Newsletter Florida International University Volume 10, Number 1 Fall, 1991 Athletic Director's Report ipants provide additional opportunities for educa­ made more safety oriented with the addition of a tional experiences of value under fine coaching sprinkler system, highly visible railings, and con­ leadership. trollable doors. The financial indicators are also up. We The potential for even greater facilities is on made real progress in our strategy to make FlU the horizon. A new fitness center and, hopefully, , athletics an efficient, streamlined, and solvent pro­ a recreational pool and competitive track are in • gram. We have been particularly successful in our future. meeting the goals set forth two years ago in our Quality becomes the way we world A major mission statement-to achieve superior financial emphasis of Intercollegiate Athletics is the com­ results for our university. mitment to a continuous quality improvement pro­ With increased gate receipts, concession rev­ cess. A take-off of total quality management, we enues, Golden Panther Oub donations, and stu­ call it CQI--Continuous Quality dent fees, our financial support is up. We are Improvement. The University administration knocking on the door of $3 million in operating fully supports this concept as an integral part of All-Conference performer Melanie Krupowicz budget, and are operating in the black. For com­ our operations, and last year, we adopted a depart­ helped lead Golden Panther volleyball to a New South Women's Conference title in 1990. parison purposes, our 1987-88 budget was $1.6 mental quality statement million. It is clear the department strategies set One of the most important changes at FlU is Dear Golden Panther Shareholders: forth in our goal statements since then are showing our willingness to match our progress against the GOLDEN PANIHER ATHLETICS positive results. competition. We measure our performance not CAME TIIROUGH A TOUGH 1990-91 Golden Panther Athletics looks to the against what we did last year, but against what WITH A STRONG PERFORMANCE. In fact, future! Last year was remarl<able because so our strongest competitor did. Our goal is to be it was the best athletic performance of the first four many vital projects that had been on the drawing "nationally competitive and the best," and this years in Division I play in terms of accomplish­ board for the past several years were given the go­ takes teamwork. The team includes our students ment, activities, participants and solvency. ahead. We believe these projects will add to our and athletes, our faculty and staff, alumni, and New South Women's Athletic Conference production, performance, cash flow, and our total you, our fans. championships in cross country, volleyball, and positive results for years to come. Thank you all for getting on the team. It is golf; a third in basketball; and a fine fourth-place The one we have wmi<ed on the longest is the teamwork coupled with CQI that are the major showing in tennis brought the conference All­ baseball complex. Improvements will be made to Sports trophy to FlU for the very first time. our present facility and we look to dedicate a new continued on page 2 For men's sports in the Trans America Athletic stadium by the Spring of '93. The field, as it Conference--a third in cross county, a playoff presently exists, has already been extensively championship in baseball, and a strong showing in enhanced both aesthetically and in terms of play­ tennis, provided us excitement in our first year of ing condition. The same can be said of the soccer conference participation. and recreational fields, due to the great coopera­ Our student-athletes (over 175 accredited eli­ tion of the Physical Plant maintenance force work­ gible through the year) achieved their fmest aca­ ing our areas. demic standards despite their large numbers. Tennis facilities have been substantially over­ Activities, while limited to the NCAA minimums hauled both at the North Miami and University for Division I, continue to look promising with Park campuses and look tremendous and inviting. the addition of track and field in 1991-92 and The team locker rooms in Golden Panther Arena The University will add crew as its eighth NCAA inter­ crew in 1992-93. More activities and more partie- are being enhanced, and the building is being coUegiate sport in 1992-93. Golden Panthers Newsletter Fall 1991 Golden Panther Club President Tito Gomez The Golden Panther Band-Jose Toledo on Club President Tito Gomez and past-president (second from left) congratulates baseball coach­ lead vocals, Gary Allington on guitar, and Oscar Fernandez enjoy the victory party with es (left to right) Rolando Casanova, Danny Pete Lehmann on keyboard--entertains Athletics First Lady Sandy Young. Price, and Tim Reker on the team's first-ever guests at the Spring Dr~ve victory party aboard NCAA Division I regional playoff appearance. the Star Flyer tall ship. Eddie Hondal (left) is congratulated for his role Athletic Director Dick Young congratulates The victory party aboard the Star Flyer Tall as the top money procurer by Athletic Director volunteers who raised in excess of $1 ,000 each Ship became possible thanks to the efforts of Dick Young, Mike Becker, and Stuart Sachs. during the Spring Drive; (I tor) Edya Llan­ Skip Muns (center) of Star Clipper Cruises. eras, Chuck Tinder, Rich Kelch, Jodi Mr. Muns is flanked by Vice President for Stu­ Budin, Wayne Rustad, Oscar Fernandez, dent Affairs Dick Correnti and Athletic Liz Greb, Bob Weltlich, Tom Groome, and Director Dick Young. Richard Gropper. Athletic Program Grows ... forces driving our progress. Some people may of our communication work. We believe that our think quality is the latest operational fad, but the efforts to gain more and better media coverage in FlU basketball is ready to "Full Court Press" the quality movement is a real response to real chal­ newspapers, radio, television, the corporate arena, South Florida community in its ongoing drive lenges. Each Golden Panther sports program and and internally within our own institutional family, for corporate sponsorships, season tickets and public relations. Chairing the "Press" is (left) departmental unit tailors CQI to its own needs and are beginning to take effect. It is clear that-far Sherrill Hudson, managing partner of Deloitte has its own definition of quality. However, our from being over-our communications campaign and Touche. Others taking major roles on com­ administrative and unit definitions share these is just beginning. mittees are: Tito Gomez from Southern Bell, Sam Verdeja from The Miami Herald, Head basic elements. We focus on providing our stu­ Though misconceptions continue to linger, Coach Bob Weltlich, Mike Hash from Toys dents and alunmi with programs and services that there are encouraging signs that general opinion "R" Us, and Ron Perry from Allstate Insurance. meet or exceed their expectations. Management and perception of intercollegiate athletics through­ provides the training and the power to improve out the country, and here at AU, are developing a their program. We review quality as a continuous, new positive image. Forthright communication is permanent process, that is worl<ing and paying off. integral in intercollegiate athletics at AU to remain The effectiveness of leadership ultimately is a leader. In our wide range of efforts to inform our measured by results. That is why the Golden Pan­ public and clarify the national as well as the local ther Athletic program's primary goal is to achieve intercollegiate athletic situation, your help is great­ performance in our four success criteria-activi­ ly appreciated. Spread the word. ties, participants, performance, and solvency-so Thank you for your support and your interest that you as shareholders in our program may mea­ during this first successful year in the decade of Former All-American Pat Bradley (right) sure results that exceed those of our strongest the Nineties. Go Golden Panthers! receives the FlU Distinguished Service Award competitors. Our vision for athletics at AU is a -Dick Young for Alumni at University commencement exer­ cises last April. The award was presented by clean, successful, and healthy program. Director ofIntercoll egiate Athletics FlU President Dr. Mitch Maidique (left). It is impossible to measure precisely the results and Campus Recreation 2 Golden Panthers Newsletter Fall 1991 Executive Director's Report: Please mark your calendars with the fol­ along with six other former Golden Panther lowing special events that help promote and female golfers. This year's event, which is Tito raise funds for scholarships and excellence held in conjunction with the Pat Bradley Gomez dollars needed by our intercollegiate athlet­ Women's Intercollegiate Golf icprogram. Tournament, November 15-17, will take President place at the Miami Lakes Golf Resort. Pro­ Golden Panther INTERIM Am sponsors include Ryder System, Can­ Club teen,the Florida Lottery, and the Graham Dear Golden Companies. Rotating professionals insure ~~GG each foursome plays with every professional. Panther Club members: COUNCIL The cost per golfer is $500.00 and includes a I wish to thank you for y~ diligent Student\ Working For Students clinic, lunch, and a cocktail reception. Corpo­ efforts in making 1990- 91 another outstand­ rate sponsorship opportunities are also avail­ ing year. I extend my appreciation to our Vice IGC/FIU Labor Day 5K able. Contact Jan Allen at 348-2903 for President Joe Toledo and the executive board Run/Walk more information. members for their enthusiasm and (Sunday, September 1st at 8:00 am) commitment Over 700 runners and walkers will partici­ This year's Spring Drive was very suc­ And of course ... pate in this event sponsored by the Interim cessful. We met our goal of bringing in more Governing Council of FlU. Funds raised will th;m $100,(XX) in new dollars, we have ten benefit the track and cross country programs, new corporate sponsors, and club member­ as well as the South Florida Transplant Foun­ ship grew to nearly <ill.