what our results. The Wladecki’s have ventured out upon a fragile limb and are considering hosting this year’s event.
11) Post season games – We need to make a habit of attending District championship games, Regional games, and State Tournament games. Hopefully, we will soon be playing in these games. For that matter, we need to have our JV girls attend our own playoff games. At any rate, the girls need to experience the atmosphere at these games so that when they do play in them, they know what to expect. The crowds and atmosphere at Regional and State games are very different than your normal regular season game. Those who prepare for success will experience that success. Once again, I will need a volunteer to coordinate this activity.
6) Program Related Activities:
These are specific tasks that can be done by parents to support and enhance the overall soccer program:
1) Program – I hope you all enjoyed this year’s edition of the Shoregal Yearbook. Once again, our thanks to Bush Printing for doing the work on the layout and printing of our program. So, please consider Bush Printing for any printing needs, promotional items, or printed apparel needs. Owners Pat & Kathy Bush are parents of a former Shoregal soccer player. Next year, we would like to consider selling some advertising space and gradually assume the full cost of the program.
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2) Website – please continue to visit our website – www.alshoregalsoccer.org . We continue to add more links and more information. This is the place to find out about all things Shoregal soccer. A main intent of this website is for it to be a resource for both the girls and their parents. Thanks to Pat Tartar who is our resident webmaster.
3) Film games – We are looking for new volunteers for next year. We would like to film Varsity games, JV games, and focus on filming the girls who intend to play in college so that game films can be made for each girl to send to various colleges. We need both parents and JV’s to help with this task and there will be some compensation involved.
4) Game Banners – We are trying to create an atmosphere and make girls soccer games an event. Banners and signs add to the ambiance. We want to expand our sign making for next season.
5) Stat Keeper – right now the coaches handle this duty, but it would be helpful if a parent was willing to keep stats while watching the game. We will instruct you on what to do, you just need to be very observant. We definitely need a volunteer for this job next year.
6) Scouting – once again the coaches handle when they can, but it would be helpful to have others involved to lessen the burden. We would like to scout ahead on challenging opponents and you would be instructed on what to look for.
7) Soccer ball sign keeper – We need someone to coordinate the soccer ball signs for the varsity and store over the winter/summer and do a little maintenance when needed. Mary O’Malley has volunteered to babysit our signs again over the offseason. Please get your signs over to her.
8) Picture taking – Vic Strimbu has volunteered to help us here and he will be doing a season highlight disk as well.
7) Offseason Program:
I will be reviewing with the coaching staff the various options that we will offer for this offseason. It is very important that the girls continue to work on their conditioning and soccer skills during the offseason. This is the period of time when they can make the largest improvements in their performance, not the regular season. That is the time to work on strategy and tactical issues.
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8) Shoregal Soccer History:
I have the all time stats put together with the info. that has been made available to me, but I am still missing data for a number of years. Info. that I need to make the records complete include:
1) I need to borrow a 1999 ALHS yearbook from whoever may have one.
2) I need help with data from 1999, 2000, 01, 02, & 03. I have minimal or no data at all from those years. Coincidentally, they happen to be the highest goal scoring years in the history of the program. Anyone that knows of any players or parents from that era, please let me know. I would like to get in contact with them to see what data that they may have.
9) College Corner – This is a feature where I will present options that are available for the girls to play soccer in college. Many parents are bewildered by where to start to find a place for their daughter to play in college. One of the functions of our booster club should be to help parents through this process and we have compiled a number of resources to help. I have on hand the The Sport Source’s Women’s Soccer Guide which lists 1,300 women’s college soccer programs throughout the U.S. The book is available to be circulated among all the parents in our program. Let me know if you want to take a look. Also, we have a number of links on our website to assist with college recruiting. In addition, I have the following three books on college recruiting on hand:
1) The Student-Athlete & College Recruiting by Rick Wire
2) Athletic Scholarships for Dummies
3) Make the Team The Art of Self-Recruiting by Avi Stopper
These are all available to be circulated throughout the group.
The coaching staff has expressed a sincere interest in helping the girls to play soccer in college. They have numerous contacts with college coaches, they are going to attempt to have coaches attend our more significant games, and are going to circulate info.on the girls on a wider basis.
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In these minutes, I would like to present some info. on college costs. Since it is that time of year when people are making their college visits, it’s time to think about how to pay for that college education.
First, let’s discuss two extra college costs that go somewhat overlooked and then we will talk about tuition, room & board specifically. The first extra cost is that for a laptop. No matter what the college tells you about a laptop not being a necessity and no matter how many computer labs they claim are available, do not be convinced!! They are just trying to cushion the reality of another large expense. A laptop is an absolute necessity - it is the pen & paper of the 21st century. At most colleges, everything is done online. You schedule your classes on line, pay for your classes on line, the course syllabus is on line, your homework and papers are completed and submitted on line, and on and on. Your child’s world in regards to computers is much different than your own. Their world revolves around and is run through their computer. They download their music from the computer, they game on the computer, their social networking (Facebook and others) is done on the computer, they watch videos and play CD’s on the computer, they upload and share their digital pictures through the computer. In addition, they live in a Wi-Fi world where they are accustomed to complete access and complete mobility at any time, at any place. Being chained to a desk with a CPU and a monitor is dinosaur technology that they are quickly moving past. They will live their life through their laptop. So the laptop becomes an additional, necessary expense. To get a laptop with the proper speed, memory, and amenities with extended warranty and tax, expect to pay around $1,500. You can expect a similar cost whether you do your shopping online or at a big box. With Christmas and graduation around the corner, suggest everyone give your child money which will ultimately be put towards the purchase of a laptop. May seem kind of bland now, but they will be happy in the end.
Second extra cost is for books. Everyone underestimates the incredible cost of books these days. You can easily spend $1,500 - $2,000 per year just on books and other necessary course materials. There are a number of ways to reduce this cost by getting used books through different outlets including Facebook, various websites, the bookstore, etc. You need to factor this cost into your college budget, so it doesn’t take you by surprise.
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Now let’s talk about tuition and room & board itself. Certainly, the senior parents are realizing that college is expensive – really expensive! The cost of a 4 year college education will run between $80,000 for a state school in Ohio to $140,000 and beyond for various private colleges in Ohio and any college out of the State of Ohio. The rapid acceleration in college costs has exceeded most people’s ability to save for college. Consider the math for a moment, to have $80,000 available today to pay for college, you would have needed to save $350 - $400 per month each month for the past 17 years. Now I am vastly simplifying this because of time and to make a point. In reality, compound interest and the future value of an annuity is more sophisticated. I am assuming that you would have invested in the stock market (529 Plan) and that interest and compounded value would be offset by tuition inflation and the decreased value of your portfolio over the past year. I sure many of you have seen at least a 20% loss in stock based investments over the past year. You could have invested somewhat less per month and still ended up at $80K or better. To have been able to put away enough for two children’s education, plus mortgage, plus a least one car payment, and all other expenses; a standard family of four can easily incur expenses of $5,000 per month or $60,000 per year. Your effective payroll deduction rate which includes taxes, a reasonable amount towards your 401K, medical contribution, United Way, etc. can approach 40% which means that you would need to have a household income of at least $100,000 to cover the everyday expenses as above. In addition, to save for college for additional children, you are going to have to come up with approximately another $8,000 of income each year per child. For this reason, I don’t know a lot of people who saved the entire amount needed to attend college in 2008. Therefore, outside financing will be needed to bridge the gap between savings and costs.
It is reasonable to expect that this gap can approach $15,000 per year. In fact, studies show that the average college graduate is leaving school today with $60,000 in student loan debt. That is staggering. Most of us probably had a mortgage on our first house somewhere in the $60 – $100K area and now 22 year old kids are saddled with that debt load. Think about what we are saying here – to pay off a $60,000 loan over a 10 year period with interest means that you would have to pay a minimum of $500/mo. Combine that with a car payment of a similar amount and some type of rent/house payment, plus food and normal expenses, you would be incurring expenses of at least $2,500 per month. Given your effective take home as discussed above of approx. 60%, then your child will need to get a job immediately after graduation that pays at least $50,000 or they are going to be having some financial difficulties. A very long winded way of making this point – you need to find ways to minimize the costs of college and obtain a number of scholarships in order to reduce student loan debt to a
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manageable amount. Your child’s investment in a college education may put a stranglehold on them until their mid 30’s. With that in mind, I have some info.to share on colleges with generous scholarship offerings and some outside scholarships that you may be unaware of.
Here are 10 colleges which offer some pretty generous scholarship money and you may want to give some serious consideration to:
1) LCCC – for Lorain County residents they have the Trustee’s scholarship where anyone who has a 3.7 GPA or above is offered a full 2 year tuition free scholarship. For those who have a 3.4 to 3.699 GPA, they offer a 2/3rds tuition reduction Presidential scholarship for 2 years.
2) Cleveland State - They offer 70 full 4 year tuition free scholarships through 2 different programs – 50 through the Honors scholarship program and another 20 through the Presidential scholarship program. You don’t need to be Valedictorian to get these scholarships either. Nicole Haas, a former soccer player, received one of these scholarships last year and she was ranked around 20th in her senior class.
Financially, you have to give serious consideration to nos. 1 & 2 above. In a straight dollars and cents decision, the money that is offered is too good to pass up.
3) Shawnee State University – Portsmouth, Ohio – they offer a President’s scholarship which is a full 4 year tuition free scholarship to anyone who scores 25 or above on the ACT exam. An ACT of 25 is a very attainable number for many students.
4) Ohio Wesleyan Univ. – they offer Presidential scholarships which are full 4 yr. tuition free scholarships and Trustee scholarships which cover 75% of tuition.
5) Kent State – they offer 50 Founders scholarships which can range from $3,000 to full tuition and room & board depending on your academic credentials.
6) University of Dayton – they offer Trustee’s scholarships worth between $50,000 to $100,000 over 4 years. They also offer President’s scholarships worth $36,000 - $60,000 over 4 years.
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7) Univ. of Cincinnati – they have what is know as the Cincinnatus competition where they invite qualified high school students to compete for $18 million of scholarships including 10 full ride tuition, room, & board scholarships plus hundreds of other scholarships worth tens of thousands of dollars. To qualify to compete, you only need a 3.2 GPA.
8) Purdue – Boiler Up!! – they offer Trustee’s scholarships worth $40,000 over 4 years to out of state students. If you are serious about Engineering, this means that for approx. the same cost as a state school in Ohio, you can go to one of the top 5 engineering schools in the country.
9) Thiel College – Greenville, PA. – they offer a number of full 4 yr. tuition free scholarships. Because they are a small school, they are very low key about this program and don’t advertise it very heavily to prevent a rush on the school. You have to inquire, but it will be worth your time.
10) Ohio University – score a 32 or above on the ACT and you are going to school free, baby!!! This offer is open to anyone who scores 32 or higher and is a full 4 yr. tuition free scholarship.
11) Pretty much every private school in Ohio offers various amounts of scholarship money on a sliding scale in reference to the ACT/GPA with the intent of trying to reduce their cost to that of a state school. Also, every state school offers numerous academic scholarships. You may not be able to get your entire way paid like in my top ten, but you can still receive a significant chunk of money.
Next let’s take a quick look at scholarships:
1) Avon Lake HS in house scholarships – don’t overlook these scholarships, you can get several of these and they will pay for that laptop and your books.
2) Gino Strippoli Memorial – don’t forget about this one either – it is $1,000 and two years ago only 1 girl applied! We have 10 seniors this year so there may be a lot of competition.
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3) Best Buy – 1,500 scholarships were awarded nationwide worth $2.5 million. Each store has one to give out to students in their area. So get over to the Avon Best Buy as the applications are only available at the store.
4) Discover Card Tribute Awards – Discover Card gives out over 300 state scholarships worth $2,500 each and 10 national scholarships worth $5,000 each. Go to their website for more details.
5) KFC Colonel’s Scholars – they give out 50 -$5,000 scholarships each year. Visit www.kfcscholars.org
6) Wal-Mart – each store has 1 scholarship to give out as well as there are a number of different scholarships available through the website. Go to www.walmartstores.com.
7) Use the information that is available on the ALHS website regarding scholarships. Go to the websites like www.fastweb.com and others. There are an unbelievable amount of scholarships available out there. Many people may be eligible for specific group oriented scholarships and may not be aware that they exist.
8) Every college has specific private scholarships that individuals have set up to help certain groups of people or just students in general. Obtain a list of these private scholarships from the college. Somebody from Avon Lake may have went to good ole Faber College for example and set up a scholarship just for other people from AL who want to go to Faber. Ohio State, for example, has hundreds of these type of scholarships.
9) ROTC/Reserves – these programs are still in existence and they will pay the student’s way through school in exchange for a military commitment over a period of time. Still a good option for the right type of individual.
10) Burger King – have it your way at college! Visit their website at www.bk.com for more information about their scholarship program. They give out a large number of $1,000 scholarships nationwide. Last year alone over 40 students from Ohio high schools received one of these scholarships.
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The common denominator through the colleges and scholarships discussion was strong academics. High academic performance can provide you with the greatest number of options for college. There is 10 times more academic money available than athletic money, so it is in your best interest to focus your energy on academic performance. Your academic performance is your best ally to provide you with opportunities to further your athletic career at the next level.
As with everything, be realistic about what you can afford for college and take advantage of the opportunities as they present themselves to you. There is nothing wrong with going to a cheaper school for your undergraduate degree. Most employers are willing to pay 100% of a Master’s degree, so you can attend a better school and make up for any perceived lack of prestige later on. There are a number of ways to get a college education without going into crippling debt. I have only mentioned a few, there are many other ways, but you must be proactive in searching out sources of money. If anyone knows of any other generous scholarship programs offered at other schools, I would be glad to pass that info. along to the group. Best of luck to all our graduating Shoregals!!
The topic for the next minutes will feature College Soccer Clubs and what they are all about.
Remember that we continue to maintain our college database list. We currently have 14 colleges represented and would like to expand our list even further. This contact info. is strictly voluntary on your part.
10) Open Discussion:
1) A possible idea for both a fun item and a fundraising item would be Shoregal Soccer window clings and/or car magnets. J. Kenny to investigate. Update - difficult to get a reasonable price for the smaller quantities that would be appropriate for our group.
Our next meeting of the SHOREPALS will be on Wednesday Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the M. Jean Parke room at the Avon Lake Public Library.
Respectfully submitted by
John Kenny
