The Midwestern Board of Directors was called to order at 3:00 PM at the Devaney Sports Center Press Room in Lincoln, Nebraska. Present were Scot Sorensen, Mary Losee, Lisa Ellis, Chris Brammer, Ed Muller, Brain Jensen, Kim Pappas, Gretchen Lindner, Gary Flury, Doug Humphrey, Carly Knoell, Mike States, Mary Kocsis, Betty Kooy, Lori Benson and Peggy Speer.

Reading, Correction and Adoption of the Minutes:
There were no minutes. This will be deferred until the next Board meeting. (Minutes were circulated and dealt with later.)

Officers’ Reports:
Executive Committee Report – Scot Sorensen
The Executive Committee met on Saturday, March 16, 2002 at the Devaney Sports Center. Concerns over alleged recruiting within MWS were discussed. It was decided to have Scot Sorensen meet with all coaches before the mile event to discuss this issue. There are no pending motions.

The Phillips 66 Volunteer Award will be announced later at the Spring Awards Banquet.

There may be doubling of fees from USA Swimming primarily for TV purposes. It will go from $25 to $40 for all members. This will be presented and discussed at the annual convention.

Technical Chair Report – Doug Humphrey
A handout was passed to all explaining the need to change the 2002-2003 Short Course meet season to a rotating A, B and C meet weekend with the fourth weekend off. Doug stated that the fourth weekend off will benefit coaches and parents not needing to be at meets every weekend. The swimmers would also have personal goals to be able to swim at certain meets. Doug listed all the pros and cons that he thought were important. Pros: Specific competition, parent friendly, larger meets, more $ for each club, tighter LSC, break for coaches, incentive to improve, need for cooperation, streamline meets & schedule, off weekends to travel meets. Cons: Potentially less meets/athlete, less exposure of A athletes to BB- athletes, bidding wars for meets, need for cooperation.

Betty Kooy stated that she and Doug Humphrey have had discussions with this course of action.

Bruce Schomburg sent proposal. He would like seniors included with the Championship meet. Iowa has nothing for seniors. He would like to also see the LSCs moved up after high school and MW not go to Sectionals. The Sub-LSC meet hosted by NA needs to be changed back to the Senior Championship meet as it was before.

Betty Kooy suggested the possibility that there be three championship meets: 10 and under, 11-14 and Senior.

There was a recommendation to research these ideas and bring the findings to the next Board meeting. Bruce Schomburg and Ed Muller volunteered to work with Doug Humphrey on discussions and preparations on what to do. They will present such at the next Board meeting.

Reading, Correction and Adoption of the Minutes:
The minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting from Sunday, December 9, 2001, at Devaney Sports Center, Press Room in Lincoln, Nebraska were read. There was one correction made at the bottom of the first page. The last sentence had the incorrect club name. The minutes should have read, "Failure to pay by 1/07/02 will cause BTSC affiliation to be suspended." With this correction made, the minutes were then accepted and approved as read.

Treasurer’s Report – Mary Kocsis
There was a handout passed out.

We were under budget with the splash fees. This handout does not show the $1.00 increase in the splash fee.

Note: Mary Kocsis made a comment that the swimmers from the December 2001 Snowball meet hosted by Midwestern have not received their trophies yet. Doug Humphrey admitted this was his fault. He forgot to order them. He said he would take care of this.

Pat Lacy has the Midwestern audit. It is due the end of March. Mary has not received word back from Pat if he will do it and she contacted Jim Larson who said that he will do it if Pat can’t. Jim Larson will do the tax forms. Scot Sorensen will call Pat Lacy to make sure he will do the audit.

New Business – Betty Kooy
Jill Orton had a baby girl which was named Jaime Lynn.

Regarding submission of times for MW Championships, Betty said that she will take times from meets held on weekends immediately preceding the championships if they are updated electronically.

90% of the times for the 14 & under meet were pre-proved.

Sectional reimbursement forms can be obtained on the website. The due dates for Sectional reimbursements are May 15^th and September 15^th. Each swimmer is allowed $50 reimbursement for Sectionals with proven receipts. Those swimmers who attend the US Open will receive $200 in reimbursement with expense receipts.

There needs to be a form letter sent back to each swimmer and coach who has incomplete forms or lack of receipts. Mileage can be turned in if one drove, use of a gas receipt would work.

Other Business
The head Zones coach will be voted on tonight.

The new Jr. Representative is Josh McCord.

Carly Knoell stated that she would be going to college next year and would be willing to resign her position since she will not be available to attend all meetings next year. It was stated that she does not have to resign her position.

Safety Chairman’s Report – Mike States
He has all the accident reports if anyone wants to see them.

Awards Banquet Update – Lisa Ellis
Lisa made a suggestion that the banquet be on June 1, 2002 in the evening following the meet at UNO. This is a well attended meet and therefore should bring in many swimmers. There are two options as to where this function could take place: the ballroom at UNO or the Courtyard at Westside. If we go with the Courtyard at Westside, it would be free unless we use the kitchen. There would be charges to use the UNO Ballroom. The older swimmers have requested a DJ. Mary Losee, Mary Kocsis and Lisa Ellis will work on the details and planning for this event. There will be information provided to everyone in the via the website.

Mileage Reimbursement – Mary Losee
There was a handout passed out.

The policy we have has been in place for 10 years. This affects travel for the Executive Secretary and to National events. There was discussion that airport runs for those attending convention should not be reimbursed, especially since MW is paying for the entire trip. Where do we draw the line? There needs to be a focus on the one paid person on Midwestern, Betty Kooy. (Cost for convention trips is actual expenses. Participants are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses with receipts only. Convention cost has averaged about $700 per person over the last 5-6 years).

Motion: Mileage will be reimbursed for the Executive Secretary of Midwestern Swimming at the current IRS rate for the following:

1. Travel to and from Midwestern Board of Director’s and House of Delegate meetings.
2. Travel to and from Midwestern related Committee meetings.
3. Any other reimbursement for travel needs prior approval from the General Chairman, or in his absence, the Administrative Vice Chair.

Motions seconded. Discussion that the IRS mileage rate is set at 36 ½ cents. Motion passes.

New Business
Pat DiBiase resigned from his position as Finance Chair. Mike Jacobson would be willing to fill in for the remainder of Pat’s term and then continue on further. Motion by Lisa Ellis to accept Mike Jacobson to fill Pat DiBiase’s term. Discussion on if there are too many individuals on the Board from the North Platte Swim Club. Scot Sorensen said there was not. Motion seconded by Brian Jensen. Motion approved.

Unfinished Business – Doug Humphrey
Regarding the Long Course MW meet for the summer: there are several ideas that need consideration.

1. Move the younger swimmers back to the afternoon.
2. Move the relays to the end of the meet.
3. Have music for finals.
4. Have a DJ announce all events.

Give all opinions and ideas to Doug Humphrey.

The diving meet that was going on during our Short Course 14 & Under meet was the result of a clerical error. Doug Humphrey apologized for this as he is the UNL representative.

Peggy Speer announced that the 2003 Sectionals will be March 6-9 at St. Peter’s Recreation Center, St Peter’s, Missouri. It was suggested that they rent buses. 2004 is an Olympic Year and the following are summer dates for us to consider. July 7-14 is the Olympic Trials. August 3-7 is the Nationals. August 20-28 is the Olympics. The question is: When do we want to have the MW Short Course Championship?

Shanna Frodyma made announcements regarding swimmers with disabilities. Shana is the Adaptive Chair & Coach for the Disability Championships which will be in Seattle, Washington June 13-15. Changes in the Zone policy allow each LSC to take two swimmers in the 12 and Under age group and 13 and Over age group. Lisa Ellis said that she has five swimmers with disabilities. Shana said that she is presently working with Lindsey Bloomquist and Ashley Nashleanas, but would welcome others, also. She has special lessons at Montclair Community Center on Sundays. Shanna wants these swimmers to participate in more of our local meets. Disability swimmers can swim a 200 out of a 500, or a 50 instead of the 100 etc. This would allow them to participate with the other kids and not delay the meet.

Kim Pappas
Acting Secretary