Main Operating Procedure

The purpose of the Dowagiac Athletic Booster Club will be to help support sports and athletes at Dowagiac High School.
One of the major functions of the Club will be the sponsoring of the annual All-Sports Banquet for Dowagiac High School athletes.

Funds will be generated through various fundraising activities and donations.

Booster Club Membership

Anyone wishing to join the Booster Club is welcome to do so. Yearly dues of $1.00 are required. Meetings are held on a monthly basis between August and May. Special meetings may be called.

Membership

Any organized and recognized club in Dowagiac will be eligible to send representatives. The meetings will be open to the public but only Booster Club members are eligible to vote on policy and procedures.

A representative of the Dowagiac School System, preferably the Athletic Director, will serve in an advisory capacity. He/she will act in liaison between the Booster Club and the school.

The Booster Club, in order to conduct official business, must have a minimum of five (5) members present. Of these five, two (2) must be officers or one (1) officer and the athletic director.

Officers

The Booster Club will elect, by majority vote, one member to serve as President, one member to serve as Secretary, and one member to serve as Treasurer.

The President will preside at all meetings. The Secretary will keep minutes of meetings and will handle correspondence for the Club. The Treasurer will be responsible for all financial records and monies.

The length of term for each office will be two (2) years, with elections held in August of the election year. The Secretary and Treasurer will be elected the same year, the President the next year.

Finances

The Booster Club funding should benefit more than one (1) sport wherever possible.

The Booster Club will purchase the individual sport trophies for the All-Sports Banquet and bill the sponsoring organization for the cost.

Awards

The Booster Club presents the following awards at the annual All-Sports Banquet:

1. The All-Sports Award to the most outstanding senior male and female athlete.

2. The Sportsmanship Award to a male and female senior displaying the best attributes of sportsmanship throughout their high school career.

3. The Outstanding Freshman Athlete Award to a male and female that most distinguishes himself/herself in athletics during their freshman year.

4. All varsity and junior varsity teams will have an individual sport award winner.

Selection of Sportsmanship and Freshman Awards

The Athletic Director makes these selections after receiving input from coaches, teachers, and high school administration.

Qualifications for Individual Sport Awards

Each respective coach will name his/her sports' award winner(s).

For varsity sports, seniors will be given primary consideration, and then underclassmen in order of their class (juniors, sophomores, freshmen).

Athletic ability, sportsmanship, and leadership will be the chief qualifications for award winners considered by the coach.

An athlete can be eligible for two (2) athletic awards per year, plus the All-Sports Award.

An athlete may repeat as an award winner in an individual sport.

Qualifications of All-Sports Award

The qualifications of candidates for the All Sport trophy will be as follows:

1. Athletic ability

2. Sportsmanship

3. Leadership

4. Must have played at least two (2) different sports. These sports must be ones in which the MHSAA sponsors a post-season tournament.

5. Minimum grade point average must be 2.00

6. Managing is not considered toward the All Sports award.

The winners of the All Sports trophies will be selected by the members of the Booster Club and by the head coach or appointed designee of each varsity sport by a majority secret ballot.

The identity of all trophy winners will be kept secret until trophies are presented at the All Sports Banquet.

Head coaches should make it a point to attend the All Sports voting meeting, but with an acceptable excuse, may vote absentee ballot in the presence of the Athletic Director.

Voting Procedure for All Sports Award

All voting is by secret ballot.

All Booster Club members are eligible to vote if they haven't missed more than three (3) consecutive Booster Club meetings without an excuse or phone contact, and have paid their current $1.00 membership dues.

The Athletic Director and an officer from the Booster Club shall tally the votes.

The identity of all trophy winners will be kept secret until trophies are presented at the All Sports Banquet.

General Information

Money given as donations to individuals will be determined by the membership, on a case-by-case basis.

Any athlete can attend the All Sports Banquet as a guest of the Booster Club.

This standard operating procedure is designed to guide rather than regulate. It can be amended at anytime by a majority vote of the members of the club.

Dissolution of Club

In the event the activity of the Dowagiac Athletic Booster Club reaches the point where it must be finally and legally dissolved, all assets shall be sent to the Athletic Department of Dowagiac Union High School in Dowagiac, with the Athletic Director determining the distribution among the athletic activities of the school. This procedure would follow paying any outstanding debs owed by the Club.