Indiana USAG

Region 5 Committee Meeting

September 25, 2011; 1:00 – 4:56 p.m.

Indianapolis, IN

I. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Regional Administrative Committee Chairman, Bobbi Montanari, at 1:00pm. 

II.  ROLL CALL

Present

Bobbi Montanari, Regional Administrative Committee Chairman (RACC)

Char Christensen, Regional Technical Committee Chairman (RTCC)

Norbert Bendixen, Illinois Administrative Committee Chairman (SACC: IL)

Linda Barclay, Indiana Administrative Committee Chairman (SACC: IN)

Cap Caudill, Kentucky Administrative Committee Chairman (SACC: KY)

Nina Dent, Ohio Administrative Committee Chairman (SACC: OH)

Hilary Carlson, Region 5-NAWGJ Judging Director

Kittia Carpenter, Assistant Regional JO Committee Chairman

Augusta Lipsey, Regional Secretary and Hall of Fame Coordinator

Present through Skype

John Geddert, Regional Junior Olympic Committee Chairman (RJOCC)

Guest

Kristin Moore, Regional Apparel Coordinator and Regional Webmaster

Absent

Jim Comiskey, Michigan Administrative Committee Chairman (SACC-MI)

III.  OVERVIEW OF REGION 5 CONGRESS

Bobbi Montanari, RACC, asked the Committee to give their opinion on the positive aspects of this year’s Regional Congress as well as areas that can be improved. 

1. A.    Positives
   1. The volunteers were excellent.  They were always in place which allowed the Regional Administrative Committee to be relieved of the responsibility of overseeing all aspects of the Congress.
   2. The signage was very informative.
   3. The banquet was very heartening.
   4. This year’s Congress was well rounded.
   5. The banquet was inspiring.
   6. Honoring Walt Lienert at the banquet was very gratifying.
   7. Thanks to Kristin Moore for all of the advanced technology.  It made the banquet wonderful.  Jason McDonald’s videos were awesome also.
   8. It was good to see so many people in Region 5 apparel.

B.     Concerns

1. 1. The banquet ticket system is still broken.  Rachel Brazo should be the only person to accept money for tickets.  The list of people that have paid for the banquet must be provided before the banquet.  USA Gymnastics should have a place online that is separate from the Congress Registration that will allow people to register for the banquet exclusively.  There is not a simple process to allow people to purchase banquet tickets after the fact.
   2. On-site registration should be in a room rather than in the hall.  The area was cramped.
   3. The auction and the banquet were in need of larger rooms.  Bobbi Montanari, RACC, stated that both events will be in larger rooms next year.
   4. A floor plan of the facility to show the location of the rooms should be printed in the program.
   5. The atmosphere of the auction was very distracting.
   6. Nina Dent feels that the states are spending more money on the states baskets for the auction than it is worth.  If the purpose of the auction is to make money and to bring people together, there are other ways.  A casino night was suggested.  Nina, Hilary Carlson, and Linda Barclay will investigate the details associated with a casino night.
   7. We need to reduce the number of signed autographed posters at the auction but the silent auction items need to remain.

 C.    Suggestions

1. 1. The banquet can offer a plated dinner with a variety of food choices rather than a buffet style meal.  Videos of the past season could be played as dinner is being served.
   2. Banquet tables should be numbered so people will know at which table they are to sit.
   3. Have more people assigned to greet and direct people to the proper banquet table.
   4. Schedule the banquet for more than 1½ hours.
   5. Schedule the social hour from 6:00-7:00PM with the banquet beginning at 7:00PM.
   6. Recognize the past Hall of Fame inductees during the banquet.
   7. Display the awards that the All Star Team receives.
   8. Consideration should be made for having the auction begin earlier.
   9. Display the posters announcing the Regional Award Winners throughout the Congress.
   10. Have the Hall of Fame inductees ring available for presentation at the banquet.  Also have their name engraved on the inside of the ring.
   11. Have the Hall of Fame inductee be responsible for their presentation at the banquet.
   12. Ask Jason McDonald to submit a budget to create the Hall of Fame videos.
   13. Ask Hall of Fame inductees to submit videos and pictures to Jason by a date set by Jason.
   14. Inform Hall of Fame inductees that they will be on the master rooming list of Rachel’s/Bobbi.
   15. If air travel is needed the Hall of Fame inductee will make arrangements and submit them to the Hall of Fame Director.
   16. The Hall of Fame Director shall do a follow-up call to the inductees after sufficient time has been given for the announcement letter to arrive.
   17. Encourage different people to present at Regional Congress.  Some possible presenters would be Casey Wright and Michelle Hart, Todd Gardiner, Laurie Reed, Laurie Koch from Olympia in Michigan, Cassie Rice, Barry Keelie from Midland, Jim Jarrett on philosophy, Dr. Larry Nassar, Chris Burdette, and someone from St. Vincent Sports Medicine.
   18. Develop a history page on the Regional website.  Thanks to Kristin for our awesome new website.

IV.  2012 REGIONAL MEET BIDS

There were two bids for each of the Regional Meets.  Since Linda Barclay is involved with USA Sports Production and a co-bidder on each of the Regional Meets, she removed herself from the discussion and the selection of the meet sites.  Geddert’s Twistars and Wrights Gymnastics bid on the Level 9/10 Regional Meet. 

A silent paper vote was taken to determine the host of the Level 9/10 Regional Meet.  The results are:                     

                                    Wrights Gymnastics            3 votes

                                    Geddert’s Twistars               2 votes

The 2012 Level 9/10 Regional Meet is awarded to Wrights Gymnastics

Excalibur Gymnastics and Sportastik Gymnastics bid on the Level 8 Regional Meet.

Following some discussion a silent paper vote was taken to determine the host of the Level 8 Regional Meet.  The results are:         

                                    Gymnastics X-Calibur          4 votes

                                    Sportastik Gymnastics         2 vote

The 2012 Level 8 Regional Meet is awarded to Gymnastics X-Calibur.

V.  JUDGES

Char Christensen reminded the State Chairmen to rank at least 14 judges to be submitted to her for the Regional Meet assignments.  She also reminded the State Chairmen not to consider any judge that returned their Professional Involvement Form after the deadline date.  Char distributed a list of the judges that could be considered for National Meet assignment based on their leadership role in the region.  Three are to be selected for the Level 9 Eastern Nationals and four judges are to be selected for the Junior Olympic Nationals.  After Hilary Carlson, Char Christensen, Nina Dent, and Augusta Lipsey were excused from the meeting (Kittia Carpenter will not be available for a national meet this year) the remaining Committee Members discussed and voted on the judges to represent Region 5 at the National Championships.  The following judges were chosen.

Level 10 Junior Olympic Championships (listed alphabetically)

1. Char Christensen
2. Nina Dent
3. Judy Dobransky
4. Linda McDonald

Level 9 Eastern Championships (listed alphabetically)

1. Hilary Carlson
2. Judy Kemp
3. Augusta Lipsey

Alternates (listed alphabetically)

1. Sandy Oldham
2. Vicki Smith
3. Donna Trevethan
4. Ann Vogel

VI.  NEXT MEETING

Please consider July 10, 2012 from 10:00am – 5:00pm for the next Regional Administrative Committee meeting.  Let Bobbi know of any conflicts.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 4:56pm.

Respectfully Submitted 9/30/11

Augusta A. Lipsey

Regional Secretary