Board of Directors Meeting: Wednesday, July 17, 2024

 

WEST POINT SOCIETY OF DENVER

Board of Directors Meeting

MINUTES OF MEETING – Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Meeting conducted remotely via Zoom

 

Call to order – By President Steve Best at 7:04 PM

Attendees

·        There were 11 board members in attendance: Steve Best, Tim Griesmer, Sam Thiessen, Chad Dalton, Jace Johnson, Katie Wilson, Joel Martin, Tina Morris, Alec Lee, Shannon Sharrock, Tyler Roden

·        A quorum was established.

Secretary’s Report

·        Minutes of the January 24, 2024 Board Meeting were approved 11-0.

·        Minutes of the February 24, 2024 General Membership Meeting were approved 11-0.

Treasurer’s Report

• The Society ended 2023 with $28,600 in cash. The current balance of all accounts is $23,510.30.
• Year to date income, approximately $21,600, is comprised of dues, donations, and ticket sales.
• Founder's Day resulted in an approximately $8,200 loss and WPLEC resulted in an approximately $925 loss.

·        Approval of the treasurer’s report was deferred due to Mike Euperio’s absence.

·        The board discussed whether there should be an outside review of Society financial statements or even a full audit. This conversation will be resumed at a later date.

Membership Report

·        Derik Timmerman is the new membership director but was absent from this meeting.

·        Steve thanked outgoing board members and welcomed new board members.

2024 Founder’s Day AAR

·        The Dean was well received by attendees and Jace Johnson remarked that the Dean made a very favorable impression at the cadet candidate meeting.  

·        Jace said the candidate meeting is probably too large, and the board should consider only inviting candidates who have accepted an appointment next year.

·        There is general agreement among the Board members that the Society can no longer sustain the average loss for the Founder’s Day dinner. Several members of the Board supported the idea of raising the cost of Founder’s Day next year to keep the event at the University Club but also to lessen the financial cost to the Society.

·        The Board will need a new lead planner for Founder’s Day next year. Andy Benson recommended that a committee should be appointed to run Founder’s Day rather than one individual. He also recommended that planning must start a lot earlier, particularly if the Board is considering a change of venue.

2024 WPLEC AAR

·        There was significant growth in the WPLEC between last year and this year.

o   232 total registered participants

o   198 registered students & faculty

o   12 faculty/teachers/counselors/chaperones

o   98 male students

o   88 female students

o   Approx. 15 no-shows

o   67 schools participated

o   59 West Point files opened

 

·        The Society lost about $925 hosting the event. Joel hopes the fundraising will be better next year.

• There were many positive comments on the content and structure. There were not really any complaints about parking, food, and/or venue as we had last year. It helped having an entire facility to ourselves for the event.

·        Jace said that the moderators performed well with 1/3 returning and 2/3 new. They were highly motivated and easy to recruit and keep informed. Next year there needs to be a bench for last minute cancellations. The  JO’s from Carson and West Point Women stepped up with the help of Shannon Sharrock’s outreach.

• Suggestions for improvement mostly regarded giving more time to breakout groups and less to introductions and discussion of materials.
• One faculty member suggested that they be allowed to roam to different groups rather than be assigned to a specific breakout group. They also suggested that they be given a separate presentation regarding West Point Admissions and what all academies are looking for.
• Alec Lee has agreed to begin taking over Jace’s role next year. Jace has already begun transferring information to him.
• Planners recommend that in order to boost recruitment, we firm up venue by January 15 and start sending email blasts at that time too.
• We have outgrown the current facility for this event. The suggestion for next year is that the event be held at a high school, or that the planners work with a large public or parochial school on spring break to use theater and classrooms. Wednesday or Friday are the best days to hold WPLEC. Jace suggested that trying to schedule the event during spring break would make it easier to find a facility and recruit attendees.  
• Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools do not have the facilities to host.
• Douglas County Schools has expressed interest in hosting at either their LoneTree Campus or at one of their high schools just off of I25 in Castle Pines. The contact information was forwarded to Alec Lee. They will charge the absolute lowest price that they can charge - no public school will allow use of a facility for free. This may be the most financially feasible option.
• GEN Casey indicated that his schedule might be more challenging next year and the planners should think through a list of possible replacements.

 

Admissions Update

·        Class of 2028: 34 Offers, 20 new cadets accepted and entered on R Day, 12 declines, 2 offers withdrawn, 1 medical turnback from last year is returning. The last 2 years we sent 28 & 27, respectively.

·        Class of 2028: none of the 11 of 12 MOC PNOMs accepted their offers to include on PRES PNOM.

·        Sending 4 to USMAPS (1 Athlete, 1 Enlisted, 2 Leadership)

·        2029 off to a good start: 321 files opened - several more than this time last couple of years; full year run rate is about 330

·        New Field Force platform makes managing candidates much easier.

·        Field Force is well staffed but always looking for dedicated volunteers; sign up online - vetted by Admissions and existing FF leadership.

 

Distinguished Society Application

·        2023-2024 Distinguished Society Application was submitted ahead of the deadline.

·        The Society met all criteria and was +24 elective points above the minimum needed for distinguished society status.

·        The award will be presented at the AOG Leader’s Conference.

·        Tim will send out a copy of the submitted application so that the Board has visibility on the criteria required for the award.  

Service Academy Alumni Golf Tournament

·        September 6, 2024 @8:00, shotgun start. Navy is lead planner. 40 players signed up so far.

·        Chad Dalton asked that the link to the website be resent to the Society.

·        Event will benefit Special Forces Society charitable organization.

·        Merchant Marine Academy will be participating this year.

·        Have 5 financial sponsors this year for the tournament.

Summer Picnic

·        Steve Best asked if there is any interest in planning a summer picnic this year. The board decided we need to find a Young Grad representative and probably plan a picnic for next year.

Army-Air Force Watch Party

·        Last year’s Army-Air Force tailgate was very successful.

·        Chad Dalton suggested the Society should partner with the Air Force Academy Quarterback Club of Denver to plan a watch party. He will reach out to gauge interest.

Army-Navy Watch Party

·        The Society will plan another Army-Navy watch party for this year.

New Business

·        Sam suggested we conduct an engagement survey. Alec Lee volunteered to draft a survey in the next couple months.

·        Steve is preparing a general news bulletin for the general membership of the Society.

 

The next meeting will be Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 6:00PM.

The meeting adjourned at 8:34 PM.

Submitted by: Tim Griesmer ‘02