Midwestern Board of Directors’ Meeting
Minutes
November 13, 2005

The meeting was called to order at 1:15 PM, 12905 West Dodge Road, Omaha. Members present were Bruce Schomberg, Jack Jackson, Paul Kemp, Jeanie Neal, Sarah Abraham Mike Mc Kamy, Jensen Henry, Mary Kocsis, Patrick Rowan, Betty Kooy, Mary Losee, Peggy Speer, Brian Jensen and Gretchen Lindner.

It was moved to accept the minutes as amended of the September 24, 2005, BOD meeting. Corrections were noted. Seconded. Passed. Minutes will be edited for web posting and the original will be kept on file.

Treasurer’s Report:   Mary Kocsis
The treasurer reported that the Swimposium is in the black, but that we are still waiting on some receipts.  The income at this point is around $7000. It was suggested that the figures be given to the BOD in printed form.  Questions were asked regarding the senior budget. BOD has option to amend budget at a later date.

Registration Report:  Betty Kooy
All deposits are made weekly for registrations and all cards that can be mailed are mailed on a weekly basis. Coaches with expiring cards have been notified.  There is a new club to be registered, but it is a daunting process.  A session at the Swimposium that covered Team Manager, registration and Meet Manager.  It is recommended that by August 2006 all data bases be cleaned and registration be done electronically.  This will be for athletes only. Coaches and officials will be entered by hand.  As of now there are 548 female and 319 male athletes, 51 officials, 38 coaches and 32 others registered for 2006.  Included are 63 females and 25 males in the 8 & U category.  There are 85 in the unattached status including those who are transferring clubs and those in the new Elkhorn club (application is not yet complete).

Age Group Vice-Chair:  Patrick Rowan
All Stars Information is in progress. It was noted that the athletes and parents need this information early in order to plan appropriately.

Athlete Representative:  Jensen Henry
DI information deferred to later in the meeting.

Officials’ Chair:  Paul Kemp
Report deferred to later in the meeting.  Question was asked as to whether there was a fee for the officials’ clinic.  There was a fee for just the Swimposium and not for the S&T clinic held on that Sunday.

Senior Chair Report:  Brian Jensen
The US Open and Kerr McGee are the only meets that qualify to be exempt high school meets.

Executive Secretary:
Meet flyers for the rest of the year are posted.  The others will be posted when all requirements for registration have been met.

Old Business:  Paul Kemp asked for a clarification of what the board had approved in 2004 regarding the reimbursement for officials working at upper level meets. Motion was made that in order to be reimbursed for national-level meets, an official must work “all sessions”. Seconded. Discussion noted that officials must still submit reimbursement request. Also noted was the fact that an official may not be able to work ‘all sessions’ and are assigned to specific sessions. Motion was amended to read “all sessions offered”. Motion passed. Requests for reimbursement are to go to the Treasurer who will verify with the Officials chair that the applicant is eligible for reimbursement.

Division I and Division II Report:  Patrick Rowan and Brian Jensen (Age group chair and Senior chair) conducted a survey of all coaches in MW asking whether they preferred a 14 & U championship.  Of the coaches responding, it was tied 12-12. Asked whether they wanted a prelim-final format for DII, it was 12, no, 11, yes and 1 abstention.  Some head coaches voted for their entire staff.  For head coaches only the results were: 14 & U championship, 10, yes and 4, no.  Prelim-final, 4, yes, and 10, no.   Coaches responded by e-mail, paper & phone.  Some coaches responded who are not active coaches.  The survey to all registered coaches.  Jensen Henry reported that her survey results at the Millard meet indicated that swimmers were in favor of including 15 & O in the championship.  At the MOST meet the results were even and at Lincoln most were against 15 & O being included because of the three days required to be in Omaha. Iowa swimmers definitely wanted to keep the 15 & Os in the meet. Most of the swimmers who responded with negative votes were junior or seniors who were qualified for higher level meets.  Those athletes who wanted to keep the 15 & O format were more passionate about it than those who didn’t want older swimmers included.  Discussion followed.  Bruce said that the present format should be kept for this year.  There were 135 seniors in the meet and even though some people complained about the bonus heats, all were filled. More discussion followed.  Motion was made to maintain the current policy and review and changes needed for next year before the long course season starts.  Seconded. Discussion followed concerning the lack of a second bid for the DII championship meet. Suggestion was made to post request for bids for a second site. More discussion followed. Mary Losee stated that the sanctioning committee will review the results after each championship and present the recommendation to the board for future meets.  Bruce Schomburg requested to be part of the Sanction committee. Mary L. said that anyone may volunteer to help with this process.  Motion passed. The sanctioning committee will meet after this board meeting and long course details can be discussed at the January BOD.

New Business:  Insurance- The quote for the directors and officers is $1000 per year, which would cover the board for legal expenses if sued.  It would be $750 a year for workman’s comp.  Treasurer stated that we have had $1500 in the budget for this kind of coverage and haven’t used it. Motion was made to get the workman’s comp for the paid employees and the insurance for board members.  Seconded.  Discussion followed.  Motion passed unanimously.  This should be in place by December 1^, 2005.

Central Zone Teleconference:  Mary Losee reported that she liked the teleconference format.  She also reported that Lisa Ellis has been selected as one of our Zone meet coordinators.  Mary also found it interesting that the Southern Zone meet had eliminated the 10 & Under from their meet.  Three was a lot of discussion during the call about the level of participation at the 15 & O level.  Midwestern’s Zone participation has dropped and we are the smallest participating LSC.  2002 – 58, 2003 – 60, 2004 – 51 and 2005 – 41 participants.  Betty remarked that we are not getting the qualifiers in the 10 & U group. Discussion followed.  The 2007 Zones will be in Lake Erie.  The Zone committee was looking at realigning events, cutting event, adding events, etc.  Nothing is decided, yet.

Learn to Swim Programs: Jeanie Neal:  In the past Jeanie put together a web site for a clearing house of learn to swim programs available. . If anyone thinks it would be a good idea Jeanie will do something with it and maintain a web site. Discussion followed.  Jeanie suggested that we need to do more than just a web site, however.  More discussion followed including the cost of maintaining a web site.  Motion was made to authorize the use of $100 toward the project.  Seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

Midwestern Hall of Fame:  Jack Jackson reported about his progress with introducing a Hall of Fame recognition.  He reported that many LSCs do this.  We wouldn’t have to fill all four slots every year. To be eligible the honoree must be retired from age group swimming for five years.  This does not include Cornhusker Games or Masters swimming.  The nominating committee will be chosen by the General Chair.  Nominations will be sent to the committee and the members chosen by the committee.  The first awards will be in 2006 and announced at the MW awards banquet. Discussion followed. Motion was made to implement the MW Halll of Fame recognition program.  Seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

Gretchen Lindner asked that the group revisit the rules for people being on deck at meets.  Discussion followed concerning parents, meet workers, non-swimming athlete members and non-athlete members. It was suggested that the meet management control the deck and that the liability lies with the host.  Technically the referee is liable for everything after the meet starts. Non-participating athlete members may be on deck at any time as long as they are not causing a problem.  More discussion followed.  Paul Kemp will send out a list of meet marshal duties to all the teams.

Motion to adjourn. Seconded. Passed. The meeting was adjourned at 3:25 PM.  The date of the January meeting will be announced and will possibly be a conference call.

Submitted by Gretchen Lindner, Secretary