MINUTES of VASRA BOARD of DIRECTORS MEETING February 3, 2009

I.   The VASRA Board of Directors was called to order by the President at 7:38 p.m., February 3, 2009

in the cafeteria of Thomas Jefferson HSST.  Twenty-eight voting members were present as follows:

      Non-voting Members:

II.         President’s Report. Rob Ittig: 

            A.  The rowing schedule is due to be approved by the Crew Council at its meeting on February 10^th.

            B.  The Crew Council will also consider the VASRA Rules of Rowing Supplement and the new draft VASRA Operations Manual that contains all the administrative rules and provisions that were removed from the Bylaws and Rules of Rowing Supplement. The Bylaws now address only Association governance issues and the Rules Supplement addresses only those matters that affect rowing competition and running regattas. CD copy will be handed out at the next meeting

            C.  USRowing Convention, December 4-6, 2008. The convention was outstanding. All the presentations were good and many were great. We collected the USRowing DVD – it addresses everything from weight control to all aspects of sculling and sweep rowing. We will make it available to the Membership. One presentation, “Eat to Compete,” was particularly good and we will have a copy at the next meeting as well.

            D.  The presentation at the USRowing Convention on college entrance process, rowing scholarships, and rowing influence on college acceptance made by Mr. Harvey Kasselbaum was most popular. Several of the VASRA members expressed a desire to have this presentation done down here. Just when and what time to maximize participation/audience is a matter to be discussed (at the next meeting?).

III.       Secretary Report.  John White: 

            A.  The Minutes of the November 5, 2008 Board meeting were read and approved as written.

            B.  Waivers status: Sign waivers on either the RegattaCentral site or on Rowingwaivers.com and report completion and site used.

            C. The count of male/female rowers by each school was deferred to the next meeting. (This count is for determination of Division 1/Division 2 at the VSRC regatta.

IV.       Treasurer’s Report.  John White for Lee West: 

            A.  The November-January financial statement was reviewed.

            B.  2009 Dues not paid: Christchurch, Fairfax, Mathews, National Cathedral, O’Connell, St Albans, South County, Washington-Lee, Westfield.

                  2008 Final Bill not paid: Georgetown Day School

                  2008 Fines owed: Holy Cross

            C.  Lightweight program begins February 14^th, six weeks before the first regatta (March 28^th). The window for body fat measurement is one week before on-water practice begins (February 16^th) to three weeks after (March 16^th).

V.        Vice President’s Report.  Mike Mutter:  The launch driver training plans are still outstanding from T C Williams and Lake Braddock. They were due January 1, 2009. Formal launch driver training will be conducted by the foundation for Rowing Education at Sandy Run on March 14^th and 15^th – limited to 24 per class and costs $130.

VI.       Representative’s Reports.

            A.   Crew Council.  Noel Deskins/Dan Forgas:  NTR

B.   USRA Referees.  Ryz Obuchowicz:  Referee Clinic is March 7^th at the VFW Post5633, 11511 MacArthur Boulevard, Potomac, MD 20854. 8 AM to 2 PM. Ryz said we need referee candidates. Although we have 93 “local” referees on the roster, historically less than 50% are available at any one time. We have 53+ events on the schedule so far, with some Saturdays with up to six separate events running simultaneously. Also, Ryz mentioned we are not getting any younger, and we need more youthful candidates to ensure an able roster.

C.   Sandy Run Park.  James Short:  Jim addressed a number of things: 1) All events are in the schedule – OLOC confirmation is requested. Applications for events are obtained from Sandy Run Park office and require fees be paid when submitted. 2) A security system is to be installed by the end of the month and NVRPA is charging an installation fee from the teams at Sandy Run. 3) The crew president and school rep need to read the User Document and Park Management Operations Plan and attend the User Meeting on February 12^th. 4) On practice days there is no rowing within 500 meters of the dam or teams will lose rowing privileges. 5) Parking spaces for regattas will be raffled at the User Meeting.

            D.   Thompson Boat Center.  Gary Weeden:  NTR

            E.   Anacostia Community Boathouse Association.  Kelley O’Connell:  NTR

VII.      Coordinator Reports.

A.      OLOC.  Rob Ittig for Lee West:  1) No change in the status of the Finish Line Building Fundraising. 2) Reiterated the zero tolerance policy on foul language at regattas – can’t stress this enough. 3) Course replacement status: part of the course is on hand, remainder is expected by mid-February. 4) Carpooling for regattas is encouraged. A $10 fee is going to be charged, however, if the number of cars continues to exceed the park capacity, the parking fee will rise to $20. Parent control is key to carpooling success.

B.       PLOC.  Steve Cauffman:  All permits and paperwork for the Charlie Butt regatta have been submitted and accepted by Thompson Boat Center and the US Park Service. Launch drivers on the Potomac are reminded they need a license … this can be obtained online at BoatsUS.com. The park renovation on the Georgetown Waterfront is completed west of Wisconsin Street, however, the section east of Wisconsin to Washington Harbor is closed for renovation. This will require the 1500 meter finis line to be moved either to the 2000 meter finish (collegiate) in front of Washington Harbor or back 200 meters up-river. The latter is preferred. The finish line at Washington Harbor is too congested with power boats, commercial boats, and recreational boaters and kayakers to be considered safe.

C.      Personnel.  Mark Lindon:  The schedule is set. No more changes. Send me your school regatta sheets as soon as any names are filled in. Earlier is better. First Occoquan workday is now February 28^th.

D.   Programs.  Mary & Watson Pryor:  Deadline for team biographies and photos for the regatta programs is March 3^rd. Send in by CD or email. On the VASRA website is last year’s information. Any advertisements for the program are also due by March 3^rd.

E.   Trophies.  Mike Stilwell:   1) Trophies are to be turned in by the next meeting. They need to be engraved, cleaned, and polished (if silver or silverplate). Engraving is to conform to the existing engraving insofar as possible in size and style.  2) There are a number of trophy moves that are proposed … a handout has been distributed that details the ten moves, primarily necessitated by the addition of the Lightweight Doubles events to the VSRC and Second Quadruple Sculls to the Ted Phoenix regatta, and by the discontinuation of the National Capital Championship (NCC) regatta after 2007. Six NCC trophies moved are either returned to former use in the VSRC or National Capital Area Scholastic Rowing Championship (NCASRC) regatta. The NCASRC was discontinued after 2004. Twelve trophies are earmarked for transfer to the Washington/Maryland Interscholastic Rowing Association (WMIRA) … these are trophies the origin of which are on the Potomac or primary use has been on the Potomac, and are not currently in use and not anticipated to be used by VASRA. In answer to a question from the membership, all trophies of interest to VASRA will be retained by VASRA. The Board of Directors was asked to approve the proposed moves – it was moved and seconded, and approved by unanimous voice vote.

VIII.     Committee Reports.

            A.   Audit.  John Kowal:   NTR

            B.   Bylaws.  John White:  NTR.

            C.   Coaches Committee.  Peter Stramese:   NTR

            D.   Coaches Development.  Ryz Obuchowicz:   NTR

            E.   Grievance.  Harry Heim:  NTR

            F.   Historian.  Ed Wells:  NTR

G.    Nominations.  TBD.

H.   Publicity.  Cherie Lejeune:  NTR.

            I.   Rules.  Rob Ittig:   NTR

IX.       Reading and Consideration of Communications.  None

X.        Old Business. 

            A.  The Coxswain Training Clinic is February 21^st from 8 am to 3 pm, Edison High School.  Olympic Gold Medal coxswain (2004) Pete Chipillone will be one of the principal speakers and run one of the break-out sessions. He will critique anyone’s racing recordings, if you bring it. There is also a coach’s clinic that day, run by the Foundation for Rowing Education, which will include a trailer driving clinic.

            B.  Golf tournament is scheduled April 16^th at Pohick Bay course in Fairfax. To date there has been NO RESPONSE for entries or school representative names submission to the coordinator, Ryz Obuchowicz.

XI.       New Business. 

            A.  The Diversity Task Force Conference is at Georgetown University on February 14th. Lee West and John White are attending.

XII.      Announcements.

            A.  Sandy Run Users Safety meeting, February 12^th, South County High School, 7:00 pm.

            B.  Lightweight programs initiated February 14^th. Body fat measurements are needed.

C.  Potomac/Anacostia Safety meeting, February 17^th, 7 pm, DC Harbor Police HQ, 550 Water Street SW, Washington, DC.

            D.  OLOC Organizational meeting, February 18^th, NVRPA HQ, 5400 Ox Road, Fairfax, 7:30 pm.

            E.  Collegiate Rowing Recruiting Clinic, February 20^th, 6-8 pm, Edison High School.

            F.  Trailer Driving Clinic, February 21^st, 9 am-4-pm, Edison High School.

            G.  Occoquan work day, February 28^th, 9 am-1 pm. On-land preparations.

            H.  Turn in trophies at the next meeting on March 3^rd.

I.   USRowing Referee Clinic, 8 am, March 7^th, VFW Post 5633, 11511 MacArthur Boulevard, Potomac, MD, 20854.

XIII.     Adjournment.  The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

            A.   The next meeting is Tuesday, March 3, 2009 in TJHSST cafeteria.

John D. White

John D. White

Secretary