What to know for Packers shareholders’ meeting

The Green Bay Packers annual shareholders’ meeting is held in the Lambeau Field bowl, rain or shine. The Packers have been fortunate that “rain” has never been tested, but “shine” has its own challenges.

The forecast for Tuesday’s 11 a.m. meeting is for sunshine, with temperatures in the mid- to high-80s. For anyone who might be making their first trip to Lambeau Field, know that those cement stands and metal seats get hot in a hurry.

Brett Favre’s induction into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame on July 18 was held in the evening, but it was hot and humid and there were calls for heat-related medical care. The Packers executives will be wearing business suits on the stage, but lots of water and appropriate summer attire are recommended for shareholders. As during the season, umbrellas are not allowed in the bowl.

The Packers are the only publicly owned team in U.S. professional sports and the only one to have an annual meeting. The team has 363,948 shareholders who can transfer stock to their immediate relatives, but cannot sell or trade shares. Owners get no dividends, but they do vote for directors, attend annual meetings and get some other perks.

Shares were sold five times in the team’s history, most recently in 2011-2012, when $65 million was raised to support $312 million in improvements to Lambeau Field during the past four years.

The meeting’s agenda will consist of remarks by President and CEO Mark Murphy and General Manager Ted Thompson, as well as reports by directors heading various committees. Though Thompson has made an art form of revealing nothing, his talk on the football aspects of the organization is the most anticipated portion of the meeting.

The Packers said they expect a normal turnout for the meeting, which means about 12,000 to 14,000 shareholders and guests. Training camp practices begin Thursday, so some shareholders stay for several days.

The record annual meeting attendance is 18,707, set in 1998. Last year’s attendance was 14,759.

The Packers plan no special event this year, such as a locker room tour, but shareholders can visit the new 1919 Kitchen & Tap restaurant, which opened Friday. It replaced Curly’s Pub in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

Broadcaster and former player Larry McCarren is the only new director nominee. His term would end in 2017.

Those up for reelection, with terms ending in 2018, are:

• Dan Ariens, president/CEO, Ariens Co., Brillion. He has 10 years on the board.

• Casey Cuene, managing partner, Broadway Enterprises, Ashwaubenon and Green Bay, 12 years.

• Susan Finco, president/owner, Leonard & Finco Public Relations, Green Bay, 14 years

• Philip Flynn, president/CEO, Associated Banc-Corp., Green Bay, 1 year

• Michael Haddad, president/CEO, Schreiber Foods, Green Bay, 1 year

• William Kress, president/CEO, Green Bay Packaging, Green Bay, 13 years

• Thomas Kunkel, president, St. Norbert College, De Pere, 5 years

• Donald Long Jr., retired, 3 years

• Michael McClone, president/owner, McClone insurance, Menasha, 16 years

• Thomas Olson, retired, 9 years

• Gary Rotherham, vice president-sales, The Elite Group, De Pere, 15 years

• Michael Simmer, president, BMO Harris Bank, Green Bay, 10 years

• Dr. Elizabeth Trowbridge, faculty, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, 1 year

• Mike Weller, president, Miller Electric Manufacturing Co., Appleton, 8 years

• Michael Wier, owner, Kroll’s West Restaurant, Green Bay, 21 years.

Moving to director emeritus status is Larry Weyers. Weyers was lead director and an executive committee member. The Packers confirmed in June that Susan Finco will succeed Weyers on the seven-member executive committee, which effectively runs the organization, and Thomas Olson will become lead director.

— Contact rryman@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @RichRymanPG or on Facebook at Richard Ryman-Press-Gazette. Or call him at (920) 431-8342.

Packers shareholders’ meeting information

• The annual Green Bay Packers shareholders meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday. The meeting normally concludes about noon or shortly thereafter.

• Parking lot opens at 8 a.m. Parking is free. Seating will be available at 9 a.m.

• Access to the stadium will be through the Miller Lite, Oneida Nation and American Family Insurance gates.

• Lambeau Field Atrium will be open to shareholders and guests only from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• The meeting will be webcast to shareholders. Information on accessing the webcast was included in proxy statements mailed to shareholders.