January 2015 USLRA Board Meeting Minutes

January 2015 USLRA Board Meeting Minutes

USLRA Conference Call Minutes

January 8, 2015 – 7:15 PM

Present on call:  Troy Birdsong, Polly Pappadopoulos, Olivia Judd, Sam Hadley, Joanie Davenport, Shayna Magnone

1.)  Approval of October 2014 Minutes:

http://www.uslogrolling.blogspot.com/2014_11_01_archive.html

Shayna motions to approve October Minutes.  Joanie Seconds.  All Approve.

2.) Approval of November Annual Meeting Minutes

http://www.uslogrolling.blogspot.com/2015/01/us-log-rolling-association-annual.html

Shayna motions to approve November Annual Meeting Minutes.  Polly Seconds.  All Approve.

3.)  2015 Board of Directors

            Newly Elected Members:  Olivia Judd and Brian Larsen

            Re-Elected Members:  Joanie Davenport, Sam Hadley, Leah Stanton

Shayna Motions to Approve Elected Members for 2015.   Polly Seconds.  All Approve.

4.) Election of Officers

·         Joanie motions to re-elect Troy Birdsong as President for 2015.   Olivia Judd Seconds.  All Approve.  Troy Accepts.

·         Troy motions to re-elect Sam Hadley as Vice President for 2015.  Joanie Seconds.  All Approve.   Sam Accepts.

·         Olivia motions to re-elect Polly Pappadopoulos as Secretary for 2015.  Troy Seconds.  All Approve.   Polly Accepts.

·         Shayna motions to re-elect Shary Birdsong as Treasurer for the USLRA for 2015, but remain unseated on board.   Joanie Seconds.  All Approve. 

5.)    Finance Update

·         Approximately $4000 was collected in income in 2014. 

·         Suggested to create a cusion in bank account.  Further discussion will follow on possible reintroduction of Tournament Grant program.

6.)  Approval of Rankings for 2015 Season

·         Troy has worked through Elite Rankings with Katie Rick and suggests approval by the board.

·         Along with posted rankings, a disclaimer will be included that a competitor with any concerns should contact a board member.

2015 Elite Ranking

http://goo.gl/XZBnYU

Olivia motions to approve 2015 Elite Rankings.   Polly Seconds.  All Approve.

2015 Amateur Ranking

http://goo.gl/2qG4wV

Polly motions to approve 2015 Amateur Rankings.  Joanie Seconds.  All Approve.

7.)  2014 USLRA Annual Survey Results

Survey

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4fBb2T9fU-4YTcxWGFIRlhqam8/view?usp=sharing

Comments

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4fBb2T9fU-4eExSWW5fTU8tLVU/view?usp=sharing

·         Discussion of comments from survey

·         Log Timing Rule Change  - Survey results reflect support for time limits to be changed.

Proposed wording:  

Junior, Semi-Pro, Adult Sport and Masters will use the following time limits:

#1 log 1 minute

#2 log 2 minutes

#3 log 3 minutes

#4 log 4 minutes

#5 log until end of match*

*Use of #5 log is optional. If #5 log is not used, use #4 log until end of match

(Will be voted upon at future meeting.)

·         Rolling Area discussion – Survey results indicate favor for Keeping a 3 foot safety area, but leaving the decision to a Tournament Director’s discretion.   It is noted that it should be stressed in a judges meeting to make sure that judges are prepared to make calls based on safety concerns.

Propsed Wording:

Judges are required to call "time out" when a match rolls within three (3) feet of any barrier, in a parallel position and one (1) foot in a perpendicular position. This barrier may include any obstruction, including a dock, boom run, or shallow water. They are also required to stop a match when waves of any size gather near a match, whether from boom run matches, boats, swimmers, or any other source. Safety is of primary importance, and judges should call time if there is ever a situation where there could be an unsafe situation.  Tournament Directors have the discretion to set larger fall areas.

(New Wording will be voted on at future meeting.)

·         Suggestion to add judges training manual and offer training in 2015.   Olivia and Joanie will reach out to experienced judges for guidance and suggestions.   Shayna and Polly will work on judges manual/binder.

8.)  LWC Proposal

·         Troy will prepare and send proposal to LWC Board addressing suggestions to avoid change to 2/3 falls at 2015 LWC.  Proposal will include survey results with USLRA member preferences.

Troy Motions to Table rest of agenda for future meeting.    Shayna Seconds.

9.)  Website Update

·         The current website format is outdated and difficult to work with.  It may be best to start from scratch and build a website on our own.  Sam will check with a person she is in contact with on pricing and availability.

10.) Volunteer Log Award

·         Shayna proposes idea to purchase log for Volunteer recognition drawing to be awarded at November Nationals in 2015.  (Award donation was discontinued in 2014.)  USLRA could continue program on their own, and check for a discounted log price.

11.)  Next Meeting:  February 15, 2015 – 8:00 PM.

Joanie motions to Adjourn.   Olivia Seconds.  All Approve.  9:03 PM.

US Log Rolling Association Annual Member Meeting 2014

November 2014 USLRA Annual Member Meeting

Hudson, WI

Saturday, November 8, 2014 – 5:40 PM

Present at meeting:

USLRA Board Members:  Troy Birdsong, Polly Pappadopoulos, Joanie Davenport, Shayna Magnone

USLRA Members Present:  Jamie Fischer, Bob Jones, Brian Larsen, Chris Serpico, Jennifer Serpico, John Pappadopoulos, Jeff Koblitz, Garrick Birdsong, Ellie Davenport, Dave Davenport

1.)  Approval of October 2014 Minutes:

http://www.uslogrolling.blogspot.com/2014_11_01_archive.html

Minutes not approved due to lack of quorum.

2.) Board Update

·         Troy gave a President’s Update on the state of the USLRA, and the accomplishments of the board in 2014.

·         Troy read a report on the US Log Rolling Charitable Foundation submitted by John Hallett, President of the Charitable Foundation.

3.)  Board Nominations

·         There are 4 seats open on the USLRA Board for a term beginning in 2015.

Current Board members

Term Expires after 2014:

Sam Hadley-Vice President

Amber Scarborough

Joanie Davenport

Leah Stanton

Term Expires after 2015:

Polly Pappadopoulos-Secretary

Term Expires after 2016:

Mary Ogle

Troy Birdsong-President

Shayna Magnone

·         Nominations taken for 2015 Board Candidates:

Olivia Judd

Brian Larsen

Jamie Fischer

Liz Gay

·         Voting will take place within the 2014 USLRA Survey to be sent to all USLRA members via email.

4.) Timing Issues at Lumberjack World Championships

·         LWC has voted to change amateur matches to 2/3 falls, rather than 3/5.

·         There were 30 more matches this year, lengthening the time of Amateur Competition.

·         The board would like to remain at 3/5 falls per match.   Some proposed ideas:

-limiting use of paddle boat

-adding a third rolling dock

-starting matches on a 2 log, with a possible time change for logs to keep the time with the log.

-having qualifiers for LWC

(Note:  Most present like the idea of adding another dock.)

5.)    Open Forum

·         It is suggested that Speed Rolling should having rules or guidelines.  

·         Splitting Round Robin divisions into 2 separate logs creates confusion for judges and scorekeepers, and does not allow the rollers to have an adequate break between matches (although given the same amount of time, creates pressure on rollers for final matches.)

·         U-17 division – Co-ed?    It is difficult for tournament directors to know how to run the division, how to put on tournament paperwork, ordering awards is difficult.    One suggestion is to adjust the age brackets to widen divisions.

·         USLRA Day Fee/Membership Required for Tournaments – is this required for all rollers at all tournaments?   How should this be presented through YMCA programs?   A possible solution would be to add wording of caution, such as:  No super series points will be awarded without a paid USLRA membership.  

·         Lumberjack Camp possibility discussion.   Concerns raised were: would not bring in much profit, dates could be an issue, ages of participants.  Jamie Fischer would be willing to help out, but it would be difficult for him to host.  Discussion will continue for possibilities.

Troy motions to Adjourn.  Shayna Magnone Seconds.  All Approve.  6:38 PM.

 October 2014 USLRA Board Meeting Minutes

USLRA Conference Call Minutes

Sunday, October 19, 2014 – 8:00 PM

Present on call: Troy, Sam, Polly, Amber, Shayna and Joanie

1.) Approve September 2014 Minutes

http://www.uslogrolling.blogspot.com/2014_10_01_archive.html

Shayna motions to approve July Minutes.  Amber Seconds.  All Approve.

2.)  Elite Rankings

·         2014 Elite Rankings have been prepared and submitted to board

·         Will Post after January 1, 2015

·         Board Members will individually review for accuracy

·         Discussion begun on expanding points:   Points could be awarded for a win – 3 points for a Level 1, 2 points for a Level 2, and 1 point for a Level 3.  It is decided that this issue will be included in the Member Survey and revisited at a later meeting.  This point expansion would be for places 17-24.

3.)  Super Series Awards

·         Shayna has secured a vendor for new Super Series Awards – Wood Cookie type plaques, with Roller’s name burned in, with new simplified logo.

·         Plaques will be ordered leading in to November Nationals to be awarded as possible, for those places that are secured.  Unsecured places will be prepared and sent at a later date.

4.)  Website

·         Joanie Recommends that we rebuild a new website from scratch, to enable a more user friendly format with easier links.  

·         A USLRA Board Page to include documents, minutes, and board member information will be added to website.

5.)  LWC Proposal

·         Troy has prepared a proposal for the LWC board concerning the 2/3 falls changefor amateurs.   Proposal includes several different suggestions to save and better budget Amateur match times.

5.) Log Rule Discussion

·         Question is posed – should the Log times be changed for Amateur Matches, should the matches be required to start on a #2 Log.   It is suggested that the Time should be kept with the Log.  

·         After review of a similar issue in 2013’s Membership Survey, it is decided to re-write a clearer explanation for a vote on the 2014 Membership Survey.

6.)    USLRA Board Terms Expiring

·         4 Board Member Terms expire after 2014:

Joanie Davenport

Sam Hadley

Amber Scarborough

Leah Stanton

·         Call for Nominations to fill these four seats will be added to the Fall 2014 Newsletter, posted on Facebook, and taken at the Membership Meeting on November 8.

·         Nominations will be listed for Vote in the Membership Survey, and top votes will be approved by the current board.

7.)        Finance

·         Balance:  $5445.64

8.)        USLRA Membership Survey

·         Discussed questions to be included on Membership Survey.

  

9.)  Tournament Liaisons for remainder of season

            October 26 – River Rat Roll:  Troy and Polly

            November 8 – November Nationals:  Troy and Joanie

10.)  Next Board Meeting:   Annual Membership Meeting will be held November 8, 2014 at the Hudson YMCA immediately following the November Nationals Tournament and Awards.  All Members are encouraged to attend.

Joanie motions to Adjourn.   Amber Seconds.  All Approve.  9:39 PM.

September 2014 USLRA Board Meeting Minutes

USLRA Conference Call Minutes

Sunday, September 14, 2014 – 8:00 PM

Present on call: Troy, Mary, Sam, Polly, Joanie, Leah, Shayna

1.) Approve August 2014 Minutes

http://www.uslogrolling.com/html/news.html

Shayna motions to approve July Minutes.  Polly Seconds.  All Approve.

 2.)  Volunteer Recognition

·         Discussion on beginning a new volunteer recognition program

·         USLRA Board will nominate first Volunteer to be recognized in the Fall 2014 Newsletter.

·         Newsletter article will call for nominations from USRLA members for other volunteers to be recognized.

3.)  Super Series Awards

·         Shayna will work on comparing costs for different styles of Super Series plaques for 2014.

·         Laser Engraved plaques are an affordable option.

4.)  Tournament Sanctioning

·         Troy has sent out an email with a sanctioning document proposal to select Tournament Directors to gather opinions and thoughts.  One tournament director approved, another suggested adding language reflecting the Day Fee for USLRA non-members.  One tournament director raised concerns with the document, mainly in regard to the time frame suggested for tournament results.

·         Could tournament Registration papers be used in lieu of this document?

·         The document will be made a voluntary sheet to gather information.

·         The information from the forms could be made available on the website to be used for press releases and to create a more organized system of advertising tournaments.

5.)  CAN-LOG

·         Troy reached out and did get a response.  They will discuss a relationship with USLRA at their next meeting on October 4, 2014.

6.) Media

·         Website:  Shana will contact the individual who updates the website to arrange for Rich Magnone to have the ability to add information and merge pages to the website.  A board page should be created.

·         Maroon PR:  USLRA was contacted by this PR firm.  Troy will respond and tell them that USLRA is not in a position to use their services.

7.)    Insurance

·         Joanie will work on researching Directors and Officers Insurance for the USLRA Board.  

8.)  3 Foot Crash Zone Discussion

·         A 6 foot crash zone has been suggested by some USLRA members.  Most are not in agreement with this, but wording could be changed to suit individual tournament directors’ preferences for their specific venue.

·         Changes could be made to include “a minimum of 3 feet” or “height of the tallest roller”, and could combine with “at the tournament director’s discretion”.

·         Board will continue to discuss and explore options.

  

9.)  Tournament Director’s Meeting

·         The board would like to meet with Tournament Directors from all Tournaments, to gather their thoughts and suggestions as to how we can better serve their needs and support their individual tournaments.

·         A gathering of all directors has been suggested, but since this would be geographically difficult, an effort to gather small groups will be made in the Spring of 2015.

10.)  Tournaments

·         October 5 - Oconomowoc Rock’n’Roll – Liaisons:  Mary Ogle

·         October 26 – La Crosse River Rat Roll – Liaisons:  Troy and Polly

·         November 8 - Hudson November Nationals – Liaisons:  Troy and Joanie

11.)  Annual Board Meeting

The 2014 Annual URLRA Board Meeting will be held in Hudson on November 8, 2014, following the November Nationals Tournament at the Hudson YMCA.   All USLRA Membership is invited to attend.

16.)  Next Board Meeting will be held Sunday, October 19, 2014 at 8:00 pm.

Joanie motions to Adjourn.   Shayna Seconds.   None opposed.