Midwestern Swimming
Board Of Directors Meeting
Sunday, March 14, 2004
University of Nebraska, Omaha

In attendance: Chris Stemwedel, Lisa Purdy-Ciesielski, Bryan Farris, Archie Heffernan, Jack Jackson, Gary Flury, Patrick Rowan, Mike Jacobson, Brian Jensen, Mike McKamy, Lisa Ellis, David Nelson, Jason Foster, Jeremy Byrne, Mary Kocsis, Erin Holtmeyer, Docker Hartfield, Bruce Schomburg, Paul Kemp, Lynn Weaver, Gretchen Lindner, Mike Randolph, Lori Benson, Peg Speer, Mary Losee, Betty Kooy.

 Called to order at 2:20pm

 Treasurer Report:  Mary Kocsis:  end of year complete.  Athlete reimbursement requests are not being taken advantage of—maybe people don’t know they can get money for sectionals.  Balance sheet was requested from Mary to help write next year’s budget. Mary will write a proposal to present in May to raise reimbursement amounts. Financial report was accepted.

 Registration Chair: Gary Flury:  Membership is down in younger groups, but national membership overall is up.
There is pressure from national to enforce registration rule the way it is written. The rule states that it is illegal to enter an unregistered swimmer in a meet. The following motion was made:  “Registration has to be in and/or the postmark on registration must be before the start of the meet.”  Seconded. Passed.
Gary described a proposal from USA Swimming to establish a floating seasonal membership. Such a membership could start any time and would last 150 days.  This membership would cost $25. Gary suggested that we not do this, but revisit the issue in one year, after convention.
Motion was made that MW extend the length of our seasonal membership to encompass the time period April 15-August 31. Seconded. Passed.

 Officials Chair, Paul Kemp: Paul received a letter from national that there will be a workshop in Dallas and requesting us to send a starter or referee.  Cost is $450 for workshop. USA Swimming will provide food and lodging. LSC or individual is responsible for transportation costs. Dates are May 29-31.
Motion was made that MW send 1 person and sending the 2^nd person would be up to the discretion of the General Chair. Seconded. Passed.
Paul is starting an officials committee. This will be referees from around the state to share, discuss, teach, work and try to increase consistency and conformity of officiating around the state.
Paul will be coordinating several clinics to help people recertify and get new people involved.
Motion was made that we give the officials patch to the officials in stead of charging them $3. Seconded. Passed.

 Executive Secretary, Betty Kooy: HOD meeting in York on May 8. (Rescheduled for May 23, 2004). Secretary will be unavailable for the next week or so.

 Old Business:

 Technical Committee Report, Bruce Schomburg: Bruce presented a long list of recommendations from the committee for changes to the championship meet format. After much discussion and getting nowhere it was decided to set a special meeting on April 25 at noon with the only subject on the agenda being the committee’s recommendations.

 Mary Losee reported on the difficulty of placing USA Swimming officials on the deck at the state HS meet this year.  MW paid for these officials as spectators, and paid for their lunches. Jim Tenopir, NSAA Exec, has said that he prefers they not be there at all. Mary is anticipating difficulty next year.

 Mary requested permission to appoint Larry Ohs as the parliamentarian for MW meetings. Motion made. Seconded. Passed passed.

 Board then went into closed session.

 Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Ellis, Secretary