Northern Division
ND Fall Meeting Agenda
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Right Now Technologies, Bozeman, MT

Call to Order:  9:00 a.m.

Welcome/ Identification of Members present:  Rick Duncan, Sherri Hale, Craig Krueger, Roy Loman, Cole Greer, James Bildahl, Pete Petry, Jarod Roberts, Jason Dokken, Jerry Wolf, Rick Jacobs, Bruce Krueger, Susan Krueger, Susan Carstensen, Jeremy Ueland, Bob Gotshall, Richard Kramer, Bill Kahle

Approval of Minutes from Spring Meeting: Minutes approved.

Old Business:

• Report of President Clubs overall are stable, J2 attrition continues.  High points include an enhanced level of credibility and stability due to our faithful and highly experienced coaching staff; our current financial stability and optimism is due to the diligence of Sherri Hale and the dedication of the racers and families.
• We now have a Northern Division Facebook site.  Find it and use it, we hope to channel the kids to use this for connecting and keeping in touch.  Parents should be able to help each other with race organization tips, etc.  The name of the Facebook page is "USSA Northern Division".  
• Program Status – club reports (staffing, funding, etc...)
• BSF:  3-tier program:  Devo, Jfast and YSL.  Numbers good, at least 4 athletes are J2’s.
• GDST:  Could have a 20% drop.  Young program strong w/150-160 learn-to-ski.
• BSSEF:  Good financials, the mountain is supportive.  Some J3-4-5’s moving into the Freeride program.  Will host an MSU race and the Disabled Nationals.  Holding on to their J3’s and J2’s.  
• RMC:  Strong, steady program.  Will have a race open to the ND athletes, ND team will be seeded as a college team.
• Discovery:  Numbers are up to 45, 4-5 J3’s, financially sound.
• Showdown:  One J3 skier, mostly younger athletes.
• MSSEF:  Athletes are growing into the J3 level, younger numbers are strong.
• SRST:  New mountain management is supportive.  Snowmaking equipment being readied for the early season race.  Financials good.
• Terry Peak:  Cannot attend meeting, ND is hoping to see them competing this year.
• WMRT:  Good return from last year, some new athletes from the freestyle team.  Negotiating with the mountain to enhance the community experience for the public and racing families.  Starting a Junior learn-to-race entry program with help from the mountain.
• Casper has moved to the Rocky/Central Division
• ACC overview –Roger Bay
• Policy and rules updates Congress 2009.  All Timing and Calc officials, are urged to review the extensive changes (see the USSA site) and plan on testing every 2 years, the same with RA’s.
• WEST Team and camp reports up-to-date at regional and NDS levels.  The west team camp at Mt. Hood was cancelled due to weather and grooming conditions.
• WR athlete tracking program.  Physical Assessments mandatory for J1-2-3’s in October, consult your head coach.  No testing, no placement on selection boards.
• Divisional Wax is being coordinated by Pete Collins, WMRT
• Calendar Draft and Approval Note:  Possible we may add a camp at Snow King Dec 5-6th.  Richard Kramer moves to accept the new calendar, Bruce Krueger 2nds.  Calendar is accepted.
• Officials’ Chair Report
• Officials chair position is open.  Coaches & Officials Clinics Level 100, and possibly Level 200 & 300 slalom clinics to be held Dec 12-13th at Big Sky .  Sign up through the USSA website.  NO LAST MINUTE SIGNUPS, and there are limited spaces, sign ups are beginning OCT 1!!.  There should be a clinic also in the western part of the state, and in possibly in Spokane.  The new Chief of Course test is ready.  T&C and RA’s now need to test every 2 years.  Coming in the future may be tighter rules for keeping levels of certification for officials.  This may prove difficult for our division; that’s why we need an official’s chair to represent us at USSA Congress meetings.
• Homologations:  Bruce Crane needs help in the summer, very short of homologation officials.  Please call Bruce Crane to help, expenses are covered.
• Technical Delegate Expenses Review .  We need to keep TD scheduling centralized, USSA will not allow us to use local TD’s unless they are not affiliated with the club. Our division can work around this due to distance of travel.  $50/day payment for scored and non-scored races.  RA and TD need to coordinate with the expenses and related paperwork on site. Actual fuel costs covered with receipts. Additionally, 20% of the fuel cost is paid for use of a personal vehicle.  Lodging covered at the economy single room rate.  If the race organizers offer housing, and the TD turns it down, the TD pays for own housing.  Meal allowance also covered.  Paperwork/expenses needs to be filed even if these expenses are donated back to the club.
• Official’s certifications.  USSA has not updated the most recent testing data.  Consult the USSA website, and cross check this info with your personal records/testing history, and your previous season’s officials card.  Email Sherri Hale with discrepancies during October.
• Northern Division Manager – Sherri Hale - Financial Overview
• Where we stand currently. ~$16,000 in the bank to start the year
• Head Tax – development portion is currently at around $6,000.  We have this in a CD now.
• Recommendations:  roll over CD in October for 3 more months
• The ACC proposes to use the development portion of the head tax as follows:  Original purpose to support a divisional development team.  ACC proposes that 1/3 of the $2800 go to a Bill Kenny Gold Cup college scholarship, 1/3 to Junior athlete support, i.e. travel expenses,  1/3 to Divisional point leaders race support/compensation.  All recipients must be in good standing with the Northern Division.  Craig Krueger makes the motion, Richard Kramer 2nds. Passes.
• The ACC proposes that the YSL portion to be used to enhance the awards/swag at the YSL championships.  Team champs awards are for the J4’s.  This is a replacement for the J4 Festival.  Separate J3 overall awards.  Jarod Roberts makes the motion, Rick Jacobs 2nds.  Motion passes.
• The ACC recommends Carole Brennan as the ND officials chair.  Cole Greer makes the motion. Rick Jacobs 2nds.  Motion passes.
• Travel Issues:
• Season report to date – invoicing & reconciliation, status is good.
• ND Forms due December 1st – J3’s and older.  See ND website to download forms.  Mail in to Sherri, FAX, or scan them into a PDF and send to Sherri (preferable).  This is mandatory to be included on the selection boards.  Updates will be posted after Dec 1.
• IRS Mileage Reimbursement/Coach Per Diem (IRS).  Clubs should review this for budgeting; rates vary from state to state.
• Transportation of coaches review/reminders.  No athlete transportation is provided in the Northern Division.  Athlete transportation coordinated at the individual and club level.  If arranged through the coach or club, athletes can travel at their own liability with coaches to a project, but that does not guarantee that daily transportation will be available at the event.
• ND Board
• Sponsorship/Fundraising is an on-going need for Qualifiers, to alleviate head tax expenses for the clubs.  Perks could include banners at events and on results, advertising could be sold on Facebook.
• A presentation was made to Craig Krueger in appreciation for many years of expertise and service as president of the USSA Northern Division.  Thank you Craig! 

New Business:

• Goals and Tentative Schedule for Winter Meeting
  • Development portion of the Head tax: clubs are welcome to submit proposals for specific allocations of the funds.
  • Winter meeting proposed at Hidden Moose Lodge on January 9th
  • Clubs are advised to check their health care coverage for their volunteers.  Discovery pays the  Mountains workman’s comp for the days of the event.  Gatekeeper was covered for a freak accident.  Waivers must be signed by EVERY volunteer.  2 volunteers injured in recent years with significant expenses.
• Thank you to Right Now Technologies for providing our meeting facility today!

Roy Loman  Moves to adjourn.  Jarod Roberts 2nd .  Meeting is adjourned at 10:30am.

Meeting notes submitted by Susan Krueger and Sherri Hale.