2009 Annual Meeting – Tentative Minutes
New England Swimming
Wellesley Community Center
May 2, 2009
These minutes are tentative until they are formally
approved at the New England Swimming Annual Meeting in May, 2010.
Meeting began at 9:02 AM, with
Chairwoman Laura Matuszak (GMA) thanking all for
attending. Ray Grant (SSA) asked for a moment of silence for Kate Zenda Santarelli who passed away
earlier this year.
Secretary’s
Report, Mary Ellen Tynan (PSC): Minutes
from last year’s meeting accepted. Motion made to accept minutes by Al Rozzi (LRW) second by Joe Frazier (BGSC). Motion passes.
Remarks
from the Chair, Laura Matuszak (GMA):
-Laura thanked the Board and remark they are a dedicated, hard-working
great group to work with. We had many
successes this year: an Olympic athlete on the team. Elizabeth Beisel
(ABF) did an awesome job at the Top Ten Banquet and Clinic. Thanks to Chuck Bachelor
(ABF), the Attleboro Bluefish and Elizabeth.
Strategic Planning: Looking ahead to 2012 – we recently
had our first meeting ever. Mission Statement: To promote and
support personal excellence through competitive swimming.
Vision: To be the top performing
LSC in the Eastern Zone to be determined by IMX, Virtual Championships, club
recognition levels, number of swimmers making National, Zone and Olympic
Meets. Presently, within the Eastern Zone
New England does all right. Our top team is 25th in the Virtual
Championships in the Zone. Our values as
a board are: professionalism and leadership, pursuit of excellence (this may
look different for different athletes and teams), accountability and
responsibility, USA Swimming Rules, Regulations and Procedures, strong
communication skills and a positive environment. Immediate action plans will be
posted online.
Great Long Course Season. There was great support at 12 and unders in
the new venue. 13-19 Champs at MIT and
Sectionals at Harvard were exciting.
Laura thanked everyone for all of their hard work.
Reports of
Committees and Coordinators:
Calendar Committee, Ray
Grant (SSA): The Long Course calendar is
set. It is still hard to find venues on dates desired by Age Group and Senior
Their goal is to get coordinate the New England Swimming calendar with the USA
Swimming calendar – try to get a 4 year plan.
Securing venues ahead of time would help.
Technical Committee, Ray
Grant (SSA): No report.
Age Group Committee, Matt
Craven (SAC): No report.
Senior Committee, Tim Murphy
(BOSS): No
report.
Coaches’ Report, Jamie Bloom
(WYST): Form
for Junior Athlete Representative will be posted online. The current Junior
Representative will become the Senior Representative. Coaches’
meeting at 10:30.
Safety Committee, Priscilla
Davis (UN-NE): There are
forms that coaches must fill out regarding the new regulations for teaching
diving. Swimmers are still hitting the
bottom of the pool at 6 feet. Forms are
on the website. Please complete one for
each swimmer and test the 11 and unders.
Disability Report, Priscilla Davis (UN-NE): Booklets are online. The rules have changed. The new rules take the responsibility away
from the referee for accommodations. The
coach and the swimmer must approach the referee and request the accommodations
they would like, but they are not guaranteed.
Officials’ Committee, Bob Menck (UN-NE): Thanked
everyone for their help at the championship meets. There were 54 officials at
Sectionals. Many advance to N@ ad N#.
Our goal is to provide the best officials.
Zone Committee, Sherry Wingfield
(NAS): There will be a Zone meet, but the
location is still to be determined. The
meeting is next weekend and any information will be posted. Meet may be run in a different format, but
will be held at the posted dates.
Registration, Mary Riddell
(NE-Office): New fees have been established, but they remain
unchanged. USA Swimming fee will
increase by $1 and New England Swimming will decrease by $1. Mary reported she is trying to get rid of
paper and post things on the website instead.
All team rosters will be sent by E-mail.
Transfer forms are to be sent by E-mail. Forms will be posted online. You can still use the old 3-part form until
they are used up. Coaches will get an
E-mail back stating when the transfer goes into effect and the date the swimmer
is fully attached. Sanctions will be
confirmed by E-mail only. Ray Grant
(SSA) asked if there is any reason the newsletter can’t be online. Mary Riddell
(NE-Office) was discussed at Strategic Planning and will talk to Rick Osterberg
(Webmaster). Mary also reported that
registrations will be close to 7000 by the end of the summer. She will not be
in the office on Tuesdays.
Outreach Chair, Nadine Jesionek: No report.
Laura Matuszak (GMA) acknowledged the Board and
thanked them for trying to provide the best opportunities for New England
athletes. She especially thanked Mary
Riddell (NE-Office) who works well beyond her office hours.
Presentation and approval of annual budget, Joe Frazier (BGSC): The financial statements
as of August 31, 2008 were reviewed by our external accountants and the
associated tax returns for the year then ended filed. Our financial
performance was inline with expectations and the same is true for this
year. For the 2009-2010 year, our budgeted excess of revenues over
expenses will decline approximately $10,000 due to the additional $1.00 in
registration fees that must be forwarded to USA Swimming. The Board Designated
amount of $30,000 is a reserve set aside to help ensure the long-term viability
of New England Swimming. Motion made by Ray Grant (SSA) to approve the
budget, seconded by Al Rozzi (LRW). Motion
passes. Laura Matuszak (GMA) clarified items
that were discussed at Strategic Planning. First, a reserve is
recommended for any non-profit to protect them if there is no income to the
non-profit for one year. Second, the Board is hoping to form a New
England Swimming Foundation to raise money for New England Swimming as and
independent organization to seek out donations and corporate sponsorships.
Unfinished Business: no unfinished business
Elections,
Mariella Allard (UN-NE) Chairperson of
Nominating:
Age Group
Chair, Matt Craven (SAC), unopposed.
Treasurer, Carol Healy (SAC),
unopposed, secretary casts one vote.
Technical
Chair, Mariella Allard (UN-NE), unopposed.
Board of Review, Priscilla Davis
(UN-NE), Ray J. Grant (SSA), John Ogden (YNS), Jessica Harrison (SAC)
–alternate, unopposed.
Nominating
Committee: Mariella Allard (UN-NE), Pam Warner
(UN-NE).
Dan Warner (NSSC) is nominated from
the floor by Joe Bernal (BGSC). Vote will be by ballot. Pam Warner (UN-NE)
and Mariella Allard (UN-NE) are elected to the
Nominating Committee.
Secretary casts one vote for the slate.
New
Business: Matt Forrest (SOLO) remarked
that the entries for the Open are due before the end of Super-Sectionals. Laura
Matuszak (GMA) said she will ask for an extension.
Coaches’ Meeting will be held in the
large room upstairs. Officials will share this room with Meet Managers’
Meeting. Meetings will begin no earlier
than 10:30AM.
Motion made to adjourn by Al Rozzi (LRW), seconded by Chuck Bachelor (ABF), motion
passes. Meeting adjourns at 9:41 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ellen Tynan, Secretary
New England Swimming