Carroll Rotary Meeting Minutes 6/17/24
Attendance: Adam, Trevor, Chris, John, Lynn, Ann, Bob W., Bob F., Joel Swanson
Guest: Jim Feauto – Regency (Alzheimer’s Association Picture for donation from Rotary)
No Birthdays or Anniversary’s
Brag Bucks:
- Lynn Curry’s son Mike took his steam powered car on the bourbon trail with him and was one of the younger guys and receive some recognition. Excellent trip and highly recommend. His son Rob was able to make it back from Germany permanently after serving a few years overseas and was able to see Lynn for Father’s Day.
Announcement:
- Trevor Babcock will be leaving Carroll and Carroll Rotary the end of July as he took a new position as head Editor for the Our Iowa Magazine out of Ames. He appreciated the great experience and time spent with everyone and he and Sara have really loved Carroll.
Speakers: Chris Whitaker and Jim Auen (Merchant’s Baseball)
- 25-30 players from all over the US (11 states – this year Australia and Canada are represented)
- There is a ton of community support.
~ 12,000 people generally attend a 22-game season from late May thru July
- Families open their homes and players become family. (Bob Woodhouse has had players stay and still gets Christmas cards)
- Amazing to watch these players come together, integrate in the community, and come together as a team in a short time.
- Merchants are part of the Mink League. Next League up is the North Woods League. A lot of opportunity to play and get seen for future minor league recruitment.
- Merchants is unique in that it is a 501C3 volunteer/local community run team versus others that have a full-on owner.
1. Different coach and most players are different every year.
2. Recruiting starts in September and the job is year-round almost.
3. $60-$70K per year to operate the league.
- Funded by beer sales, some gate fees, game sponsors, program sponsors, boosters, and private donation.
- Merchants Park is 75 years old this year
1. Unique story to the original fundraiser and build through the Farner family and their salespeople
2. 3200 fans were at the first game vs Harlan
3. $1million in improvements to the structure was done in 2018
4. New fundraiser is going on some key improvements that need done to accommodate ADA, State Baseball, safety, and the future needs of our local teams.
* Expand/deepen dugouts due to equipment, number of players, safety, and air flow
* Press box redesign and reconstruction
* Nets down both baselines to protect spectators from foul ball
* New ADA seating and raising bleachers down 1st and 3rd base lines to help with folks with disabilities, scooters, and the like
* Lighting upgrades
* $1.5 million estimated for project
- striving for another $103,000 in private fundraising at this time to go with city money, grants and other funding being worked on.
* City hoping to begin project updates the end of the season
* State baseball is said to be staying for another contract and they hope to have confirmation soon.
Next meeting is Monday, June 24th with Samantha Morine from the National Pork Board as our speaker.