Northern Division
ND Spring Meeting Minutes
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Hawthorn Suites, Missoula, MT

Call to Order:  9:00 a.m.

Welcome/ Identification of Members present:  Roger Bay, Craig Krueger, Sherri Hale, Aaron Ruddick, Bruce Krueger, Susan Krueger, Pete Petry, Jarod Roberts, Jeremy Ueland, Cole Greer, Jerry Wolf, Richard Kramer, Jeff Haller, Mike Kelly, Jenn Stielow, John DeBari, Rick Duncan (later)

Approval of Minutes from Winter Meeting – After corrections, Aaron Ruddick makes a motion to approve the minutes of the winter meeting, Jarod Roberts 2nds.  Winter minutes approved.

Old Business:

• Report of the President — Overall athlete numbers were better than anticipated.  YSL membership was down by only 10%.  Our continued focus will be retention of the 14 -16-yr. age group.  Providing a balance of athletic challenges and continued recognition of achievement will enhance this.  Financially, the division is finally very healthy.  Clubs are stable.
• Program Status:
• BSF — Overstaffing last season resulted in some cutbacks and budget concerns, but the enrollment is stable.
• MSEF — 105 in the Little Griz program, older kids' numbers are up.  AJ Cronk is on board as a coach for the older/FIS athletes.  New board president.
• Whitefish Mountain Race Team — Numbers down a little.  Anticipate 2 or 3 more in the academy program.  Their feeder program may grow with cooperation of the mountain.
• Silver Run — Additional 10 athletes this past season, expecting 15 more, Pete Petry has joined their staff
• Rocky Mountain College — 15 men, 10 women, will continue to include ND racers in their races.  Possible qualifier in Missoula again.  Campus-wide RMC sports is excelling and expanding.
• BSSEF — Overall a 25% growth
• Terry Peak, SD: No representation, but has requested team start-up information.
• ACC overview –Roger Bay
• Policy and rules updates, USSA Congress Spring 2009 ACC:  Lester Keller willing to help with club promotion and  parent education, and he is willing to travel to club meetings.  WR comprises 77% of the USSA Alpine Team.  Jeff Pickering will not be part of the NDS staff, but will be helping with special projects.
• Conditioning camp for Chile list out this week.  Budget cutbacks will result in fewer Europe camps.  Jesse Hunt resigned,  on to Park City.  Also Finn is looking for an Alpine person to help with web based sharing of information; job position  open on this at USSA in Park City.
• Discussion/debate if the J2 age group should last for 3 years instead of the J1’s.  US is the only country not using the FIS age-bracket nomenclature.  Kinder/J1/J2, etc.  Recommendation for a single-pole slalom, no outside gates, unless it is a combination.  Guidelines for Children’s/J4’s course setting utilizing stubbies can be found in the Western Region ACC minutes.
• Chief of Race and Chief of Course certification and renewals for TC and RA’s; see Officials report.
• Homologation is required by 2010 for all scored venues, 2011 for all non-scored races.
• No more J4 Festival at Whistler, so the ‘Qualifiers’ will be for J3’s only.
• WR athlete tracking program — Physical assessment/testing, Jenn Stielow:  Required spring and fall assessment for all J3 and older athletes will be in June and October.  This is a requirement for all regional camps.  WR website will post norms and an example of the data sheet format.  Coaches please adhere to the submission format that as posted on the website.
• Park City conditioning camp July 14-21 approximate cost is $400 inclusive.  Good bridge between seasons.  White papers, on website, with guidelines for summer conditioning.  Emphasis on Agility, Balance and Coordination.
• December qualifier
• J2 Qualifiers:  Voted at WR ACC to use one Speed race at Mammoth (was at Big Sky last year) and one tech event to qualify using the WR Process – no change to quotas
• More divisional FIS races are planned for 2010-2011.
• Spring series 2010 now at Mission Ridge, with Mt Bachelor hosting the speed series.
• Western Region Jr. Championships will again be at Schweitzer.
• FIS race entry fees will increase from $35 to $38.  The WR refund policy change for speed events is on the WR website.
• Casper is petitioning Rocky/Central for permission to change divisions.
• Craig Krueger the new Western Region chair, we are extremely grateful for his years of dedication as he steps down from presiding over the ND.
• Background screening is in the 3rd year; upon registration this year, some members will be randomly selected for screening.  All NEW members (coaches and officials) are screened.
• WEST Team and camp reports  are up to date at the regional and NDS levels.
• Divisional Wax — Please bring to fall meeting for inventory.
• Northern Division Calendar: see website spreadsheet.  DRAFT ONLY
• ND this season has 6 J2& J3’s invited to WR flight school and skills camp.  3 will be going to the Topolino shootout.
• Officials’ Chair Report – Mike “Spud” Kelly
• Coaches & Officials USSA Congress Update:  All officials (except Chief of Course) must renew every 2 years, must test if miss the 2nd year renewal.  Renewal is just attending an update or clinic.  Chief of Course curriculum is being developed.  COR must be a Level 1 Technical Delegate or Referee.  All study materials available on USSA website after October 1st.  If a TD observes an unsafe condition on a homologated course they are requested to file a report requesting re-homologation.
• The 2008-09 ND Clinics hosted 44 clinics at Big Sky and, 5 at Whitefish.  The 2-part format of the Big Sky clinic, testing plus a mock race, was effective.
• Currently, there are 146 ND officials listed, obviously these are not all current.  Clubs are requested to update Spud with the names of their current officials.  He also needs the contact information for the current club President/Chair, the head coach and the current Race Administrator.  ND has 5 TD’s without T&C testing.
• Suggested date of Dec. 12-13 for a Level 1-2-300 coaches clinic.  Minimum 8, maximum of 12 sign-ups.  Please note sign-up deadline.  Sign up ahead of time! The instructors plan ahead, clubs and coaches need to also.  Limit of 12.  Fee of $25 will be charged for the first time, as do all other divisions.
• Spud proposed a J4 Super G Jump & Tuck camp in conjunction with the J4 Super-G race.  After the Super G am run, split groups, stations for starts, tucks and jumps.
• Homologation:  Great Divide, Silver Run, and Discovery still need homologation.  For 2009-10, all scored venues must be homologated.  Additionally, in 2010-11 all non-scored venues must be homologated.  Procedure for a club to request a homologation will be posted on the USSA website, payment accompanies request.  Spud, Paul or Everett are current inspectors for USSA.  Arrangement needs to include the inspector, one data recorder, and one additional person to help with shooting distances.  USSA is now ready to specify the qualifications for USSA/FIS or speed inspectors, and the certification procedure is pending.  See notes on USSA website.
• The USSA Excellence Elite Performance Clinic for Clubs series of training conferences is documented on the USSA website.  It is strongly recommended that parents and clubs visit if you get the chance.  Members, clubs, resource center, excellence, click here, scroll down to detailed clinics. Units Recommended: -Risk Management/Club Liability, and Fund Raising/Promotions (zip file with an executable, plus a pdf).  Currently in Power Point, videos to come.
• Proposed modifications to the Northern Division Technical Delegate Reimbursement Policy:
• Clubs need to plan and budget for these TD Expenses: $50/day reimbursement for event plus travel days as stipulated on the USSA site
• Auto expenses:  Actual fuel costs per fuel receipts, only in performance of TD duties.  An additional 20% will be allowed for wear/tear on vehicle.
• Lodging at the economy, single room rate based on local accommodations.  If volunteer housing is offered and not accepted, the TD pays for alternate lodging on their own.
• Unless meals are provided by the host team, reasonably-priced meals that are accompanied by receipts will be reimbursed.  Local TD’s may be utilized, per USSA restrictions.  The TD cannot be a member of the race organizing committee.

Roger moves that we adopt the above proposal, Jarod Roberts 2nds.  Discussion follows on vehicle reimbursement.  Motion passes. 

• Northern Division Manager – Sherri Hale - Financial Overview
  • Where we stand currently – receivables good, income good
  • Head Taxes, development portion discussed.  After discussion, it was decided that the topic be tabled until fall and the  money put aside in a separate account.
• Travel Issues:
• Season report to date –(invoicing & reconciliation)
• ND Liability Release Forms  due by Dec 1, good participation this past year.
• IRS Mileage Reimbursement/Coach Per Diem
• USSA License fees were raised for athletes.  Officials and Coaches did not.
• Head Taxes:  only FIS head taxes are higher
• We need help finding a  supplier for coats.  Thanks to Betsy French for her help in the past.  50  coats, should cost less than $100 w/embroidery.  Need to order in July.
• ND Board
• Sponsorship/Fundraising for Qualifiers.  YSL series sponsor would help us all.
• Jarod Roberts nominates Roy Loman for VP for ND, Richard Kramer 2nds.  Motion passes, unanimous.
• The ACC lost Chris Smith as a member.  Jarod makes a motion that Jerry Wolf takes a seat on the ACC.  Richard Kramer 2nds.  Motion passes.

New Business:

• Nomination of Divisional Board & ACC Positions — Many thanks to Craig Krueger for his many years of leadership and service to the Northern Division parents, athletes and coaches!!  Rick Duncan will take his place.  Roy Loman will be the new Vice President.
• Aaron Ruddick — Joint ND coalition for training and competition across disciplines.  He proposed teaming up with gymnastics programs, incl. summer conditioning and training clinics.
• ACC proposals:  Will discuss at the fall meeting:
• Income from the development head tax.
• Ideas:  Since there are no J4 Qualifiers, boost YSL championship awards, trophies at 1,2,3rd place.  Swag.  Discuss using the funds for:  FIS athlete reimbursement for race travel, camps.  Gold point leaders scholarship $$ for college.
• YSL champs, open to all J3’s, but the J3’s points would not contribute to the overall team scoring.
• Votes:
1. Motion that 2009 devo portion set aside, in a separate account, moved by Spud, 2nd by Kramer.  Motion passes.
2. Scoring at YSL champs:  Overall team scoring and overall individual awards eligibility is for J4 and younger’s.  J3s may participate and receive individual awards, but are not included in the team scoring.  Spud proposes, Jarod 2nds.  Motion passes.
3. Propose Coaches per diem matched to IRS per diem rate and guidelines.  Cole moves, Rick 2nds.  Motion passes.

Fall Meeting is tentatively scheduled for September 25th & 26th.