Minutes of June 23, 1998 Board Meeting

Present: Jeff Abrams, Bob Babich, George Bralla, Bill Christopher, Carole Eigner, Brian Fogarty, Spike Harvey, Barry Humphrey, Mark Osman, Jerry Ringer, Brian Sexton, Steve Smith, Ted Tollner. Guest John Rozar

Absent: Dennis Ackerman, Andy Anderson, Steve Brand, Allen Brown, George Brown, Chet DeVore, Dan Dole, Sid Gillman, Don Macek, Kevin McGarry, Dennis McKnight, Jerry Ralph, Walt Zable

1) Chair Jerry Ringer welcomed everyone including guest John Rozar.

a) SDSU head football coach Ted Tollner gave a brief, but very informative discussion on the 1998 Aztec team. Chapter will attend the Sept. 5, 1998 SDSU vs Wisconsin game as an event.

b) Barry Humphrey is working to secure block of tickets for the game. Members and their guests will pay $5 for a game ticket, all you can eat dinner. Package is worth $80 for two.

2) Minutes of the May 12 meeting were reviewed and approved with Jerry informing the board that the following had been done:

Item 1A - Letter sent to Bob Keropian advising him to please establish a governing board should he elect to put on the Desert Golf Classic Tournament in 1999. Jerry advised he did not address letter to National as directed, but instead sent it directly to Bob. It was also reported that the Desert golf tournament be properly insured if it is held next year.

On that same item, Jerry advised the board that he had written to Bob Keropian asking him to form a five-member selection committee to pick the 1998 Regional Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Item 3 - Board okayed providing Willie Jones with a $500 contribution to help with the Willie Jones High School project. Jerry reported he had not contacted Mr. Jones yet and he did not know if the Willie Jones Foundation was a legal entity as of May 12.

Item 4 - Jerry reported that he had written a letter to the Honors Court Chair Gene Corrigan on behalf of the board confirming that Coryell will be elected into the Hall of Fame at some time.

3) A complete and excellent demonstration of the chapter’s new Web Site was performed by Don Whitt and his staff. The board was asked to make comments as to what should go into the site. There were eight suggestions:

a) Insertion of past scholar-athletes

b) Insert last and future year’s banquet programs

c) Registration form for membership and e-mail to chapter office

d) Link National and Hall of Fame to our Web Site

e) Insert elements of Aztec football

f) Link records, game schedule, players from area high schools

g) Past board minutes

h) List of chapter events

Web Site is up and running as of this date, Whitt explained, with the address being - www.footballscholar.com.

Board members thanked Don and his people expressing the Site is a good step in the right direction in making the chapter grow.

4) Aug, 17, 1998 golf tournament-Bob Babich, Carole and Jerry.

a) Invitations sent to 450 people on chapter’s mailing list on June 16 with second mailing set for third week in July.

b) Prospective sponsors letter was reviewed. Will be sent to 35 local candidates next week. Letters will be signed by Sid Gillman and Bob Babich.

c) Player and sponsor lists have not been forthcoming from board members. Dennis Ackerman provided names of sports association and Barry is to get lists of Hall of Champions. Others to follow.

d) Invitations will be given to board member for possible distribution to golfing friends or associates.

e) A list of raffle, auction and tee prizes were presented. To date, there are more than 50 raffle /auction items. Jerry sent Super Bowl XXXII NFL football to Broncos for Davis and Elway autographs today. He also reviewed possible trip to USC Florida State Game Sept 26 in Florida via two days in New Orleans. Cost $2,200 for two .

Bob asked George Bralla for possible outstanding Notre Dame Game to tie with Hall of Fame tour. George to check out.

5) 1998 Regional scholar-athlete of the year - Jerry reported nomination of candidates open until July 1. Selection committee picked Robert Thomas as our chapter’s candidate. He is a 7-team high school All-American selection. Elected team captain three years in a row. U-T all-academic team with 3.04 GPA. Jerry reported that he checked with Bob Keropian just before this meeting to see if he had picked a selection committee. Bob said he had not had time to do so. He did, however, say a committee chair had been chosen.

Jerry asked if anyone from the board would volunteer for the regional selection committee to help Bob out, and Dr. Jeff Abrams volunteered.

For the record, after the meeting, Jerry reported to Bob that Dr. Abrams was available. Bob then said this was not necessary, that a committee was selected, and their choices will be made before July 15.

The board asked the committee why Thomas was picked as his GPA was not that high.

Speaking for chair Chet DeVore, Jerry said on the 40-20-30 point selection process Thomas will get 40 points for football, 20 for leadership, and 30 points for academics, for a 90 point total.

Other best chapter football players were all-CIF equal to only 20 points, leadership is 20 points, and academic 40 points, for 80 total points.

Coach Tollner agreed Thomas was a fine selection by our chapter over other candidates.

6) June Newsletter has been written and will be out first week in July.

7) New chapter business cards were distributed to the board members in attendance.

Game of the Week - Jeff will get with Steve Brand and work out schedule. George Bralla volunteered to make a new sign for the games.

8) New Business

a) Jerry mentioned that Chet DeVore was not feeling well and that a card would be sent to him.

b) Chapter is now largest in the nation not associated with a university.

The meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.