Meeting Minutes: April 3, 2000

Meeting Minutes: April 3, 2000
Board of Directors, Wisconsin Swimming, Inc.
University of Wisconsin Center, Waukesha, Wisconsin

MEMBERS PRESENT: Blaine Carlson, Carol Graham, Jackie Groiss, Patty Kramer, Cathi Marty, Jim Mohr, Steve Scheissl, Barb Stirn, Drew Walden, Sue Zblewski

CALL TO ORDER: Jim Mohr, General Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.

1. REVIEW OF MEETING: January 25, 2000: Not done.

2. RECAP LSC SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS: For the 12 & Under Meet, members reported:

A coach shaved swimmers’ heads on deck: Board referred consideration of shaving in the swimming venue to the Rules Committee. In the interim, Barb Stirn, Meet Sanctioning Officer, will ask Meet Directors to put information in Meet Information to prohibit shaving.
A coach had a swimmer compete on relays in two different age groups. The Board approved a $100 fine to the coach for failure to adhere to USA Swimming Rules. Stirn will issue the fine.
A swimmer dove into the pool during warm-ups. The Meet Referee disqualified the swimmer for his/her next individual event, in accord with the Meet Information for failure to enter the pool "feet first." The Board asked Sue Zblewski, Officials Chairman, to ask the USA Swimming Officials Chairman why swimmers are permitted to dive into the pool during warm-ups and to swim under bulkhead at Junior and National Championship Meets.

For the 13 and Over Meet, the Board decided to ask the Age Group/Senior Committees to consider:

Restoring the awards presentation by eliminating the Bonus Heats. Bonus Heats give swimmers another opportunity to compete and give "finalist" swimmers more time between heats. However, no Bonus Heats exist for the Long Course Championships and restoring awards would add time between Final events.
Establishing Timed Finals for additional distance events to control the length of the Meet.

3. LAKE COUNTRY SECTIONAL MEET: The Meet Bid provided that Lake Country would conduct the Meet at Hartland. The Meet Information specified Hartford as the Meet location. No action taken.

4. OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD: Carol Graham, Program Coordinator, will send nomination information, criteria, and due date (June 1^st) to Club Presidents and Head Coaches and arrange to posted it on the Wisconsin Swimming’s website.

5. NATIONAL AQUATIC WEEK, May 21-28, 2000: USA Swimming has provided sample news releases and letters to public officials to assist in promoting swimming. Mohr will arrange to have them posted on Wisconsin Swimming’s website.

6. EAU CLAIRE YMCA’s REQUEST TO JOIN MINNESOTA SWIMMNG, INC.: Members expressed concern about the precedence set by releasing a Club to join another LSC. Members will vote on Eau Claire YMCA’s request at the next House of Delegates Meeting, June 27, 2000.

7. FINANCE REPORT: Mary Schneider, Treasurer, reported:

Travel Fund: Clubs are receiving travel reimbursements for swimmer and coach participating in Junior and National Championship Meets.
Payments for Awards: Host clubs have received bills for the cost of award ribbons used for the four Sectional Meets. Southeast Aquatics YMCA/Barracuda Swim Team (SEAY/BST) has paid the LSC for the cost of the awards that it used for the 13 & Over Championships. Badger Aquatics Club (BAC), host for the 12 and Under Championships, will return the unused awards to Steve Scheissl, Age Group Chairman, so he can determine the number used, so Schneider can bill BAC.
Investments: Schneider will discuss with the Finance Committee USA Swimming’s policy permitting LSCs to piggyback on its investment program.
LSC 999: Mike Islin and Associates of Racine is preparing the LSC’s IRS 999. This firm has done this work for several years.
Summary of Wisconsin Swimming’s Finances: (Financial Reports attached)

	Income Statement (1/1/00 – 4/1/00)
Income		$89,063
Expenses		48,370
Net Income		$40,693

	Balance Sheet (4/1/00)
Current Assets (CDs & Savings)		$230,494
Property & Equipment		0
Total Assets		$230,494
Current Liabilities		$ 0
Fund Balances:	Unrestricted	118,347
	Restricted/Travel Fund	112,147
Total Liabilities & Fund Balances		$230,494

8. TEAM WISCONSIN: Patty Kramer, Team Manager, presented a proposed budget for Wisconsin Swimming’s participation in the Central Zone Championships based an estimated 175 swimmers, 9 coaches, and 25 chaperones traveling on four coach/buses with lodging/meals in a University of North Dakota dormitory (2 persons to a room) and cafeteria and a team uniform of a swim suit, shorts, 3 t-shirts, a hooded sweatshirt, and 2 swim caps. The Board approved the budget with the understanding that the fee for a swimmer "traveling on own" would include a portion of the costs for the coaches’ time, travel, and lodging/meals. Schneider volunteered to compute this cost. (Budget attached) The Team Wisconsin coaches, elected by coaches at the 12 & Under Short Course Championships, are: Brent Bock (EBSC ), Terri DeGrand (GBSC), Wagner DiSilva (MGM), Steve Keller )OZ), Rob McCabe. (J-HK), Jim Polley (NLSC); Eric Severson (BAC), Lynn Winnicki (WBSC), Neil Wright (SEAY).

9. POOLS IN WISCONSIN: Mohr reported that the Jewish Community Center (JCC) is planning a new facility including a pool in the Milwaukee area. The Board asked Mohr to contact JCC to discuss ways in which Wisconsin Swimming and JCC could cooperate to have a pool serve both parties needs.

10. OTHER ITEMS:

LSC Long Course Championships: The Schroeder pool will be available for warm-ups, at the earliest, at 8:30 AM. The Board referred to the Age Group/Senior Committee consideration to tighten the qualifying time standards to control the Meet length.

University of Wisconsin Natatorium: Drew Walden, Senior Chairman, reported the University has agreed to provide the Natatorium, if no University or WIAA event conflicts, for the last weekend in February 2001.

Contracting with for Schroeder Aquatic Center: Meet hosts have not been signing contracts for pool use, at the recommendation of USA Swimming, because of liability language that Schroeder requires. However Schroeder continues to permit Clubs to rent the facility.

2001 Spring Short Course Championship Meets:

LSC Last Chance Meets (Formerly called Sectional Meets)	February 16^th –18^th
LSC 12 & Under	February 23^rd – 25^th
LSC 13 & Over	March 1^st – 4^th
Central Zone Sectional (Minneapolis)	March 8^th – 11^th
USA Swimming Nationals	March 27^th – April 1st

Travel Fund: Walden reported that the Age Group/Senior Committees would recommend a change in funding the Travel Fund since no need exists after 2000 to reimburse swimmers competing in Junior Championships. LSC has been spending about $40,000 a year for these reimbursements. A change could reduce contributions to the Travel Fund so Clubs retain greater shares of Meet entries and/or directing contributions to another LSC purpose. The Technical Planning Committee is reviewing Travel Fund contributions, also. Its recommendations likely will include no change in the reimbursement amounts to swimmers competing in National Championships, Olympic Trials, or Zone (Age Group) Meets and reimbursement for competing in either the Zone (age group) Championships or the Zone Sectional Meet.

Central Zone Sectional Time Standards: Walden reported that the time standards for this Meet likely would be slower than USA Swimming’s AAA times for 15-16 year old swimmers. USA Swimming is requiring that the Zones plan on having at least 400 swimmers compete at a Zone Sectional Meet. The Central Zone will have three Sectional Meets. Thus, the slower time standards are required.

LSC Elections: Barb Stirn has served a one one-year term to complete an unexpired term and one two-year term as Administrative Chairman. Therefore, she is eligible to serve a second two-year term as Administrative Chairman. She agreed to accept the nomination.

NEXT BOARD MEETING: July 27, 2000 (Tuesday), University of Wisconsin Center, Waukesha.

ADJOURNMENT: By consensus, 9:20 PM.

Prepared by ____________________________________________ May 11, 2000

Patricia A. Kramer, Secretary

Wisconsin Swimming, Inc.