September 11, 2006 Meeting

Minutes:

The minutes from the last general meeting of September 26, 2005 were read by MHS Alumni Secretary, Terri Olson.  The minutes were unanimously approved as read with the exception of adding Ron Sowell’s last name to the minutes.

MHS Alumni Treasurer, Pat Duncan, gave the financial report.  He announced that since our inception in December 2004, we have gained 436 members.  There are 231 Annual members, 188 Lifetime members, 15 Associate members and two Honorary members.  Our current balance is $7,072 of which $1,357 is in our checking account and $5,715 is in a money market account.  Our expenses to date total $7,122.  These include $1,714 for MHS Homecoming events, $1,332 for MHSAA apparel costs, $833 to publish and mail The Alumni Mentor, $946 in postage costs for membership cards and other announcements mailed to members, and $539 for Alumni Center costs.  The Treasurer’s Report was unanimously approved.

Dave introduced Bob Shannon, Superintendent of USD 383.  Dr. Shannon reported on the changes being made within the school district:

1. Increased enrollment — there are over 300 more students than last year, mostly in the elementary schools.
2. They installed new lighting up the stairs from the front doors and in the commons area of the MHS West Campus.
3. They have resurfaced several parking lots at the high school and done some landscaping.
4. An MHS Indian was made by students and their teacher and is displayed at the west high school.
5. Dr. Shannon is organizing a Community Advisory Group of 20-22 people to meet once a month about issues facing our district.

Dr. Shannon also reported on some decisions that the school board will be working on in the near future:

1. Discussions about using the property at CICO park for the proposed aquatics facility.
2. Whether or not to re-open Bluemont Elementary School – this would require lots of preparation.
3. To continue or discontinue the sales tax.
4. Whether or not to provide all day kindergarten for next school year.
5. Technology changes:
   1. Increase fiber optics (right now they use telephone lines)
   2. District wants to be wireless
   3. Go to Internet Base System to better communicate with the parents

Dr. Shannon then asked for questions from the floor:

1. How much of the increase in students is associated with Ft. Riley? (At least half.)
2. Is kindergarten offered all day throughout the state? (Well over half of the districts have all day kindergarten.   These days kids learn at an earlier age and both parents are usually working outside the home.)
3. Is attendance up or down at the 9th grade center?  (It is about the same as last year at the 9th grade center but Eisenhower Middle School has less.)
4. What is the attendance at the west high school?  (1,350 – 9th highest in Kansas)
5. Is Manhattan looking at a second high school down the road?  (The Ft. Riley students in the elementary level may not be in Manhattan by the time they are at the high school level.  There will be a public comment in about a month.)  A comment was made that they hope we don’t build a second high school and then the 1st Division leaves again.

Dave took the floor and introduced the four directors that were present.  They were Don Slater, Janet Duncan, Charlie Hostetler, and Pete Paukstelis.  Janet Duncan was commended for doing a good job on he Alumni Mentor and on the By-Laws.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Publicity:  Co-Chairman Deanna Hall and Randy Stitt were both present.  Deanna reported they are working on getting a full set of year books to present to the Riley County Historical Museum.  We still need 1940, 1964, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1976.  A complete set should be in the Alumni Center also.  They put a notice on the radio and in the newspaper about our meeting tonight.  A full page ad will be designed to put in the Booster Club Activities Booklet.

Special Events — Carita Otts:  The last event was the MHS Homecoming parade with vintage cars on September 8th.  In March, MHSAA will again be in the St. Pat’s parade.  This committee hosted the Alumni Center open house with refreshments and hosted the Alumni pig roast in June.  Booths were manned by this committee at the Riley County Fair and at Purple Power Play on Poyntz.  Other ideas for future Alumni events are a winter dance, a sock hop at the Community House, a watermelon feed, a dance with the Kings of Swing band, tailgating at a KSU or MHS home game, or a Back to School night at the high school.  Carita would like to have more members join this committee.   Some comments were to have MHSAA recognized out on the field at MHS sporting events, renting the old Train Depot for a future event and advertising our events better so we would get more members to attend.

Website/Info Systems — John King:  Janet Duncan reported that John has made periodic changes and updates.  Stuart Parsons from the class of 1970 recently joined this committee.  Janet needs ideas and stories for the fall newsletter which will come out the end of October.  We can also use the USD 383 public channel to get our information out.

Membership — Pat Petty:  There are 204 annual memberships that will expire December 31, 2006.  Members could renew tonight at the meeting.  They are soliciting memberships by setting up a booth and speaking at reunions (usually can sign 5-15 new members), renting a booth at the Riley County Fair and Purple Power Play on Poyntz and putting 700 flyers in the Alumni books that were purchased from Harris Publishing.  Applications can be found on our website and in the Alumni Mentor.  The membership drive is coming up.  This committee could use more members.  A couple of ideas were for class representatives to put applications in their reunion packets and to think about a Kansas City MHSAA Indian backer.

Alumni Center/Archives — Robert Dickens:  The Alumni Center is up and running and now in Room 110 of the East campus.  They still need a television set, vcr/dvd player and a television stand.  They plan to be open one afternoon a month, probably Fridays.  Even though they are outgrowing the room, more donations are desired.  This committee also needs more members.

Reunions & Recruitment — Dean Taylor:  This committee works on making sure classes are having reunions and letting them know they are available to help if needed.  Dean is also involved with the Retire to Flint Hills Committee which contacts graduates about retiring in Manhattan. 

Awards & Recognition/Wall of Fame — Dan Hall:  This committee is working on restoring the Indian mosaic which is currently in the Alumni Center.  After it is restored it will be mounted on the wall left of the west high school offices by the Little Theater.  The Wall of Fame will be displayed below the Indian to provide inspiration to current students.  The plaque will have the person’s name, biography, senior picture, and graduating year displayed on it.  The plaque will be presented in between the girls and boys basketball games at Winter Homecoming.  This will be an annual presentation.  There will be up to four honorees a year.

1. There will be one General Meeting a year.
2. The By-Laws are completed.
3. The Indian Mosaic is not completed.

1. The election year will be in 2007.  There will be a two-year cycle of election of officers.

1. It was great having the superintendent at the meeting.
2. The MHSAA banners are first class and a good way to spend our money.
3. Ray Navarro’s class is buying MHSAA t-shirts and giving them away as prizes at their reunions.

1. Sign up a new member.
2. Join a committee.
3. Attend our functions and bring a friend.
4. March or ride in the parades wearing blue and white.
5. Buy a hat or t-shirt.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Respectively submitted,
Terri Olson
MHSAA Secretary