MIGS Program/CGA Activity and Call to Action
Dear Gymnasts, Coaches, Judges, Alumni and Friends of Gymnastics,
The Men's Intercollegiate Gymnastics Support Program (MIGS Program) in conjunction with the College Gymnastics Association (CGA) has been working hard to preserve, protect and expand collegiate gymnastics opportunities for our young gymnasts. It is our goal to have at least one men's varsity college gymnastics team in every State. With all of our junior gymnasts in mind, we work toward that end. The overriding questions regarding this effort are: "What can you realistically do?" and "What have you done?"
In answer to the first question, here's what we can do and what needs to be done:
1. Call the question Nationally
2. Educate the Gymnastics Community about the situation
3. Build positive relationships with College/University AD's and Administrators
4. Marketing
5. Fundraising
6. Investing the Endowment to ensure an annual growth rate of 5%
7. Negotiate with colleges/universities to bring programs on line
8. Revenue Distribution (athlete scholarships, training of coaches, and creating self-sufficient team programs)
9. Build coalitions with other organizations and entities
10. And more and more and more...
With regard to the second question;
The MIGS Program has engaged in an effort to inform the gymnastics community of the need to expand opportunities for young male gymnasts through the retention and expansion of collegiate programs. Bob Wuornos & Mike Burns have set out on a mission to present information at Regional Congresses throughout the country. Bob has attended Region 1 (Santa Clara, CA), Region 2 (Portland, OR), Region 4 (Iowa City, IA), Region 6 (Boston, MA) and GAT (Gymnastics Association of Texas in Austin, TX). Mike attended Region 5 (Indianapolis, IN) as well as making a presentation at the ECAC Convention in late September in Albany, NY. The purpose of these efforts was to inform and generate support for this effort.
Bob's effort have included a significant amount of travel to large meets around the country to make presentations and encourage the gymnastics community to get involved in this effort. He has also engaged in a dialog with the College Sports Council (www.collegesportscouncil.org) and has been appointed to the Board of Directors of this organization. Furthermore, his efforts have created an Endowment Fund that had accumulated $50,000+ by the end of 2007.
Distributions to date include:
" $2500 to the University of Minnesota "Save Gopher Sports" fund with was instrumental in keeping the University of Minnesota as a viable varsity college gymnastics program
" $15,000 to the College Sports Council to help this organization continue the battle for equity in sports
" $500 donation to the College Gymnastics Foundation for the Nissen-Emery Award Endowment
Near term goals include channeling resources to some viable college club teams that are coached but not recognized as varsity programs. The intent is to help these coaches elevate their respective programs to varsity status.
The MIGS Program/CGA is also actively pursuing the re-establishment of programs at some major universities with real potential (sorry, names of institution cannot be revealed at this time). These are all major efforts requiring money. It is the intent of the MIGS Program and the CGA to ensure that at least 80% of funds donated go into and stay in the endowment fund. For operations costs, however, the MIGS Program sells t-shirts and host a National Invitational and National Open Optional (L-10 rules) in March at the University of Minnesota. All meet information is posted on the opening page of the MIGS Program website (www.migsp.org).
FUND RAISER
The MIGS Program is currently engaged in a fund raising effort through t-shirt sales. For this purpose, "J O Dynamo" was created. J O Dynamo is a Junior gymnast aged 16-18. He has been training for ten years in hopes of competing in college. J O asks that you help him reach his goal. He asks that you and every gymnast, judge, coach, and parent buy a "College Gymnastics...tuned in" t-shirt for this purpose (www.migsp.org/shop/). His goal is to sell 12,000 t-shirts by Thanksgiving. he asks that every coach of every team have his/her gymnasts buy a t-shirt and each parent buy a t-shirt. So, please consider this request and act on it promptly.
Please order these t-shirt by November 25. Orders received by November 25 will be processed in time for the Holidays. Wear the t-shirts to practice, meets (for warm-ups) and especially, find a college meet to attend and wear it there in support of the men's collegiate gymnastics program. Thanks for taking the time to read all of this. The fact of the matter is, we need your active support of this effort. Please "tune in". The future of men's college gymnastics depends on YOU. You can make a difference.
