USRowing Board of Directors Meeting

October 9-10, 2004

Chicago , IL

Meeting called to order October 9, 2004 at 8:00 AM

Attendance:

Present: Bebe Bryans, Ron Chen, Christine Collins, Tom Fuller, Barb Kirch Grudt, Alice Henderson, Robert Kidd, Karen Klinger, Garrett Klugh, Don Langford, Lianne Nelson, Nick Peterson, Jean Reilly, Chris Ryan, Phil Sutton, Elmira Togliatti. 

Absent: Ted Patton (excused), Tessa Spillane (excused), Abigail Cromwell (unexcused).

Also present from USRowing, John Dane (Executive Director), Tes Carpenter (Executive Assistant), Alix Robertson (Controller), Jody Pope, Brianne Drlich (Membership Services Manager).

Saturday guests: Glenn Merry (Nat'l Teams Program Director), Mike Teti, Tom Terhaar, Kris Korzeniowski, Anne Martin (NRF)

1.       Moment of Silence for Ted Phoenix, Mid-Atlantic Board representative who died suddenly on September 16, 2004 .

2.       Introduction of Elmira Togliattie, new At-Large Board Representative.

3.       MOTION:  [Chen/Klinger]

To approve absences.

MOTION PASSES   All in favor

4.      MOTION:  [?/?]

To approve Minutes for March and July 2004

MOTION PASSES   All in favor.

5.       NRF Report:

Anne Martin, Co-Chair of the NRF, presented a “myth busting” report concerning the activities, practices, and goals of the NRF relative to the support of our National Teams.  A favorable relationship is developing between USRowing and the NRF.

A.      Increased Reach - The NRF has hired two National Team athletes to develop its rowing alumni base (Ali Cox, Anna Mickelson).  Female alumni were specifically and successfully targeted as part of this year's fundraising efforts.

B.      Dispel Legacies - there has been concern that women are not supported to the same extent as men by the NRF.  All athletes have been funded equally for approximately eight years.

C.      Professionalizing the NRF:

                                                   i.      The NRF produced an annual report this year to thank donors. 

                                                 ii.      A newsletter was created by Anna Mickelson as a means to connect donors to the current National Team athletes.

                                                iii.      Athletes from the men's and women's medal winning Olympic Eights will be brought together for a reception at the Head of the Charles.

D .  Grant Process - Presentations by John Dane and Glenn Merry led to a $452,000 grant from the NRF for this years Olympic Team. 

6.  High Performance Committee Report:

A.     Following a video of the men's and women's eights races in Athens , Glenn Merry reported on details of the trip to Athens .  Overall logistics went very well.

B.     The Olympic Team won two of the five medals expected by the USOC.

C.     The USOC is requesting a four-year plan and budget proposal for the next quadrennial, rather than the typical yearly proposals requested in the past.  USRowing postponed it's proposal until after the games in order to base it on actual results in Athens .

7. Registered Regatta Task Force:

Tom Fuller reported on a targeted pilot program for Local Organizing Committees.  For registered regattas in which all participants are individual members, the LOC does not have to pay for regatta insurance (USRowing will cover).  An additional short term benefit will be the free use of a Regatta Box and Regatta Central.  The lasting benefit is the reduced insurance cost.

MOTION:  [Klinger/Henderson]

To table voting on the Registered Regatta Task Force Resolution and amendments within until after the presentation of the Membership Task Force Report.

MOTION PASSES (All in Favor)

8. Membership Task Force Report:  [Reilly, Collins]

Jean Reilly presented a mock web site targeted toward collegiate athletes and parents.  Discussion centered around the cost of building the site and the challenge of keeping it updated.  It would be linked to the current USRowing web site.

Additional e-based educational materials might also be produced, including teaching packs, learning books/CD's, and teaching aids such as DVD's, audio tapes, and practical teaching guides.

Communication is another area in which membership can be enhanced.  Possibilities include revamping the monthly newsletter, holding Town Hall meetings to hear from the membership, and producing an annual USRowing Yearbook.

Discussion of Membership Committee Resolution.

MOTION:  [Reilly/ Kidd]

To adopt the Membership Committee Resolution, pending re-write.

MOTION:  [Chen/Reilly]

To table the Membership Resolution vote until a  re-write is produced.

MOTION:  [Chen/Klinger]

To take from the table the motion previously presented to the Board on membership.

MOTION PASSES  All in favor

MOTION:  [Chen/Klinger]

To approve the Membership Committee Resolution as amended. [Appendix A]

MOTION PASSES   All in favor

MOTION:

To take from the table the motion of the Regatta Task Force.

MOTION:  [?/?]

To adopt the Resolution of the Registered Regatta Task Force as amended.  [Appendix B]

MOTION PASSES   14 Y,   2 N (Henderson, Grudt)

9. Advertising Rule:

MOTION: [Fuller/Collins]

To adopt the Referee Commission proposal to modify and essentially eliminate the Advertising Rule [Appendix C]

Discussion:

Manufacturers can advertise within the sponsor space if the sponsor space is not used.  Size limitations are removed.

MOTION PASSES 15-Y, 1-N  (Chen)

5:30 PM  MOTION:  [Chen] 

To recess until Sunday

Sunday, October 10, 2004

10. Budget

MOTION:  [Klinger/Peterson]

To maintain the current dues structure for 2005 with the modification that organizational dues be $500/$325/$250.

MOTION PASSES   All in favor

11. Awards

Ernestine Bayer Award:  Olympic Women's 8+

Man of the Year:  Olympic Men's 8+

Clayton W. Chapman Award:  Ted Phoenix

John Carlin Service Award:  Hewitt

Jack Kelly Award:  Jo Hannafin

USRowing Medal:  Clayton Chapman

12. Masters National's Venue

MOTION:  [Klinger/Henderson]

To accept Quinsigimond as the 2005 Masters Nationals site pending budget approval.

MOTION PASSES  15-Y, 1-A  (Collins)

13. Governance

The USOC will begin auditing all NGB's in 2005.

The Governance Committee will be researching other organizations and USOC papers for a February Board presentation.  Questions being considered are whether USRowing should be an NGB, a member organization, or both? USRowing's one vulnerability is the fact that its Board members are required to be affiliated with rowing, while the USOC now recommends non-affiliated directors.  At risk is the possibility that the USOC could decommission USRowing's NGB status, create a different national organization, and leave USRowing as a member organization.

Next Meeting:  December 4, 2004 in Miami , FL

Annual Meeting:  7:30-9:00 AM

Board Meeting:  9:30 AM-2:00 PM

Meeting Adjourned 11:45 AM , October 10, 2004

Respectfully submitted,

Barb Kirch Grudt, Secretary

November 4, 2004