Michigan AAU Boys Basketball

ANNUAL MEETING

Bridgewater Interiors, 4617 West Fort, Detroit , MI

August 30, 2008

Minutes

Officers Present: 

Ron Hall (via Conf. Call), Quinton Watkins, Walter Hall, and Gloria Hall

Members Present:

Isaac Lockhart (FIST), Dymetrius Ware ( Phoenix ), Jerome Collins

(Great Lakes), Glover Earnest (Team Michigan ), Aretha Hood (Showtime), O’Neal Ollie (Kazoo Blues), and Michael Williams (Kazoo Blues).

The meeting was called to order by Quinton Watkins at 12:38 p.m.  Due to a last minute scheduling conflict, Ronald Hall participated in the meeting via conference call and Quinton Watkins, Vice Chair, chaired the meeting.

              I.      MINUTES: Walter Hall

After a review of the 2007 annual meeting minutes, Ronald Hall made a motion to accept the minutes as published, seconded by Aretha Hood. Motion passed.

            II.      TREASURER’S REPORT: Walter Hall

The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.  Motion was made by Glover Earnest to accept the minutes as published, seconded by Jerome Collins.  Motion passed.

          III.      REGISTRAR’S REPORT: Gloria Hall

Gloria Hall presented a comparison of the totals of the past two years.  She stated that at the beginning of the 2007-08 season, emails explaining the new FIND A TEAM FOR YOUR CHILD AAU Program were sent to every parent or player who had emailed Michigan AAU Boys Basketball the previous 12 months requesting contact information for teams in their area.  Also, calls were made to some of the registered clubs directing them to sign up thru the new National AAU FIND A TEAM program.  And as a result, the individual memberships increased. Jerome Collins added that he believed that the participation of his group, the Great Lakes District, was the reason for the increase in the boys basketball membership numbers for this year.  After additional discussion on the increase in numbers, as a point of clarification, Walter Hall said that a sanctioned Roseville league actually helped the membership spike. The participation of teams in the Great Lakes District in actuality had caused a split in the numbers between the two Districts that participated in the Michigan District the previous year. However, since Michigan AAU Boys Basketball had not been provided with any information about the teams participating in the Great Lakes District, the information was not included in the annual report.  To retify this and be able to analyze the impact of the District’s participation levels, the Great Lakes District will provide the names of their participating clubs/teams to Gloria Hall, MI AAU Boys Basketball registrar by email.  And, Gloria will follow-up with their registrar for that information.  Motion made by Walter Hall and seconded by Glover Earnest to accept the Registrar’s Report as published.  Motion passed.

         IV.      CHAIRMAN REPORT: Quinton Watkins

Walter Hall read the Chairman’s Report, as well as the names of all the teams that participated in AAU National Tournaments. Ronald Hall instructed Gloria to send a letter of congratulations to the teams who were medalists in this year’s Nationals.  Motion made by Gloria Hall and seconded by Glover Earnest to accept the Chairman’s Report as presented.  Motion passed.

           V.      OLD BUSINESS

Isaac Lockhart (FIST) asked for a clarification, for coaches and parents, of the rule that does not permit teams to play in two different qualifying tournaments in the same district.  Aretha Hood (Showtime) also asked for clarification of the same rule.  Both clubs played with one of the Michigan State Qualifying Tournaments, assuming that if they did not qualify in one then they could play in the other tournament to qualify for Nationals.  However, they were informed that the AAU rule did not permit play in both Districts.  Walter Hall explained the National rule as it applied to the Michigan District and Great Lakes District. 

The confusion stems from two state qualifying tournaments being held approximately the same time in such close proximity to each other. This does not happen anywhere else in AAU. Originally the intent of the Great Lakes District was to increase participation in areas in Michigan where there was little or no AAU participation. The goal was to open up and introduce the Northern Areas of Michigan to AAU Boys Basketball.

Ronald Hall informed the group that he would contact Cindy Trombly and set up a meeting to discuss the placement of a second qualifying tournament in the same area. Clarification of this situation should end the confusion and result in making our product better and increase participation.

Jerome Collins (Great Lakes) added that he checked the AAU calendar and attempted to not schedule Great Lakes tournaments on the MI AAU Boys Basketball tournament weekends; however, in the case of the 15s, a scheduling change caused a scheduling conflict between the two Districts.

Isaac Lockhart asked that the information regarding the ability to play or not play in two qualifying tournaments be passed on to him and the other coaches as soon as possible so that they have that information available as they play their upcoming season. 

Ronald Hall mentioned that the past two years we have been trying new things and blazing new trails (i.e., district playoffs, etc.) to make our product better.  This year’s goal was to enhance both Lower Michigan and Upper Northern Michigan participation.

Ron also mentioned that the purpose of Super Regionals is to give those teams who did not place in the State Qualifying Tournaments another change to qualify for Nationals.  Ron will follow up and meet with Cindi to make sure we are all still on the same page.

         VI.      NEW BUSINESS 

            Ronald Hall announced that we are moving forward in our efforts to continue to further increase MI AAU Boys Basketball memberships next year.  Currently we have a memorandum of understanding with Detroit P.A.L. for a program collaboration of some type. A motion was made by Walter Hall to go from having a memorandum of understanding with P.A.L. to instead seek a formal proposal from P.A.L. and formalize a working agreement for the 2008-2009 MIAAU Boys Basketball season. Glover Earnest seconded this motion. Motion passed unanimously.

            Kazoo Blues was recognized as the Top Club for the 2007-2008 year.

            Walter Hall stated that a tentative 2008-2009 Tournament Calendar is included in the annual report.  He requested input prior to October 1 since the calendar will be finalized at that time and placed on the website with any needed changes.

            There was discussion about MI AAU Boys Basketball’s hosting Super Regionals over the past six years.  Due to financial constraints, one was not held last year.  However, for the upcoming year, the intention is to again host a Super Regional. 

5.   Aretha Hood asked for and received information on how seeding is assigned at Nationals. 

       VII.      ADJOURNMENT

Ronald Hall signed out of the meeting via conference call at 2:05 p.m.  A motion was made by Quinton Watkins and seconded by Michael Williams to adjourn the meeting at 2:09 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted_____________________________________

                                                                                                Walter L. Hall, Secretary/Treasurer