MDTA Board Meeting
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Zoom
Present: Nikki Boekhout, Yvonne Cole, , Karen Bahr, Kara Toomer, Betsy Cuquet, Melissa Albright, Leah Fiske, Zoe McCarthy, Shelli Vaughn, Melanie Perkins, Jean Woodward, Shelley McCain
- Call to order
- Approve minutes from previous mtg
- Shelley McCain makes a motion to approve the minutes. Yvonne seconds. Motion approved
- President report:
- By-laws update: Exec board /Board of Directors
- Changes have been shared with membership so they can vote.
- Will need to renominate and reinstall Board of Directors if passes.
- Will get sent to lawyers before August 31 to file.
- Website improvements
- Still want to add Community Service award, new member info, board bios, 2025 scores
- Possibility of having Coaches Only section
- November to March- 2500 hits a day on average
- This could help with sponsors.
- NDCA membership
- National Dance Coaches Association
- Nikki had a free membership last year and would like to continue.
- Nikki proposes to buy a membership for her and Shelley M. Membership cost is $50 per person. Yvonne seconds. Motion passed.
- MDTA Mondays
- Attempt to send ALL communication on MONDAYS only
- This could help with coaches’ feedback about too many emails from too many different people.
- Have either Nikki or Shelley review before emails with significant information are sent.
- Dates
- Sept 8 : Shelli -Membership (Zoom)
- Nov 10 : Betsy- Safety
- Jan 12: Nikki- State
- Board Google Drive
- Missouri State 2026. Everyone has editing rights.
- Put all documents and information into this folder.
- Sponsorship levels
- Sponsorship Canva design
- Shelley and Julie met
- Originally no set guidelines.
- Sponsors: $1000 or higher for access to membership catalog. Program page ads go up to $500 with no access to members.
- Inventory on last year (ex. Varsity didn’t send money, only did hospitality room, but had same perks)
- Keep the ads and QR code.
- Suggest send the checks to Leah if they do not pay online
- Voss Family Foundation has chosen to donate $5000 for this year.
- Need to be thinking about whole program, not just helping for state. They don’t want to donate for a one day experience, but want to donate to support our mission. Community organization wanting to know what we do for our members: video series, scholarships, community service awards.
- Also need to address procedures for follow-up
- Safety Update
- Safety coaches have their books.
- Hot topic grid on website: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pzph0Try90-0wxUMNDuKF8O4Pfw95ngz/edit
- Google Form for regional competitions for safety judges to find patterns before state.
- Coaches quiz update
- MO has finally separated dance and cheer as much as possible on safety quiz
- Shoe proposal update:
- Toni has not yet responded to updated proposal
- Varsity has created its own half-sole: “the perfect turner” https://shop.varsity.com/products/varsity-360-2-dance-shoes?variant=41125111300194
- Varsity and NFHS are owned by the same organization and advise each other. The rule is the same, but the interpretation is up to the contest, according to NFHS.
- Crosswalk with Kelsey at Varsity to compare NFHS rule interpretations between NDA, UDA, and Missouri.
- Rules interpreter/video submissions
- Zoe is now the rules interpreter for the state. It is possible that Tiffany will return.
- Do we want to continue to provide video submissions? If we continue, we need to tighten expectations.
- Google form for video submissions
- State objective
- Time limit for video
- Acknowledge turnaround time
- Document responses
- Possible submission fee
- Membership
- Kicked off August 1st- 45 as of 8/9
- $25 until Dec 1st
- Board members will register on free link (retired/board members/judges)- available soon
- Regional meetings are all set and listed on the website
- Janna’s will be virtual.
- Other states and other Missouri sport teams require attendance at meeting to register for state
- Members only section of website
- MSHSAA sends email to athletic director that has the safety quiz. Melissa created a flyer that went out with the email that had a QR code to lead us to the website.
- State Preparation
- Hotels/transportation- Leah
- Biggest issue: Parking
- Construction in downtown Kansas City
- There will be some complaints from spectators and coaches
- It is a great venue for dancers and members.
- Push teams to bus drop off, carpool, stay downtown
- Solo comp process- 3 schools have applied
- Form created for three schools to ensure availability
- Shelley and Shelli will review, complete site visits, and choose.
- Packet set-up
- To do list in front
- Chronological throughout
- Divisions/schedule
- Nikki will work with Karen to increase transparency and divide labor.
- Committees
- Kick category updated
- Updated on website and in paperwork
- New coaches committee
- Janna is leading creation of packet of information for new coaches
- 2027 State venue committee
- Will start to look at possible venues
- Sponsorship levels
- New committee: coaches conf Spring 2026
- Next mtg: in person in Columbia
Submitted by Kara Toomer