Chronological History of M Club Actions Sep 1990 - Sep 1997 September 1990 - September 1991 President Dan Crowley reported that the Athletic Director agreed to have the M Club represented on all search committees reviewing applicants for new coaches and key department positions. The M Club and the Athletic Department agreed to an experiment, effective January 1992, to use the M Club as the basic vehicle for attracting major scholarship gifts from former athletes. The perks for the various donor levels would be the same for both the M Club and the Terrapin Club. We also agreed to pay 50 percent of the executive director's salary, with the other half (plus secretarial support) paid by the Athletic Department. For the first time, our executive director would be an Athletic Department employee. Connie Carpenter reported that the 33rd Shotgun Social Golf Outing on June 6, 1991 drew a record number of M Clubbers and supporters. Joan Murphy was commended for increasing the number of women athletes participating. They included Lynn Frame, Kay Ward, Brendy Mahaney, Kaaren Ruth, Kay Ruffino, Gwen Backer and Joan Rataloni. Jack Flynn announced a year earlier that he would retire on June 30, 1991. For his services, the Board voted to give him two season basketball tickets and two ACC basketball tournament tickets for life. Jack was replaced on July 1, 1991 by former basketball star and current Director of Athletics at Georgia State, Greg Manning. Greg was recommended by our Selection Committee, headed by Dave Diehl. The Executive Committee agreed to distribute our 10 football mezzanine box seats as follows: two tickets for the executive director and the president. The remaining six tickets will be available for purchase, on a rotating basis, to the Executive Committee, former M Club presidents and other members of the board. Bob Stumpff chaired our 40th Annual Banquet on December 9, 1990. Dr. Jack Faber received the first Distinguished Service Award now named after the late Robert C. James. Bob is a former three-sport letter winner, M Club secretary and the ACC Commissioner for 17 years. His wife, Connie, was present for the first award. The last living founder of the M Club in 1923 died on April 11, 1991. Dr. Reggie Truitt, 100, organized the University's first lacrosse team and served as student-coach. Later as a member of the faculty, he coached lacrosse in the 20s and 30s, winning national championships in 1924 and 1925. Dick O'Neill represented the M Club at his funeral. Len Rodman's 18th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament held on September 11, 1991 was sold out, while another nine foursomes played in a morning round. Over $30,000 was again netted for the Scholarship Fund. Leonard announced that his son, Roy, would join him as a co-chairman of the 19th tournament. Tony Santy was responsible for promoting a successful Homecoming Tailgate Party for the M Club. Our Annual Meeting was held in the new Tyser Tower, Byrd Stadium on September 19, 1991. Treasurer John Simmons audited the books for fiscal '91 and reported a balance of $717,000. September 1991 - September 1992 President Vic Jung reported that new support levels, ranging from $25 to $5,000 went into effect on January 1, 1992. A letter explaining the various donor levels and benefits was mailed to all letter winners. Dues-payers can designate a sport to receive their gift which, for the first time, could be paid by credit card. A new M Club brochure was mailed to all letter winners in May 1992. An initial goal of 1,200 dues-payers was set, with an average payment of $100. The Athletic Department will publish a monthly newsletter that will include a special section on M Club activities. As a result, it was tentatively decided to cease publishing our 32-page "Voice of the Turtle." This saved us about $4,000 annually. Our 41st Annual Banquet was chaired by Jonathan Claiborne on December 8, 1991. George McGowan, former track letter winner and then CEO of Baltimore G&E and Chairman of the University's Board of Regents, received the Robert C. James Distinguished Citizen Award. On the recommendation of Banquet Chairman Jonathan Claiborne, the board decided to change the date of future banquets from December to May. This enables us to recognize the outstanding athletes and coaches for the entire sports year, as well as avoiding possible severe winter weather problems. Greg Manning arranged for a Baseball Card Show in April 1992 in Cole Field House. It made $2,000 for the M Club. The Rodman Golf Tournament increased its revenues by obtaining two corporate sponsors at $5,000 each. The annual $5,000 Hennessey Baseball Scholarship will now be perpetuated through a life insurance program drawn up by Connie Hemphill for Bobbie Scott Hennessey and Kevin Hennessey. Therese Ryan retired as the M Club's office secretary after seven-and-a-half years of superior service. At the Annual Meeting she received a large monetary award for her special skills in serving as our "corporate memory" (she knew every dues payer by name and sport). The Banquet Committee also voted to honor Therese at the next Banquet with an Honorary M Award. Jay Phillips' motion was passed to honor the late George Knepley by displaying a plaque in the M Club office. John Simmons reported that our assets reached $789,000, with dues/donations accounting for $92,758 under the new dues structure. September 1992 - September 1993 President Ralph Lary announced another change in the dues structure - a minimum of $100 would now be required, except for the recent graduates, who will be charged $25. The board voted to increase our annual scholarship donation from $75,000 to $200,000 because of the new program seeking major gifts from letter winners. Greg Manning set up a Network System. He named John Boyle as chairman of the Baltimore district and Wilson Phipps as chairman in Anne Arundel County. Other chapters were planned in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida. The goal was to have a chairman and three committee members in each district, with the M Club paying for mailings. President Lary arranged for eight pre-game socials in Tyser Tower before each home ACC basketball game. Co-captains of the men's soccer team were introduced at the board's March meeting. This is the first of a series of Captain's Council members to be invited. Our office secretary, Dotti Warren, coordinated a program honoring Maryland's 1953 National Football Champions during the West Virginia game. Thirty-five players and their wives and family attended. Dotti also coordinated all of the arrangements for our "Honorary Basketball and Football Captains" being recognized at halftime of each home game. Coach Duffner invited his honorary captains to speak to the team the night before the game and to eat pre-game meals with the team. Steve Lamb arranged for M Club members to buy a watch with an M Club logo, and John Lamon arranged for purchase of an M Club ring. Greg Manning coordinated a clothing line experiment with Terp Territory in which we shared equally in any profits. A record $18,595 was netted from the ACC ticket raffle. Russell Davis chaired our 42nd Annual Banquet on May 7, 1993 where our own Len Rodman was honored as the Robert C. James Distinguished Citizen. Our total assets for fiscal '93 were $822,599 with dues/donations accounting for $80,625. Special events reported a net return of $89,681. September 1993 - September 1994 President Bob Stumpff set up a new committee, under his chairmanship, to arrange for M Club members living in Maryland to purchase special M Club license tags. Effective January 1, 1994, a temporary arrangement was made to shift our investments to the management of the Prudential Co., under the direction of Russell Davis and our Finance Committee. There will be no buy-in fees and all commissions will be reimbursed to our portfolio. The family of Milton Mulitz donated $20,000 to name the men's lacrosse locker room after him. A special dedication was held on April 9, 1994. Chairman Nick Kovalakides and his special committee (Bob Stumpff, Jack Flynn and Logan Schutz) recommended that the University approve its suggestion to name existing unnamed fields and buildings after specific former athletes. The board approved this recommendation that went forward to the Athletic Director and was discussed with key members of the Board of Regents. The 43rd Annual Banquet was held on May 5, 1994 and chaired by Bob Bodell. The recipient of the Robert C. James Distinguished Citizen Award was Johnny Holliday, the "Voice of the Terrapins." Prior to the banquet, a special reception was held for the women's national championship field hockey team. Our assets for fiscal 1994 were $802,172. Dues and donations accounted for $93,560 from 430 members while our special events netted $30,730. For the second straight year we made a $200,000 scholarship donation to the Athletic Department. Greg Manning implemented a "Open a Terp Locker" program. By designating a $3,000 gift to the sport you competed in as a Terrapin, your name becomes a permanent fixture on a locker in your team's locker room. Only former athletes' names are eligible to be placed on a locker. All donations go to the Facilities Campaign. September 1994 - September 1995 The board approved President Jonathan Claiborne's recommendation that the M Club support a reorganization and consolidation of the Athletic Department's fundraising efforts. The merger joins together the scholarship efforts of the M Club, Terrapin Club and the Maryland Educational Foundation. Jack Heise drew up this reorganization plan for the Athletic Department. It essentially returns the M Club to its pre-1992 role where membership dues begin at a modest $25. We continue to retain full control over our investment portfolio and our special promotions. However, our Executive Director is now fully paid by the Athletic Department and is reponsible for coordinating all special events. The Athletic Department named our Executive Director Greg Manning as Director of Major Gifts for the Department. The Department temporarily appointed recent football graduate Richie Harris to replace Greg until June 1995. The M Club then replaced Richie with long-time board member and former president Bob Heinbaugh. Bob agreed to volunteer his services until a permanent replacement was selected. A Search Committee was appointed by the Athletic Department to recommend a new executive director. It was chaired by President Claiborne and assisted by Jack Flynn, Bob Heinbaugh, and several others in the Athletic Department. The new appointee would be a full-time employee of the Athletic Department, also responsible for coordinating all special events. The M Club office was moved from Room 1142 in Cole Field House to an office next to the lobby. The new office is located exactly where our first "permanent" office was in 1971 (then known as the Trophy Room). Ben Dyer died on November 24, 1994. He was a former tennis team captain. His estate left a $450,000 gift to the Athletic Department. This gift will be used to support the Capital Campaign. President Claiborne appointed the following new committee chaimen: Bob Weiss (finance); Ralph Lary (membership); Jack Heise (sports representatives); Tony Santy (dues/benefits); Van Sigworth (newsletter); and Jack Flynn (historian). Our 44th Annual Banquet was chaired by Bryan Borda on April 28, 1995 where Col. Tom Fields was honored as the recipient of the Robert C. James Distinguished Citizen Award. The board decided again to temporarily experiment by participating in a monthly newsletter produced by the Athletic Department entitled "Terp Talk" rather than resuming the "Voice of the Turtle." Van Sigworth will publish his famous column on former athletes every other month. Our special promotions will also be featured. The board approved Logan Schutz's recommendation to have a minimum of two board dinner meetings annually, inviting at least five prospective active members as guests. At the Athletic Director's request, the M Club donated $1,000 to pay for two tables at the ACC's Football Banquet in Atlanta for representatives of the bowl games. Bob Heinbaugh arranged to have our tickets used by Maryland letterwinners living in the Atlanta area. John Simmons announced that, for the third consecutive year, the board voted to contribute $200,000 to the University for athletic scholarships. Dues/donations collected amounted to $106,330 during fiscal '95. Our total assets increased to $825,023. Special events, however, netted only $26,088, but we collected $13,851 from a new program - credit card commissions. On September 16, 1995, the James H. Kehoe Track and Ludwig Soccer Field was dedicated. It was built at a cost of $2.5 million. September 1995 - September 1996 Jonathan Claiborne was re-elected to serve a second term as president in order to more efficiently coordinate the M Club's new role with an incoming executive director. On November 2, 1995, the M Club signed a new Operating Agreement with the University whereby we agreed to commit 50 percent of our investment income (funds/dividends/interest) each fiscal year to the Athletic Department, rather than paying a set amount of scholarship aid. This agreement will be effective in fiscal '96 (see Appendix J for a copy of the Operating Agreement). David Diehl, a swimming letter winner and board member since 1974, was named our executive director effective January 1996. He was recommended by the Department's Search Committee and approved by the Athletic Director. The other M Club members were Jack Flynn and Bob Heinbaugh. Jonathan Claiborne chaired the Search Committee. Under the initiative of Bob Stumpff, the unique M Club license plate program was approved for sale to dues payers and life members living in Maryland (see Appendix L for application). This program netted $1,220 in fiscal '96. Ralph Lary was responsible for the M Club hosting two pre-basketball receptions held in Tyser Tower on January 6 and March 2, 1996. A new brochure was mailed to all members in January 1996 explaining our new role and the return of a dues structure to $25. All donations above that amount can be directed for payment to a specific sport. Chairman Jack Heise provided a list of the M Club's sports representatives for each of Maryland's 24 teams. Bob Heinbaugh received a special recognition and a gift for the superb volunteer services he provided as our interim executive director from June 1995 to January 1996. Laura LeMire was elected as our assistant secretary, replacing Bob Bodell who was transferred out of town. Dave Diehl met with all of the head coaches to familiarize them with the M Club's role. The M Club's banner, used at all of our special events, will be replaced by a new lighter-weight version. Logan Schutz headed a committee to raise donations for the possible naming of the University's Golf Course after Frank Cronin. Frank was the motivator for the construction and development of the Golf Course. He also served as its director, golf coach, and head pro for 33 years. Our 45th Annual Banquet was co-chaired by John Lamon and Bryan Borda on May 3, 1996. Former football All-American quarterback and College Hall of Famer Jack Scarbath, was honored as our Distinguished Citizen. Doug Poindexter and Ed Gregory chaired a "Final Four Lacrosse Alumni Weekend Reunion" on May 24, 1996. A golf tournament was held on May 25, together with a Bull Roast tailgate party. The Rodman Celebrity Tournament generated over $57,000 with a net profit estimate exceeding $40,000. Our fund balance reached $933,770 during fiscal '96. Special events earnings remained static at $26,932. Our dues collected amounted to $18,102 with a return to our $25 dues structure. Credit card commissions, however, more than doubled to $29,870. We paid the University $10,889 for scholarship aid under our new operating agreement. September 1996 - September 1997 Russell Davis was elected president. In addition, Laura LeMire was named as assistant secretary and Marshall Fesche as assistant treasurer. The First Annual Letterwinners' Day was held at half time of the opening football game on September 7, 1996. Nearly 200 former letter winners were honored with a brief ceremony on the field. Tony Santy arranged for a 1964-69 football team reunion at the October 19, 1996 Homecoming game. Dave Diehl formed an M Club Career Development Program Committee. It is headed by former football letter winners Larry Dickson and Mike Settles. The program provides a network for former athletes willing to assist recent graduates with guidance and mentoring about employment and career opportunities. Tom Fields, Jack Heise and Bob Weiss were major contributors in helping to raise over $7,000 to purchase computers for Athletic Student Services. A Constitution Review Committee, earlier appointed by then President Jonathan Claiborne, submitted a revised Constitution to the board. It was approved on November 21, 1996 (see Appendix K). The Committee was chaired by Logan Schutz. Its other members were Jack Flynn, Bob Heinbaugh and Jack Heise, with Jonathan Claiborne serving as an ad hoc member. The board meeting for January 16, 1997 was held at the Fireside Inn. The inaugural President's Cup brunch honored 70 athletes on April 13 for their academic achievements and community services. The M Club sponsored the brunch awards and certificates. Terp Talk will now feature a special column entitled "From Your M Club Executive Director." This new feature will be in addition to Van Sigworth's "News and Views from M Clubbers All 'Round." Membership dues letters were mailed to all letter winners by sport. It provided our letter winners with specifics about their team sport, encouraging them to actively participate in the M Club. Another Lacrosse Alumni Day was held on April 12. It featured a men's game with Hopkins at 1:00 p.m. and a women's game with Harvard at 6:00 p.m. Former letter winners were introduced at halftime of each game, and there was a tent party. Despite the rain postponing golf play at the newly named "M Club Cronin Shotgun Golf Outing" on June 3, a luncheon program was held at the Inn & Conference Center paying tribute to Frank Cronin. A Memorial Monument describing Coach Cronin's accomplishments was presented. It will be erected close to a new golf Club House to be built in the near future. A plaque listing all donors contributing $500 or more will be a part of the monument. So far $20,000 has been raised. If enough money is subsequently donated, the new Club House could be named in honor of Frank. The rained out 39th Annual Golf Outing was rescheduled for June 17. Unlike past years, only one tee time was held, at 9:00 a.m. Our 46th Annual Banquet was co-chaired by Laura LeMire and Bryan Borda on May 2, 1997. The M Club's Jack Heise was the recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award. Jack is a former president of the M Club, Terrapin Club and Alumni Association. He was most recently awarded the Tyser Medallion for outstanding service to the University of Maryland. At the banquet, it was announced that Barry Gossett, former business partner of A.V. Williams, donated $1 million to the Athletic Department. He subsequently made a $2 million gift at the Homecoming game with Clemson to name the football team house after Mary and Barry Gossett. As of September 30, 1997, there were 612 paid and life members. Marshall Fesche reported that, for the first time, our assets exceeded $1 million in fiscal '97. They reached an estimated record of $1,168,355 with our investments accounting for $1,060,861. Our membership dues collected totaled $17,704, while our credit card commissions grew to $37,699. The Rodman Golf Tournament netted $38,391 and the ACC Raffle netted $17,536. The University was paid $17,889 for scholarship aid under our new operating agreement.