JAGA MEETING MINUTES

 TIMUQUANA COUNTRY CLUB

JULY 21, 2009

OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE:  Jim Edwards, Bob Streightiff, Joe Power, Gary Owensby, Jerry Kay and Lee Crowe.

CALL TO ORDER:  10:30 a.m. by Pres. Edwards

INTRODUCTION OF CLUB PRO:  Tom Pannier, Asst. Pro, welcomed us and pronounced his course as being in very good shape.  He said we would start from #1 to #11 and wished us luck.

MOMENT OF SILENCE:  Pres. Jim asked for a moment to remember those working to keep us free and those of us that are ill and not able to be with us.

INTRODUCTION OF DIRECTORS AND GUESTS:  We had a total of 56 present, including our new member from Eagle Landing.   Also present after a long absence was Warren Healey.  A special welcome to both.

TREASURER’S REPORT:  Jerry Kay reported we have $30,914.43, of which $4240.41 is ours.  The balance is tournament money.

SECRETARY’S REPORT:  Gary Owensby asked and received a motion to accept minutes from last month’s meeting.  Two errors were amended.  Queen’s Harbor was credited for giving $500 from their men’s association and Orange Park credited for $3,400 to the scholarship fund instead of Windsor Park.  Thanks to Frank Knafelc for catching that and Bob Streightiff for the former.  We will now keep tally on the Secretary’s errors, which now stand at 3.

VICE PRES. TOURNAMENTS:  Joe Power reported that the JAGA Junior Tournament, held July 14-15 was filled, and even had a waiting list.  He thanked NFJG Assoc. for their help and the volunteers.  A special thanks to George Halvorsen for his work in chairing the tournament.  He then called on Lee Crowe, who reported that we had only 61 players at Amelia Island Plantation 2-man tournament  on the 20^th.

Bob Streightiff gave his report on the JAGA City  Amateur.  The field was filled, with 81 golfers competing.  He said Palencia was doing a great job and was very good to work with.  Bob gave credit to the volunteers who have volunteered to help; but, asked for more volunteers for a few holes in the schedule.  This was accomplished very quickly.  Bob pointed out that everyone must have on long kahki pants, JAGA shirt and hat.  The hat and a money clip will be furnished to each volunteer.  Must be there at 7:15 Thurs. and Friday, and 7:00 on Sat. and Sun.  Bob  pointed out that the tournament will be held on a 6 club rotation, those being San Jose, Jax Golf & C.C., Deerwood, Palencia, Marsh Landing, and Sawgrass.

Joe Power said Dan Hicken announced results of the Junior Tournament on his tv sports report on Channel 12 and Gary Smits gave a good report in the Journal.

V.P. ADMINISTRATION:   Bob Streightiff announced that next month’s meeting would be at Amelia Plantation on the 18th of August.  September would be at NAS Jax. And Hidden Hills.  At Amelia, we will meet  at The Veranda  and play at the Amelia River Course. 

Security passes for the Sept. meeting at NAS Jax  were discussed by Russ Hamilton, who gave out security pass applications and explained how to send them in.

WEBMASTER’S REPORT :  No report, since Barney is on the road.

SCHOLARSHIP COMM.:  Tom Tierney reported that the Scholarship Committee met June 15^th and selected 6 new scholars.. Marsh Creek’s Jud Ammiano presented a check for $11,010 to the scholarship fund.   Tom said the record was $11,075, held by San Jose.  He was going to give Jud until the end of the meeting to raise enough to beat that record.

Jerry Kay represented Champion’s Club at Julington Creek in presenting a check for $300.

Don Barker gave a history of how Selva Marina Country Club has raised money in the past.  Management reduced the amount from $15 to $10 that is added to members’ bill.  Then they told members they would have to ask it to be added to their bill, and contributors went down to 33.  Don says he is pessimistic and embarrassed to relate this story.  The club had raised money for JAGA for 15 years quite successfully.  Now, club management has changed all that.

OLD BUSINESS:   Russ Hamilton went over what the executive  board came up with for new rules for our monthly game.

1)     Can’t ask to play with certain directors

2)     Can’t request to play with more than one guest

3)     The pairings are also the game’s team

4)     All scores count; no more throwing out the worst score

5)     Ties broken by best three point totals, then best two point totals, etc.

Ed Witten said he had shirts available for new directors.

NEW BUSINESS:  No new business

GUEST SPEAKER:  Joe Power introduced our guest speaker, Mr. Rich Catlette, the head of the Gator Bowl Association.  Joe said he was chairman of the Gator Bowl parade for several years,   “I became aware of all the work that goes into putting on a bowl football game.”  Joe said Mr. Catlette was also CEO of the ACC Championship Game for several years.

Rich Catlette said he owed a huge debt of gratitude to Joe for handling the parade.

Mr. Catlette said he was a product of JAGA.  His dad introduced him to golf a age four.  He knew the Duval’s, the McCumber’s and other area golf families.  He said his dad joined Selva Marina when he was a child.  In 1962, his brother was JAGA Jr. Player of the  Year.  He was given Arnold Palmer’s putter he had used to win the Master’s that year.

“Golf helped build my character”, said Rich.  He played in the JAGA City Amateur, as did his brother, who was a better golfer than him.  He said his brother played Vernon Ray in the Amateur.  Mr. Ray was quite a bit older than his brother.  He turned off his hearing aid during the tournament, making the young Catlette think he was being ignored when he tried to talk to Mr. Ray.  He learned a lesson that on the golf course, it is all about winning.

Mr. Catlette asked us to give a hand for Tom Watson.  He said his father played golf up to the age of 83, and died the next day.  His son is a naval aviator and loves golf.  He said he and his father played in the JAGA Father-Son Tournament, as well as he and his son.

When asked to take over one Gator Bowl job, it was an easy choice, compared to the job he had at the time with the Jaguar’s.  It turned out that one job really entailed 21 events.  The Gator Bowl Association is in it’s 65 th year, with over 66 games.  He said John Delaney came to him and said , “we need to keep the Gator Bowl moving forward”.  Rich asked him why he was so eager to help the Gator Bowl?  Mr. Delaney said his father had taken him to the games, and he didn’t want Jacksonville to loose it.

Rich said they got in trouble for a while by not taking care of the people that bought the tickets.  His first act as director was to lift blackout.  “We must expose our product to the youth of our community, keep the program coming, grow with the community.”  He said we are about economic impact to the Jacksonville community.  He went on to say the Gator Bowl touches every business in the community, in one way or another.  Sales taxes go up 102% during this period in December.

President Jim thanked our guest speaker and presented him with a set of glasses.

PAIRINGS COORDINATOR:  Russ gave information on today’s game.

BLESSING FOR LUNCH:  Mr.  Don gave the blessing.

MEETING ADJOURNED:    11:40 a.m.

Submitted by your humble secretary,

Gary Owensby