CALL TO ORDER: Barb Stirn, Administrative Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:15 P.M. 36 members signed in. (Please see attached Meeting Sign-in for participants.)

1. REVIEW OF MINUTES: Dave Anderson stated that the Technical Planning Report, page 3 was not accurate and asked the minutes to refer to the Technical Planning Report attached. Cathie Marty moved and Jim Bowen seconded approval of the minutes as amended. Motion passed.

2. REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS

Treasurer: Mary Schneider, Treasurer, reported on the financial status of Wisconsin Swimming, Inc. AKA the Local Swimming Committee (LSC) as of October 22, 2000 (See detailed Financial Reports attached):

 
Schneider commented: 1) Effective August 1, 2000, USA Swimming invoices each LSC for its registrations. 2) The LSC 2000 Travel Fund expenditures exceed income by about $20,000 to date which is consistent with the LSC’s interest in drawing down the Travel Fund. 3) The Income Statement now includes a line "Gain/Loss on Investments" for both the Unrestricted/General Fund and the Travel Fund. The LSC investments have loss $1,420l, divided equally between the General Fund and Travel Fund, as the investment funds were taken equally from both funds.

Finance Chairman: Schneider reported on the proposed LSC 2001 budget (See attachment): 1) The 2001 budget is much like the 2000 budget. 2) It includes no budget, however, for Travel as changes, in light of the establishment of the Sectional Meets, are unknown and the LSC’s pending review of its travel policies. 2) A five percent cost of living increase for the Registration/Membership Coordinator is included. 3) Modest increases in some expenditures are due to increased mailings. 4) Ribbons, plaques, and medals for the Sectional Meets already are purchased, as part of the biennial purchase, so the Awards Purchased expense is reduced. Al Schmidt moved and Patty Kramer seconded approval of the LSC 2001 Budget as proposed with the understanding that the LSC would review the Travel Fund Budget at its January 2001 meeting. Motion passed.

Administrative Chairman: Stirn, announced: 1) She is able to accept Meet Information via an e-mail attachment. 2) January 7, 2001 is the due date for bids for summer Meets. 3) She requested that Clubs consider hosting the LSC 2001 Long Course Championships, August 2-4, at the Schroeder Aquatic Center, as no Club currently has volunteered to do so.

Age Group/Senior Chairman: Drew Walden, Senior Chairman, reported on his participating as an LSC Delegate to the 2000 USA Swimming Convention: He provided several documents on Time Standards and Meet Sites (attached)

Legislation: As an even numbered year, any new USA Swimming legislation required a 90% affirmative vote to pass; little legislation passed.

Central Zone Meet: A Central Zone change for the Zone Meet prohibits a swimmer from competing in an individual event or leg of a relay for the distance and stroke in which the swimmer has achieved a National qualifying time. An LSC now may use Hy-Tek to submit its entries. The Zone Meet host will post entries for all LSCs and events and will accept changes to entries prior to the Meet. The new procedures will work if coaches check entries after posting. Wisconsin is assigned to the Zone Meet at Oakland University near Detroit, August 10-12, with the Open Water event on August 13. No dormitories are available.

Sectional Meet: Central Zone has three Sectional closed Meets, meaning that Clubs from other LSCs may not enter. Some Sectionals, in another Zone, are open. Qualifying times for the Central Zone Sectional Meets are about six percent less that prior qualifying times for the USA Swimming Junior Championships and approximate the AAA times for swimmers aged 15-16 years.

LSC Short Course Championships: The Age Group Committee recommends no changes. The qualifying times are set at times not slower than BB times.

Sectional Meets: The age Group/Senior Committees assigned each Club to a Sectional . Kramer moved and Schneider seconded moving Shorewood Swim Team and North Shore Swim Club from Sectional Meet 3 (Host LAKE) to Sectional Meet 4 (Host WEST). Discussion: Both Clubs will host the Meets in six lane pools. However, based on 1999 Sectional Meet Reports, Sectional 3 anticipates 527 swimmers and 2,846 entries, 70% more swimmers and 58% more entries than Sectional 4 with an anticipated 374 swimmers and 1,643 entries. Following the 1999 Sectional Meets, the LSC Board received some verbal negative comments about the long length of the Sectional 3 Meet. Both Sectional 1 (Host BAC) and Sectional 2 (WBS/FRST) have eight lane pools and anticipate more comparable, numbers of swimmers (556/558) and entries (2,660/2,819). Motion passed.

Walden moved and Al Frank seconded moving McFarland Spartan Sharks from Sectional 4 to Sectional 1 based on proximity to the pool. Motion passed.

Club assignments to the LSC four Sectional Meets are attached.

Registration/Membership Coordinator: Carol Graham, Registration/Membership Coordinator, reported:

US Open: November 20, 2000 is the due date for OVCs.

Certificate of Insurance: If a Club needs its USA Swimming Certificate of Insurance to rent a pool in 2001, the Club must submit its USA Swimming registration early (to Graham) to give USA Swimming adequate time to provide it.

USA Swimming Insurance Booklet: USA Swimming has revised its information in a question and answer format. The information pertains to Club Boards, Coaches, Swimmers, Officials and volunteers. The booklet is available by contacting USA Swimming.

Medical and Life Insurance: USA Swimming provides Medical and Life Insurance for all non-athlete members. USA Swimming mailed information to each such member.

USA Swimming Club "Tool Box:" As part of its Club Development program, USA Swimming now offers a "tool box" that includes information such as organizing a club and a summary of insurance available, as well as provides records storage space. The "tool box" is available by contacting USA Swimming.

Meet Entries versus Registered Athletes: A Meet Director now may request an electronic file of Wisconsin Swimming’s USA Swimming registered athletes from Graham and use Hy-Tek’s updated Meet Manager to compare Meet entries to determine whether swimmers entered in the Meet are registered athletes. The electronic file requires accurate Meet entries, e.g. correct name with middle initial, and date of birth.

Athlete Registration: Graham can accept registration information on disk.

Safety Chairman: Cathie Marty, Safety Chairman, commented on the Officials Committee Report about its concern for adequate coverage by Meet Marshals. She said that failure to provide the two Meet Marshals required by the LSC Rules, Section 4.7 was a Meet sanction violation. She also said that: 1) Meet Marshal responsibilities included not only Meet warm-ups, but the entire swimming venue during the Meet that includes locker rooms and anywhere that a swimmer may go in the facility, 2) the Meet Marshals must be USA Swimming non-athlete members; 3) Meet Marshals must be easily identifiable as such; and 4) A Life Guard may function as a Meet Marshal. Susan Zblewski, Officials Chairman, added that a Club’s failure to provide the required Meet Marshals, means that USA Swimming insurance may not apply. Marty will obtain a clarification from USA Swimming on whether a Meet Marshal must be an adult. Marty also offered that the State of Wisconsin requires a Life Guard at the pool, not the LSC.

Technical Planning Chairman: Dave Anderson, Technical Planning Chairman, asked for a vote on a LSC Rule change made in a motion by the Committee regarding financing the Travel Fund, as he presented it at the June 27, 2000 Meeting:

Anderson asked for a vote on the motion of Walden, seconded by Blaine Carlson to change the LSC Rule 2.8.2 to restructure a Club’s contribution to the LSC Travel Fund based on entries to its Meet(s) as presented at the June 27, 2000 Meeting: Establishing fifteen percent (15%) as a Club’s contribution to the LSC from its Meet entry fees for all Meets regardless of the amount of the entry fee or the type of Meet. Walden accepted Dave Joyce’s amendment the (see memorandum attached from Dave Joyce, dated October 24, 2000) to further reduce the Club contribution rates to 12% of the entries fees if the fee is $2.01 and above and to 10% of the entry fees of any amount for a quality Meet.

Discussion: The intent of the motion is leaving more money with the Clubs and to draw down the Travel Fund. Concern existed that the Finance Committee had not been consulted to determine the financial impact on the Travel Fund as well as the LSC’s investment policy approved last June. After discussion and further amendments, the motion was changed to adjust the portion of each individual event entry that a Host Club pays to the LSC according to the following schedule:

1. 0 to $2.00 = Reduce from 15% to 7% of the total individual event fees;
2. $2.01 and above = Reduce from 25% to 12% of the total individual event fees; and
3. Quality Meets = Reduce from 20% to 10% of the total individual event fees regardless of the amount of an individual event fee.

Cheri Zimdars moved and Dale Nichols seconded having the LSC’s new Rules for both travel reimbursement and Club portion of the entries fees paid to the LSC become effective retroactively to September 1. 2000. Motion passed.

Athletes’ Representative: Gina Gnatzig, Junior Athlete Representative, thanked the LSC for her attending the 2000 USA Swimming Convention and referred members to her written report.

Coaches’ Representative: No report.

3. REPORT OF COMMITTEES

Camps: Lynn Winnicki, Camps Committee Chairman, reported that a smaller number of swimmers participated in the Camps, but that the Camps were well done. USA Swimming’s funding of LSC Camps is changing. Winnicki said that she’d provide a written report with these meeting minutes. After five years as the Camps Chairman, Winnicki said that she was looking for successor.

Club Development: Dave Anderson said that he would post on the Wisconsin Swimming website the results of the LSC’s "Press Release Incentive Program" to split $1,000 among Clubs that have one (or more) newspaper article published pertaining to the 2000 Olympics between June 27 and October 2, 2000. NOTE: Anderson’s website Report reads that 12 Clubs had 19 articles published: Central Wisconsin Wave Makers, Germantown Swim Club (2), Howard Suamico Storm Breakers, Madison East Y Octopi (2), McFarland Spartan Sharks, Mequon Area Swim Team, Menomonee Falls Swim Club (2), New Berlin Swim Club, New London Swim Club (2), Oregon Community Swim Club (2), Schroeder YMCA Swim Team (2), and Waterloo Swim Club (2). Each article earned its Club $52.63.

Open Water: No report.

Officials: Susan Zblewski, Officials Committee Chairman, reported:

No Recall Start: USA Swimming has used the no recall start for its championships Meets since May 15, 2000 and has made its use available to LSCs. This Rule provides that no recall of a start occurs if a swimmer false starts. The Starter and Referee still must dual confirm a false start. The swimmer is advised at the end of the race. Zblewski said that USA Swimming has determined that a swimmer’s first start is his/her best start; therefore, recalling a heat of swimmers for one swimmer’s error negatively affects the other swimmers. Uniform implementation within the LSC, rather than by Meet, should reduce confusion on its use for both swimmers and officials. Therefore, effective December 1, 2000, the LSC Officials Committee decided that use of the no recall start is mandatory for all LSC sanctioned or approved Meets.

Whistle Starts: While most swimmers are responding well to the whistle starts, Zblewski asked coaches to continue to review it with swimmers to ensure all swimmers respond well.

New Officials Clinics: The Fall Clinics had limited response. The next Clinics will be conducted next Spring. The Committee will consider spacing the Clinics as much as a month apart. She offered that if 10-12 candidates let her know of their interest in a Clinic prior to Spring, the Committee will try to schedule one.

WIAA Girls High School Swimming Championships: Two USA Swimming Officials will be observers at each of these Meets: Division 2, Friday: Bob Schwartz and Pat Coyne; Division 1, Saturday: Janis Noonan and Don Heinz. A coach interested in have a swim observed must get the information to one of the officials prior to the start of the Meet. A "Request for Observed Swim" form will be available on Wisconsin Swimming website.

OVC, TOP 16 & Records Coordinator: Stirn announced that Jackie Groiss, OVC, Top 16 and Records Coordinator, has resigned to relocate to Virginia. The Board of Directors agreed to recognize Groiss’ many, many years of service to the LSC with a gift. Stirn has assumed OVC, TOP 16, & Records responsibilities in addition to those of Administrative Chairman.

Rules: Dave Dahler, Rules Committee Chairman, asked for votes on several Rule changes proposed by the Rules Committee at the June 2000 meeting.

Meet Sanctions: Dahler moved and Walden seconded Adding the following to LSC Policy 1.1:
 

1.1.1		Meet Sanction: A permit issued by the LSC to an USA Swimming member to conduct a meet in conformance with all USA Swimming and LSC policies, in which all participants are current members of USA Swimming.
1.1.2		Meet Approval: A permit issued by the LSC for meets conducted in conformance with USA Swimming technical rules and LSC policies, in which both current USA Swimming members and non-members may compete.
1.1.3		Sanctions for swimming meets are issued by the LSC Administrative Chairman to current member clubs of the LSC. Approvals may be issued if they are in accordance with USA Swimming rule 202.4. In accepting a sanction/approval, meet sponsors agree to abide by and enforce the definitions as set in 1.1.1 and/or 1.1.2 above. In a sanctioned or an approved meet, for any disparity between USA Swimming Rules and LSC policy, the USA Swimming Rules prevail.

Discussion: The goal is better defining the differences between sanctioned and approved meets. Some confusion has existed. Motion passed.

Wisconsin Distance Event Rule: Al Schmidt moved and Cathy Larson seconded revising LSC Policy 1.4.1 to read as follows: All meets must include a distance event for each age group. They are 100’s for stroke events, 200 IM and 200’s of Free or 400M/500yd Free for age groups 12 years and under. For age groups 13 years and over, they are the 200’s for stroke events, 400 IM, and the 400M/500yd. Free, 800M/1000yd. Free or 1500M/1650yd. Free. Events for swimmers in the 8 and Under age group are exempt from the distance requirement. The following table… continue with the remainder of 1.4.1 as it currently reads.

Discussion: The motion defines the true purpose of the LSC distance event rule. Motion passes.

Final Results Requirement: Graham moved and Dahler seconded adding to LSC Policy 1.6: In any meet run by using Hy-Tek software, the meet host is required also to send a disk to the Registration Chair for member verification purposes. If using the DOS version of Hy-Tek, the disk must be in a C (Commlink copy) format. If using the WIN MM version, the Meet Host must create a sdif file by going to FILE, EXPORT, and Roster to Registration Chair.

Discussion: The LSC Registration/Membership requested this change to help in identifying swimmers not registered with USA Swimming. Motion passed

Fines: Joyce moved and Jim Klancnik seconded deleting from LSC Policy 11.1.1 the third asterisk, Meet Host, if the Meet in conducted within the boundaries of WSI and delete for LSC Policy 11.2.2 $50 fine - Meet Host fails to verify USA Swimming athlete membership for all entered in the meet.

Discussion: None. Motion passes.

Meeting Notices: Dahler moved and Larson seconded changing LSC Bylaws 4.15.1 to read "Time: Not less than twenty (20) days written notice shall be given to each member…Continue as written.

Discussion: Would require 20 days rather than 15 days notice for regular House of Delegates Meetings. Makes notice consistent for both regular meetings and the Annual meeting and any special meetings. Motion passed.

Meeting Notice Information: Current Bylaw 4.15.2 reads: "Information: The notice of a meeting shall contain the time, date, and site. For special meetings of the House of Delegates, the expected purpose (which may be general) of the meeting shall be stated. If an expected purpose is the amendment of the Bylaws, a copy of the proposed amendment shall be included in the notice. Failure to have included in the notice any germane amendments subsequently adopted by the House of Delegates at the noticed meeting shall not be the basis for any claim that the amendments as so adopted are invalid."

Dahler moved and Larson seconded amending Bylaw 4.15.2 to read as follows: "Information: The notice of a meeting shall contain the time, date, and site. For meetings of the House of Delegates, the expected purpose (which may be general) of the meeting shall be stated. If the purpose is the amendment of the Bylaws, any change must first be proposed in writing to the Rules Chairman and Secretary no later than forty (40) days before the Hose of Delegates meeting for consideration. Any proposed changes then will be published and sent in the notice in accordance with Bylaw 4.15.1.

Discussion: The purpose of this change is allowing at least 20 days written notice if the purpose of the meeting is changing LSC Bylaws. The motion deleted the last sentence in the current Bylaw. Motion passed.

Collect Splash Fee from Relay Only Swimmers: Stirn moved and Schneider seconded collecting the Splash Fee from "relay only" swimmers competing in the LSC Championship Meets.

Discussion: Currently only swimmers entered in individual events pay the Splash Fee. However, all swimmers are eligible for awards, etc. The Splash Fee from the LSC Championship Meets goes to the Travel Fund, while the Splash Fee from other Meets goes to the Unrestricted Fund. The Age Group Committee proposed this change at the June 2000 meeting. Motion passed.

Zone Championship Meet: Patty Kramer, Team Wisconsin Manager, reported that Team Wisconsin won the pool long course events and placed third in the open water events. Six Team Wisconsin swimmers earned high point awards. In total, Team Wisconsin had 154 swimmers, 20 chaperones, 8 coaches and 1 team manager. Pre-Meet activities included visits to the Siouxland Buffalo Farm, mini golf, University of North Dakota Aerospace Exhibit (included air traffic control lab and flight simulator), Cabela’s Museum and Outfitters, and the Greater Grand Forks Community Center. A follow-up survey generally indicated ratings of 3.5 to 4.3 with 5 as the highest on factors like Registration procedures, food, lodging, and uniforms. (See report attached.)

Nominations Committee: Stirn asked that nominations be sent to Jim Mohr, General Chairman.

4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Eau Claire YMCA’s Request to Transfer to Another LSC: Mohr received a request from the Eau Claire YMCA to permit it to transfer from Wisconsin Swimming to Minnesota Swimming. The Team indicated that the proximity to Minneapolis and its distance from most major Wisconsin Swimming Meets was the basis of its request. Discussion: The Team may register with a federated team registered in Minnesota, if denied a transfer. Concern existed for establishing a precedent. At least one other team expressed interest in transferring to the Illinois LSC. On a voice vote, the LSC denied Eau Claire YMCA’s request to transfer to Minnesota.

5. NEW BUSINESS

Schroeder Aquatic Center’s Requirements for Using Facility:

Hold Harmless Clause: The Barracuda Swim Team (BST) and South Eastern Aquatics Team (SEAY) are hosts for the LSC 2001 Short Course Championship Meet at the Schroeder Aquatic Center. They report that Schroeder is insisting on their signing a hold harmless clause. USA Swimming and its insurer, Peak Insurance, are advising them to not sign it, saying that the Schroeder hold harmless clause is one of the broadest they have seen. The members suggested that the hosts ask Peak Insurance for a single event coverage policy.

Supplies: Schroeder requires the Meet host to provide back-up timing system, lap counters, etc. The hosts feel that for the pool rental of $7,000, Schroeder should be responsible for these items. Members suggested that the Host negotiate a discount on the rental fee, if Schroeder equipment fails.

Other Issues: BST and SEAY identified other issues regarding adequate seating, bringing coolers into the facility, etc. Members generally felt that the decisions were those of BST and SEAY.

2000 Outstanding Service Awards: Stirn presented the LSC’s Outstanding Service Awards to Mary Schneider and, in absentia, Jim Mohr. The LSC had chosen them for the awards at its June meeting.

6. NEXT MEETING: January 23, 2001 (Tuesday)

7. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 10:05 by consensus.
 
 

Prepared by ________________________________________________ November 29, 2000

Patricia A. Kramer, Secretary
Wisconsin Swimming, Inc.