April
17, 2004-- Atlanta, GA --
Board Members Attending in Person: John Pinyerd, Ben Sandiford,
Chris Hipgrave, Tyler Dyer, Tom Wier, Geoff Calhoun. Martin Bay
and Chris Weigand were absent but had forwarded statements.
Guests: Mike Beck, Kristen Beck, Bob Bofinger, Ed Gordon, Amy
Walters, and Lincoln Williams
* Pinyerd: Submitted minutes from last meeting in Bryson City
2/21/04 - Approved by Sandiford
* Pinyerd: Old Business, Update on Middy Tilghman. Recap of the
criteria that Middy Tilghman had to meet in order to EARN his
way on the USA Wildwater Team:
1) Middy (an 03 team member in K-1) agreed to train in Europe.
2) Middy agreed to represent the USA Team at the Worlds and ALL
World Cups. He will also share his knowledge with Team USA.
3) Support of his fellow K-1's - The Middy plan had strong support
of ALL of the top K-1's: As a matter of record, there was no opposition
to the Middy plan and his fellow teammates STRONGLY and unanimously
supported him. The top k1s in the USA (and those who would be
possibly taking Middy's place were he not to qualify for the US
team) agreed in writing to grant Middy a bye. They include: Andrew
McEwan, Simon Beardmore, Chris Hipgrave, Geoff Calhoun, Dave Hammond,
Austin Krissoff, Nate Krissoff, Shaun Smith, Nic Borst, and Tyler
Dyer.
4) The only open item since the last board meeting is that Middy
must earn his berth by finishing a respectable percentage off
the French team members at their team trials; consistent or better
than that of U.S. team member's performance against French team
members in the recent past (2003 World Cups.
o Middy Tilgman has completed ALL of the criteria we set forth
for him and finished a respectable 7% back at French Trials.
o Motion that Middy be listed as the 4th boat on our Team Trails
results. Motion passed unanimously.
* Pinyerd (reporting for Martin Bay: USAWildwater.com has been
updated with the following:
o Minutes from past meetings
o Link us ICF Rules
o Sponsors (Davey Hern and GCA)
* Pinyerd (for Martin Bay): Martin has a new job that is stretching
him very thin.
o Hipgrave volunteered to keep the race schedule updated. Michael
Beavers is also helping. Calhoun can also help in a limited capacity.
* Sandiford - Uniform Update: Dicks gave us the uniforms (tops)
for 50% of their cost. The total cost per Uniform jacket (including
embroidery) was $35 (the 15 uniforms purchased so far cost $322.18
and the embroidery cost $210).
* Hipgrave: Treasurer's report - We have a checking balance of
$93. USACK has not supplied our $2-3k in funding.
* Pinyerd/Sandiford/ Hipgrave: Sponsorship Update
o Davey Hearn supplied 8 white Wildwater Helmets and 3 Red Large
helmets, enough to outfit the entire Europe Team.
o GCA (Georgia Canoe Association) supplied $200
o Dicks gave us the uniforms at 50% of their cost
o Dave Mason has donated (and will buy dinner at Garmish)
o Amy Monier donated $200.
o Pinyerd: will send thank you notes to our sponsors (Davey Hearn,
GCA, Dicks Sporting Goods, Amy Monier)
o Sandiford: Charlotte Orthopedic Center is an exciting new sponsor
for us.
o An open discussion on Sponsorship/Fundraising possibilities
ensued. Mike & Kristen Beck had several excellent insights
on how "Booster Clubs" work in Germany.
o Hipgrave: will proceed with putting together a fundraiser "Paddle-A-Thon"
for next spring where we would do loops on the Nanty.
* Races and development
o Upcoming (North American Races) - Hipgrave will get the information
from the CAN-AM organizers.
o Training camps
* Hipgrave: We will have an NRC Winter Series. This will also
include an Atlanta camp in January (like this past year)
* Hipgrave/Pinyerd: We are planning a forward stroke clinic in
conjunction with GCA in Atlanta in November.
* Calhoun: will try and get a Wash DC area camp together (with
Davie Hearn?)
o Recruitment of Juniors and other paddlers
* Pinyerd/Hipgrave: Cross over slalom paddlers are a major source
* Becks/Sandiford: We should work with the Boy Scouts and the
Girl Scouts at the local and national levels. Kristen Beck can
help us with the Girl Scouts as she has considerable experience
working with them.
* Sandiford: will develop thoughts on a Wildwater Support (or
B) Team
* Wiegand (prepared statement was read by Geoff Calhoun): Support
for Jr. Team is excellent. They will have Uniforms, shoes, and
sunglasses. In addition, there is plenty of parental support planned
for Europe)
o Any of the 2 spots per class that are unfilled in Eastern Trails
will be filled at Western Jr. Trials.
* Accommodation Update for Europe:
o Sandiford: Housing for Garmish World Championships May 20-23
* We have lost the armed forces housing but have other housing
lined up.
o Calhoun: Housing for World Cup 1-2 - Bovec Slo. May 29-30
o Harris was to handle World Cup 3-4 Karlovy -Vary, Czech. Tepla
River June 5-6 but did not make it to the Board Meeting, or Team
Trials, and has forfeited his spot on team:
* Motion passed for Hipgrave to handle housing for World Cups
3-4.
o Hipgrave: World Cup 5-6 Moutatahl Switz June 10+12
* All cheap housing is gone. Motels in the area will now cost
$50/night and up.
* Sandiford will ask the Swiss Organizers for alternatives.
* Airlines/Boat Transportation:
o Weir: Going through the United Olympic Desk (Arlene Stroud)
is still our best bet. Arlene quoted $127 each way to Europe from
Seattle.
o Pinyerd/Hipgrave: It helps to get the Olympic Logos on your
itinerary (from Arlene).
* Tyler Dyer Alaska Update - Eastern Athlete Rep Position; At
Large Position
o Dyer: I am going to Alaska July 2nd and would like for Geoff
Calhoun to fill my position. Motion is made and seconded.
* Board votes unanimously for Geoff Calhoun to fill in as Eastern
Athlete Rep.
o Motion is made and seconded for Bob Bofinger to fill the vacant
"At Large Rep" position.
* Board votes unanimously for Bob Bofinger to fill the vacant
"At Large Rep" position.
* 05 Domestic Races
o Hipgrave: We need to place a Greater Emphasis on Sprint
* Propose separate Sprint and Classic National Champions
* Venues will need to support Sprint and Classic Races
o Pinyerd: We need to also consider Teams Trials Rules Changes
that would put more emphasis on Sprint (i.e. there are lots of
combinations such as Winner Day 1, Winner Day 2, Best %, Best
Combined % boats 4-6).
o Beck (and all): Discussion on how the Europeans are doing it
o Motion is passed to form a Work Group to recommend changes to
the Bylaws for Team Selection AND Nationals. The scope of the
review will include putting greater emphasis on Sprint and to
explore recruiting of paddlers to vacant spots on the team.
* Work Group will consist of Wier, Beck, Hipgrave, and Pinyerd.
* Ideas on getting boats for US paddlers
o Hipgrave: we have a number of molds available that we can ship
around. Currently a Kayak helmet manufacture Shred Ready (based
in Auburn AL) is going to make 4-5 lower end boats for Juniors,
etc.
o Bofinger: We just finished making several boats in Washington
DC.
o Hipgrave: Plastic (like the kind in Saturn Cars) is still a
possibility.
* Mr. Harris requested an exemption from the selection criteria
to be named to the team. Mr. Pinyerd has several conversations
with Mr. Harris regarding the situation and informed him of the
results of an informal poll of other athletes who objected to
any exemption being made. The situation was brought to the attention
of the Board, which determined it could not make an exception
under Wildwater by-laws.
* Next Board Meeting Date: August 7th at 7:00 PM, Pulaski NY (in
conjunction with USA Nationals)
John
Pinyerd is Chair of the U.S. Wildwater Committee and a C-1 Wildwater
racer living in Atlanta. Reach him at jpinyerd@usawildwater.com.
