USAT-MA Board of Directors
Meeting
USAT Regional Meeting
Feb 3, 2006
6:51 p.m. Vigorito called
the meeting to order
Attendance: Vigorito,
Wendling, Merson, Bill Scott, Melanie Fink,
Neil Semmel, Nic Jafirieh, Andrew
Southerling, Bill Hauser, Alan Morrison,
I.
Welcome: Vgorito welcomed
everyone to Columbia ..discussed the
regional meeting and expo. Vigo opened a
discussion of the region hiring a manager to
run the annual meeting expo next year.
George Altieri has done expos for many
events and has offered to run ours for a
50-50 split of profits. Wendling suggested
we look and see what happens tomorrow and
suggested someone should go to New England
and see how they run their expo. There are
50 clubs in New England and 32 sanctioned
events, Southerling said. Vigorito said
generating income should be one
consideration. Morrison said it will be a
chicken and egg thing. If we have hundreds
of members show up, then we’ll have vendors
calling us. Alan Morrison said hire a bus to
bring people from the bigger cities. Bill
Scott said to hold a free duathlon . Alan
said he would be willing to work over the
course of the next year to promote the expo.
II.
Vigorito presented the
treasurer’s report. Alan volunteered to be
treasurer. Expenses for 05-06. The region
spent $6250.00 last year; We wrote a check
for $1625.00 today as a deposit for this
years rankings. We pay $1,200 per year for
the region’s enews letter. We spent $414
last year in board conference calls. The
board of directors” directors and officers
insurance cost $600.0
III.
Committees –
A.
Newsletter – Bill Hauser
reported that the hardest thing is obtaining
content for the newsletter. He would love to
have more from North Carolina, etc. Andrew
Southerling said the region could have a
club newsletter. Houser said it cost $500
per quarter or 1$500 per year for
advertisers wishing to advertise in our
enewsletter. The board discussed how to
lower costs for advertisers and bring in
more revenue. Wendling said Chuck Graziano
on the age group commission will write a
column for the newsletter.
B.
Southerling wants to find
ways to bring more clubs into activities in
the regional federation. We are center
heavy, he said. The bidding process for
regional championships should be improved
because we need to spread them around the
region. We could have a regional club
series. We have to attract more bidders to
the regional club championships. Last year
was the biggest ever, Neil Semmel said,
regarding the regional championships held
last year at Diamond in the Rough in
Perryville, Md. This year, Pittsburgh was
the only event that bid on the championships
and athletes were upset because they want it
more geographically central. Wendling noted
that we need to recruit race directors to
serve as the race championships and that if
athletes are unhappy about the locations
selected, they could assist by asking race
directors to submit bids.
C.
Regional qualifiers for
national championships – Wendling updated
the board on how the qualifying will work
for next year. We need to select two races
to add to the Grand Prix events to qualify
people for nationals. Wendling moved that
the board approve the New Jersey Devilman
Spring on May 7 and the Over the Mountain
Triathlon on June 17 in Charlotte, as the
special qualifers. USAT’s Grand Prix series
feeds nationals. Melanie Fink seconded. VV
approved. Wendling said he will recommend we
recruit a regional collegiate coordinator.
D.
Officials report—Anne
Snooyebus submitted a written report.
E.
Youth coordinator – position
open
F.
Regional duathlon committee
- Judi Carbary
G.
Triathlon Series – Melanie
Fink reported that last year we had 11
races; this year hope to have 13. Vigo said
national rankings have been changed; now
need only two races to be rated where you
used to need three.
H.
Regional Race Directors and
Regional Club Presidents Committees –
both will meet tomorrow.
I.
Youth development – Vigo said
a new RADC will help coordinate youth
development programs in the region. Steve
Kelley will be our RADC person who will help
recruit and train someone to assist in our
region.
J.
USAT will conduct a Level I
coaching clinic in our region before the
summer season. No dates or location have
been announced yet. Melissa Merson is
coordinating this with Alan Ley of the
National Office.
K.
USAT’s national congress will
be held in different regions each year.
Vigorito said our region should bid to get
the event next year. Morrison moved that
regional USAT bid on hosting the Congress
next year. Hauser, Wendling seconded. VV
approved
L.
Vigorito explained the new
USAT age up rules implemented by USAT this
year.
M.
Vigorito reviewed the dispute
between USAT and the World Triathlon Corp.
WTC will not change events; will be the age
as of race day. USAT is not sanctioning or
recognizing any WTC events. Hurts athletes
because their events won’t be included in
the USAT rankings. Will cost USAT $250,000
in one days fees. In 1998, there was an
agreement between USAT, ITU, and WTC on the
use of terminology such as “World,” etc.
N.
Meeting adjourned 10:10 p.m.
Submitted,
Melissa Merson
Mid-Atlantic Region Board Secretary
USA Triathlon
Mid-Atlantic
See National USAT