Niagara Swimming, Inc.

District Annual Meeting

November 12, 2000

Syracuse

Board of Directors Attending: Frances Klier, Ron Paradis, Marcia Callan, Stephen Snyder, David Finger, Mary Paladino, Ruth Whelehan, Steve Root, Mike Cahill, Jamie Adams, Mike Baines, Gerry Lofthus, Kathy Derrick, Bruce Derrick, Mike Ross, Keith Shields, Gary Karl, Paul Bartlett, June Mundt, Cheryl Carpenter, Jim Bowen

The meeting was called to order at: 9:10 a.m.

Frances introduced the Board.

Minutes from the Semi-Annual meeting of June 2000 were approved.

Reports:

Frances Klier-General Chair:

Frances recognized the current Board, and thanked them for their participation.

She reviewed the monetary support for the various big meets: $500 for Senior Nationals, $450 for the U.S Open, $350 for the Sectional meet held in Section I, $400 for the Cadillac Challenge (only if in LC, one payment for the entire series, held June to July). Adjustment will be made as needed to take into consideration location of meets and additional dollar support received by swimmers from other sources.

Frances recognized the people who went to the National Convention, and thanked them for their efforts. She attended a national meeting for the General Chairs; a report will be in the next Sprints.

Niagara District had a large number of votes this year, due to our members’ participation at the National level, and delegates at large. Niagara District sends all eligible vote participants to the convention.

Next year for our Semi and Annual meetings, we will be asking for clubs to R.S.V.P. so that adequate meeting room accommodations can be made.

Ron Paradis-Administrative Vice Chair:

Ron reviewed the calendar and sanctions up to now. He noted the handouts in each club packet.

He reviewed legislations that were acted on at the Convention. Attended the insurance meeting, also became certified to serve on the National Board of Review. All protests received by Board of Reviews need to be acted upon in 10 days.

Ron also attended sessions on safety.

Ron noted changes in information for two meets- Webster 1/7, and Silver Districts, changes were for meet directors and phone numbers.

Barb Paradis-Calendar

Barb attended as a Delegate at Large. She attended sessions on Marketing, Understanding Diversity, Women’s Issues and Effecting change in your Club and LSC.

Barb reviewed the current Meet Calendar- The mail vote did not get a 90% response, so the calendar could not be approved at that time.

The Meet Calendar for February – April, 2001 was voted on, and approved by a majority vote.

The Meet Calendar for April – June, 2001 was voted on, and passed by majority vote.

The meets proposed for July and August , 2001 were orally reviewed. Discussion was held on two Buffalo meets (STAR and RAYS) scheduled for the same time. Although they are in the same area, they are targeted for two different groups of swimmers. RAYS expressed concern for adequate coverage available for people to run the meets. A vote was held, and a majority of those present voted in favor of accepting the schedule as it stands.

November 25^th is the deadline for anyone wanting to bid on a summer meet.

Marci Callan-Senior Chair

Marci has been elected as the National Chair of the Age Group committee. Congratulations!

Marci reported on her participation at Convention, focusing on Age Group Planning, Senior committee, and camps

Florida will be bidding on the 2012 Olympics.

Age group planning: Discussion focused on skills vs. times. Marci will copy and make available to clubs. Ideas on how to reward skills? What is success??

National top 16 discussion…is this a way of rewarding the genetically blessed? May keep times, but take out rewards.

Will need to put together coaches information to support this.

Camps: Not much changing, 1^st weekend in May will be our local camp. Looking for hosts, (3), if interested, let Marci know. Staff is provided.

Information on Select camps went out to each club and coach.

ND may be hosting a Zone distance camp. The date is not set yet. Waiting for information from US Swimming, probably in May…so that kids from that camp can be selected for the national camp run by USS.

Marci listed the ND swimmers that attended the Olympic Trials: Drew Disinger-PACK, Joe Peresean-EAST, Amy Cottrill-FAST, Kim Black-SHARKS, Katie Cowen- SHARKS, KaraLyn Joyce- UNAT, Mark Gangloff-Clarence. Kim Black made an Olympic relay team.

She also listed the swimmers who made Juniors held in Ohio.

Lindsay Holman-FAST, Holly Williams-FAST, Jamie Adams-FAST, Carly Chornobil-FAST, Lectie Altman- SYCH, Edward Amyot-GRRR, Martha Whitsler-EAST, Abby Delia-EAST, Allie Dean-SHAQ, Kara Lynn Joyce-UNAT. Evan Koenig, Edward Amyot, Rob Dunn and Jeff Hurst from GRRR qualified for the 400 MR. The STAR teams for the women’s 400 FR, men’s 400 FR and men’s 400 MR also qualified. (No names were available for these teams.)

Steve Snyder-Treasurer

Steve reviewed account balances, as per hand out sheets.

We are in good shape in comparison to other LSC’s across the country.

An internal audit is being conducted and will be reported on in the next few months.

Please use the club strengthening program so that we can support our swimmers. (i.e. given: camps, clinics, and coach’s clinics.) Applications are in the ND booklet.

Attended sessions on club development committee. There will be no dues increase at the national level, and even when national raises dues, ND can cover costs and not raise dues to clubs.

Coaches’ incentive awards are being included in the national budget. If swimmers go on to National or Olympic level, coaches are rewarded.

Insurance booklet handed out to group.

Trips, tips and etc also handed out.

Dave Finger- Age Group Chairman

Convention:

Dave attended sessions on age group issues, sports science and All American selection. Dave is a member of the All American committee and will be tabulating and verifying the applications for the Eastern Zone area.

Technical planning will take under consideration a request for time trials at an upcoming meet to allow another chance to qualify for Zones. Currently, selection meets for SC Zones are Gold JO’s, 14&U and Senior Gold Districts and the USA Sectional meet. The selection for the LC Zones will be all summer meets except the Empire State Games. Trials if sanctioned and approved are acceptable. Times must be achieved within 1 yr. Of the end of previous year’s Zones.

Please note that previous Junior Championships qualifiers or competitors are eligible for zones.

Also, note that if a zone applicant does not swim at zones, they will have a penalty imposed- they are ineligible for the following two consecutive zone teams.

Mary Paladino– Secretary

A reminder was given to be sure to have your current club address, phone and contact information to Ruth Whelehan so that accurate labels are run for all district mailings.

Jim Bowen – Web Master

There is a lot of activity on the ND website, over 68 thousand hits over 2 .5 yrs.

Club information and contacts cannot be changed on the website before it goes to Ruth, go to her first.

If you are running meets, do not send a Com link file to Jim. Send it in a format that everyone can use.

Also, please send a Meet Manager back up file of the meet so everyone can see the results.

The word file of all meets should be sent to Jim so that all can get information if mail doesn’t work.

Question re: link to USA swim site, Jim will check accuracy.

Ruth Whelehan-Registration:

49 voting members are attending today.

If you need athlete and non-athlete forms, get them in you packet and extras are available.

Transfer forms are in the packet. If more are needed, copy it for your club.

USA Swimming is going to a paperless registration process.

Trying an electronic recon program, for national purposes, but it is not working. HyTek is working on a program that would show who is registered so it can be checked at each meet. Clubs need to go to running all meets with HyTek, as all is going electronic.

Ruth will send clubs an update on registration when a meet is held, so meet directors can check registrations, using the electronic method.

Ruth is behind in her paperwork, so hang in there. If she sends you back a packet, please read it and follow directions. Information sent in a piecemeal fashion is not conducive to completing the registration. 2^nd yr. Coaches must have a letter certifying them as such.

Remember that registration cards must be shown to vote at the meeting.

Steve Root- Coach Representative

Coaches’ certification test will be shortened, to make it easier. If you are experiencing problems, call Steve Root (716-458-8682)

Mike Cahill- Technical Planning

It’s been a tough year….Section meet has really messed up things for our area. We have to deal with what is available in the calendar. LC championships are 8/16/- 18/01. To next year’s (2002) zones will be added distance events:

10&U – 500 free

11-12- 1000, 1650 Free, 200 Back, Fly, Breast, 400 IM

Technical planning will be adding events to the 14U champs this year to generate cut times. Eventually, all meets will get events added. Questions re: how to get it all in? Also looking at adding 50’s at national levels for seniors. We are not doing this now.

Jamie Adams- Junior Athlete representative

Attended athlete meeting, discussed Scholastic All Americans, need 3.5 GPA and Sectional cuts. Discussion on athlete’s attending national meets and not swimming. Clubs will be fined if they send athletes and they do not swim.

Mike Baines-Finance Chair

Budget approved at June meeting. September to August is the budget year.

Reviewed budget report that was handed out.

Will promote club clinics and club strengthening program to put surplus dollars to use.

If you have any ideas on promoting swimming, please forward to Mike Baines…. should try to benefit all swimmers.

Reminded everyone that ND will be running Gold Jo’s….will need people from all areas to run the meet. Clubs are encouraged to volunteer to help with the meet. Mike Nowicki is the meet Marshall.

Kathy Derrick-Sprints

Please get information to Kathy as she can send out Sprints anytime. She waits till we have information; the cost for mailing is the same for 1 sheet as it is for more.

Bruce Derrick- Officials

Updated list of officials is in the club packets. Please let Bruce know of changes.

Handouts of Rochester and Buffalo Officials clinics given out.

Bruce showed examples of apprentice cards- blue color. Once they have done the shadowing, they will get a white card.

Clinics are being given in all areas; please encourage parents to become involved as officials.

New procedures: Whistle start is being used…5 chirps, so not to interfere with the Red Cross emergency signals.

If a meet is not a USA championship, or time trial meet, you should mention in the meet packet that the club will be using the "no recall procedure" for false starts.

Sessions should be planned to be 4 hours, so that people are not kept forever. This is intended for meets for the 12 & unders. Referee needs to keep the time factor in mind so it is reasonable for all swimmers.

June Mundt- Swim a Thon, Open water swimming

Convention.

Picked up a chart on differences in officiating, she will try to put it in Sprints.

Swim a Thon is not advertised, not getting their stuff together. 5% goes to general fund, not promoting swimming. A Tool Box was given out; ideas are in there on Swim-A-Thon. Newsletter is on web, re: fundraising.

Encourage clubs to do Swim a Thon’s. We are up to date in this area.

Open water swimming: encourage more, but our area’s open water meets were cancelled due to weather conditions and health department closings because of high bacteria count. Swimmers should be marked well. Encourage all water starts and finishes and encourage video of finishes. 2 sanctions are needed if age group and masters swimmers participate. Boats are needed, can get liability from USA swimming.

June spoke to 1-day registrations for meets, i.e. a High Schooler going to a US Swim meet, they could pay a $15 one-day charge. ND should consider it.

Gary Karl- Board of Review

No issues are currently being acted on by the board of review.

Discussion of and approval of the proposal by Ruth Whelehan regarding fines for improperly registered swimmers.

Additional concerns Mike C- getting boys states to qualify. Will need to be done at offline meetings.

Gerry Lofthus- Awards

Speeding ticket pins are for District JO’s and Championships, not for other type of meets.

Peter Warren- OVC Chair

Not in attendance, Frances reports that changes are coming so that all OVC’s are done electronically. Times should be attached with meet entries, using Team Manager. Coaches should be attentive to this. Observed High School swims must have verification from observer at meet, signed results or cards.

Mike Ross – Outreach

Report given, by Mike N. (BUFFALO) encouraging outreach to check the box on the registration forms for minorities. HyTek registration can help with that, just check it. New outreach manual coming in the next Toolbox.

Keith Shields- Safety

Our LSC is dong good, only 10 accidents. Patty Terry went to a meeting regarding risk management, safety. Please fill out accident reports on all accidents. It does not hurt our insurance. Keith handed out guidelines for marshals, all must be USA members. Marshalls should be near warm up and warm down pools, as coaches are for coaching and not watching the swimmers. Should have an emergency plan for each pool, know where and what is is. Coaches’ safety certification is not changing. Will continue as is. Keith is available for coaches safety exam, contact him, he is available for exams each day school is in session.

Martha Beck- Marketing / Equipment

Frances reported that official shirts are available from Martha.

Paul Bartlett- Adapted Swimming

Disabled Swimmers Convention will be held in June in Indianapolis. ND sent 1 athlete to Para Olympics in Sydney. This year’s meet will be in Phoenix in June, applications are in Swim Guide, if you need anything, contact Paul. We may be sending 6 to 8 swimmers this next year. Steph Danner will be competing in the Deaf meet in April.

Henry Heppner- Records / Top 16

Henry was not here, as he and his wife had a new baby girl, Emma, on Friday. Congratulations to all.

Henry will be getting the lists once they are forwarded from nationals.

Old Business:

NONE

Proposal from bylaw committee: Ruth’s registration proposal.

Discussion of proposal

Motion voted on, majority passed, 4 opposed. Gary will update the policies and procedures on the web.

Nominating committee:

Vote for 2 people to serve for 2 years.

Rich Parton’s name was sent in prior to the annual meeting.

June Mundt’s name was proposed from the floor.

Rich and June were approved by acclimation.

Awards:

The following individuals were recognized for their outstanding achievements in swimming.

Male Age Group Swimmer of the Year – Mark Rubin- East

Female Age Group Swimmer of the Year- Kara Lynn Joyce-Unat

Male Senior Swimmer of the Year –Tommy Seay-Star

Female Senior Swimmer of the Year- Kim Black- Shak

Senior Coach of the Year- John Holohan-Shak

Age Group Coach of the Year- Dan McCarthy- Shaq

Patrick B. Whelehan Official of the Year – David Rubin

Phillips 66 Volunteer of the Year – Marci Callan

First Time Junior National Qualifiers:

Tommy Seay – Star

Mark Rubin – East

Steve Miller-Shak

Speedo National Qualifier: Kara Lynn Joyce- Unat

The coaches elected an alternate representative after the annual meeting.

The Coaches rep. Alternate will be Barry Nevile- Star

The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

Respectively submitted,

Mary Paladino,

Secretary