Great Lakes Maritime Academy Alumni

Great Lakes Maritime Academy Alumni

Annual Board of Directors & General Meeting Minutes

13 February 2010

Great Lakes Maritime Academy

A regular meeting of the Board of Directors and members of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy Alumni Association was called to order in room 222 of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy), at 10:05 a.m..

The following directors were present:

Mike Taetsch	(President)	Linda Lieder
Robert Noffze	(Vice-president)	Nicole Runyon
Jon Olney	(Treasurer)	John Sherburn

The following directors were absent:

Scott Powell	(Secretary)
Rich Frizelis
Susan Lieblein

The following Alumni members were present:

Tim Dunn	Mike Surgalski	Dave Sobolewski
Amanda Rogers	John Hayes	Matt Shwarz
John Rogers	John Henry	Bob Mason
John Biolchini	Bill Yockey	Tom Reeber
John Abbott	Martin Hughes

The following guests were present:

John Tanner

(Superintendent)

Reports and Presentations

Superintendent’s Report

RADM John Tanner spoke to the members regarding recent developments at the Academy including his resignation – effective 30 June 2010.  He focused the first part of his remarks on the positives from the last ten years:

• Noted that the Great Lakes Maritime Academy was listed, in company with many prestigious academic, research and governmental institutions, as a partner in the Great Lakes Research Institute of Duluth (affiliated with the University of Wisconsin Superior and the University of Minnesota Duluth), funded by a grant from the US Department of Transportation to study Great Lakes Shipping.
• GLMA Sail Team continues to participate in regional and national yacht racing regattas bringing visibility to the program.  GLMA will host an event in West Bay 11-12 September 2010.
• Captain Surgalski and Matt Shwarz have expanded the Training Ship Spring voyage to a fifty day Sea Project.  This should include opportunities for more river trips for the deck cadets and an onboard 1^st year electricity class for engine cadets.
• Ferris State University contributed a three week machine tool / welding class in 2009 that NMC was unable to offer.  John felt that the quality of the labs and instructors at Big Rapids was a big improvement and hopes to continue and expand the partnership with FSU for this training.
• GLMA graduated 23 officers in 2009 (14 engine, 9 deck) and anticipates graduating 18 officers (7 engine, 11 deck) in 2010.
• Change in the schedule for the 4^th year cadets that will have them take License Prep in the Fall of their last year and write their CG exam after the New Year.  This will allow them to finish up any further education requirements and receive their License/credentials at graduation in May and be ready to go to work immediately.
• MARAD Basic Grant to the Academy is $400K and the State Academies will be working in Washington to get that raised to $600K.  They will also lobby to get the Training Ship Maintenance and Repair fund for all six ships increased to $12.5 million and secure a fuel budget of $1.2  million.  MARAD is continuing to prepare plans for the next phase of upgrades to the T/V State of Michigan including more berths for cadets.
• US Navy Reserve Midshipmen Student Incentive Pay (SIP) is now $8K a year for each participant and now has more appeal for students.
• Recruiting continues to attract great quality cadets.  Cadet body today stands at 131 (76 Deck / 55 Engine).

Superintendent Tanner continued his remarks by identifying the problems and challenges facing the Academy:

• Funding is a major concern.  Federal agreement with the States is that the States will match federal funding of state maritime academies.  MARAD will fund GLMA $400K in 2010.  The State of Michigan, through NMC has reduced its funding to $40K.
• GLMA cadets now pay about $329 per credit hour plus a $500 per semester “Technology Fee” which makes a total beyond that of most four year universities in Michigan.
• NMC is seeking a program to grant a (120 credit hour) four year degree to GLMA graduates from NMC.  NMC has promised the State that they will not ask for additional State money to support this degree which is another indication of funding deficiencies.  The disposition of the FSU four year degree is in doubt.

Admiral Tanner concluded by reporting that GLMA continues to be regarded nationwide as a “Quality Program.”  A recent STCW audit was passed with “zero deficiencies” and other academies are intending to copy our success in this process.  GLMA graduates continue to be identified as desirable hires and have a history of remaining in the field.  He identified the work of his predecessor Superintendents, the hard work of his current staff and the performance of the alumni as component parts of the successes GLMA has attained to date.

He added that as his resignation was in protest – and accepted very quickly at NMC – that he is not in a position to personally help with further efforts to get the funding problems corrected.

Mr Tanner concluded that while NMC is a great community college, the survival and future of the Academy is dependant on establishing itself as a “State entity.”

Department Head Grant Reports

Deck Department

Mike Surgalski gave a report on the spending of the Deck Department Grant for 2009.  The money was spent to produce copies of the 1981 Nautical Almanac for deck cadets.  They use the books in celestial navigation, for license prep and for studying for upgrade.

Captain Surgalski added more details on the shift of the 4^th year cadets’ schedule that allows them to test earlier and then finish up last requirements to receive license at graduation and on the expansion of the T/V State of Michigan Spring training cruise to seven weeks.

Mike also added some background on RADM Tanner’s resignation.  He provided that NMC has been communicating to the staff at GLMA that they do intend to fill the position but there is no indication on the timeline, requirements, or possible candidates.

Engine Department

Chief Dave Sobolewski (Department Head) and Matt Shwarz reported that the Engine Department did not receive the Alumni Department Grant check from 2009.  Jon Olney confirmed that the check (No. 1115 in the amount of $250) had been cut, delivered to the Academy and had cleared.  Mike Taetsch remarked that the money was likely put into the Engine Department account by the staff and the instructors were not notified of its availability.  Matt Shwarz indicated that the department has many small needs for which the grant would help.

Recruiting Department

Mike Surgalski gave a brief report for Jon Berck.  He indicated that a 1^st year class of 57 cadets reported aboard ship.  There have been a few drop out for personal reasons.  The remaining cadets, about 50, are a strong and capable group that should find success in the program.  Matt Shwarz complimented Jon Berck on the quality of cadets recruited to GLMA.

Alumni Presidents Report

Mike Taetsch reported that up until RADM Tanner’s resignation in February, it had been a quiet year for the Association.  He asked the members to consider how the Alumni might respond to the need to fill the Superintendent’s position and assigned that issue to New Business.

The Cadet Scholarship Selection Committee: Nicole Runyon, John Hayes, John Sherburn and John Rogers were reviewing the applications and their recommendations would be handled in New Business.

Secretary’s Report

Mike Taetsch reported that Alumni Board Member and Secretary Scott Powell had taken a teaching position at California Maritime but wished to remain on the Board.  The minutes from the 2009 Alumni meeting prepared by Scott Powell were reviewed.  John Hayes made a motion “That the minutes of the 2009 Meeting be accepted.”  Motion seconded by Bob Noffze.  Motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report

Alumni treasurer Jon Olney presented the Financial Report for 2009 – 2010.  He indicated that the Association has received sufficient donations to fund scholarships for the foreseeable future.  There followed a discussion about recognizing people who make contributions to the Alumni Scholarship Fund, possibly listing them in a newsletter or on the web site with their permission.  Jon Olney mentioned that he sends out letters of thanks from the Association for these contributions.

Jon Olney explained the contribution of Tim Dunn for the “2009 Anchors & Aprons BBQ” which was made by Tim in the name of the Alumni Association to support the event.

Jon Olney and Mike Taetsch explained the President’s authorization to purchase a gift for John Tanner which was a last minute but necessary purchase.  All present agreed in the decision to approve the funds for the gift.

Jon Olney also reported that he had secured a debit card for the Alumni President to allow him to handle necessary expenses.  Those transactions were included in the Financial Report.

Tim Dunn thanked Jon for a particularly clear and detailed report.  Tim Dunn made a motion “That the Treasures Report be accepted as presented.”  Motion seconded by Linda Lieder.  Motion passed.

Old Business

• Mike Taetsch reported that the process to get the Association registered with the State for the running of fund raising raffles continues and will be finished this year.  He thanked Jon Olney for getting the Association “officially recognized” by the City of Traverse City as a non-profit fund raising entity – a necessary step in the State process.

• Tim Dunn reported that the fee to maintain the Alumni web site for 2010 will only be the $15 to continue the registration of the URL (GreatLakesMaritimeAlumni.org).  The server, Traverse Global Communications, provides that any non-profit which generates a new paying account from a different customer will receive a year’s free hosting and that was achieved this year.  Amanda Rogers volunteered to edit the web page for 2010.
• Mike Taetsch has set up a “Face Book” page for the Alumni Association.  It will be linked to the web site and vice versa.  Any Face Book member can join the Great Lakes Maritime Academy Group.
• There was discussion of providing job posting information through the Association to the Alumni.  Tim Dunn urged that such information, which is difficult to keep current and accurate, be kept off the Alumni web site and instead handled by the Academy.
• It was reported that there were some Alumni who didn’t get the Annual meeting mailing.  Mike Taetsch said he was aware of the problem and believes that it was mostly limited to 2009 graduates who did not get transferred to the Alumni database.  Mike reminded the members that we rely on the Academy to gather and update the Alumni database.  Tim Dunn cautioned that an Alumni attempt to maintain a separate database would lead to unnecessary duplication of effort and error from miscommunication between the organizations and databases.

New Business

Bob Noffze made a motion “That the Deck and Engine Department Heads be granted $250 each for 2010”.  Motion seconded by Linda Lieder.  Discussion followed that the grant amount be increased as need and money was available.  Motion was withdrawn by Mr. Noffze.

Tim Dunn made a motion “That the Deck and Engine Department Heads be granted $400 each for 2010”.  Motion seconded by John Rogers.  Motion passed.

The Cadet Scholarship Committee recommended the following applicants for consideration:

• Deck Scholarship – Jeff Layton
• Engine Scholarship – Andrew VerVelde

There was discussion about raising the amount of the Scholarship or of awarding more than two this year.  The award has been $500 for several years.  It was noted that the costs of the maritime program to the cadets have increased dramatically in the last year.  It was also reported that the Scholarship Account has over $4,000 available including surpluses from prior years donations and the current year’s successful funding of the Scholarship account.

Tim Dunn made a motion “That each of the cadet scholarship candidates approved by the Alumni Scholarship Committee for 2010 be awarded $750.”  Motion seconded by John Sherburn.  Motion passed.

The members took up the issue of the Superintendent’s position.  Mike Taetsch pointed out that John Tanner’s surprise resignation has left the Association behind on our response.  He proposed that the Alumni move quickly to get ahead of the issue and to position ourselves to have the most positive impact on the outcome.

There was discussion of the good work accomplished by John Tanner in his 15 year tenure and how that had followed a past pattern of relatively short term Superintendents.  It was agreed that a replacement that might be “in for the long haul” would be more valuable to the Academy than someone only grooming himself for a job at a larger institution.

Chief Sobolewski and others commented that a candidate with real experience on the water, on a license, was critical to gaining respect and support for the position.

There was an extended discussion of how the Alumni Association might best contribute to the selection process.

Mike Taetsch made a motion “That the President of the Alumni Association should ask the President of NMC for a meeting to express the Association’s desire to assist in the search and selection process for the position of Superintendent, our goal being to place a representative on any committee set up by NMC for that purpose.  The Alumni President should then follow up with a letter to the NMC President confirming any agreement of Alumni representation.”  Motion seconded by Bill Yockey.  Motion passed.

Bob Noffze added that the person selected to represent the Alumni in the process should have as little history as possible with the contentious issues that the Academy has faced with NMC almost since the beginning.  Dr. Nicole Runyon volunteered to be the Alumni representative should that opportunity be available.

Mike Taetsch suggested that the Board write a letter to the local newspaper, The Record Eagle, detailing John Tanner’s accomplishments during his tenure at GLMA and our thanks.

Election of Board Members

The President opened the floor to nominations to replace the following members whose terms expired:

Linda Lieder	Board Member	(Expire 2010)
Sue Lieblein	Board Member	(Expire 2010)
Michael Taetsch	President	(Expire 2010)

The following individuals were nominated to serve on the Board for the next term:

Michael Taetsch	Nominated by Bill Yockey
John Biolchini	Nominated by Bob Noffze
Roger Henry	Nominated by Linda Lieder

Bill Yockey made a motion “That the nominations be closed and that those nominated be accepted to the Board.”  Motion seconded by Tim Dunn.  Motion passed.  These Board positions expire in 2013.

Jon Olney made a motion “That the meeting be adjourned.”  Motion seconded by John Hayes.  Motion passed.

Meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING:

The new Board of Directors met immediately after the General Meeting to elect the officers for the upcoming term.  The officers are as follows:

Mike Taetsch	President
Bob Noffze	Vice President
Jon Olney	Treasurer
John Biolchini	Secretary

Election of the officers was the only business to be handled at this time by the Board of Directors, and the Board Meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Tim Dunn, Acting Secretary