Black & Red Club FAQs

  1. What is the Club’s mission statement?
    The Club’s mission is to improve our student athletes’ experiences while participating in their sports    .

    This mission statement shall be accomplished by: (i) promoting parent and student body involvement in Wolverine athletics by seeking to increase attendance and raise school spirit at athletic events; (ii) interfacing between the coaches and parents so administrative and scheduling matters are timely and accurately communicated; (iii) providing an oversight function with respect to the parent volunteer programs; (iv) coordinating and managing student volunteer programs; and (v) carefully managing the Club’s budget so as to ensure that all boys and girls athletic programs from grades seven through twelve are supported financially.

  2. How will the Club be able to “increase attendance and raise school spirit at athletic events”?
    There are a number of ways to “increase attendance and raise school spirit at athletic events”, but we believe none more important than by work closely with Harvard-Westlake Fanatics, an informal spirited student group with plenty of “pawsitive” pride. We have met with their leaders and have determined that their goals and the Club’s goals are very similar, including a commitment to supporting as many athletic programs as possible. They want to become bigger, better and louder this year, and in order to do so they would like to get new T-shirts, a banner, a drum, and other spirit items. In order to increase attendance at games / events played away, where student fan support often is most important, there also is the need to organize rooters’ buses. All of these ideas are not without a cost, so the Club has decided that it will provide financial assistance this year to Harvard-Westlake Fanatics who we believe have the commitment and energy to make things happen.

  3. How will the Club “interface between the coaches and parents so administrative and scheduling matters are timely and accurately communicated”?
    The 28 Program Coordinators, one for each of the athletic programs, and the Team Parents are key to the execution of many of the Club’s plans, particularly when it comes to communicating with players, parents and coaches. There are links elsewhere on this website where the roles of the Program Coordinator and Team Parent are described.

  4. Exactly what oversight function will the Club have with respect to parent and student volunteer programs?
    Based on parent responses on the Club’s Registration Form, the Club will call on parents to assist in events sponsored by the Club. With respect to student volunteers, the Club has been given permission by the school’s administrators to solicit sophomore and junior-year student volunteers to assist at athletic events. The student volunteer will receive a one-hour student intern credit for one hour of student volunteer service. We believe that many students will find this opportunity to be attractive. Of course, their involvement also will reduce the amount of parent volunteers otherwise required, making it much easier for Program Coordinators to find staffing for their events.

  5. How many athletic programs are there that the Club intends to support financially?
    Harvard-Westlake has 28 athletic programs. They are listed on the Club’s Registration Form and on the school’s web site.

  6. The Club is collecting $50 annual membership dues and then each team may ask for additional money. Why not just one contribution per family?
    The membership dues will be deposited in to a “General Fund”. Team parents or program coordinators may ask families to contribute to a sport specific fund once the season begins. Generally speaking, the Club will have more discretion over how the General Funds will be used. The General Funds will help to ensure that the Club’s mission statement is achieved. A program coordinator or team parent will decide how the monies deposited in to the sports specific fund will be used. Monies in a sport specific fund may only be used for the benefit of a specific athletic program.

  7. How does an athletic program seek reimbursement for an expense already paid for by parents or get an approval for an upcoming expense?
    Consistent with our mission statement, it is the Club’s goal to pay only for expenses that improve our student athletes’ experiences while participating in their sports (a “Qualified Expense”). A Program Coordinator may make a request to the Club for reimbursement of expenses or payment of an upcoming expense (e.g., rooters’ bus, game day programs, pre- and post-season celebrations, senior players’ gifts). Any such request should be submitted to the Athletic Director (Terry Barnum). If the Athletic Director deems the request to fall generally within the parameters of a Qualified Expense, then the Athletic Director shall send the request to the Club’s Treasurer who shall make a recommendation for payment at the next monthly Board meeting. If a request is denied, the Board will provide an explanation to the Program Coordinator.

  8. As a Program Coordinator, if I organize the sale of concessions where does the profit go?
    All of the profits from whatever an athletic program may sell (e.g., the football program sells concessions at every home game) will be deposited in to the relevant Program Fund.

  9. As a Program Coordinator, can we design our own apparel and then seek reimbursement from the Club?
    No. The Club has a Merchandise Coordinator whose is responsible for designing a single line of apparel for purchase by all Wolverine parents. There may be the words “Tennis” or “Water Polo” embroidered on the shirt, for example, to add some level of individual athletic program identity. However, it is the Club’s opinion that we are all Wolverine parents and that our identity should be first to the overall Wolverine sports community, and thus the single line of apparel.

  10. As a Program Coordinator, I would like to know the balance in my Program Fund. How will I be informed?
    The Treasurer will advise all Program Coordinators of Program Fund balances monthly.

  11. As a Program Coordinator, I would like to know what is discussed at the Club’s monthly Board meetings. How can I be informed?
    The Secretary will copy all Program Coordinators on the minutes of each monthly Board meeting. Additionally, Program Coordinators have a standing invitation to attend any monthly Board meeting.

  12. Isn’t the Club really designed for the football team, with all of those players who need to be re-fueled after each game? What’s in it for an entirely different athletic program like field hockey or water polo where we are well-organized and have plenty of parent volunteers? Why should we join?
    The Club’s Board feels very strongly that we have to be able to demonstrate a “value added’ in order to be successful in soliciting memberships from Wolverine families. In other words, the Club needs to be able to deliver something that the players’ parents collectively could not do on their own. We think we’re already dealing with this very effectively in the following ways:
    We believe that spirited student support at athletic events is what every student athlete desires the most. Our commitment to working with Harvard-Westlake Fanatics, and our financial support of their efforts, including the use of rooters’ buses, will make a difference.
    • We’re well on our way towards organizing a student volunteer program that can be beneficial both in terms of staffing requirements at and bringing more students out to our athletic events.
    • We’re looking in to arranging guest speakers who will provide their expert commentary on topics that are appropriate and timely for our student athletes.
    • Through a careful budgeting process, we hope to bring the same positive, enhanced experiences to all of our student athletes, even those that may participate in the “minor” athletic programs.

  13. Who manages the affairs of the Club?
    The Club is managed by a five member Board, which for the 2008 – 2009 school year shall be comprised of: President - Allan Weaver (Coco ’09); Past President - Jeffrey Okano (Alex ’06, Chris ’08, Nick ’10, and Katrina ’11); Vice President - Dave Kenney (Chris ’10); Secretary – Betsy Green (Alexandra ’09, Andrew ’12); Treasurer - Teresa On (Janise ’07, Kevin ’11); Merchandising Coordinator - Rob Heltzer (Max ’11); and Membership Coordinator - Debbie Bulluck (Nate ’10). Terry Barnum serves as Harvard-Westlake Athletics’ representative. If you have any questions about Black & Red Club, please feel free to contact us.