April 2025 Meeting Minutes

CMSA Board of Directors Meeting – April 2025

April 17 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM CT 2025

Center on Halsted

Attendees

  • Kevin Deitz 
  • Ed Hayes
  • Christina Lopez
  • Chris Mackoul
  • Ladimer Geake
  • Geoff Robinson
  • Shay Wilkerson
  • Joe Green (Softball Commissioner)
  • Melissa Weaver
  • Bill Barrett 
  • Koplan Nwabuoko 

Minutes

  1. The minutes for the February meeting and the March meeting were approved.
  2. Kevin Dietz presented the Treasurer’s Report, and reported that/on: 
    1. Uncashed checks sent to Illinois unclaimed property
    2. CDs converted into Savings count
    3. Hardship fund
    4. Excess 2024 Beach Volleyball funds transferred to 2025
      1. Previously approved in email vote
  3. Two board resignations were announced:
    1. Ron effective Apr 9, 2025
    2. Christina effective Apr 18, 2025
  4. To fill the open officer and board positions created by the resignations, the elected members of the board made the following appointments effective immediately:
    1. Ed Hayes was appointed Vice President of Operations
    2. Koplan was appointed President
    3. Bill Barrett was appointed Secretary
    4. Shay Wilkerson was appointed Vice President of Athletics 
    5. Melissa Weaver was appointed to the board of directors
  5. There remains one open seat for an appointed member of the board of directors.  It was discussed that the seat would be left open until the upcoming election but any board member could nominate someone to fill the seat in the interim.  
  6. It was discussed and agreed that the following changes should be made to the league liaison assignments and other ongoing projects: 
    1. Both basketball leagues and the Cornhole league recently completed their seasons.  Bill will serve as liaison for any post season matters.  
    2. Bill will serve as liaison for both softball leagues.
    3. Shay will serve as liaison for both football leagues.
    4. Chris will serve as liaison for Pickleball and Kickball
    5. Chirs will oversee west side/south side expansion
    6. Ed and Bill will oversee the website
    7. Ed will expand his involvement in Events 
  7. Commissioner Corner
    1. The Commissioner for Open Softball addressed the board on the following: 
      1. Restoring team fees to make it easier to get sponsors.  Geoff to follow up. 
        1. Ed to give Geoff Robinson contact details 
      2. The poor condition of the Park District fields. Melissa/Matt will check with Park district on court conditions
      3. The need for this year’s permit.  Kevin will follow-up with Matt about Permit
    2. The board generally discussed raising sponsorships for the entire organization versus individual leagues.   
    3. W+ Volleyball commissioner election
      1. Ed to help Christina
      2. Matt to send in Monthly newsletter open the Newsletter 
    4. Storage Locker/Trailer (Ed)
      1. Ed To talk to Flag Football 
  8. BSA/CoH – Inclusive naming for divisions
    1. BSA & CoH proposal
      1. No update
      2. Waiting for proposal.
      3. Geoff to follow up.
  9.  Committee Member/Chair Details
    1. Travel Committee, No Update
  10. Conduct Committee
    1. Code of Conduct posted on website
    2. Herek complaint
      1. Koplan talked to the commissioner of the time
      2. Koplan will talk to Richardson
      3. Koplan will talk with Kyle Palmer
  11. Park District – Matt
    1. Permit Status
    2. Beach Volleyball request more courts
  12. Marketing Committee
    1. Lad provided a report on the activities and proposals of the Marketing Committee
      1. Swag Proposal (Lad)
      2. Motion for budget: $5,500 – Approved
    2. CMSA Member T-Shirt (Kevin)
      1. Discussed a design competition, how to compensate (money/CMSA Fees/Merch), brand guidelines, 
      2. Opt-In (Ed) process, order as needed, but 1 per person. 
      3. Motion for budget $15,000 of shirts – one nay
      4. Motion for budget for contest rewards and polishing $1,000 – one nay
    3. Facebook/Instagram Update (Ed)
      1. eSports facebook successfully added
      2. Will continue slowly adding other sports
  13. Events
    1. Pride Parade
      1. Chris talked to Bears
      2. Chris –requested $2,500 additional funds ($8,500 total); motion made and carried
    2. Report on COH Gala – Ed, Matt, Chris, and 3 other commissioners attended 
    3. Additional Galas  –     Alliance Banquet, Chris to follow up w specific proposal re cost
    4. Member Party
      1. Chris, Ed and Matt will fill in for Ron. 
      2. Swag
      3. Drag performers – Chris sought input re use of funds for drag kings/queens – $1,500 to $2,000 approved
      4. Christina – use remaining drag funds (about $1,000 to $1,500) for sport games) .  No objection. 
      5. Kevin asked about marketing for event 
      6. Additional Insurance Procured for the event
  14. Bylaws.  It was determined that the vote to amend the Bylaws presented to the Members in July 2024 was approved by more than two thirds of the members who voted thereon.
    1. Ed will update the current Bylaws so that they reflect the amendment.
    2. Bill will propose to the next meeting several changes to the Bylaws that can be presented to the members for ratification in the next board election.   
  15. Board election.  A call for nominees will be included in the next newsletter with dates, process, and the open positions.
  16. Business carried to the next meeting:
    1.  Expense Report Process and Timeline
      1. Create protocol for this
      2. Add details on intake form
    2. How to handle eSports overall
    3. Google Search Performance -Ed  https://search.google.com/u/3/search-console?resource_id=https%3A%2F%2Fchicagomsa.org%2F&hl=en
  17. Next meeting May 14, 2025, 7 pm
  18. Adjournment: 9:08

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