Northern Division Spring Meeting
June 3, 2006
Red Lion Colonial Hotel
Helena, MT.
Minutes

Call to Order:  9:40 AM

Welcome/ Identification of Members present:  Craig Krueger, Jenn Stielow, Alrick Hale, Susan Krueger, Fritz Wood, Mark Megerth, Roger Bay, Jeff Pickering, Eric Hamilton, Rogers Little, Bill Brown, Ted McNamara, Bruce Krueger, Jason Dokken, Bill Brown, Steve Erickson, Mike Sullivan, Coby Theade, Rick Duncan, Laurie Duncan

Introductions of club representatives present

Old Business:

1. Motion was made by Craig Krueger to approve the Spring meeting minutes without changes.  Motion is seconded and passes.
2. Lance Kidder has resigned his position with the ACC and he will be missed.  Craig praised his work and for the many years he has been on the ACC.  He will be missed, but he will also continue to coach at Great Divide.
3. President's message – Craig Krueger praised Jenn Stielow for her tireless work in bringing the Northern Division back from the brink of bankruptcy.  Jenn gave numerous volunteer hours in addition to her salary to account, plan, and manage the 05-06 year, but was able to organize the documents for attendance and expenses for the 04-05 season also.
4. Review of Past Year's accomplishments and championship events.  Northern Division sent a record number of athletes to regional and national championship events.  Numerous other successes were achieved by athletes, parent volunteers and coaches.  Northern Division sent two athletes to the Whistler International Children's race.  We have a near-record number of new racers at the J4 and J5 levels.
5. USSA Spring Congress Synopsis/overview:
• Craig Krueger:  There is concern that coaches working at USSA/FIS races have not had proper credentials.  Course setters must have completed coaches' training. (See Mark Megerth's Official’s report).
• Jeff Pickering:  Ethic and values from Bill Marolt's message to the congress stressed ethics and values.  He encouraged coaches to develop a well-rounded athlete, and that we all keep our focus on the big picture to develop complete teams.
6. ACC Report –
1. Western Region Athletic Competition Committee report – Jenn Stielow
1. J3/J4 Championship event will now be a rotation between Divisions, no longer part of a bidding process.  This will be on a five-year rotation, starting 2007 with Mammoth.  The huge responsibility will then be shared among all Divisions.  The filing deadline for the 2007 Festival/Junior Olympics is September, 2006.
2. FIS Finals (J1+J2) at same time as WR champs FIS?  WR Speed events will be A-J2.  Site to be determined.
3. FISU and early season FIS Devo races scheduled together to spread out athletes and allow for more participation at the devo level by devo level athletes
4. 2007 J3 Junior Olympics/J4 Festival at Mammoth.  Preliminary plans include housing/meals package.  As it is an 18-hr drive, a bus will be chartered with parent chaperons.
5. Foreign athlete rules.  Same intent to compete process.
6. Shoot-out format & National Development System camp in January (selection process).  December 27, 28, 29 for Shootout in Park City.  3SL, 3GS, one training day.  The top 6 will go on to Lake Placid, and then top male and female go to Topolino, Italy.
7. FIS races must have FIS-licensed forerunners, this rule cannot be ignored.  SL guidelines are being modified.
8. General business:  All team captains meetings must be documented.  Intent-to-competes for out of Division and Western Region will remain the same.
2. Calendaring – Jeff Pickering, Calendar Chair
3. Handbook and web site updates needed – subcommittee:  Chair: Jenn Stielow, with Roger Bay, Fritz Wood, and Ted McNamara.  Asked for parent volunteers to gain parental aspect, no response made at the time.  One board member will participate after initial review process has been completed by the subcommittee.
7. Financial Report – Jenn Stielow
1. Overview of account standings
1. Bank accounts
• For any amounts past due for 05-06, interest accrues beginning June 30, 2006.  Athletes will not be included in the 2006-2007 projects, even though they are on the selection lists.
• Alrick makes a motion to pursue the past due accounts initially with a letter of warning.  This warning will be postmarked before June 30 and notify of the intention of the Northern Division to turn the account over to a collection agency.  Seconded and passed.
• Suggestion is made to add a clause to the Northern Division team agreement explaining a new collection policy that assigns all collection agency fees and/or any legal fees to the athlete.
2. Liabilities:  $16,404 in past salaries owed to USSA, cc bill and office expenses.
3. Accounts receivable from 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.  Athletes still owe the ND $24,293.
4. Income from 2005-06 season, $26,901. (Not used to offset race expenses).
5. The possible future
• USSA liabilities –  $36,000 in debt to USSA has been paid down to $11,000.  Jenn's expenses still have yet to be reimbursed
• YSL fees will be added to next year's ND membership dues.  Discussed raising dues closer to what other divisions charge.  Motion made by Craig Krueger to raise club dues from $100 to $200 beginning in the 2006-2007 season.  This is closer to what other divisions charge.  Fritz Wood 2nds. Motion passes.
8. Official’s Report – Mark Megerth
1. Clinic schedule/interest/possible dates*****see coaches education***
2. In order to set a course at a FIS race, you are required to have a minimum of a Level I referees license.  Referees need to test every 3 years if not actively officiating.  If active, every 5 years.  Announces the plan to have a referee/timing & calculation officials clinic at the fall meeting.
9. Education
1. USSA Parent education CD and distribution.  Each club will have this CD to review
2. Coaches' Education schedule:  December - Tentative Northern Division clinic.  July at Mt Hood, level 100 and 200.  Hoping for a clinic in January in ND, but not likely because of competition schedule.  Coaches' Forum available at:  http://athletics.ussa.org/sport_science
1. Educational shop on-line
2. Youth CPR is required for all coaches. ½ day, $40, CPR renewed each year.  Red Cross first aid is good for 2 years.
3. November, prior to Thanksgiving:  Jenn is trying to form a ND-wide on-snow coaches' education forum.  Could be combined with an indoor certification/licensing workshop.
4. Fall coaches' forums will also be planned

New Business:

Reminder:  USSA renewals are due this month, if athletes or coaches are attending ski camps this summer, they may be required to have their renewals turned in so they have supplemental USSA coverage.

Calendaring.  FIS races are now overlapping in an attempt to limit the number of athletes that attend both Elite and entry level races.  This is also accomplished by splitting venues.

The Big Sky FIS speed series has moved out of Division, there will be a proposed ND speed event at Big Sky TBD as a replacement.  This will be the ND A-J3 speed qualifier to be able to attend the WR championships.  This is pending negotiations with Big Sky Ski Education Foundation.

Calendaring discussion for the YSL races followed.

New 'Parenting athletes' CD will be purchased by each club. This CD has been endorsed by the US Olympic committee, numerous other athletic organizations. (Updated – USSA should be mailing a copy to every club free of charge)

Northern Division Program Director/Manager Position.  We discussed how we are going to move some of Jenn's bookkeeping tasks from this past season back to a bookkeeper.  10-month position. Appx. $2500/month.  

We need to have a volunteer holding a Treasurer position to comply with our corporate status.  We are a 501-3C.

We need to hire a bookkeeper.  The accounts also need to be audited once/year.  The bookkeeping responsibilities have not allowed Jenn to pursue all that she needs to in the athlete Development sphere.

Jenn will submit the books to a CPA at the end of June.  We can then decide how much we can afford to pay the Director and a bookkeeper.

Craig will discus the status of the treasurer position with Tim Ibey.

Fall meeting will be held tentatively the 8th of October, location TBA.

Meeting adjourned: approx. 2PM

Minutes submitted by Susan Krueger.