Midwestern Board of Directors’ Meeting
Minutes
September 24, 2005
Lincoln, NE

The meeting was called to order at 10:04 AM at the Weary Center on the Nebraska Weslyan  campus.  Present were:  Jensen Henry, Mary Losee, Brian Jensen, Patrick Rowan, Paul Kemp, Gary Flury, Jeanie Neal, Jack Jackson, Gretchen Lindner, Betty Kooy, Mary Kocsis and Jenn Kocsis.

Minutes: 

Minutes of the previous meeting had been posted on the MW Website. Motion to accept the minutes as posted. Seconded. Approved. It was requested that future minutes be mailed to all board members. Discussion followed. It was determined that minutes will be mailed to Board and HOD members when applicable.

Treasurer’s Report: 

Deferred until later in the meeting

Registration Chair’s Report – Gary Flury:

Overall numbers are down 10 from the previous year but up 25 year-round athletes. Seasonal numbers appear to be down. Discussion followed as to various reasons which include the dues increase. Some clubs are having problems with the birth certificate requirement, which is only for new registrations, not renewals, and for purposes of correct information. Discussion followed. Mary Losee and Gary will discuss further. A transfer issue was tabled until later in the meeting.

Officials’ Chair Report – Paul Kemp:

The national officials’ chair workshop will be in Omaha, October 7-9. Jennine Dennis will be the officials’ representative at the MW Swimposium. Two rule changes have been sent to all referees and posted on the MW website. Mary Losee requested that hard copy of the rule changes be mailed to all coaches. Discussion followed regarding the rule changes. Clinics are being held around the state including Broken Bow and at the Swimposium. Clarification on watches as pacing devices was discussed – National Rules chair Bruce Stratton had given his interpretation at convention and this was relayed. Swimmers may not be disqualified for wearing a watch unless the referee verifies that it is actually operating as a pacing device, but it is still recommended that the referee advise coaches to have swimmers remove watches to prevent problems. It was mentioned that wet suits may not be worn as full body suits. A discussion regarding National Times Verification followed. For swimmers wanting non-championship meets observed there must be a request submitted to the MW Office and then a request for approval must go to the national NTV chair. It was requested that all HS invitationals be observed. That is not possible within USA Swimming NTV policy and there are not enough MW officials to support that request. Discussion followed regarding HS observations. NSAA is not currently allowing MW officials on deck (functioning as observers only) so officials with dual certification are being used. It was again requested that only pre-paid requests for verification be observed. MW has done blanket observations at the HS championship meets and Betty recommends continuing this policy. Mary L and Betty K will further investigate.

Age Group Vice-Chair Report – Patrick Rowan:

Rooms are reserved for All Stars. Packet for Zones 2006 has been received with recommendations for hotels (tentative reservations were made). Zones in ’06 are in Oklahoma City and ’07 are in Cleveland OH. It was recommended to make reservations for ’07 now.

Senior Chair Report- Brian Jensen:

Deferred report for Convention Reports.

Treasurer’s Report – Mary Kocsis:

Report was distributed. Questions were asked regarding long course meet, travel, and clinic budgets. Exact breakdowns were requested. Bill for ‘national officiating’ was questioned. Policy was explained regarding distribution of funds to officials working a national caliber meet. Motion to accept treasurer’s report. Seconded. Approved. It was noted that 2006 budget is still in progress. BOD meeting will be needed prior to HOD meeting in October.

Senior Athlete Representative -Jenn Kocsis:

No report.

Midwestern Administration – Betty Kooy:

 Betty is working on the Top 8 and will order awards and record breaker t-shirts.  The new USA Swimming/MW logo will be put on the certificates (example was distributed). Design of patch was discussed – there is nothing in the USA Swimming usage guideline regarding patches. Paul suggested using the old ones until they are gone and it was OK’d.  The MW website is redesigned and should be a little cleaner and user friendly. The 2006 times standards are posted.  Swimmer requests for reimbursement have been given to the treasurer.  Swimposium entries will come to the office and be put in a data base.  Betty has begun keeping a list of exactly what is done by the MW Office on a monthly basis so Midwestern won’t be up a creek if something unforeseen happens.  Mary L. said there should be someone to shadow the MW Office to learn everything

Coaches Representative Report – Mary Losee for Lori Benson:

Mary K. will distribute the awards as requested.

HOD Announcement:

Sunday, October 30^th @ 1:00 PM at Westside.  If possible the board will have a quick meeting before the HOD.

Swimposium Report – Mary Losee for Lisa Ellis:

Lisa is awaiting the final contract from the Westside athletic director. Food has been lined up. Donations are being made. Coaches’ social will be at Upstream in the Old Market. Help is needed to police pool deck during swimposium and also to hand out goody bags along with clean-up after meals. Cost of T-shirt is part of the entry cost for the swimposium. Drew and Mary K. will bring old Zones shirts to be gotten rid of. It was suggested that the next Swimposium date not conflict with a Nebraska football game.

New Business: 

Convention reports:

Jack Jackson attended the senior meeting, steering committee (which was a closed session), coaches meetings, and disability meetings. Disability swimming is changing meet focus as there is no longer a USA disability meet – it has been replaced by Paralympics. Encourage the disabled athletes to participate in MW Swimming and USA Swimming. Mary L. asked Jack to bring recommendations to the HOD said that he would be willing to give up his convention money to start he program.

Jensen Henry reported that background checks and fingerprinting for coaches was a topic of discussin for athletes at the convention along with Hurricane Katrina. The new rule changes were also discussed. Some LSCs are going to timed finals for their LSC meets so there wouldn’t be three prelim/finals meets in a row. Zone camps will be based on IMX points and 18 & U will not score except at Nationals.  How to cut down the length of meets was discussed, but nothing was approved except that flyover starts will be mandatory at Central Zones.  How can boys be kept in swimming?  Ideas brought forward at convention were:  a national 11-12 age group competition North vs. South or East vs. West or maybe a meet called Duel between Dudes.  To keep more swimmers of both sexes in the sport:  males and females could swim together and for older swimmers there could be sprint meets of 25s, 50s and 100s. If you qualified for Zones you can swim open water.  If you qualify for Jr. Nationals you may swim in Zones, but not score. Jensen’s full report will be posted on the MW website.

Age Group Chair – Patrick Rowan:

The IMX time equates with points.  More points will be awarded for distance events to encourage all LSCs to use the IMX system to pick swimmer of the year, etc. Maybe this would be better for younger swimmers before they specialize.

Brian Jensen tried to go to the same meeting that Jack was unable to get in, with the same results.  Background checks for coaches is still unclear.  There may be virtual championships on-line.  Teams need to encourage all swimmers, coaches and officials to check out the web! The media is uneducated and it would mean a lot to swimming if they could get educated.  Brian sat in on an officials’ meeting.  Discussions included making sixty the age limit to work at national meets, and changing and making clearer how an official rises in the ranks.  There will be a data base for officials which records the number and levels of meets worked.  In the age group meeting achieving a better flow between USA Swimming and age group swimming was encouraged.  At the out reach meeting it was brought up that USA swimming is a sport for the ‘rich’ and we are not doing anything about it.  We could change swimming to bring in more diversity.  USAS is still working on a full body analysis on the dolphin kick.  This will enable coaches to coach more efficiently.  The analysis involves super computers and water flow. After attending the convention, Brian voice three concerns: 1. a mission statement for Midwestern, 2. better accountability for members of the board and 3. a better definition of what constitutes conflict of interest in this LSC.  Discussion followed.  Mary L. stated that some of this was in the Red Book.  She and Brian will talk more about this later.

Betty Kooy attended meetings which discussed registration, times, Scholastic All-American and Zones.  Some LSCs take data from teams, clean it up and give it back to the team. Right now MW registration isn’t done on-line, but may be fully electronic in 2006.  We do need to clean up registrations at the club level.  Betty and Gary will make a registration/team managemet presentation at the swimposium.  The 2006 Zones will be in Oklahoma and 2007 in Lake Erie.  No relay splits will be used for top times unless requested by the referee and the swimmer.  Betty will be on a National Times committee. Scholastic All-Americans are on the web site including Ashley Nashleanes and Adam Beckman who are three year recipients.  We cannot publish a “bad” list for coaches with expired credentials.  Swimmers can be listed on the web with only name, times meets and club only.  Something that is part of the “business of doing the business of the LSC” will be posted.  Jeanie mentioned that we got a note not to share psych sheets and no more labels to colleges, for privacy.  Question was asked about not publishing delinquent coaches or swimmers who aren’t registered.  It cannot be done publically on the web, but the information will be given to club registration chairs.  Question was asked whether the meet results for MW championships would be posted on the web each day. With our current technology, that is not possible.  Question was asked whether it will be on the meet information that results will be on the web site.  Yes, it will be.  I will also be on the meet information whether registration will be taken at the meet. 

Mary Losee asked whether Midwestern should send Katrina relief money above what USA Swimming is contributing.  It was stated there was enough sent already and we have already donated through USAS.  All in attendance agreed.

Mission Statement: A committee was formed to write a mission statement for Midwestern.  Members are:  Peggy Speer, Betty Kooy, Patrick Rowan, Scot Sorensen, Lori Benson, Mike Jacobson, Brian Jensen, Mary Losee., and Jensen Henry and Jenn Kocsis to alternate.  The committee will meet in the evenings or electronically or with a conference call.  Something should be ready for the March meeting.

Mary Losee stated that Background Checks are no further along than last year. Currently if background checks are used they’ll show only felony convictions. Mary L. is in the process of checking out a program that the Catholic Charities use.  Targeted questions are used; it is a predictor. It was stated that there needs to be workshops to educate clubs.  Mary L. asked that a committee be formed to come up with a plan for some form of background check or preventative measure.  The committee will const of Jeanie Neal, Gary Flury, Kaitlyn Arntz and/or Kaitlyn Hopkins.

Safety - Mary L. stated that there are new safety guidelines as far as lightening, warm ups and facilities go.  This is on the USAS web site.  Dave Nelson. needs to make sure clubs have this information.  USA Swimming has an express medical policy and the safety coordinator needs to get this information and distribute it to parents.  USA Swimming is self insured and there is twenty one million in outstanding claims right now. It was mentioned that the medical procedures are posted on the USAS website. There is a need for a “Safety Place” on the website. Any informatin received will be posted.

Central Zones: 

Mary Losee noted that he manual for Central Zones can be downloaded from the CZ website.  It was noted Lisa Ellis was appointed as Central Zone meet coordinator.

New Business: 

Gary stated that the transfer policy fees are old and he proposed that we raise the fees to $5.00.  If the proper transfer form and registration fee or copy of the registration is sent in together then the fee is waived.  Gary will bring this to the November board meeting.  The 120 day waiting period was waived for the Katrina swimmers only and it must go through at the national level.  Betty mentioned that some LSCs charge for transfers and some don’t and have different procedures and rules.  Jack noted that the College of Saint Mary hosts a Champions of Character Luncheon.  It is a day long affair with coaches in the morning, athletes in the afternoon and parents at night.  We need something like this because most athletes quit by age thirteen citing conflicts with parents or coaches.  We need to deal with all the reactions of coaches, parents, officials and schools and how that affects the athletes.  The NAIA developed this twenty years ago.

Moved to adjourn. Seconded. Passed.

The next board meeting is scheduled after the MAC meet, 1:00 PM, Sunday, November 13, 2005, at Mary L.’s office, 12905 West Dodge Road.  Notice will be mailed.

Gretchen Lindner, Secretary