MINUTES   SEPTEMBER 8, 2008

A presentation about a “swim for funds” fundraiser was given by two swimmers from the FINS.  They are holding the fundraiser to raise money from cancer.  Information was handed out to the teams.

Welcome Coaches:

            President Patty Deschaine spoke and had all teams introduced themselves.

Secretary Report:

            Joanne Jackson (current Vice President/Treasurer) stated current Secretary was not here and we would most likely vote on new one.  She also stated that Jack was in charge of web site and that someone would have to step up to take this over.

Treasurer Report:

There is currently $4,910 in the checking account.  We lost $2,918.96 last year.  Fees need to be discussed during the 2009 Championship season.  LRW voted to accept the treasurers report, seconded by PWS--Passed. Joanne gave handout on current account and stated that last year we basically lost money due mostly to rising pool rental for state meet.  Discussion to keep Gunstock Senior Essay contest since all money is gone.  JJ (EST) said his business would donate money and suggested teams could by space in meet program.  Missy Rowell (SBGC) suggested having donation cans for scholarship at state meet and mentioned that this would make more money.

Elections of Officers:

President--Patty Deschaine, nominated by BLUE and seconded by RAYS—passed.

Vice-President/Treasurer--Joanne Jackson, nominated by LRW and seconded by SBGC—passed.

Secretary--Brian Crawford, nominated by EST and seconded by BLUE

New Membership:

Amy Doyle of the Greater Nashua YMCA Storm presented her team of 175 kids who were looking for a more challenging program.  She said that it would be a 20% increase to our league and that worked out to be an added half hour to each of our state meet sessions.  The meet would fall on the same weekend of the New England YMCA Champs. and that with there already 15 qualifiers to that meet (in which they expected would double this year), they would bring approximately 140 to state meet this season.  They also offered to run our league web site.  Jen Cullen of the Manchester YMCA Tigersharks presented her team of 100 swimmers  who again were looking for a more challenging program.  She offered her pool to run NHSA sanctioned meets.  Missy Rowell questioned the new teams, both being YMCA’s and questioned if they would only be swimming other YMCA’s.  Both teams left the room for discussion.  Patty mentioned at this time that the North Country Nutes requested a leave of absence from the league for 1 year.  All agreed on this requested.  Patty also questioned Greenwood Memorial’s position in the league, as they were not at meeting and did not attend the State meet last season.  Coaches discussed timeline and counted swimmers, and without Greenwood or Nutes we would by only 68 swimmers less.  It was suggested to take away some relay teams (teams C, D, E etc.) but coaches quickly disagreed, saying that is many swimmers opportunities to compete.  Patty went around to all teams with what they expected their numbers to be this year, as many expected to expand.

CCB—54, EST—200, FINS—85, ESC—100, NCAC—70, MST—70, LRW—70, BLUE—70, PWS—55, CTS—55, SVRC—40, RAYS—125, SBGC—50.  This equaled 1100 swimmers.  Coaches discussed adding another 275 swimmers and if the deck and stands could take this many more swimmers. 

Teams voted in both STORM and MYT.  This would help make up some of the money lost over the last season.  Missy said yes to MYT, and Al Rozzi seconded.  Dave Grilli said yes to STORM, seconded by Al Rozzi.  Patty mentioned in future years that the date upon entering the league would determine if one team over another would get voted in (MYT had letter dated 8/21 and STORM 8/28).  New teams were to pay $100 fee to join league and that Mike Hirst of STORM would do the web site for NHSA.

Old Business: 2008 State Meet Feedback:

            LRW suggested moving Medley Relays on Saturday to the beginning of meet in order to have kids aging up to complete a relay team.  Free Relays would remain last on Sunday to keep excitement of meet.  9 teams voted yes to switching the relay, 3 teams voted no.  Medley relay will now be Saturday to start session—motion passed.  Discussion on warm up times and procedures were discussed.  PWS questioned whether warm up was too long and if teams needed that much time.  Other teams said that that much time was needed and it was hard to organize all teams with swimmers in the allotted time.  Andy Bonte (MST) stated that we should have at least half hour in between sessions before warm up for next group to come in.  It was also agree to bring the state meet fee from $10 per swimmer to $15 per swimmer.  This was suggested by LRW and seconded by MYT. 

Discussion on fire marshal was talked about and it was discussed to find out ahead of time the reasons and what need to be done in order to keep swimmer, coaches, and town of Exeter happy with the crowd and on deck issues.  Patty read a letter from Maureen Heaps (EST), along time member of NHSA and former meet manager for state meet.  Maureen thanked NHSA for recognizing her service with league at last year’s meet and that her health issues were on the up.

New Business:

2009 NHSA Annual Meeting Date will be September 5, 2009

Open Discussion:

PWS asked what “Fun” meets count for to US Swimming and if times from dual meets count for US swims.  Patty said she would call Mary Riddell about this.  ESC and EST said that dual meets do not count for US times, but this referred to “non calendar” meets, and that times must be submitted to New England swim.  Missy agreed dual meets do not count because teams could simply change times on their hy-tek.

Teams talked about sanctioning NHSA league meet.  Jack Fabian has done this for the league over the past few years in order to times to count in the US Swimming database.  In the past if someone had qualified for a national cut, the time would not count.  Missy questioned why we are giving US swimming our money to sanction meet when over the past 20 years or so, only, at the most, 2 cuts were achieved.  Brian Crawford stated that it was more than just this, and for times from our swimmers should count for New England top ten times and be in the database, since most of our teams swim best times at this meet.  LRW and EST agreed with this.  It was stated that “observed swims” would count as well, but no one knew the procedure and what this would cost.  LRW said he would call Mary Riddell to find out the difference and then would inform Patty.  CCB called to have the meet be either sanctioned or “observed”.  Dave Grilli of RAYS explained we needed to vote to change the amendment by Missy and needed tow-thirds of votes to do this.  7 teams voted yes, 5 no.   After several discussions, it was finalized that Patty would email all teams what the clarifications on sanctioning versus “observed swims” and teams would be allowed to vote by email on what they wanted.  This would be done by October 1, 2008.  Teams also voted on date of 2009 meet and it was determined that the dates would be March 20-22, 2009. 

NHSA Sanctioned meets:

            11/15               Pentathlon                               MST

            11/29               Senior Distance                       MST

            10/26               8 + Under Developmental      FINS  @UMASS Lowell

            10/31-11/2       MYT                                       MYT

            1/10                 MYT Distance                                    MYT

            1/31                 9-12 Developmental                FINS @ BGCN

12/21               Exeter Sprints                         EST

12/12-14          Winter Classic                         NCAC

            1/2-  4              Winter Classic 2                      NCAC

            3/14                 CCBS                                      CCBS

*Motion to sanction all meetsby Missy, and seconded by RAYS.