1)
Opening and
Call to Order: Chairman of the Board
Doug Robbins called the meeting to order at
2) Introduction/Roll Call: Present were Chairman of Board Doug Robbins (E), President Gene Davis (S – EVP, Nominating, Judges/Scorers), Vice President Barry Young (W – EVP), Interim Executive Director Jim Grew (S – USAWS President, Executive Comm., Coaches, IWWF), Pat Byrne (E-EVP), Hutch Haines (E), Jon Thatcher (E), Jeff Surdej (MW-EVP, Skier Qualifications), Dean Chappell (MW), Tom Danford (MW), Jeff Smith (MW), Don Bucher (MW – HND, Grassroots), Jeff Clark (S – Bylaws, HND), Lyman Hardy (S), Chris Eller (S), Jim Jaquess (S), Bob Mayhew (SC – EVP), Jerry Bautsch (SC), T Caldwell (SC), Ron Ives (SC), Connie Morris (W), TC Boice (W), Tad Scharf (W), Laura Johnson (W – Seeding), Scott Snape, (S – Rules), George Lindy (MW – Towboat), Brandon Wolf (Director of Competition Services), Karen Truelove (AAC), Freddy Krueger (AAC), Billy Susi (AAC), Brooks Wilson (AAC), Rhoni Bischoff (USOC), Hank Longo (S – Announcers), Sherm Schraft (S – Awards, Cable, IAC), Charlene Brown (W – Jr. Dev.), Jerry Jackson (S – Technical), Dave Clark (MW – HND), Mark Crone (HND), Andrea Plough (W – HND), Charlotte Melchers (S- HND), Randy Hocking (USA-WS), CW Lowe (S-HND)
3) Announcement of Quorum – There was a quorum of 25
4) Appointment of Parliamentarian/Agenda Review – Jeff Clark is appointed Parliamentarian by Doug Robbins (COB).
5) Agenda Review – Number 13 on the agenda should have been labeled Organizational Reports which includes AAC, PanAm, IWWF and USOC.
6)
Review and
Approval of August 2009 Board Meeting Minutes
Ratification of the Email ballot
#2 –
Action Report #1 – Pat Byrne motioned to approve the 2009 Summer BOD minutes, seconded by Lyman Hardy. Motion carried.
Action Report #2 – Jon
Thatcher motioned to allow non-board members to sit in on the meeting, seconded
by Lyman Hardy. Motion carried.
Action Report #3 – Jon Thatcher motioned to accept all recommendations
presented to the AWSA BOD in the committee reports as motions with an automatic
second, seconded by Bob Mayhew. Motion
carried.
7)
Presidents’
Report (Gene Davis)
· We had more tournaments in 2009, then in past years. We are losing skiers each year in total membership, but skiers are skiing more tournaments.
·
It has been a busy fall and feeling a bit
overwhelmed, but adjusting to the President’s position. He will be giving up the EVP spot and Bob
Archambeau from
· Team Fund Raising Task Force has been created by AWSA Executive Comm. (EC) which will more efficiently find funds to send US teams to International events.
·
US Junior Open – The EC has recommended that the
event go to
· US Open – The athletes have said that they do not want to have a non-cash prize US Open. We need approximately $100,000 in order to hold a US Open. The athletes would like to have a cash prize event associated with the Nationals to showcase the pro skiers to the amateur skiers.
8)
Executive
Director’s Report – Interim – Jim Grew
· Review the USA-WS Board Packet and the USAWS EC Meeting Minutes
· Search Committee for a new Executive Director – Candidates have been narrowed to 4. HQ interviews are scheduled for mid February.
· Sherm Schraft thanked Jim Grew for all the work that he has done after the last 2 Executive Directors have left USAWS.
· Profile of Candidates – Jeff Smith stated that the committee has spent and continues to spend a lot of time discussing the needs of the organization in terms of the job description. The new job description needs to elevate the importance of membership and marketing as priorities.
9)
USA-WS
Report – Jim Grew
a. Name
Change Proposal – Refer to Final Draft handed out at meeting which includes
sponsorship comments.
* Riders do not consider themselves skiers and the name USA Water Ski does not appeal to riders whereas WWA (World Wakeboard Association) does appeal to riders to join the organization.
Changing our name probably won’t bring in any WWA members, but it will make the riders feel included in our family. We also want to appeal to the new families, families that ski, wakeboard, tube. We can better promote the Affinity program and the Grassroots program within our organization. Also feel we can pull in more tournament organizers with the name change.
· Andrea Plough – IWWF is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and if we want to be involved in the Olympic Action then our name should reflect that. Our organization is losing membership and sponsorship and is in trouble and a name change would benefit our organization.
Action Item #4 – Barry Young motions to approve the name change proposal,
seconded by Bob Mayhew. Discussion. Call for roll call vote – NO – 16, YES – 9. Motion Fails.
See Addendum A
Discussion – Each board member was allowed to comment on the name change. Some members don’t see any benefit to a name change and that changing our name will not bring in additional members. Some members want to see a thorough thought out plan and make sure that the plan is carried out if the name change is approved. Some members are in favor of the change and see that there is a possibility of membership growth, additional sponsorship dollars and a new family focus. Some members don’t feel strongly either way.
Action Item #5 – Jim Jaquess motions that the AWSA BOD, in regards to the USA-WS name change, require that all the AWSA representatives on the USA-WS Board vote according to the direction of the AWSA Board, seconded by Lyman Hardy. Discussion. Roll Call vote - NO – 14, YES – 10, ABSTAINED – 1. Motion Failed. See Addendum B
Action Item #6 - Bob Mayhew motions to amend Jim Jaquess’ motion
(Action Item #5) to substitute the word “recommend” for “require”, seconded by
TC Boice.
Jim Jaquess rejects the amendment because by “recommending” we are not locking in AWSA’s vote.
Members expressed their feelings of the AWSA BOD mandating how they should vote at the USA-WS meeting tomorrow. Questions were raised on should we vote according to how the people who elected them feel or according to the AWSA BOD.
Action Item #7 – Jim Jaquess motions that if the USA-WS name change is
approved by the board that AWSA shall immediately change its name to USA-WS,
seconded by Lyman Hardy. Discussion. Motion Failed.
Discussion – Jeff Clark explains the difficulty in changing the name and that it would be best to operate under a DBA. USA-WS is trademarked. We would then only need to change one set of bylaws. Above motion is inappropriate.
Action Item #8 – Jeff Smith motions that the Bylaws Comm. and AWSA
Executive Committee come back with any appropriate proposal in response to
whatever action is taken by the USA-WS BOD tomorrow, seconded by Tom
Danford. Motion carried.
Doug Robbins mentions that there is some question regarding Ron Ives participating in the meeting via the internet. Ron is unable to attend due to medical reasons. Jeff Clark indicated that Ron is able to participate in this manner but without a vote according to the Bylaws.
Action Item #9 – Jon Thatcher motions to allow Ron Ives to participate
with a vote, via the internet, in light of his current circumstance, in this
case only, since he went through the effort to make sure he is able to be a
part of the meeting, seconded by Jim Jaquess.
Motion carried.
Discussion –
Pat Byrne would like to see the motion amended to state under Ron’s special circumstance in this case only. Jon amended his motion.
10)
Treasurer’s
Report – Carey Zimlich – See Written Report
Carey call the BOD’s attention to the fact that we had a lot of Team money that was not being used and so some of the funds have been moved to help other teams and balance out some shortfalls with some of the teams. We were able to fee up some cash by doing this.
ActionItem #10 – Committee motion to accept Treasurer’s Report,
Automatic second. Motion carried.
11)
AWSA Executive
Committtee Report – Gene Davis – See Meeting Minutes included in Packet
· Gene reiterated the redistribution of Team funds.
· Highlighted changes to what we are paying for each of the teams due to the lack of funds.
·
US Junior Open – trying to move it around the
country and this year it will be going to
· Looking for volunteers to serve on the new Team Fund Raising Task Force. Carey Zimlich, Pat Byrne, Steve Rayburn are willing to serve. The funds raise will not be just for the teams but for our organization (AWSA) as well.
· Need a committee chair for the officials committee. Gene has been acting as chair until someone steps forward.
Action Item #11 – Barry Young motions to except the AWSA Committees
report with the stated changes: Tyler Boyd added to the Announcers Committee,
Erik Kosney added to Skier’s Qualifications as Chair, Jeff Surdej becomes a
member of Skier’s Qualifications. Also
change the AWSA NSL name to AWSA Grassroots Comm., Seconded by Bob Mayhew. Motion Carried.
12)
National
Championships
a)
2010 – Jeff
Surdej mentioned that Dana Reed and
Action Item #12 – Bob Mayhew motions that we accept the current
schedule of events that TomDanford/Jeff Surdej has put forth including the international
skiers with the American Open Skiers, seconded by Freddy Krueger. Discussion.
Motion Carried.
All the information regarding
hotels and restaurants is online on the Midwest Region website and USA-WS
website. The Junior banquet will be held
at a hockey rink. The AWSA BOD meeting
will be on Saturday afternoon at Waters Edge, starting at
Discussion ensued regarding the use of 2 boats and drivers in the jump event. Scott Snape mentioned that the Rules committee did not address using 2 boats/drivers in the jump event. We can not have an exception for Nationals so Rule 8.02 (d) needs to be changed.
Action Item #13 – Jeff Smith motions that the Chief Driver in
consultation with the Chief Judge be given the discretion to utilize 2 boats, 2
drivers at the 2010 Nationals, seconded by Bob Mayhew. Motion Carried.
b)
2011 –
If 2010 Nationals is a success, Waters Edge will do it again.
c)
2012 and
Beyond – Gene stated that Ski Club of the Palm Beaches may be interested in
hosting the 2012 Nationals.
13)
Organization
Reports
a) AAC (Freddy Krueger): No Report
b) PanAm (Jeffry Armstrong): Review Written Report
The only addition to the report is
that the PanAm Championships will be held on
c) IWWF (Jim Grerw): Review Written Report
d) USOC (Rhoni Bischoff): Review Written Report
On January 6, a new Executive Officer was selected: Scott Blackman
Steve Locke is still supporting USA-WS and pushing for funding for the PanAm Games even though he is no longer working with USA-WS.
14)
Committee
Reports
a)
Awards
(Sherm Shraft): Review written
report
b)
Bylaws (Jeff
Clark): Review written report
Action Item #14 - Committee motions to approve Bylaws Action Item #1,
automatic second. No discussion. Motion
Carried.
c)
International
Activities (Sherm Shraft): Review
written report
Action Item #15 – Committee motions to approve the IAC Report,
automatic second. Discussion. Motion Carried.
d)
Judges &
Scorers (Acting Chair – Gene Davis): Review
Written Report
e)
Rules (Scott
Snape):
Staring this year any proposed rule changes need to be completed on the proposed rule change form which is online in a pdf format. Rule changes will not be accepted in any other format. There will be a form in the future for rules exceptions.
Action Item #16 – Committee motions to approve Rules Proposal 1,
automatic second. No discussion. Motion
Carried.
Action Item #17 – Committee motions to approve Rules Proposal 2,
automatic second. Discussion. Motion Failed.
Action Item #18 – Committee motions to approve Rules Proposal 3,
automatic second. Motion Failed.
The AWSA BOD discussed Rule Proposal 3A.
Action Item #19 – Jeff Smith motions to amend proposal 3A, Rule 3.03 b.3.
to read “A skier will maintain their Open or Masters qualification status for
12 months from the date they last held a Level 9
Ranking”, seconded by Gene Davis.
Discussion. 3 – NO, 22 – YES Motion Carried.
AWSA BOD approved Rules Proposal 3A as amended.
AWSA BOD Discussed Rules Proposal 4.
Action Item #20 – Tad Scharpf motions to
change the wording in Proposal 4 from Open to Elite (in 2 places), seconded by
Pat Byrne. Motion Carried.
AWSA BOD approved Rules Proposal 4 as amended.
Action Item #21 – Committee motions to approve Rules Proposal 5,
automatic second. Discussion. Motion Failed.
Action Item #22 – Committee motions to approve Rule Proposal 6,
automatic second. Discussion. 10 – NO, 15 - YES Motion Carried.
The AWSA BOD discussed Rules Proposal 7.
Action Item #23 – Tom Danford motions to amend Proposal 7 Rule 5.03 to
read “All three performances for an overall score shall
be achieved in the same division and must be performed in the same round
of a multi-round tournament (i.e., first time ski
in a division per event = round #1, second time
ski in a division per event = Round #2, etc.)”, seconded by Jeff
Smith. Discussion. Motion Carried.
Rules Proposal 7 was approved as amended.
Action Item #24 – Committee motions to approve Rule Proposal 8,
automatic second. Motion Carried.
AWSA BOD discussed Rules Proposal 9.
Action Item #25 – Tom Danford motions to delete the words chief officials from the additional language (bold/italics) in Rule 6.13
and to delete the last sentence of the additional language (bold/italics),
seconded by TC Boice. Discussion. Motion
Carried.
AWSA BOB approved Rules Proposal 9 as amended.
Action Item #26 – Committee motions to approve Rules Proposals 10 and
11, automatic second. Motion Carried.
AWSA BOD discussed Rules Proposal 12.
Action Item #27 – Bob Mayhew motions to send Proposal 12 back to Rules
for refinement, seconded by T
AWSA BOD Discussed Rules Proposal 12A.
Action Item #28 – Bob Mayhew motions to send Proposal 12A back to
Technical Committee to collect our own data, seconded by Jeff Smith. Discussion.
Motion Carried.
Action Item #29 – Committee motions to approve Rules Proposal 13,
automatic second. Discussion – based on
decision about Proposal 12A, strike B2 and G2 from Proposal 13. Motion Carried.
AWSA BOD discussed Rules Proposal 14.
Action Item #30 – Tom Danford motions to make Proposal 14 effective for
the upcoming ski year, seconded by Tad Schapf.
Motion Carried.
AWSA BOD approved Rules Proposal 14 as amended.
AWSA BOD discussed Rules Proposal 15.
Action Item #31 – TC Boice motions to send Proposal 15 back to
Technical and Rules, seconded by Tad Schapf.
Motion Carried.
Action Item #32 – Committee motions to approve Rules Proposals 16, 17,
18, 19 and 20, automatic second. Motion
Carried.
AWSA BOD discussed Rules Proposal 21.
Action Item #33 – Jim Jaquess motions to include Class E in the ( )
after “from the boat”, seconded by
Lyman Hardy. Motion Carried.
AWSA BOD approved Rules Proposal 21 as amended.
* There has been a request that the layout for the rules proposal be in a better format so it is better understood what is being changed.
* No Action #4 – A request has been made that Rules look into freezing a skier’s scores in cases of medical illnesses/injuries if a skier is unable to ski for a year.
f)
Towboat
(George Lindy): Review written report
g) Announcers (Hank Longo): Review Written Report
Hank handed out the AWSA ANNOUNCER MANUAL AND GUIDELINES. This will be online and in the electronic tournament kit. There is also an announcer application.
h) Technical (Jerry Jackson): Review Written Report
i) Coaches (Charlene Brown): Review Written Report
j) Junior Development (Charlene Brown): Review written report
The
24 member Junior Team has been finalized and will be released soon.
k) Safety (Jim Babcock): Review
written report
l) Seeding (Laura Johnson): Review
written report
m) Skiers Qualifications (Jeff
Surdej): Review written report
n) Boat Drivers (Jerry Bautsch):
Review written report
Action Item #34 – Committee motions to approve Jack Daugherty for
Driver’s Emeritus status in the trick and jump event, automatic second. Motion Carried.
o) Cable (Sherm Schraft): Review
written report
p) Grassroots (Don Bucher): Review written report
q) Pro/Amateur Task Force (Bob
Mayhew): Review written report
r) Regional
Realignment Task Force (T Caldwell): Committee is being disbanded per the
AWSA president.
15) Regional Recommendations
a) East
1. The supply of
available Promo Boats is a continuing crisis and the situation is
deteriorating. A recommendation for
the Towboat Committee. For Class Tournaments, with the approval of the
Chief Judge, the Chief Driver, and the Safety Director, allow any previously
approved Towboat with any previously approved Speed Control System to be used. Review Towboat
Committee Report.
2. A recommendation for the Rules Committee. In the absence of readily available handles that are safe, remove the requirement that tournament host must provide a tournament handle for use by the participating skiers. Replace this provision with a clause that indicates that tournament host may provide a tournament handle for use by the participating skiers (at the tournament host’s discretion).
b)
1. Rules Committee – Look at Rule 11.07 to increase the set time on the first pass fall to 45 seconds like it is when you stand up on the first pass and get to set down at the end of the course.
2. Rules Committee – Look at Rule 11.16 – adopt the IWWF rope release specification of 1 meter from the AWSA current one of 24 inches.
c) South
1. Recommendation that
the Board vote no on the Name Change Proposal.
Discussed in the meeting.
2. Recommendation of
using only one boat/driver in jump at Nationals. Discussed in the
meeting.
3. Eliminate the
Regional Realignment Task Force - Done
d) South Central
1. Recommendation
to the Rules Committee that they meet every other year and freeze the rules
for a 2 year period.
2. Recommendation to Judges/Scorers and Risk Management - See the age for an assistant judge be lowered to 14 years of age.
3. Recommendation to Judges/Scores - A competent aspiring judge be awarded an assistantship by a senior judge in that event at a tournament with confirmation from Headquarters.
4. USA-WS BOD -
The Executive Director of USA-WS have a vote on the USA-WS Board of Directors.
e) West
1. Risk Management/Safety Committee – Review the safety of the power vest by Goode and the clincher gloves.
16) Any Other Business
* Dave Clark was recognized for receiving the Award of Distinction.
* Gene Davis indicated another change for the committee list, which is to remove Joe Darwin from the Junior Development Committee and add Scott Greenwood.
Action Item #35 - Barry Young motions to approve deleting Joe Darwin from the Junior Development Committee on the Committee Roster and adding Scott Greenwood to the committee, seconded by Jeff Smith. Motion Carried.
* Question was raised about the change in concept of the Supporting Membership. Jim Grew said this subject should be brought up at the USA-WS BOD meeting tomorrow since it is a USA-WS Executive Committee matter.
17) Action
Report #36 - Barry Young motioned to adjourn at
Respectfully Submitted,
Kate Knafla, AWSA Secretary
ADDENDUM A
Roll Call Vote for Action Item # 4
Name Change Proposal
Name Yes No Abstain
Karen Truelove X
Freddy Krueger X
Billy Susi X
Brooks Wilson X
Rhoni Bischoff X
Bob Mayhew X
Jerry Bautsch X
T
Ron Ives X
Pat Byrne X
Hutch Haines X
Doug Robbins X
Jon Thatcher X
Gene Davis X
Chris Eller X
Lyman Hardy X
Jim Jaquess X
Jeff Surdej X
Jeff Smith X
Tom Danford X
Dean Chappell X
Barry Young X
Tad Schapf X
Connnie Morris X
TC Boice X
Results 9 16
ADDENDUM B
Roll Call Vote – Action Item #5
AWSA reps required to vote accordingly
Name Yes No Abstain
Karen Truelove X
Freddy Krueger X
Billy Susi X
Brooks Wilson X
Rhoni Bischoff X
Bob Mayhew X
Jerry Bautsch X
T
Ron Ives X
Pat Byrne X
Hutch Haines X
Doug Robbins X
Jon Thatcher X
Gene Davis X
Chris Eller X
Lyman Hardy X
Jim Jaquess X
Jeff Surdej X
Jeff Smith X
Tom Danford X
Dean Chappell X
Barry Young X
Tad Schapf X
Connnie Morris X
TC Boice X
Results 10 14 1
ADDENDUM C
Summary of Recommendations to Committees
Rules Committee
1) Rules Proposal 12 sent back for refinement.
2) Rules Proposal 15 sent back to committee
3) A recommendation for the Rules Committee. In the absence of readily available handles that are safe, remove the requirement that tournament host must provide a tournament handle for use by the participating skiers. Replace this provision with a clause that indicates that tournament host may provide a tournament handle for use by the participating skiers (at the tournament host’s discretion).
4) Rules Committee – Look at Rule 11.07 to increase the set time on the first pass fall to 45 seconds like it is when you stand up on the first pass and get to set down at the end of the course.
5) Rules Committee – Look at Rule 11.16 – adopt the IWWF rope release specification of 1 meter from the AWSA current one of 24 inches.
6) Recommendation to the Rules Committee that they meet every other year.
7) A request has been made that Rules look into freezing a skier’s scores in cases of medical illnesses/injuries if a skier is unable to ski for a year.
Technical Committee
1) Rules Proposal 12A sent to Technical to gather/report our own data.
2) Rules Proposal 15 sent to Technical and Rules for review.
Towboat Committee
1) The supply
of available Promo Boats is a continuing crisis and the situation is
deteriorating. A recommendation for
the Towboat Committee. For Class Tournaments, with the approval of the
Chief Judge, the Chief Driver, and the Safety Director, allow any previously
approved Towboat with any previously approved Speed Control System to be
used. Review
Towboat Committee Report.
Judges/Scorers
Committee
1) Recommendation
to Judges/Scorers and Risk Management - See the age for an assistant judge
be lowered to 14 years of age.
2) Recommendation to Judges/Scores - A competent aspiring judge be awarded an assistantship by a senior judge in that event at a tournament with confirmation from Headquarters.
Risk Management
1) Recommendation to Judges/Scorers and Risk Management - See the age for an assistant judge be lowered to 14 years of age.
2) Risk Management/Safety Committee – Review the safety of the power vest by Goode and the clincher gloves.
Safety
1) Risk Management/Safety Committee – Review the safety of the power vest by Goode and the clincher gloves.
USA-WS BOD
1) USA-WS
BOD - The Executive Director of USA-WS have a vote on the USA-WS Board of
Directors.