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Annual Spring Meeting Minutes and notes of the meeting held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Holiday Inn Express, Brattleboro, VT.
The meeting was called to order at 9:01 am by Chairman Art Tokle. Moved (Dodds, Lussi) to accept the minutes of the fall meeting held Saturday, November 22, 2008. Passed. Election of Officers -- Ken Barker had been asked to lead a nominating committee and bring a slate of nominees to the meeting. He presented:
Moved (Bliss, Dodds) to make these four the four officers (respectively) on the Executive Committee. Passed. Outgoing Chairman Art Tokle turned the meeting over to incoming Chairman Dan Warner who thanked Art for his years of service with his word and a small sculpture of a ski jumper. (Tokle was elected Chairman in the spring of 2001 and served in that postition for eight years.) The body assembled welcomed the new chairman Dan Warner with a brief round of applause, and Dan presented a short appraisal of the last year. He pointed out that the emphasis on recruitment seemed to have done some good, helped by a winter with pretty good snow. Numbers of beginning jumpers seem to be up all over the east. In particular, our jumping activities tied to cross country events appear to be well received. Financial report: Treasurer Martina Lussi presented a brief oral report, itemizing the major income blocks (Annual Appeal, EASEF Grant, Memorials to Marianne Fairall, Silent Auction, sales of bells, etc.) and expenditures (Banners, NENSA Ad, Logo on BKL T-shirts, assistance to JO team). Then she told the balance in the JO account, the Eastern bank account and the Eastern CD. (Details on request.) Moved (Tokle, Barker) to accept the treasurer's report. Passed. The question was raised whether we have been doing whatever is necessary to maintain our tax exempt status. The answer was "yes" but we need to find a Vermont address to use for our official mail, notifications, etc. Tom Dodds agreed to look into who in Vermont might be willing to provide the necessary mailing address. Chairman Warner said that he would follow Art Tokle's published agenda, and so went on to discuss development programs, starting with the Learn to Fly clinic held at the annual Silver Fox Trot cross country ski race at Oak Hill in Hanover NH. Tom Dodds of Hanover reported that the clinic went very well with twenty or more youngsters trying out the small ski jumps, mostly on jumping equipment, with more than twenty more watching on the sidelines. Dodds suggested that future clinics would benefit from more advance advertising, specifically advising interested participants to bring their own Alpine skis and boots. It was agreed that we need to update the brochure listing all the Eastern jumping clubs with contact information to give to clinic participants before they leave. Marianne Fairall had created such a list, but we need to find the digital master and update it, then print copies. Further comments on the clinic -- a single afternoon is probably not enough. The Hanover clinic had two very talented girls, one of whom started a day early and showed the benefit of the extra time on the snow. The suggestion was made to open Proctor's Christmas camp to complete beginners. Tim Norris will consider that option. Jon Farnham will try to combine his Vermont Academy meet next winter with a NENSA event. Ken Barker (SWSA) reported on the success of a Christmas camp in Salisbury: 22 kids showed up, 18 returned, with 9 skiing through the entire season. Janet Bliss suggested that we need follow-up after any such introductory experience. Martina Lussi pointed out that the New York Cross Country organizeation corresponding to NENSA has a bi-weekly newsletter that we should use to get the word out on any of our XC-jump clinics. Nick Fairall said that he and Chris Lamb would be willing to make personal appearances or presentations at schools, etc. during the weeks when they are back home. Casey Colby said that Bill Demong would be back in the area during early May and suggested that Demong might might also do some visits. Jody Graves will try to organize some visits by elite skiers. SuperTour and Continental Cup events -- one major problem is that our top jumpers, the ones who should be skiing in Contiental Cup events, are in Europe full time and find it difficult and expensive to come back for short periods to ski in specific North American events. Nick Fairall said that he would return if Harris Hill holds a FIS Cup or Continental Cup event. Alex Madden and Cooper Doods, both eastern jumpers living and training last season in Steamboat Springs, jumped well this year and finished the season tied for the lead in SuperTour points It was reported that the SuperTour series suffered from poor communication and lack of integrity, as the cash awards that were promised at the start of the season for the series winners evaporated before the end and the winners never got a nickle. Apparently the changes were made arbitrarily at the USSA level to save money. To make things even more frustrating for U.S. competitors, several cash prizes for individual events went to visiting skiers from Europe who were already receiving airplane tickets and expense money. Casey Colby pointed out that the SuperTour points are no longer the basis of national rankings. Junior Olympics -- Martina Lussi reported that the events in Anchorage Alaska were good, with good ski jump, well prepared, and the small Eastern Team did well. (Just three athletes appear on the finish lists with Zach Daniels fifth in the jump, fourth in N.C., and Nina Lussi second in jumping and the winner in N.C. The third athlete was young Luke Daniels. Martina pointed out that the Central Division team had at least ten younger skiers all performing at a high level, indicating some success in recruitment and development in Central. She asserted that junior meets in the mid-west can have over 100 competitors, which is a good way to find ten good ones to go to JO. Each year a meeting is held at JO and Dan Warner reported on the 2009 meeting. One important issue being kicked around is the re-inclusion of J-I skiers at JO, either as regular competitors or as a guest class. First the J-I skiers were out, then they were in, then none showed up. The issue will be raised again at the National Convention in Park City. The 2010 JO will be held in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The 2008-09 National Championships were held in Lake Placid at the October Flaming Leaves Festival. This was the first time the Nationals were contested on plastic rather than on snow. Roller skis were used for the men's Nordic Combined cross country race, but the women competed in a foot race instead. Opinion of the Championships was generally positive. North American Championships -- USSA Nordic Program director John Farra expressed an interest in placing the North American Junior-I Championships (Nor-Ams) in Lake Placid shortly after Christmas, with an event to follow the next weekend in Brattleboro, but the Eastern Committee took no stand on whether this double might be done. (No January meet was scheduled in Brattleboro.) A discussion ensued regarding the value of Nor-Ams, and whether Lake Placid should try to host a Nor-Am event this coming season. Casey Colby said the Nor-Am was good if it is used as a qualifier for the team sent to the World Junior Championships, otherwise not. Tom Dodds asserted that Nor-Am is a good event and should be continued. Finally a proposal was adopted by consensus to bid to hold Nor-Ams in Lake Placid early in January with visiting skiers competing first in the traditional New Years and Masters events, and a few days later, in Nor-Am competition. This could be done on the 90 meter jump, a large hill is not required. Oficials Report -- Mark Levasseur welcomed three new officials who have just acheived their certification: Nicole Leshaw of Salsibury, Jody Graves of Putney, and Bill Ryan of Lebanon. Apparently Molly Stone and Jesse Sandoz have both expressed possible interest in starting judges training. Mark went on to thank Jack Phelps and Ken Barker, both of Salisbury, for the many miles that thay logged this season in covering their judging assignments, and he thanked Martina Lussi for filling in at emergency times. Levasseur said that the Judges Association is committed to producing and distributing their list of assignments in good time for the coming season (apparently this was a problem last season). It is known that some organizers who have their own blanket insurance have been holding competitions without USSA sanctions. Concern was raised whether in this case the judges in the stand are protected against lawsuits. It appears that they are. The Judges Association plans to organize another golf tournament this summer as a fundraiser, with the proceeds to be split half-half between the Judges Association and a program to provide jumping equipment for individual ski clubs.
Competition Schedule -- Dan Warner started with the summer competition schedule. The annual Flaming Leaves competition, Oct. 10-11, will not involve the National Championships as it did in 2008, so there will again be time for the Official's meeting and clinic, plus the fall meeting of the Jumping Committee. It is not known yet whether OTC space will be available for that weekend. Winter Schedule -- Dan Warner brought to the meeting a tentative winter schedule that he had developed over a few weeks, and he went through this schedule as the club representatives in the room negotiated the details. The resulting winter schedule is posted, but may undergo further changes. [ See it ] The 2010 Junior Olympics will be in Steamboat Springs, CO., probably March 3-7. JO Team co-leader Jennie Frenette suggested that the present schedule permitting athletes to qualify for JO in the first 5-6 weeks of the winter season makes it difficult to judge the readiness of some of the skiers. She suggested that we lengthen the qualification period to include some summer jumping. The Junior Subcommittee with discuss this question and present Qualifacation Criteria and schedule. Summer Training Camps -- Casey Colby announced the tentative schedule of summer training camps in Lake Placid. Matt Cook has resigned from his position as NYSEF coach and it is not yet settled who will be working with Casey at these camps.
There is some talk of scheduling our National Championships in Park City the week before the Vancouver Olympic Games. NEW BUSINESS The standard rotation through the divisions of USSA brings the JO back to the east in 2011, and Salisbury has asked to bid for this event, to be held the last week of February, which is one week earlier than the JO dates in recent years. Ken Barker is working to make it possible to hold the Nordic Combined cross country at nearby Catamount Ski Area in case mother nature does not provide sufficient snow on the SWSA trails. SWSA hopes to use the JO as a centerpiece for a fund drive to finance a new tower to be built next year. Three SWSA representatives, Ken Barker, Mat Kiefer and Jack Phelps came to Brattleboro early on meeting day to inspect the new construction at Harris Hill to get an idea of what is possible and what is required. SWSA hopes to commit to the entire program by July 1, 2009. Outgoing Chairman Art Tokle pointed out that retired NYSEF coach Larry Stone had held a special position on the Eastern Committee (with voting privileges) and suggested that this position be renewed. The suggestion was accepted by acclamation. Dan Warner again suggested that Eastern Jumping should step up to a professional level by having a paid person doing administrative and events management work. This was discussed briefly but no conclusion was made. The suggestion was made that we look into producing a booklet, a season-long program, like the one created each year in Central Division in which each club has a couple of pages of information and advertising. Our Newsletter New Heights has disappeared and the committee discussed what to do about that, but no conclusion was made, except to note that communication is important for many reasons. Casey Colby has arranged a training opportunity in Lake Placid for a number of the Project-X and almost-Project-x skiers, not just from the east but from all over the country. Casey worked with several people in Lake Placid to arrange accomodations for these skiers at OTC. Dan Warner suggested that we need organized coaches education and certification. USSA National Convention -- present plans call for Dan Warner and Casey Colby to represent the East at the upcoming Park City meetings. The Committee voted to cover Dan Warner's expenses (expected to be about $700) and half of Colby's (about $300, NYSEF will pay the other half). The fall meeting will be held Saturday, Oct. 10 in Lake Placid in conjunction with the flaming Leaves competition. Time and place to be announced. LUNCH ( .. not!). At this point it was time for lunch, but with business almost completed, Dan Warner asked that we finish before lunch to free people to get on with other things.
CLUB REPORTS
Brattleboro -- the Harris Hill representatives reported that the jump has suffered a bit of erosion during it's first spring, but that it is repairable. They hope to bring in a representative of FIS to inspect the new jump and apply for homologation. This will clear Harris Hill to host international competitions, and the organizers are thinking about a women's Continental Cup for 2010, depending on whether the women are finally given an event at the Vancouver Olympic Games. The Harris Hill group has made contact with some good, experienced PR people and they hope to use these contacts to continue to grow and improve. Jody Graves suggested that people look at the pictures posted on the Harris Hill web site. Ford Sayre -- Tom Dodds reported that the Hanover jumping program enjoyed a great season with increase numbers of skiers. He again pointed out that the Oak Hill jumps lack snow making so they don't usually get started skiing before January. As a result, the Ford Sayre skiers don't make strong showings at early meets. Newpart NH -- Ryan Crawford reported that Newport had a good competition with a decent sized start list. Club members are working on getting water up the tower for snow-making. Lebanon NH -- Jon Farnham reported that LOC got a late start at Storrs Hill due to multiple equipment failures early in the season. Work is planned to improve electrical facilities at the jumps. Jon plans to reduce his administrative load in order to concentrate on his coaching. He thanks Pat Hudson and Tara Garraghty-Moats for the help that they have given in coaching the younger skiers. Salisbury, CT -- Ken Barker reported that SWSA also enjoyed a good winter. The Alpaca law suit is still in court, but USSA is fighting hard to defend the club. And of course, they are making the big push to have a new tower ready for the 2011 season. Vermont Academy -- Jon Farnham reports that VA has three young jumpers already coming to Eastern junior events, and as VA coach, he has made it possible for non-VA skiers to come and jump on the three recently constructed VA ski jumps. This season he welcomed young skiers from Putney as well as some High School jumpers, and he reports good support from VA administration. NYSEF/Lake Placid -- Casey Colby reported that the Intervale hill crew is getting very good at preparing the jumps, but there is no new money on the horizon. In particular, the 65 meter jump that is so sorely needed in the east will not be built in Lake Placid any time soon. Casey has arranged for a number of top U.S. developing ski jumpers to train in Lake Placid this summer.
Casey pointed out that his NYSEF position must try to pay for itself with coaching fees from training camps and regularly scheduled jumping sessions. He listed a fee schedule, amounts which skiers will be asked to pay for skiing. An important feature of the fee schedule is it's flexibility -- it offers one-day to twelve-month options with several in between. Committee members observed that while some skiers will be paying more than that did in previous years, the costs mentioned are far less than the charges at other venues or in other sports. The charge schedule will be publicized when it is made final.
Final Comments
Casey Colby asked Nick Fairall "What would you like to see from this Committee?" Moved (Tokle, Dodds) to adjourn the meeting. Passed. The meeting was adjourned at 12:40 pm. Respectfully submitted, Don West (Secretary).
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