Wednesday, February 5th, 2003, 8:00 pm

Attendance - Board members George Lehocky, David Kent, Bob Burkitt, Jim Krailler, Bob Hiance, Jack Dean and Mike Reilly were present.

Review of Minutes - The minutes posted on the website (amended by the Board since initial publication) were approved.

Income / Expenditures / Current balance
Shootout Tournament report/finances
George Coleman Memorials
Membership Report

David Kent
Jim Krailler
David Kent
Jim Krailler

Treasurer's Report - David Kent provided details of the latest financial activity. As of the latest bank statement, the checking account balance is $ 8,948.76.

Shootout Tournament report - Jim Krailler presented financial details of December's Queen City Shootout, showing a net gain of $ 489.07.

George Coleman Memorial - Though not in a separate account, these memorial funds are being tracked. To date, $230 have been received in George's name. The current plan is that GCHA will donate a tree with plaque. Ralph Weil reports that he is donating a bench , also with a plaque. George's US flag will be presented to Veteran's Park for use on its flag pole. In addition, an article about George is scheduled to appear in the next ShortLine (deadline is 3/15/03) with a follow-up submission to the USHA's Handball Magazine.
George will also be designated in the GCHA Blood Drive (see below.)

Membership Report - Membership has increased from 84 to 104 as of the meeting date. A telephone call committee (George Lehocky, Bob Hiance, Jack Dean, and Bob Burkitt) met at the Fitness Club @ Waycross on January 29th and contacted 48 people who have been members within the past 5 years but have not renewed for 2003. These calls were followed with a second membership form and self-addressed envelope. To date, 4 members have responded. All Board Members were strongly encouraged by George to keep recruiting new/former members in order to at least reach last years total of 120 members.

Reds Game
Legends Tournament
Memorial Doubles Tournament
Winter Doubles League, Fitness @ Waycross
3 Wall Courts Maintenance Update
Pete Mather Tournament and Spring Swing Dance

George Lehocky
George Lehocky
Mike Reilly
Jim Krailler
Bob Burkitt/Mike Reilly
Board

Reds Game - On the day that tickets went on sale, George Lehocky purchase a block of 35 tickets for the Reds versus the New York Yankees on Wednesday, June 4th, at 7:10 pm. Tickets cost $ 20 each, and will be sold for $20, available through George Lehocky.

Legends Tournament - This topic was deferred until next month.

Memorial Doubles Tournament - The board discussed this topic at length. According to Mike Reilly, Paul Baker is interested in hosting a Memorial Doubles Tournament at Waycross. However, the board felt that there was not adequate time for preparations and promotion to hold the tournament in the Spring of 2003, prior to the launch of the outdoor season. As an alternative, an October 2003 date should be considered for the tournament, in addition to a date in early Spring 2004.

Winter Doubles League, Fitness @ Waycross - Play began on January 31st and is scheduled to be completed before the end of March. Seven teams are playing in each of the two divisions, with matches scheduled on Friday evenings.

3-Wall Courts Maintenance Update - This topic was deferred until next month.

Pete Mather Tournament and Spring Swing Dance - The tournament will be held at the downtown Central Parkway YMCA on March 15th. Players should plan to arrive by 8:30 am, and play will start at 9:00 am. This will be a singles tournament, and Bob Lohmueller has agreed to handicap the tournament enrants. Cost is free to any paid GCHA member; non-members will be charged $10.
At 7:30 pm that same evening, the Spring Swing Dance will take place. No changes in this information have been forwarded to the board. Information below is repeated from the January minutes, for convenience.
"Chaser" has been contracted to supply music, and the site will again be the Business Club of Montgomery. Information will be posted on the website, and Carl will prepare flyers for distribution. In order to ensure a "break even" cost for the event, the following prices have been established. Excess revenue will be returned to the Business Club.
a. $30 per couple pre-sale $35 at the door.
b. $18 per single pre-sale; $20 at the door.
c. $12 per lady pre-sale; $15 at the door.

Circle City
Kentucky Championships
Ohio State Championships
Akron Open
USHA Four-Wall Nationals
Caples 3-Wall

January 31 - February 2
February 7 - 9
February 14 - 16
March 21 - 23
June 2nd - 8th
July 26th - 27th

Circle City - Jack Dean was the finalist in the Masters Division, losing to Tom Gak from Chicago. Tournament had 99 participants, including 30 from Lake Forest College. Miami University and the University of Kentucky also had players there.. Marty Clemens won the Open Singles division. Dean/Fite lost in Semi-finals in B-doubles to AJ Arem/Josh Middleton.

Caples 3-Wall - Jim Krailler will start work on the entry form, with the goal of forwarding the information to the USHA within the next month, along with copies to Michigan, Columbus, Toledo, etc. The board determined that the entry fee for the 2003 Caples Memorial will be $30 for the first event, with an additional $10 for a second event.

GCHA donor group, Hoxworth Blood Center
Ralph Weil's request for promotion
Miami University Handball Club's request for funds
Other?

Bob Burkitt
Board
Board
Board

GCHA donor group, Hoxworth Blood Center - Bob Burkitt presented a proposal for establishing a GCHA blood-donation program. In February and March, members would donate in memory of George Coleman. After that, members would make donations in the name of GCHA. This proposal was endorsed by the board. Bob will forward the proposal and a short "public-relations" piece to Jim Krailler for publication on the website, and for possible inclusion in the next ShortLine.

The complete proposal is printed amended to this document.

Ralph Weil's request for promotion - The following message was sent via the GCHA website.

-----Original Message----- From: ralph Weil [mailto:ralphweil@juno.com] Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 11:26 AM To: gcha@ushandball.org Subject: To the board, It is time for the board to actively become involved in promoting handball. Look around and see what the racquetball association is doing. There is fertile ground at UC, Northern Kentucky, all the court clubs, and high schools. I will do my part by teaching teachers how to teach handball. The development fund will furnish equipment. Ralph Weil

Contrary to the implication, the board strongly believes that current GCHA activities do promote handball and has asked for clarification and specifics regarding the request. Further discussion of this topic was deferred until Ralph is available to attend a Board meeting.

Miami University Handball Club's request for funds - Also received via email was a request from Jason Headings soliciting donations to help send members of the Miami Handball Club to the National Collegiate Championships, scheduled for February 19-23 in Portland, Oregon. David Kent proposed returning the team's entry fee of $200 from December's Queen City Shootout, and the board agreed unanimously. David will issue the check, and George will contact Jason directly regarding the decision. In addition, Jim will publish the letter on the GCHA website. It should also be noted that some GCHA members have made individual contributions for this same purpose.

Merchandise - In order to better serve members, the GCHA collection of gloves and balls will be distributed among selected board volunteers. Balls and gloves will now be available from David Kent, Jim Krailler and George Lehocky. Ball price is $6/can for members, $7 for non-members; glove price is $14/pair for members, $15 for non-members. George Lehocky will continue to hold the additional merchandise (bags, umbrellas, shirts, etc.) which can be forwarded on an as-needed basis..

Next
Meeting

Date/Time, Location

Board

Next Meeting - The next scheduled meeting of the GCHA Board is March 5, 2003. The meeting will begin at 8:00 pm, after handball, at a location to be determined. (Burgers were great, but the beer service at Quatman's was not responsive, so we're moving on.) All GCHA members are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Open to all members

Proposal For Establishing A GCHA Blood Donation Program

The recent passing of fellow handballer George “Red” Coleman was a loss to us all. The requirement for blood transfusions for treatment of his illness is a reminder to all of us that the community is dependent upon the donation of blood from its citizens.

Hoxworth Blood Center of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center is a non-profit organization that is the source for blood and blood products in the Greater Cincinnati area. The need for volunteer blood donors is always great and, in times of shortage, crucial to the well-being of the community by helping to assure an ample supply of blood. Many organizations support this activity with special blood drives and through regular donations by members, employees and families. In times of shortage these organizations often are called upon to make special efforts to provide donors.

The Greater Cincinnati Handball Association has been extended the opportunity to participate in this public service activity through establishment of a donor program through Hoxworth. Working with their representative, Dale McMullen, a donor program has been set up to credit the GCHA with donations by its members. Due to the geographical diversity of the membership the usual Bloodmobile concept was thought to be impractical. In its place members can donate in the name of the GCHA at any of the seven Hoxworth facilities in the Greater Cincinnati area and at a time of their choosing to accommodate personal schedules. Individual recognition is provided to donors each time they achieve an even gallon level with each gallon requiring eight donations. Presumably, there are GCHA members who already donate on an individual basis.

It is proposed that:

• During the months of February and March of 2003 the membership at large be encouraged to donate in the memory of George Coleman;
• Some type of premium (i.e., shirts, plaques, certificates) be awarded to donors to publicize the drive and encourage donation during that period;
• A group code, “HDB”, be established for tracking donations in the name of the group - records will also be kept for future individual recognition;
• An article be placed in the next Shortline describing the program and that the information be placed on the website with a link to the Hoxworth website to direct potential donors to additional information regarding eligibility and locations for donation. The GCHA is authorized to utilize any artwork that is on the Hoxworth website;
• The GCHA maintain this activity in the future as a worthwhile community service program;
• The USHA could be made aware of this program as a possible pilot program for community involvement of handball groups and individuals in other areas.