MEMBERS PRESENT: See Attached Meeting Sign-in.

CALL TO ORDER: Jim Mohr, General Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.

GENERAL CHAIR REPORT: Jim Mohr, General Chair, reported on issues from the 1999 USA Swimming Convention:

Club Championship: A proposal was passed "in concept" to establish 12-16 Sectional Meets, in lieu of the three Junior Championships. The proposal is very vague. Zones are responsible for formatting the Sectional Meets. The proposal has no USA Swimming Club Champion and eliminates USA Swimming’s Junior Championships (both Spring Short Course and Summer Long Course) after 2000.

Club Membership: A proposal was defeated narrowly that would have established a multi-tier USA Swimming Cub Membership program. Mohr sensed that the motion was defeated because current members did not want the membership criteria to apply to themselves, current members, only to new Clubs. However, we are likely to see more of this initiative.

Technical Vice Chairman: A proposal to establish this position on the USA Swimming Board of Directors passed. The controversy over this proposal centered on the requirement that the position be filled by a coach with Sectional, Junior, National, or International Championship experience. No other Board position has any requirements. The same proposal was defeated last year.

Olympic Trials Qualifying Times: These have been reduced.

In general, Mohr said that he was disheartened by the procedures and the decisions of the USA Swimming House of Delegates that was dominated by high profile international and collegiate

coaches. He is concerned about the impact on swimming within the LSC.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Mary Schneider, Treasurer, reported the Wisconsin Swimming’s 1999 YTD (1/1/99 – 10/25/99):

Schneider also reported on her participating in the USA Swimming Treasurers’ Clinic: 1) Need for better communication between USA Swimming and Local Swimming Committees (LSCs) which is impeded by USA Swimming’s lack of technology; 2) Need for LSCs to have an investment policy (LSC Finance Committee will develop): and 3) Availability of USA Swimming’s investment directives and rates.

ADMINISTRATIVE CHAIR REPORT: Barb Stirn, Administrative Chair, reminded Clubs that Meet Bids are due by the second Tuesday of January (January 11, 2000) and she recommended that Clubs send them prior to January 1^st to avoid any potential Y2K problems or postal delays. Dick Zache, Germantown Swim Club, asked for an addition to the LSC’s 1999-2000 Fall-Winter Meet Schedule for a single session Meet on March 4, 2000, beginning at 1:00 PM. Since no other Meet is scheduled for that date, the Meet was added.

AGE GROUP CHAIR REPORT: No report. However, the written report of the Committee meeting on September 12, 1999 notes that no changes will occur in the LSC’s 2000 Sectional and Championship Meets. The Report also gives some Meet dates that may be useful to Clubs in planning their Summer Meets:

SENIOR CHAIR REPORT: Drew Walden, Senior Committee Chair, reported that the last Junior Championships, in which LSC swimmers would compete, would be Spring Short Course in Oxford, Ohio and Summer Long Course in Bloomington, Indiana. In response to the Club Championship proposal passed at the 1999 USA Swimming Convention, he, Blaine Carlson, and Dave Anderson would represent the LSC in a Central Zone meeting in Chicago on November 4, 1999 to develop a format for Sectional Championships, as this responsibility was left to the Zones. Format of the Sectional Championships will impact the LSC’s Meet Schedule and its Travel Fund. Walden stated that he was disappointed in the Club Championship program as the legislation was quickly written and vague.

REGISTRATOIN COORDINATOR’S REPORT: Carol Graham, Registration and Membership Coordinator, reported:

Club Memberships: Only 27 Clubs have re-registered so far. If a Club needs a USA Swimming insurance certificate to reserve/rent a pool, this is available after a Club registers, but registration takes time. A Club needs to allow for such time. If a Club is not registered on January 1^st, its swimmers, assuming that they are USA Swimming registered, must compete as unattached swimmers. She announced a new Club, Monona Grove Marlins (MGM).

Athlete Registration: In registering, a swimmer needs to give a middle initial.

Coach Registration: The USA Swimming Coach Registration Card now has the expiration date for the coach’s training printed on it. A coach must send Graham the training re-certification information so that she can issue a current Registration Card. Clubs should be concerned about coaches maintaining current registrations as their absence impacts Clubs’ liability. Meets hosts should ask to see the Registration Cards of all coaches on deck to verify they have current Registrations and to protect their insurance coverage. Second year coaches need to take the USA Swim Coach Test. Others are grandfathered into Coaches’ Registration. The test is an open book test. She recommends that experienced coaches discuss the test with new coaches. Only one second-year coach has passed the test.

Coaches Training: Watertown Swim Team will host a recertification clinic in late March. Dick Zache will conduct classes this winter.

US Open: Athlete verification information is due November 22, 1999.

LSC Mailing Due Date: December 15^th (Wednesday).

SAFETY COORDINATOR REPORT: Cathie Marty, Safety Coordinator, reported that USA Swimming’s "Coaches Safety Curriculum, 1999-2000 Requirements and Equivalents" is the same as 1998’s. These as well as "Frequently Asked Questions – New Coach Requirements" were attached to the October 1999 agenda. She also stated that the LSC had 24 accidents reported for the second quarter (ending June 30^th) while USA Swimming had a total of 395.

TECHNICAL PLANNING CHIAR REPORT: Dave Anderson, Technical Planning Committee Chair, reported that the Committee moves:

Wisconsin Scratch Rule: Amend the Wisconsin Swimming Scratch Rule to read: "In the event of withdrawal or barring of a swimmer from competition, the Referee shall fill the C, B, or A final when possible, with the next qualified swimmer(s). First and second alternates shall be announced along with the qualifiers. These alternates shall not be penalized if unavailable to compete in the finals." Walden seconded the motion. Discussion: Change would: remove the penalty if an alternate failed to appear for finals when a competitor fails to appear; remove some impediments to scoring a Meet using Hy-Tek software, the LSC’s preferred software; and mirrors USA Swimming’s scratch Rule for National Championships (Page 68, 1207.5.9, Item 2). The LSC’s current penalty bars the alternate from the rest of the Meet for not being available if called for finals. Jim Plumber called the question. Motion passed. Anderson moved, Walden seconded, making the amendment to the Wisconsin Scratch Rule effect immediately. Passed.

Distribution of Meet Information and Meet Results to Clubs: Amend the Wisconsin Swimming Rules to allow the option of using the LSC’s website to post both Meet Information and Meet Results. Dale Nichols seconded. Discussion. Issues related to the cost of mailing paper copies, providing information faster and to more members although many have difficulty apparently accessing/using the Internet and the website, and the impact on the environment which may or may not be positive if the information is printed on doubled sided and mailed or printed on one side from the website. The current Rule requires the Host Club to send paper: 1) Meet Information to all Clubs if the Meet is not filled through reservations and to participating Clubs if the Meet is filled; and 2) Meet Results to specified LSC officers and all Meet Club participants. Motion failed.

Hy-Tek Service: Moved that the LSC purchase a service to maintain a secure database for Meet Results which would identify top times more efficiently. Anderson withdrew the motion.

Summer Meet Reservation Date: Amend Wisconsin Swimming Rules to establish the first date for postmarking reservations for Summer Meets as the second Tuesday in April. Stirn seconded. Discussion: Clubs need more time to make better reservations versus Club hosts need time to decide whether to recruit more participants or to cancel Meets. Motion failed.

ATHLETES’ REPRESENTATIVE REPORT: Jennifer Skolaski, Athletes’ Representative, agreed with other Wisconsin Swimming Delegates to the 1999 USA Swimming Convention on their positions on Club Championships and Club Membership proposals. She was interested in sport sponsorships of athletes, although no decision was made at the Convention.

CAMP CHAIR REPEORT: No report.

CLUB DEVELOPMENT CHAIR REPORT: No report.

FINANCE CHAIR REPORT: Schneider reported for the Finance Committee that the Finance Committee moves to:

Splash Fee: Increase the Splash Fee for the LSC’s 2000 Short Course and Long Course Championships from $2 to $5. Marty seconded. Discussion: Increase would generate about $3,000 for the Travel Fund. Motion would apply for one year only. Rules pertaining to the Travel Fund restrict distribution of the funds through reimbursements to swimmers and coaches participating in Juniors, Nationals, Zones, and Olympic Trials. The LSC has only one year’s experience with reimbursements to coaches. The LSC’s intention was to spend down some of the Travel Fund. Concern now exists for the LSC’s ability to satisfy all requests for 2000. LSC will vote on the motion at the January 2000 House of Delegates Meeting.

2000 Budget: Adopt the LSC 2000 budget as proposed with a projected net income of $280,500 and next expenditures of $295,910 for a $15,410 net loss. Joe Schweitz seconded. Discussion: No change is recommended in the Club Member, Individual Member or Family Member fees. The LSC’s primary revenue sources are Member Registrations and the Meet Surcharge on entries, with the later dominating. Motion passed.

OPEN WATER COORDINATOR REPORT: No report.

OFFICIALS CHAIR REPORT: Sue Zblewski, Officials Committee Chair:

New Official Certification Clinics: Stated her concern that prospective officials reported not knowing about the Fall New Officials Certification Clinics despite having an announcement in the LSC’s Long Course Championships Heat Sheets, announcing the Clinics at the July LSC meeting, and sending notices to all current officials. She asked for continued help from members to "get the word out." The LSC does have ten new Stroke and Turn Judge Trainees and nine new Starter/Referee Trainees.

Whistle Starts: Reported that instructions/procedures for using whistle starts for the LSC’s Sectional and Championship Meets were topics of the five Re-Certification Clinics given this Fall. She recommended that Clubs practice the whistle starts in practice.
 
 

WIAA Girls Swimming Championships: Identified LSC Officials to observe requested swims at the WIAA Girls Championship Meets: Division II (Friday) – Don Heinz and Mike Stirn; and Division I – Al Schmitt and Mike Stirn.

ZONE TEAM MANAGER: Cris Lewis reported that Wisconsin Swimming would compete in the Central Zone Championships at Grand Forks, North Dakota on August 4^th – 7^th with the open water swim held on August 8^th. She has reserved air-conditioned dormitory rooms that are located across from the pool. She is recruiting a successor to manage the 2000 Zone Team.

NOMINATION COMMITTEE: Mohr requested nominations for members for the Nomination Committee. Dave Westfal, Jim Mohr, Patty Kramer, and Mary Schneider volunteered. Schmitt moved to close nominations; Nichols seconded. Motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS:

Whistle Starts: Larry Schalla moved to ask the Technical Planning Committee to review use of the whistle starts. Linda Eberle seconded. Motion passed.

Schalla moved to postpone use of the whistle start until the LSC Long Course Championships and to not use whistle start for the LSC Short Course Sectional Meets and Championships. Eberle seconded. Discussion: An individual Club still would have the option of using the whistle start if its Meet Information, as sanctioned by the Administrative Chair, provided this information – a requirement of USA Swimming. Motion passed.

NEXT MEETING: January 25, 2000 (Tuesday).

ADJOURNMENT: 9:30 PM by consensus.
 
 
 
 

Prepared by ________________________________________ December 13, 1999

Patricia A. Kramer, Secretary

Wisconsin Swimming, Inc.

Attachment: Meeting Sign-In

KRAMER:LSCMINUTES