Meeting was called to order at 9:40 A M by J.C. Knaub.  In attendance were: Craig Krueger, Fritz Wood, Eric Hamilton, Toby Chapman, Jeff Pickering, Jen Stielow, Don Lewis, Marjorie Knaub, Susan Krueger, Steve Gettel, Rick Jacobs, Wink Jordan, Alrick Hale, JC Knaub, Steve Erickson. 

    Fall Minutes from 2003 were revised.  The only major revision was to make sure that the J3-4 Junior Olympic selection boards where in line with the Northern Division handbook.  Susan Krueger moved to accept the Fall Minutes, Don Lewis seconded the motion and the motion passed. 

    The winter meeting minutes were reviewed.  Rick Jacobs moved to accept the winter meeting minutes, this was seconded by Susan Krueger and the motion carried.

Treasurer's Report:

    Don Lewis reports we have $22,024 in the bank.  One half of this is our security CD to back up our credit card.  Our outstanding debts are $34,000 to $35,000.  An item by item review of the budget followed.

    Each race has discrepancies due to a lack of communication between the Treasurer and the Administrator.  Different athletes have different amounts owed for the same race and a final accounting for each race needs to be completed and the parents notified of outstanding balances.  The $200 fee that was to accompany all intent to compete forms was not paid by many of the race families.  Since it is too difficult to enforce this $200 fee we think it would be more sensible to drop it.  Susan Krueger made a motion that the intent to compete deposit as described in the Northern Division handbook be eliminated.  Jeff Pickering seconded the motion and the motion passed.  Susan Krueger will amend the Northern Division handbook accordingly.  It would enhance communication between the Administrator and the Treasurer if the Treasurer received a final accounting as to who actually attended each race.

    There are still wax fees that have not been finalized for the Big Sky race.  The J1-J2 Junior Olympics estimates were under budget by $410.

    A suggestion was made that the Administrator set up a spreadsheet for each individual athlete.  Another suggestion was made that each race have its own spreadsheet.  These spreadsheets could be shared between the Administrator and the Treasurer.  The Treasurer needs to be told the final composition of the Development Team earlier in the season.

    For the J3-J4 Junior Olympics we are very close to a balance with only a few payments remaining.  The committee would like to express our thanks to the Reed family for loaning us their trucks for hauling equipment to and from Junior Olympics.  Most athletes incurred phone expenses and these are almost all paid for. 

    For the Mammoth Mountain race Adam Studer was informed that he still owed $297 in expenses.  He has refused to pay this due to a disagreement over actual mileage traveled and expenses incurred, as he was both a coach and athlete on the trip.  Susan Krueger will have to consult Carol Kolarich over this issue, and finalize at the fall meeting.  

    Fritz Wood recommends that we develop a standard form that each coach fills out at the end of each race that details who attended that race and the expenses that were incurred.  This trip report would then be submitted to both the Treasurer and the Administrator. 

    Jen Stielow recommends the formulation of a working group, made up of 2-3 coaches.  This working group will develop the previously mentioned race Report Form, and will hopefully improve race accountability.  This working group will also tried to improve upon the current communication problems that exist between the Administrator and the Treasurer.  Volunteers for this working group are Jen Stielow, the new Treasurer, the Administrator, and the following coaches:  Fritz Wood, Eric Hamilton, and Jeff Pickering.

    Effective this meeting Don Lewis will resign as Treasurer.  We are hopeful that he will be replaced by Mike Dwyer. 

Administrators' Report:

    Carol Kolarich is not present.  The committee would like Carol to submit to the Northern Division treasurer the same account of her monthly hours that she submits to USSA for payment.  This allows us to more closely budget for the needs of this position.  We can request a past accounting of Carol's submitted hours from USSA, if this would be more expedient. 

    Jeff Pickering and J.C. Knaub will review the position description that Carol has submitted.  It will modify the position description and Pickering will be responsible for submitting a finalized job description for the Administrator at the Northern Division fall meeting.  Eric Hamilton recommended that we compensate this position through a monthly salary rather than at an hourly rate. 

Athletic Competition Committee Report:

    Current committee members are Jen Stielow, Head, Lance Kidder, Jeff Pickering, Jeremy Henrichon, Fritz Wood, and parents representative Wink Jordan.  Jen Stielow will submit a summary to Susan Krueger for insertion in the Minutes.  (Click HERE for the minutes of the ACC meeting.)

Western Region Report:

    Jen Stielow and J.C. Knaub are our representatives to the Western Region of the USSA.  Jeff Pickering represents the Northern Division on the Western Region calendaring committee.  Our J1-2 speed events will be coordinated with the Intermountain Division this year.

    The issues that were addressed at the Western Region Athletic Competition Committee meeting were the following types of races: FIS Development, FIS Elite, NorAm, JOs, J3 Topolino Shootout, and the Development team.  There will be a jump camp added to the downhill Series at Big Sky for the J 1 and J2s.  The Far Western region will have their own downhill races at the development level because they have problems with not enough kids being able to compete, because they have such high numbers and comparably low quotas.  These special series are for the Far West Region only.  The J3-J4 Junior Olympics will be held at Mount Hood Meadows in March of 2005.  Their bid for expenses is $518.  The final cost, including coaches' fees and transportation will be at least twice this amount.  The J 1-J2 Junior Olympics have been replaced by the J2 Junior Nationals.  Fritz pointed out that the Western Region rule stating that an athlete cannot pick any alternative events that corresponds with a Junior Olympic event needs to be changed.  The Topolino Shootout out is now a regional event, and new regional selection criteria are in effect.  Northern Division does not have anyone that qualifies for this event in the coming season. 

Election of Officers:

    J.C. nominates the following to 1-year terms:  Craig Krueger as vice president, Susan Krueger as secretary, and Mike Dwyer as Treasurer.  Fritz seconds the nomination.  Elections are passed, none are opposed.

    Jeff Pickering has discussed our needs for a website manager with Betty Anne Shores. She is willing to help us, and is aware that this is no small task.  She will try to model our web site after the Alpine Canada website.  Parents are encouraged to visit this web site and make suggestions as to how we can make improvements on our web site.  Race administrators would have access to this web site so they can post race results directly.  Jeff discussed the possibility that this website could post information regarding race quotas and fee payment information, so families could keep up-to-date on racer quota status, and race fee payment status. The Alpine Canada web page is interactive and an athlete can therefore indicate whether or not they're going to attend and then be held accountable for payment.  (Comments from the new webmaster:  This is all news to me and I am only posting this because it is part of the minutes of a meeting that I did not attend.  Race administrators should continue to email results for posting.)

     Northern Division annual dues: We decided that, in light of so many increasing costs, we will keep the Northern Division dues the same for 2005-2006.

    Susan Krueger suggested that we post a group picture of the Northern Division coaches on the Northern Division Web site.  This will assist parents in recognizing and contacting coaches when necessary. 

Team van fees:

    Rather than have individual clubs assess usage fees for nonmember athletes to use their van , we will standardize a van usage fee for all athletes in the Division.  In order to equitably compensate clubs providing transportation with their own team vans for out-of-division races, each passenger will be assessed a fee for transportation.  All athletes using the van will share the total fee.  This fee is based on $1/mile from point of origin.  Alternative fee arrangements will be considered for athletes that fly to the race location and use the van only in the vicinity of the event. 

    Other support vehicles, that are not carrying athletes, will be reimbursed at the standard IRS mileage rate.  These costs will be calculated from the point of origin of the vehicle, not at the location where anyone athlete is picked up.  These fees will be shared by all participants of the race or project whether they ride in the van or not, because the van is used by all athletes at one time or another at a race, and if not used by one particular athlete, it is needed by their coach for transportation.  Alternative transportation situations will be considered.  Those paying airline fares would pay for the van only after their arrival at a particular race.

    The motion to accept this proposal was made by Wink Jordan and seconded by Rick Jacobs.  Motion passes. 

Team travel: coaches

    Jeff Pickering would like more participation from coaches who may have only a few racers at an event.  This was tabled until the Fall meeting.

Waxing

  Jeff Pickering thinks that we should charge the racers a fee for wax use.  He will work on the details and implementation of this policy to be examined later. 

    Fritz Wood would like the Northern Division to consider a method of compensation for Pepi,  who volunteered his time as wax coach at the J 1-2 to Junior Olympics.  It was suggested that the most efficient way to compensate him would be to treat him as a subcontractor and have  him fill out an IRS Form 1099.

Other Items:

    The Northern Division Development Team has, in the past, been offered the opportunity to attend an early season training camp.  Problems that arise with this include difficulty in scheduling and the uncertainty of snow conditions.  As we are intending to do for last year's development team, it seems more equitable and consistent to compensate these athletes with a stipend to use to defray race expenses.  Fritz Wood makes a motion to change the Development Team camp compensation to a cash compensation less the Development Team coach fee.  Jen Stielow seconds the motion, and the motion passes. 

    Many families have been frustrated by the length of time it takes to announce the Northern Division Development Team.  In previous years there have been skiers named to the development team based on previous seasons results, but who decided not to race in the subsequent season.  This season the team will not be named until after the first Junior Olympic qualifier, because it is not until after this race that the ACC is sure who is participating. 

New Business

    ND Program Status: See President's Report

    Northern Division USSA would like to congratulate our fine scholared athletes for their discipline and hard work this past 2003-2004 alpine season.  Please give a kudos to the athletes named here.  These will be posted to the web.  Athletes will be receiving a certificate in the mail as well. 

    ND Site Status

• J.C. Knaub announced that the Hangman's run at Big Sky will be homologated by FIS.

• Jeff Pickering announced that Big Mountain now has a new CEO who is expected to continue the history of support for their race team.  The Big Mountain NorAm was ranked as one of the top 12 NorAm races in the U.S.

• Steve Erickson announces that Great Divide will be using snow making equipment to extend their slalom run closer to the top their competition run. 

• Erik Hamilton announces that they have a high level of participation in the younger age groups but that this year there may be no J1, J2 or J3 racers.

• BSF reports that they are expecting increased support from their mountain under the new management of Randy Elliott.  They are proceeding with plans to expand to a mid-week afternoon training program.

• Craig Krueger will continue to commute to Discovery to coach their athletes.

• Rick Jacobs reports the the Showdown team expects to retain their previous athletes and add a few more.  They purchased new timing equipment last season, and are looking forward to another successful speed training session and race next February.

    The ACC would like to encourage all clubs and coaches to confirm with the host mountain when and how the race course grooming will be completed.  Host clubs are also strongly encouraged to make sure that all volunteer gatekeepers are confirmed in advance and that backup gatekeepers be available for no-shows.

     In an effort to encourage participation between the J2 and J3 age transition the committee supports the idea of awarding medals to fifth place in both of these age groups.

Speed Qualifiers:

    There are two out-of-Division speed qualifiers:  Bogus Basin (SG) (Date??) and Soldier Mtn, (DH), Feb 21-27.  ND speed qualifiers are: Big Sky (DH/SG), Jan 18-24 and the Doug Smith NorAms (2DH, 2SG), Feb 8-16.  The regional quota is estimated at 10-12 men and 8-10 women at Big Sky.  NorAms will have a national quota.  Parents are reminded that quotas are detailed in the Western Region handbook (available on the USSA website).  Qualification for speed events is dependent on points and the head coaches discretion.

    If the racer does not have any USSA speed event points, they can still qualify for speed events if they have forerun at either speed event.

    Jeff Pickering reminds everyone that most expenses for NorAm course workers are covered.  Contact Jeff if you are interested in working.

Northern Division quotas and selections:

    The selection method for the J1-2 Western Region Championships (old J1/J2 JO’s) stays the same if the speed event site is split from the technical event site.  If all four events are at one site, the FIS Downhill is too severe for some of our alternate athletes.  We will know more at the Fall Meeting.

Calendering

    The J3 Junior Olympics/J4 Festival will be held at Mt. Hood Meadows, March 17-20.  There will be four Qualifiers in GS and SL. We will take the best three out of four races from Red Lodge, Snowbowl, and Bridger. The Snowbowl location is tentative.

    The deadline for J3 Olympics selections is March 10, 2005.

    There is no site selected yet for the J1-J2 Western Region Championships (old J1/J2 JO’s)

    A calendering discussion followed. The preliminary schedule will be posted as soon as possible.

A location for the fall meeting was not discussed.

Meeting adjourned at 3:30 pm.

 

Submitted by Susan Krueger