MINUTES of NCASRA GOVERNING BOARD MEETING May 6, 2008

I.   The NCASRA Governing Board was called to order by the President at 7:42 p.m., May 6, 2008

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

      Non-voting Members:

II.         President’s Report. Rob Ittig: 

            A.  Rob reiterated the name change to Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA) is to take place July 1^st.

            B.  The Crew Council met today and elected its officers for next year:  Co-Chairs will be Noel Deskins (Wakefield AD) and Dan Forgas (Woodbridge AD), Vice Chair will continue to be Zeff Yusof (Georgetown Visitation AD), Secretary is Rudy Zimmermann (Gar-Field AD), and Treasurer is Anne Renninger (Sidwell Friends AD).  The Crew Council rules committee head will be Tom Herman from McLane High School.  We (VASRA) will need to get rules change recommendations in to the Crew Council over the summer.

            C.  Heather Weisel, Head Women’s Coach, Old Dominion University addressed the meeting, giving a thumbnail sketch of the rowing program being initiated this fall at ODU.  She wanted the northern Virginia area to know ODU was establishing a Division One rowing program with 20 rowing scholarships, new boathouse, and 14 new shells.  They will row out of Lakewood Park on the Lafayette River.  She said ODU has changed and is now a school with an academic emphasis, challenging curriculua, a student body numbering 16,000, and graduation rate of 95%.

III.       Secretary Report.  John White: 

            A.  The Minutes of the March 4, 2008 Board meeting were read and approved as written.

            B.  John reviewed the key events for next season.  The Executive Board recommended the six full membership meetings be held in October, November, February, March, April (vice May), and June.  The meetings will continue to be the first Tuesday of the month except: November 5^th – Wednesday (Tuesday the 4^th is election day); April 14^th – second Tuesday (first Tuesday is during spring break/Passover/Holy Week).  The membership approved these calendar changes.

IV.       Vice President’s Report.  Carl Wick:  The launch driver training program initiated this year, which charged the boosters and coaches to conduct the training for regatta launch drivers, appears to have gone well.  Carl asked for comments from the membership but received none.

V.        Treasurer’s Report.  Lee West:  The March and April financial statements were not available for review.  Lee said she would forward them by email.  Bottom line: we are solvent; all bills to date are paid.

VI.       Representative’s Reports.

            A.   Crew Council.  Kerry Donley:  NTR

            B.   Coaches Association.  Derek Parsons:  Derek mad a request for someone to step up to be the Coaches Association (CA) President as he is stepping down next month.  The next CA meeting is June 21^st.  The CA president is a key person in developing the Crew Council Rule Book.

            C.   USRA Referees.  Ryz Obuchowicz:  Ryz said we had adequate referee coverage for our regattas this year.  He made a request for continued referee recruits.

            D.   Sandy Run Park.  James Short:  NTR

            E.   Thompson Boat Center.  Gary Weeden:  NTR

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

VII.      Coordinator Reports.

A.      OLOC.  Lee West:  Regattas have been going well.  VSRC is this Saturday.  Shuttle busses to Sandy Run from the commuter parking lot at Route 123 and Old Bridge Road will start at 9:30 am. The charge will be $10 per CAR LOAD, but a free van pass good for a trip one way will be included. Ronin Racing (that does our entries and timing system) will provide a play-by-play report for the VSRC finals races (not heats).  1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place boats will get medals at the awards dock at the grandstand immediately following the race.  Only 1^st place will get out of the shell for medals and trophy presentation.

B.       DLOC.  Michael Mutter:  The Charlie Butt was a good regatta, but not without some problems … due primarily because it is the only Potomac regatta and the learning curve is high.  We used the core staff from last year, but about 25% of the volunteers did not show.  The lack of launch drivers was particularly troublesome and caused some delay of races.

This is Mike’s last year as regatta director and someone is needed to step up to this position if we want a Potomac regatta next year.

C.      Personnel.  Mark Lindon:  Advised volunteers for the VSRC to allow 1 ˝ hours to arrive due

to traffic and time required to get on station after sign-in.

            D.   Programs.  Mary & Watson Pryor:  NTR

            E.   Trophies.  Mike Stilwell:   NTR

VIII.     Committee Reports.

            A.   Audit.  Steve Lee:   NTR

            B.   Bylaws.  John White: Thanked Carl Wick and Tracy Hollingsworth for drafting the proposed

                   changes in out bylaws.  They have been distributed electronically and will be voted for

                   approval at the next meeting on June 3^rd.

            C.   Coaches Development.  Ryz Obuchowicz:   NTR

            D.   Grievance.  Harry Heim:  NTR

            E.   Historian.  Ed Wells:  NTR

F.    Nomination.  Ryz Obuchowicz:  Officer nominees for the 2008-2009 year are: President –

       Rob Ittig; Vice-President – Michael Mutter and Hal Johnson; Treasurer – Lee West;

       Secretary – John White.

G.   Publicity.  Cherie Lejeune:  John White distributed a publicity report compiled by Cherie (at Attachment 2).  He stated that every school that took the effort to put together a publicity package and submitted it to the local newspapers got press coverage for its team.

IX.       Reading and Consideration of Communications.  None

X.        Old Business. 

            A.  Finish Line Building Fundraising Update.  Lee West reported the wine tasting and silent auction event on April 10^th went well, netting about $4500.  We are now half way to our goal of $40,000 and can start construction.  The next fundraising event is the golf tournament on October 8^th at Pohick Bay Golf Course  Team’s coordinator names are requested by the meeting on June 3^rd, to be submitted to Ryz Obuchowicz and Harry Heim. A packet describing the events, time, prizes, etc./ was handed out by Ryz.

            B.  New Sites Update.  Ryz said he and Lee were coordinating efforts and that NVRPA is supportive.  The first choice to develop a new rowing site is Brambleton Park on the Beaver Dam Reservoir, west of Dulles on the Fairfax/Loudoun County line.  This reservoir will accommodate a 1500 and a 2000 meter course.  Second choice is Pohick Bay, which will suffice as a practice site only.

XI.       New Business. 

            A.  Having an additional ribbon awarded to the school for each team that earns them was reiterated.  It was previously approved but execution was hit or miss.  It will be picked up for the VSRC.

XII.      Announcements.

            A.  May 10th - Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championship regatta

            B.  May 16-17 - Stotesbury Regatta, Schuylkill River, Philadelphia

            C.  May 23-24 - SRAA Scholastic National Championship Regatta, Oak Ridge, TN

            D.  June 3 - Election of 2008-2009 Officers (the next meeting)

            E.  June 6-8 - Youth National Championship, Cincinnati, OH

            F.  June 7 and 14 - Course removal, Sandy Run

            G.  June 21 - Coaches Association meeting

XIII.     Adjournment.  The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

            A.   The next meeting is Tuesday, June 3, 2008 in TJHSST, Rooms 218-219.

John D. White

John D. White

Secretary

Attachment 1

Publicity/Communications Report May 6, 2008

Submitted by Cherie Lejeune

Newspapers:

Every week teams who have submitted results/photos to the following publications (each team has a geographic footprint in all of them—and almost all have one HS sports editor) were either in the roundup section of the scholastic sports section or, their online publication.  The sports editors for these publications clearly now have crew results and stories in their spring portfolio. And of course we continue to get as much ink as we can.

1. The Connection   2. The Times   3. Sun Gazette

Washington Post Status

Matt McFarland was assigned this season to cover NCASRA regattas. He has huge buy-in for our teams which is a plus. He lobbied hard to be at every regatta, not always successful with his editor and, to get the most words in print allowed. This season the regatta final results deadlines were not always met so score box for the Post was not included in the Sunday editions for all regattas. Also, the Post’s online edition so far has not been successful, but not for lack of trying.  Hopefully, Va States might make it in.

Additional New Outlets: Youtube.com; Row2K

All results in finish order are online also at row2K.com  The website will consider photos and or stories from scholastic rowers, so another opportunity for your team.

Many NCASRA boats/teams this season have submitted wonderful videos posted to Youtube for almost every NCASRA regatta this season. Go to Youtube and search by regatta and or team to see. One great benefit is if your team had an entry in the same race, your might get some great shots as well as the one featured. Sure an easy way to let relatives and friends who could not attend to see the action. The Youtube website is a major feature in many of our rowers lives in general for their entertainment so, and regatta footage should be a consideration as a link from NCASRA website. It is a great way to remember and enjoy the many hours spent at the Occoquan.

VA STATES

All the local media have been invited to attend, but if they follow their past track record, again what we submit is what they will print. Gazette does have a new video addition to their online editions so, I am trying to get them to attend to film. Yes, asked if we could submit our own, not acceptable. The Post and their photog will be there.  Realistically, Post is seeking only results of top varsity boats: 4’s, 8’s light weight 4, 8.

Deadlines

For all print submissions: Monday morning cutoff for print.

Reminder

Keep what you send very simple. If you have questions go online to any of the local publications HS sports roundup to see what they print to give you a base.