Minnesota Associated Press Sports Association Annual Meeting

June 9, 2004
The MAPSA board and membership held a business session as part of the group's June 9 meeting at the Star Tribune.

As minutes of last year's business meeting were considered for approval, Star Tribune sports editor Glen Crevier asked if AP had followed up with the state high school league on concerns expressed then about some league operations. Pyle said he had not, never having received a summary of the problems from MAPSA members.

He pledged that AP would send a letter within two weeks of the current meeting, by June 23, outlining specific concerns of the membership and solicited MAPSA member observations to be emailed ASAP to him at: dpyle@ap.org.

Among issues raised at this meeting were the league's substandard Web site and too many press passes for state tournaments winding up in the hands of relatives of athletes and those people milling around or sitting in areas reserved for the working media.

The minutes were approved.

BUREAU REPORT
Pyle told members that Minneapolis sports writer Dave Campbell would be covering volleyball at the Athens Olympics, an assignment that testifies to good work he's done for AP.

Pyle also highlighted significant sports coverage of the past year, including playoff runs by the Twins and Timberwolves and the breakout season of the University of Minnesota women's basketball team.

He said the bureau will soon have a new, permanent night supervisor: Amy Forliti, a St. Paul native transferring from the Providence bureau, where she served as correspondent.

Pyle said the Marshall Independent had requested more sharing of small-college features, and said the bureau is happy to oblige. He encouraged members to proactively share their stories -- and photos -- AP has seen good use of the additional sports topics the bureau began moving last year, he said.

He also drew members' attention to brochures on two new services, page-ready sports agate and Olympics content for online usage. Regarding the page-ready agate, major league baseball is in use around the country and AP plans call for the same agate service to be available for the NFL and NBA seasons. Pyle asked members who would be interested in an NHL version to let him know.

Dave Campbell told members that the AP All-State teams process was working fairly well, except the deadlines for nominations are not always met. That makes it difficult to guarantee that all deserving players are up for voting, he said. He invited members to suggest anyone he might add to his e-mail distribution list.

Campbell also said he would send out a list of football poll voters later this summer, and said he welcomed any volunteers not currently participating.

2005 MEETING
Board president Tom Elliott, St. Cloud Times deputy sports editor, said the group needs to make sure a representative of the Minnesota State High School League is at next year's meeting. Members discussed possible dates that could avoid conflicts with state prep tournaments, perhaps the last two weeks in June.

Pyle suggested a brief survey of members for best date and for programming ideas. Crevier suggested members should be asked if they want educational panels or newsmakers. Elliott said he likes both, and a mix makes it easier to get managerial support for his attendance.

Crevier said planning needs to begin earlier, and those present agreed to meet Jan. 12 for a lunch meeting in the AP bureau to do that. Pyle will email all members sometime in December, inviting anyone interested to attend along with the MAPSA board members.
Crevier offered to have the Star Tribune host the meeting again next year, and Elliott said the location works well with a Twins game.

NEW OFFICERS
A new slate of officers was nominated and approved:

President:
Ben Pherson, Red Wing Republican Eagle

First Vice President:
Duaine Sanden, Leighton Broadcasting (Grand Forks)

Second Vice President:
Craig Gustafson, Duluth News Tribune

Third Vice President:
Jen Seavey, New Ulm Journal

The meeting adjourned.