UWM Sports Clubs Seek to Increase Awareness

With over 540 members in various sports clubs at UW-Milwaukee, leaders are launching an effort to raise student awareness of the successes of various sport clubs by staying in contact with student body leaders and reaching out to student publications such as Media Milwaukee and the UWM Post.

“There are many co-ed sports teams like paintball, Frisbee and waterski,” said Chloe Rogers, Council president and kinesiology major. “Most people don’t know that. Ultimate Frisbee may go to nationals.”

Rec Fest is an event that takes place at the beginning of every semester where freshman and those staying in the dorms can learn about the various sport programs available on campus. It occurs on about the second or third day of class in the Union’s atrium.

For next year, the executive board of the SLC will expand by three members, and executive board members will be paid a nominal stipend. Leaders are voted in for school year terms.

The executive board of the Sport’s Club Leadership Council executive board members will be paid a yearly stipend starting next year and will expand by three members, according to Council President, and kinesiology major, Chloe Rogers. The payment schedule will be as follows:

President, Vice-President: $1,200

Treasurer: $1,600

Media Relations: $400

Finance: $400

Outreach and Development: $400

Other items on  the agenda of the Sports Club Leadership Council’s bi-weekly meeting was to  inform members of the general body on how they should present themselves and their budget requests before the Finance Committee. There were about a dozen club leaders present at the meeting.

This 25-plus member general body represents the many sports clubs active and available on campus and was led by Rogers, who called the 7 p.m. meeting to order.

“Badminton, equestrian, tennis, table tennis, sailboat, wrestling, women’s lacrosse, men’s lacrosse…,” on and on it went; it was the roll call for the Sports Club Leadership Council Meeting on Friday, April 1.

Also present was marketing major and Vice-President, Tommy Jonas, and intramural sport club intern and graduate student and Treasurer, Nick Donahue. This Executive Board usually meets about three times a month.

Rogers related dress code information, “business casual,” time limit, “half an hour,” that notes were permitted, and that members may-and are encouraged to-bring others with them while making their presentations. Presentations will be made next week on Monday or Wednesday. The executive board and finance committee will deliberate on level of funding each club receives per their request.

Each club has a structure similar to the executive board; they all have a president, vice-president, treasurer, and a manager (which the executive board does not) who books things like flights, meetings and practice facilities.

“The sports clubs are supported by segregated fees which are about $7 per student. The Council received $272,000 for disbursement after applying to the Student Affairs Committee,” said Donahue. This amount is a $100,000 cut from the $383,000 applied for (Most sports clubs have dues that members pay as well). Additionally, if a team goes to nationals, it may apply to the reserve fund ($5,000) which would be used to pay for tournament fees and hotel and travel expenses. The hockey team receives the most funding because they must purchase ice time. Practice takes place at the Pettit National Ice Center. The stipends were approved by sports clubs’ vote to safeguard quality leadership and because of the amount of work required by officers.  Even with this added expenditure, the department will remain strongly solvent.

“The Milwaukee campus has the highest level of club funding at close to 80 percent,” continued Donahue. Club dues make up the remainder. “Some sports club coaches are paid, while others are volunteer only.”

While this organization and its members were affected by Gov. Walker’s budget cuts, these programs were fiscally in the black before then, and most teams are fully engaged in their own respective fundraising efforts.

Third, on the agenda was the awards banquet taking place on April 25 which was Jonas’ idea.  This will be the first one held. Among the awards to be given are “president of the year,” “new club of the year,” “best attendance” to meetings and practices, and a distinguished award for every student with a GPA of at least 3.5.