Sailor Athlete Council Conference Call Minutes

9-27-04

Attending:  Dean Brenner, Susannah Carr, Hal Haenel, Cory Sertl, Lee Parks, Hannah Swett, Mark Reynolds, Tom Leweck, Kim Hapgood, Betsy Altman, Bob Merrick, Sandy Grosvenor, Bob Bellingham

1.  Dean introduced new members to the Council.  Conversation about how SAC adds value to sailors and US SAILING is ongoing.  He reiterated SAC’s mission, to “maintain an avenue for sailor-athletes in US SAILING to voice their opinions, and to provide a forum and opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the future and direction of our sport.”  Brenner asked current SAC members to share with newcomers their thoughts on the Council and how it can add value to US SAILING and to sailors.  A general discussion of SAC’s accomplishments during the past year, whom SAC represents, and SAC’s relationship with US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Committee followed.  SAC has reached out to registered athletes on 2 issues:  the proposed restructuring of US SAILING and ISAF equipment selection.  In general, the committee agrees that SAC represents competitive sailors and must strike a balance between focusing on elite athletes and less serious racers.  There is not a formal relationship between SAC and OSC, but the committees share members.  Though the information has become more transparent, finding out where Olympic funding goes is still difficult.  US SAILING governs general sailing and Olympic Sailing, however, a significant amount of the Olympic money comes from USOC and goes through US SAILING directly to the athletes USOC has decided to fund.  US SAILING separates the OSC budget from the rest of its budget.  This quadrennium, the budget US SAILING submits to USOC on October 6, 2004 must cover all four years.  Funding is based on medal performance, so difficult to predict how much money sailing will get.  The Council also discussed sailor Hugh Elliot’s email.  Brenner summarized by saying that SAC will be at its best when members are finding out through their circulation in the sport what issues matter, expressing opinions to the organization, and being the conduit for information between sailors and US SAILING

2. Betsy Altman emphasized the importance of attending the US SAILING Annual General Meeting October 20 – 24 in Portland, OR.  The Council agreed it should continue to work to place registered athletes onto committees, including committees that fall outside of the USOC mandate.  Currently, SAC has approximately 575 registered athletes, up from 250 at the beginning of the year.  The Council agreed to continue to work to increase the number of registered athletes by reaching out to sailors at qualifying regattas and maintaining outgoing communication. 

3. Dean Brenner requested that Council members unable to attend submit a proxy to ensure SAC gets its maximum number of votes. 

He will be soliciting input from council members via email regarding SAC’s plans for the meeting.   

4. A new chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary need to be elected this fall.  In late Oct., SAC will have an online nomination and election process for a new chair. 

5. Hal Haenel informed SAC that the AAC representative to the USOC is up for reelection this year in November.  US SAILING’s OSC runs this election.  SAC ratified the procedure.  The Council reviewed the procedure for determining how the US delegates to ISAF will vote regarding equipment selection for the 2008 Olympics.  OSC instructs ISAF members how to vote.  The tight competitions are Hobie v. Tornado, Europe v. Radial, and 470 v. 49er v. Snipe.  Council members shared their opinions on various boats.  SAC will suggest to OSC that it includes a discussion of the 2012 Olympics during its meeting at the Annual General Meeting.  Sailing will be losing a medal in 2012.  Louise Gleason and Hal Haenel volunteered to spearhead soliciting input from council members and class reps about equipment selection.  ISAF sent a questionnaire to all classes regarding class participation, equipment, etc.  That information will be presented in Copenhagen at ISAF annual meeting.  Boardsailing is undergoing equipment trials right now.  US ISAF delegates will probably go with an OSC mandate to support/not support boards and evaluate the equipment choices at the meeting because results from equipment tests are not back yet.  ISAF is decreasing the ability of its council to overturn decisions.

6.  Betsy Altman and Louise Gleason reminded the Committee that SAC has 20% of the votes at the Annual General Meeting.

7.  Dean Brenner is compiling a summary of all the feedback he has gotten regarding the proposal to change US SAILING’s organizational structure.  He will circulate it to SAC.  Brenner recommended that all new council members read the proposed new structure.  The general direction is to reduce size of board and make it less constituent based.