President Rick Costanza called the meeting to order at 9:35 am. He welcomed the following who were also present: Clara Bingham, Bill Brooker, Cindy Daly, Tob de Boer, Dave Garber, Anna Gorbold, Eric Hamilton, Ruth Hayes, Rob Hinsdill, Russ Houck, Peter Indick, Chris Klein, Dan Karig, Bill Lilly, Lee Mahood, Scott Meidenbauer, Tom Moffett, Carol Moran, Russ Myer, John Nabors, Dan Perkins, Joe Ricci, Darwin Roosa, Marque St. John, Janice Sibilia, Carl Snow, Larry Wilkinson, and Julie Zimmerman.

With appropriate words of gratitude Rick presented Dan Karig with a plaque as our token of appreciation for his years as President.

Rick charged the committees with the following:

1. The importance of outlining a schedule for the coming season. Known events so far include:

1. Jan 31 St Lawrence Carnival at Mt Van Hoevenburg
2. March 6 – 14 JOs at Mt Van Hoevenburg

2. Eastern High School Championships

1. We would like to bid to host
2. Totally a NENSA/NYSSRA event
3. Need qualifying criteria and team selection earlier (by end of January?)

3. Emily Cartwright will do the manual, but materials and ads have to be in earlier.
4. Come up with a BKYSL Festival/NYSSRA Championship date and location.
5. Each committee should seriously address Barbara Buehl’s proposal for encouraging more masters women into Nordic ski sport.
6. There is a move to make ESG notification entirely electronically with no mailed packets. Decide on a committee level what is necessary to make it work.

Cindy Daly stated that after 25 years there will be no shooting sports at the Summer Empire State Games. She had real concerns that biathlon at the Winter Games might also be in jeopardy. She requested that people contact their state legislators and legislative leaders to, "Please reinstate shooting competition for the 2003 Empire State Games.

The meeting broke up for committee meetings.

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Meeting reconvened at 12:40 pm.

Minutes: Russ Houck moved; Marque St John second that the minutes not be read since they were distributed to all. Darwin Roosa moved; Tom Moffett second that they be accepted as distributed.

Treasurer: Lee Mahood stated that the balance is $28,315.52

Committee Reports

Empire State Games – Rick Costanza passed along ESG staff’s regrets that they could not be there. The ESGs will be February 20 – 22, 2004.

West Central – Carol Moran reported a great season with all races held. She has noted an influx of cyclists to Nordic ski sport. New snowmobile trails have been a boone in the area.

Central – Russ Myer reported that the Tug Hill Tourathon was great this year with great participation.

Southern Adirondack – Darwin Roosa reported that 18 out of 18 events were held. He noted that Saratoga Biathlon received a AXCS grant for $1000 which would be used for improved grooming equipment.

Biathlon – Bill Lilly noted that USBA is not hosting or sanctioning summer biathlon events. This will be an eastern region series with a Festival September 14 in Syracuse at Pratts Falls. This coming season there will be an emphasis on encouraging high school athletes to go to Nationals and the Junior World Championships in Europe. The Brian McDonald award will be used to help high school athletes go to Nationals based on ESG results. More attention will be focused on safety clinics, documentation and follow up. This season 13 to 15 year olds will shoot at larger targets (in prone as well as standing), but cuffs will not be used. If an experienced 12 year old is recommended by a club then (s)he will be allowed to compete. This past season saw a welcome influx of novices at all age levels. Committee welcomed Marque St John who will replace Rick Costanza.

Cross Country – Dan Karig reported that there is a strong consensus that the NYSSRA Championship should be separated from the Bill Koch/Bill Thayer Festivals both in calendar and venue. This year a minimum of three races will be required to qualify for the series and the best five results will be used for points. We will emulate the Alpine ESG qualifier tracking and will encourage more e-mail entry. Greater efforts will be made to attract shy women and embarrassed older skiers who finish after the finish line banners come down. Those 60 (or 65) or older will ski half the distance of other masters. College clubs will nominate their faster skiers to fill out the open class at Empire State Games. This will result in more club memberships in NYSSRA. Dan Karig will prepare a letter to collegiate coaches on this subject.

Mid Atlantic – NYSSRA Nordic is being asked to provide funding advance for lodging commitments for the JO team. This eliminates exposure by the team leader.

Bill Koch Youth Ski League – Eric Hamilton reported that overall junior memberships in NYSSRA were down, but participation in local Bill Koch events was at its peak this season. We need to reprint the program brochure so that parents have information when being asked to sign up. Festival locations being considered include Glens Falls, Day or Lapland Lake. Possible dates include Feb. 14 & 15; 28 & 29; or March 6 & 7. John Nabors agreed to handle registration. A new club is being considered in the Ithaca area. The Honeoye Falls Club may split and become the Livingston County club and Rochester club. We also discussed more focus on recreational skiing to attract more families. The Polar Bear Club flag at the Bill Koch Festival impressed kids. Each club should be encouraged to make a flag for the next festival… no bigger than a bed sheet. We also discussed a joint NYSSRA/NYSEF camp to include BKYSL youth in mid August. Price would be $75 for camp… no food or lodging.

Newsletter – Dan Karig complemented EMPO on a fine glossy, polished newsletter with lots of photos. Dan canvassed those present about more white space, more text, and more photos. Consensus was don’t worry about white space. Dan asked that anyone interested would be welcome to co-edit. More photos require more photographers. He has had mixed results from the regional representatives. He also asked for more scholastic material. Advertisers pay One third of the newsletter costs.

Fund Raising – In Russ Myer’s absence Lee Mahood reported that enough tee shirts had been sold to pay for the last order. Rick promised to follow up with Russ to see if regional reps still have some.

Competition Manual – Rick Costanza charged chairpersons with the responsibility to get accurate information including updates to Emily Cartwright by September 20. Ads must be in by September 1. Lee Mahood needs sanction forms by Mid August.

Membership – Membership is at 821. This is the highest we have had in the past 10 years. Eric Hamilton noted that one of the chairman had asked if the membership deadline could be moved up to December 1 before penalty. No action taken.

Collegiate skiing – Dan Karig will follow up with a letter to college coaches.

Bill Thayer Memorial Ski Fest – Russ Houck reported that 50 adults and 90 kids participated in the 2003. The 2004 Festival will be tied to the Bill Koch Festival since the two go well together.

Bill Thayer Memorial Citizen’s Race – Carol Moran asked what happened to the Bill Thayer Memorial Citizen’s Race. This was to have encouraged new clubs to host races. Eric Hamilton reported that an FFA group in Western New York had received a race kit, but the description of the grant has not been included in the Manual since 1999. Eric Hamilton will follow up with research the criteria to see if it can be made more attractive to an organizer.

Liability Insurance – Our liability insurance went from $4300 last season to $8100 this season. We still have the same agent and the insurance is through K & K. This summer we will get quotes from another agency. Sanctions only cover 2/3 of the insurance cost.

A.W.A.R.D. – Eric Hamilton announced that he received three requests for all winter accumulated race distance awards. Dave Lomonaco will be mailed a bronze AWARD and certificate; Dan Karig was awarded a gold; and Dave Garber was awarded a gold. Eric recommended that the program continue next season.

Racer Grants – Lee Mahood noted that we only received five applications for racer grants. We make twenty available each year.

Regional Representatives – Eric Hamilton received comment from one incredulous regional representative who was left off the list of representatives in the Manual, but never was approached about why the individual was dropped. Upon request Eric read the appropriate section of the bylaws that describes the structure that includes three reps per region. Rick Costanza asked each of the listed representatives to find two others from their region willing to act in that role prior to the fall meeting.

Affiliations – Rick Costanza noted that SWIX would love to sponsor a big event. They want to give out product, not money. Dan Karig moved, Tob deBoer second that we ask Swix to sponsor the Bill Koch/Bill Thayer Festival, carried.

List Serve - Tob deBoer went over details of the list serve and encouraged more members to use the service.

Web Site – Larry Wilkinson said that www.nyssranordic.com is registered and he will migrate over materials as time permits this summer.

Membership – Jan Sibilia has been discussing a joint membership proposal with Fred Griffin, Executive Director of NENSA. It was the consensus of those present that we should have a stronger relationship with NENSA.

Dan Karig moved, Dave Garber second that the membership deadline be pushed up to December 1 from January 1 to ease points list computations. Those who renew early would get a luggage tag or similar benefit.

Race Fees – Larry Wilkinson moved, Dan Karig second that race entry fees reflect a reduced rate for members, carried. This will encourage membership, but those non-members who race will share and equivalent burden of insurance. Head tax is $2 per racer. Head tax for non-member racers is $7 (non-members of NYSSRA/NENSA/PAXC).

There was also discussion of the race entry form. It needs revision to drop unnecessary information. Bill Lilly volunteered to redesign the form.

Grooming Clinic – There is a proposal for a clinic for those who groom trails. The consensus was that there is not enough interest.

Club System – Jan Sibilia made a proposal for a club feeder system. Eric Hamilton said that current club memberships include Saratoga Biathlon, Glens Falls, Honeoye Falls, Shenendehowa and Rochester Nordic Clubs. Rick Costanza appointed a committee to further study and implement the proposal. Committee consists of Jan Sibilia, chair, Eric Hamilton, Russ Houck, Chris Klein, John Nabors, and Tom Moffet.

Next meeting will be Sunday, September 21, 2003.

On a motion by Dan Karig, Eric Hamilton second, meeting was adjourned, carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Eric J. Hamilton, Recording Secretary

NYSSRA – Nordic

Tentative 2003/2004 Calendar

(as of 03/27/03)

Cross County Biathlon Ski Orienteering BKYSL

December

1. Lapland Lake Osceola
2. Old Forge

1. Osceola
2. Lake Placid

January

1 Old Forge Old Forge Old Forge

3 Salmon Hills Osceola

4 Salmon Hills

1. Saratoga Mini Marathon
2. Byncliff Shen at Day

17 Tug Hill Tryit Osceola

Lake Placid JOQ?

18 Bristol Osceola

Lake Placid JOQ?

1. Rochester JOQ Loppet Kids

25 Rochester JOQ Eagle

31 Lake Placid JOQ? Saratoga

St Lawrence Carnival

February

1 Lake Placid JOQ? Saratoga Round Lake?

1. Tourathon

8 Old Forge Old Forge

14 Saratoga Festival?

15 Festival?

1. Empire State Games

March

6, 7, 13, 14 JOs Lake Placid

28 Saratoga