Wisconsin Swimming, Inc., Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes: April 24, 2001
University of Wisconsin Center, Waukesha, Wisconsin

MEMBERS PRESENT: Dave Dahler, Carol Graham, Patty Kramer, Jim Mohr, Mary Schneider, Drew Walden, Susan Zblewski

CALL TO ORDER: Jim Mohr, General Chairman, called the meeting to order at 6:10 P.M.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the January 23, 2001 meeting were not available. Cathie Marty will provide them for the next meeting.

NOW PRESENT: Dave Joyce

LSC MEETINGS: Walden moved, Zblewski seconded a proposal to change Wisconsin Swimming’s Bylaws (4.5) to read "ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS: The annual meeting of the House of Delegates of WSI shall be held on the fourth Tuesday in June of each year. Regular Meetings of the House of Delegates shall be held on the fourth Tuesdays of the months of October, January, and April." Discussion: No change in the annual meeting is proposed. An additional regular meeting (from two to three) would enhance communications between members. The LSC had four regular meetings a year until October 1999. Motion passed.

Kramer moved, Walden seconded a proposal to add to Wisconsin Swimming’s Bylaws (4.5) to read "Wisconsin Swimming will conduct its October and April regular meetings in Madison, Wisconsin and its January regular meeting and its June annual meeting in Waukesha, Wisconsin." Discussion: Conducting half the meetings in Madison and half the meetings in Waukesha may improve member participation. Motion failed.

REQUEST FOR TRANSFER TO MINNESOTA LSC: Eau Claire YMCA Swim Team and Eau Claire Aquatic Club both requested, on February 26, 2001, and March 2, 2001, Wisconsin Swimming’s approval to transfer to Minnesota Swimming. Discussion: The Clubs’ letters state that Wisconsin Swimming has limited influence in the area and that the LSC Championships are conducted in Brown Deer/Milwaukee and Madison, areas that are too far to travel. Minnesota Championships are conducted in Minneapolis that is closer. The Board noted that the Eau Claire YMCA competes in the Wisconsin State "Y" Championships at the Schroeder YMCA in Brown Deer, the same pool at which Wisconsin Swimming conducting its Championships. Concern exists for setting precedence for additional border clubs to request transfer to adjacent LSC’s. Board Decision (by consensus): Deny request to transfer.

LSC 2001 SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS:

12 & Under: Dahler and Walden, Coaches with the Host Club, asked about the responsibilities of the LSC designated officials, as some differences in opinions occurred between the Meet Director and the LSC designated officials. Zblewski said that the Officials Committee would develop a description of responsibilities for the LSC officials and Meet Directors. The Meet had about 800 swimmers with 200 swimmers entered only in relay events. The swimmer gift was a swim cap which relay only swimmers also received because they also paid the LSC $2.00 Splash Fee for participating in a Championship Meet.

13 and Over: Meet was well run. Swimmers numbered 739. Meet Marshals did excellent work in managing crowds. Finals sessions slowed after first Finals session ran fast. The Board asked that the Meet Host to consider having some pool warm up/down time available.

RELAY ONLY SWIMMERS AT CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS: By consensus, the Board a Moved to propose to the House of Delegates, at its June 26, 2001, meeting an addition to its Rules, Meet Entry Procedures (2.01), Section, Deck Entries, (2.2.7) to read "In LSC Championship Meets, relay only swimmer entries are due no later than the last meet entry deadline; no deck entries of any kind are permitted. Discussion: Handling deck entries for relays is a burden that the Meet Host should not have. Coaches should know by the Meet entry deadline who will compete on relays. Motion passed.

AGE GROUP CHAIRMAN APPOINTMENT: Mohr announced that Steve Scheissl resigned as Age Group Chair. Dahler moved, Graham seconded that the Board concur in Mohr’s appointing Matt Miller, Assistant Coach -- Schroeder YMCA Swim Team, as Age Group Chairman to fill Scheissl’s unexpired term until September 1, 2001. Motion passed.

COACHES’ REPRESENTATIVE: Mohr reported that an election was conducted for Coaches’ Representative at the 12 and Under LSC Short Course Championships that was not done in accord with LSC Rules. So, a second election was conducted at the LSC 13 and Over Short Course Championships. Barb Stirn counted votes. Members present did not know the election outcome. Mohr will contact Stirn.

TEAM WISCONSIN: Walden moved, Schneider seconded Mohr’s appointing Steve Keller, OZ Coach, as Team Wisconsin Head Coach with responsibilities for handling Meet entries and overseeing the election of Team Wisconsin Assistant Coaches. Discussion: Normally, all Team Wisconsin coaches are elected by Head Coaches at the LSC 12 and Under Short Course Championships. Since this did not occur, Mohr’s making this appointment with these assignments now is appropriate. Next year, the Age Group Chairman would resume responsibility for the election of coaches and then the elected coaches again would select the Head Coach. Motion passed.

Dahler moved, Graham seconded that the LSC establish a stipend for the Open Water Coach of an additional seventy-five dollars ($75.00). Discussion: Team Wisconsin Coaches identify one Coach to remain with the Team for an additional day (Monday) to coach the swimmers entered in the Central Zone Open Water Championships. Motion passed.
 
 

By consensus, the Board decided:

  1. The Team Manager must obtained information from the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association for the conditions, if any, under which high school girls may compete in the Central Zone Championships. This issue occurs this year because the high school girls swim season begins prior to the Central Zone Championships.
  2. The Team Manager must rent a van at the Meet site, if a van is required, rather than in Wisconsin to reduce rental costs.
  3. Swimmers must wear an all black swimsuit for competition, but no swimsuit should be a part of the Team Wisconsin uniform as many swimmers prefer to wear their own competition suits. Competition suits may be offered for sale, separately from the Team Wisconsin Registration, for those who want them.
  4. The Team Wisconsin Coaches should decide whether to shuttle swimmers, who have completed their individual events in a prelim session, back to the hotel to rest or to require all swimmers to remain for prelims to cheer for their Team.
FINANCE REPORT: Schneider reported a $2,450 decrease in the LSC investment funds from December 31, 2000 that reflects the market conditions. The LSC invested 50% in bonds and 50% in stocks. Other revenues and expenditures are within budget, except that revenues from "Fines" is about $1,300 already while these revenues were budgeted at $300. Graham reported that she now checks Meet Results electronically to identify registered and unregistered and properly and improperly attached swimmers. When she identifies unregistered or improperly attached swimmers, she issues fines, usually $50 for the first Club offense.

CLUB DEVELOPMENT: USA Swimming’s Central Zone Sport Development Coordinator will be available in early May to meet, preferably, with Club Boards to discuss Board responsibilities, the USA Swimming "Tool Box," club development, parent education, and whatever else Boards want to discuss. Mohr will post his available dates on Wisconsin Swimming’s website, www.wisconsinswimming.org.

ADJOURNMENT: By consensus, at 9:25 P.M.
 
 
 
 

Prepared by ___________________________________________ April 30, 2001

Patricia A. Kramer, Secretary

Wisconsin Swimming, Inc.