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I got this e-mail this morning as I had pledged $50 towards their fight to retain baseball. Unlike most Shocker fans I am a believer in UNI and its athletic program and believe we have a lot more in common with them then most think. I also hate to see any baseball or wrestling squad getting cut as once they are gone it is almost impossible to get them back (See WSU Football). There new approach is different then the last and could have a far reaching effect on Title IX and athletics if it works. No doubt that the deck is stacked very much against them. This Shocker fan wishes them luck.
supportUNIBASEBALL.com
C/o ARENSON & MAAS, PLC
425 Second Street SE, Suite 900
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
319-363-8199
Dear UNI Baseball Supporter:
THE UNI BASEBALL WAR IS NOT OVER.
This e-letter is sent to you as a supporter of and contributor to the UNI Baseball Program. The effort to save UNI Baseball continues to be led by two dedicated Iowans: Gary Sharp, owner of Advanced Heat Treat Corp in Waterloo, Iowa(contributed to this effort to date approximately $35,000 toward costs in our first attempt to influence UNI) and Jerry Ford, owner of Perfect Game USA in CedarRapids, Iowa (contributed and pledged to this effort to date approximately $15,000 toward costs in our first attempt to influence UNI). Gary and Jerry areworking with 8-10 other local volunteers in an on-going effort to retain UNI Baseball. Thank you again for your earlier monetary pledge to assist in retaining the UNI Baseball Program. Your follow through to make good on your pledge is nowessential. This letter will update you on our efforts and strategy going forward.
HISTORY.
As you probably know, the UNI administration again rejected our group’s offer to privately fund up to $250,000 per year to continue the program. We cannot find any rational economic basis for the elimination of UNI Baseball. We have concluded that the proposed elimination of UNI Baseball is for the sole purpose of either throwing the faculty or the Board of Regents a bone. The Board of Regents wants to reduce the State of Iowa’s athletic contribution to UNI Athletics and an outspoken cadre of UNI faculty seems to want all athletics eliminated.
NEXT STEPS.
1. Our Options. UNI’s latest rejection leaves us with two options. We can turn our backs on our 103 year-old successful program or we can take more aggressive action. You have already demonstrated your commitment by pledging dollars to retain the UNI Baseball Program—now we need to receive payment in order to put the plan outlined below into immediate effect. supportUNIBASEBALL.com
April 30, 2009
Page 2
2. Plan of Attack. Subject to collecting sufficient funding, we have engaged a Washington D.C. attorney specializing in college sports cases like ours. He will proceed to send a letter to UNI demanding that the UNI Baseball Program be restored immediately and stating that a lawsuit will be filed fourteen days later if UNI refuses. Assuming that UNI does not restore the program within the time period set forth in the letter, then plaintiffs with legal standing (including players and perhaps others who have been harmed by UNI’s actions) will file suit. The suit will seek a preliminary injunction. Our legal theory will be based on Title IX (reverse discrimination) and the 14th Amendment (equal protection). Our counsel and several other attorneys who are members of our group believe that we have a good chance of success. Importantly, if we are successful, then UNI will be forced to restore the Baseball Program and we will not be required to provide any of the funding going forward. A win would save us money and would eliminate the inequity of UNI Baseball paying its way while other UNI athletic programs are not compelled to do so. The cost of litigation is estimated to be less than $60,000 including all costs, expenses, and legal fees.
3. Your Payment. In order to proceed, we ask you to pay 50% of the amount of your initial pledge as soon as you receive this e-letter. We have arranged for the funds to be received by a non-profit foundation named PG Foundation, Inc., under the control of Jerry Ford and Perfect Game USA. We believe that your contribution may be tax deductible; however, your accountant will have to advise you with respect to any such tax deductibility. All funds will be used only for the purpose of funding the lawsuit. There will be absolutely no administrative or other charges or expenses in connection with funds raised except that any use of credit cards will result in a 3% reduction in your contribution in order to cover costs. There are no expenses related to this letter or any other efforts in connection with organizing this effort—all have been done on a voluntary basis by those who want to retain UNI Baseball. In the event that we raise more funds then necessary, then each contributor will receive a pro-rata refund (after deduction of any credit card fees, if any).
ACTION TO TAKE NOW.
Payment by Check: Mail your check as set forth below in the amount
of 50% of your earlier pledge amount. Please make the check payable to:
PG Foundation, Inc.
C/o ARENSON & MAAS, PLC
425 Second Street SE, Suite 900
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
supportUNIBASEBALL.com
April 30, 2009
Page 3
Thank you for your support—while there is no guarantee of success, with your immediate help, we sincerely believe that we will succeed in our effort to retain UNI Baseball. If you have questions, please call or e-mail any of the persons listed below.
Sincerely,
supportUNIBASEBALL.com
Approved by:
______________________
Gary L. Sharp
Work: 1.319.232.5221
sharpg@ion-nitriding.com
______________________
Jerry Ford
319.298.2923
jerry@perfectgame.com
______________________
Jim Ecker
319.298.2923
jecker@perfectgame.com
______________________
James H. Arenson, Esq.
Work: 1.319.363.8448
jarenson@arensonlaw.com
supportUNIBASEBALL.com
C/o ARENSON & MAAS, PLC
425 Second Street SE, Suite 900
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
319-363-8199
Dear UNI Baseball Supporter:
THE UNI BASEBALL WAR IS NOT OVER.
This e-letter is sent to you as a supporter of and contributor to the UNI Baseball Program. The effort to save UNI Baseball continues to be led by two dedicated Iowans: Gary Sharp, owner of Advanced Heat Treat Corp in Waterloo, Iowa(contributed to this effort to date approximately $35,000 toward costs in our first attempt to influence UNI) and Jerry Ford, owner of Perfect Game USA in CedarRapids, Iowa (contributed and pledged to this effort to date approximately $15,000 toward costs in our first attempt to influence UNI). Gary and Jerry areworking with 8-10 other local volunteers in an on-going effort to retain UNI Baseball. Thank you again for your earlier monetary pledge to assist in retaining the UNI Baseball Program. Your follow through to make good on your pledge is nowessential. This letter will update you on our efforts and strategy going forward.
HISTORY.
As you probably know, the UNI administration again rejected our group’s offer to privately fund up to $250,000 per year to continue the program. We cannot find any rational economic basis for the elimination of UNI Baseball. We have concluded that the proposed elimination of UNI Baseball is for the sole purpose of either throwing the faculty or the Board of Regents a bone. The Board of Regents wants to reduce the State of Iowa’s athletic contribution to UNI Athletics and an outspoken cadre of UNI faculty seems to want all athletics eliminated.
NEXT STEPS.
1. Our Options. UNI’s latest rejection leaves us with two options. We can turn our backs on our 103 year-old successful program or we can take more aggressive action. You have already demonstrated your commitment by pledging dollars to retain the UNI Baseball Program—now we need to receive payment in order to put the plan outlined below into immediate effect. supportUNIBASEBALL.com
April 30, 2009
Page 2
2. Plan of Attack. Subject to collecting sufficient funding, we have engaged a Washington D.C. attorney specializing in college sports cases like ours. He will proceed to send a letter to UNI demanding that the UNI Baseball Program be restored immediately and stating that a lawsuit will be filed fourteen days later if UNI refuses. Assuming that UNI does not restore the program within the time period set forth in the letter, then plaintiffs with legal standing (including players and perhaps others who have been harmed by UNI’s actions) will file suit. The suit will seek a preliminary injunction. Our legal theory will be based on Title IX (reverse discrimination) and the 14th Amendment (equal protection). Our counsel and several other attorneys who are members of our group believe that we have a good chance of success. Importantly, if we are successful, then UNI will be forced to restore the Baseball Program and we will not be required to provide any of the funding going forward. A win would save us money and would eliminate the inequity of UNI Baseball paying its way while other UNI athletic programs are not compelled to do so. The cost of litigation is estimated to be less than $60,000 including all costs, expenses, and legal fees.
3. Your Payment. In order to proceed, we ask you to pay 50% of the amount of your initial pledge as soon as you receive this e-letter. We have arranged for the funds to be received by a non-profit foundation named PG Foundation, Inc., under the control of Jerry Ford and Perfect Game USA. We believe that your contribution may be tax deductible; however, your accountant will have to advise you with respect to any such tax deductibility. All funds will be used only for the purpose of funding the lawsuit. There will be absolutely no administrative or other charges or expenses in connection with funds raised except that any use of credit cards will result in a 3% reduction in your contribution in order to cover costs. There are no expenses related to this letter or any other efforts in connection with organizing this effort—all have been done on a voluntary basis by those who want to retain UNI Baseball. In the event that we raise more funds then necessary, then each contributor will receive a pro-rata refund (after deduction of any credit card fees, if any).
ACTION TO TAKE NOW.
Payment by Check: Mail your check as set forth below in the amount
of 50% of your earlier pledge amount. Please make the check payable to:
PG Foundation, Inc.
C/o ARENSON & MAAS, PLC
425 Second Street SE, Suite 900
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
supportUNIBASEBALL.com
April 30, 2009
Page 3
Thank you for your support—while there is no guarantee of success, with your immediate help, we sincerely believe that we will succeed in our effort to retain UNI Baseball. If you have questions, please call or e-mail any of the persons listed below.
Sincerely,
supportUNIBASEBALL.com
Approved by:
______________________
Gary L. Sharp
Work: 1.319.232.5221
sharpg@ion-nitriding.com
______________________
Jerry Ford
319.298.2923
jerry@perfectgame.com
______________________
Jim Ecker
319.298.2923
jecker@perfectgame.com
______________________
James H. Arenson, Esq.
Work: 1.319.363.8448
jarenson@arensonlaw.com
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