New England Swimming

Wellesley Community Center

Wellesley, Massachusetts

October 16, 2007

 

Members Present:Ray Grant (SSA), Kathy Dacey (BGSC), Joe Frazier (BGSC), Carol Healey (SAC), Mariella Allard (UN-NE), Tim Murphy (MBM), Ben Daus-Haberle (ABF), Bob Gauvin (SCA), Clare Foster (SAC), Priscilla Davis (UN-NE), Pam Warner (UN-NE), Sherry Wingfield (NAS), Matt Craven (SAC)Guests:Rick Osterberg (webmaster), Bill D�Innocenzo (MAG), Scott Doty (PSC), Mary Riddell (NES-Office)

 

Secretary�s Report:Kathy Dacey (BGSC):Minutes of September 10, 2007 meeting accepted.Motion made to accept minutes by Joe Frazier (BGSC) and Priscilla Davis (UN-NE), motion passes.

 

Treasurer�s Report, Carol Healey (SAC):Accounts are as follows:

����������������������� Money Market Account/CD���� $ 173,180.00

����������������������� Checking Account������������������ $33,116.00

 

Reimbursement, Mary Riddell, (NES-Office):Motion made to reimburse Senior National swimmers on the Reimbursement Sheet dated October 11, 2007 by Kathy Dacey (BGSC) and Priscilla Davis (UN-NE), motion passes.Motion made to reimburse Junior National swimmers on the Reimbursement Sheet dated October 11, 2007 by Priscilla Davis (UN-NE) and Mariella Allard (UN-NE), motion passes.A waiver request from Tobias Work (CCSC) was read, motion made by Bob Gauvin (SCA) and second by Pam Warner to grant waiver; discussion; vote was 6 for granting waiver with 5 abstentions, motion passes.Discussion regarding Reimbursement Policy � NES will reaffirm the current policy.Discussion regarding including the Open Water National Meets on the list of eligible meets for reimbursement.Motion made by Joe Frazier (BGSC), second by Carol Healey (SAC) to add one open water meet per season, the USA Swimming Open Water National Championships and the National Team Trials (this is an Olympic event) to the list of eligible meets which qualify for reimbursement through New England Swimming.The second meet eligible will be USA Swimming Open Water World Championship Trials.These meets will be eligible for a reimbursement amount of $400.00.Motion passes.

 

Feedback from Comment Forms, Mariella Allard (UN-NE): Commented that local affiliates of national sponsors of United States Swimming are more likely to give gifts in kind than money as sponsorship of major regional events.

 

Coaches are commenting that they want more and better food available at meets during the competitions.Also, they want heat sheets for the next day as they leave in the evening, and an assurance that the time-line will be at least adhered to by not having anything start EARLIER than announced.A wish-list includes having a hospitality area for swimmers, and using venues which offer wireless connections.

 

Reports from Convention:Mary Riddell (NES�Office):Boards of Review must have athlete(s) who comprise 20% of the vote on all committees.

 

Safety Training is now available on-line.

 

Swims at college events (D1) will now be able to be observed and qualify for inclusion in the SWIMS registry, eventually this will include DII, DIII and Y meets.

 

Priscilla Davis (UN-NE):Safety and Risk Management is looking for a minimum depth of 6 feet for teaching due to continued strikes on the bottom of the pool when the depth is 5.5 feet.This is regardless of whether there is a 30 inch podium on deck.

 

Disabled athletes are now included in the United States Swimming Scholastic All-American recognition program.

 

Safety Marshals now no longer need to be members of United States Swimming to be eligible to work at meets.There are now new numbers of safety marshals recommended to work at meets based on the number of swimmers in the facility.Check the website for further details.This is effective immediately.

 

Mary Riddell (NES-Office) reports on the Top Ten Banquet:The increase in cost for a ticket proved to not be a factor for this event, which again was a complete sell-out, with a large, impatient waiting list.Ray Grant (SSA) thanked Mary Riddell (NES-Office), Rosemarie Meisner (GMSC) and Rick Osterberg (NES-Webmaster) for their hard work in producing the certificates.Neil Walker was an excellent speaker and a good time was had by all.The Clinic the day before had 55 swimmers in attendance, and Bob Gauvin (SCA) was thanked for acting as chauffer and coordinator for the guest speaker.

 

Calendar Committee, Bob Gauvin (SCA):there are no bids yet for 12 & Under or 13 and Over meets.Options to keep these meets on the calendar include breaking the 12 & Under meet into 2 meets.Discussion regarding which of the two meets is the more important meet to the calendar concluded with most in accord that 13 & Over was the more critical meet, and if only one facility becomes available that should be the meet which is scheduled.Harvard University will check on the availability of their facility for the weekend of February 28/29 & March 1-2.

 

Technical Committee:October 28th meeting will be held in Andover, MA.Email Laura Matuzack (GMA) and Mary Riddell (NES-Office) with issues.

 

Athlete�s Report, Clare Foster (SAC) and Ben Daus-Haberle (ABF):Clare Foster (SAC) attended seminars at the convention and felt that the College Swimming 101 presentation was the most informative, and the Sports & Science was a nice presentation also.

 

Officials Report, Bob Menck (UN-NE):Thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve as the new Officials Chairman.Four New England Officials will work the Nationals the be held in Atlanta (Frank Ching, Dave LeBlanc (YNS), Scott Doty (PSC) and Paul Maker).This is a strong showing for New England and nice recognition of the fact that New England produces officials who blend seamlessly into national level meets.There are 20 clinics currently posted and many are projected to have high attendance.Recommendations for the Senior Meet referees are almost done, and officials are gearing up for a busy observation season.

 

Coach�s Report, Sherry Wingfield (NAS):Sherry Wingfield (NAS) attended many meetings and felt that the convention was incredibly valuable due to the amount of information presented on a wide variety of topics, including LSC management, use of mission statements in focusing an LSC, presentation of handbooks or policy manuals as part of an LSC�s structure and coaching presentations.She felt the convention was excellent.

 

Other Business:The Zone meeting is scheduled for the first weekend in May.Mary Riddell (NES-Office) commented that the Annual Meeting may be scheduled on May 10th, 2008 if the facility is available.Matt Craven (SAC) commented that at convention Age Group Chairs were looking to promote I-Max events which reward the well-rounded swimmer who does all events.Also, there are many on-line free seminars for coaches with a lot of information on strengthening shoulders.Mariella Allard commented that all entries for Nationals are now done on-line.

 

The next meeting for the Board of New England Swimming will be held on Tuesday, November 13 at 7 p.m. if the facility is available; there will be no meeting in December, and then a meeting in January will be scheduled.Check the website and watch for emails should there be any changes and scheduled dates.

 

Motion made to adjourn by Priscilla Davis (UN-NE), second by Kathy Dacey (BGSC), motion passes.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Oates-Dacey, Secretary

New England Swimming