Board of Directors Minutes
October 16, 2003
Annual General Meeting in St. Louis, MO


1.   The meeting was called to order at 8 a.m. by President Dave Rosekrans.

2.   Members present were: James Appel, Janet Baxter, Betsy Beddow, Stan Betts, Terry Bischoff, Norton Brooker, Dean Brenner, Mitch Brindley, Craig Brown, Larry Bulman, Ruth Creighton, Means Davis, Dan Doyle, Don Durant, Susan Epstein, Mike Gebhardt, Fred Hagedorn, Dick Hanneman, Tom Hubbell, Stephen Jeffries, Patty Lawrence, Gene McCarthy, Joseph Melino, Ken Morrison, Jim Muldoon, Bill Munster, Greg Norwine, John Osmond, Joni Palmer, Dave Rosekrans, Bill Ross, Ding Schoonmaker, Bill Stump and Joan Thayer. Absent were: Melinda Berge, Jerelyn Biehl, Paul Callahan, Jim Capron, Bruce Eissner, Greg Fisher, Arthur Fox, Louise Gleason, Joey Harris, Mark Herrmann, Hart Kelley, Martha Parker, Mark Reynolds, Jack Rudy, Betty Sue Sherman, Art Stevens, Dick Tillman and Adam Werblow.

3.   Delegates and guests were greeted and welcomed to St. Louis by Sheila Banks, representing St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

4.   In his opening remarks, President Rosekrans pointed out that delegates would face difficult choices during this meeting in order to assure financial stability. He pointed out that membership levels are steady, retention of old members has increased from 67% to 72%, and fixed expenses have risen.

5.   Fred Hagedorn, chairman of the US SAILING Olympic Committee reported on the upcoming Games, trials for which will begin in two weeks. The US is not keeping up with other nations with respect to funding its athletes and a fund raising effort is underway to benefit the team.

6.   Hal Haenel, the US SAILING representative to the US Olympic Committee discussed changes taking place in that organization. In a meeting beginning later this week, the USOC will finalize its reorganization plans.

7.   A motion for the Board of Directors to approve the actions of the Executive Committee taken since the last Board meeting was made, seconded and approved.

8.   Executive Director Nick Craw reported on progress made many functions of US SAILING during the past year. These include training, risk management, championships, offshore, newsletters, sponsorship and membership. In order to meet the challenges of reduced income and increased expenses, all programs have been revisited for the 2004 budget, and a new financial software package will be in place for the coming year.

9.   Budget Director Hortensia Hacker thanked the staff for their work in preparing the 2004 budget. The recommended budget is sound, she said, because it has reduced dependency on revenue forecasts. If revenues are met, a budget surplus will result, and if revenues are not met, the budget will break even. Among the difficult choices made, was the recommendation to allow the agreement between US SAILING and Sailing World/Cruising World to expire at the end of 2003.

10.   Treasurer Stephen Jeffries also commented the staff and budget committee for their efforts.

11.   A presentation by Kevin Kavanagh, member of the training committee, highlighted the Sailingcourse.Com web pages which are visited by thousands each month. Mark Gardner and Lindy Christoferson presented the new US SAILING on-line event registration process.

12.   Janet Baxter discussed the process that will be used in tomorrow’s Round Table Discussion groups.

13.   Dick Allsop and Lee Parks joined President Dave Rosekrans in his presentation of the C.R.E.W Award for 2003 to Darline Hobock for her many years of service, including her work as chair of the Portsmouth Numbers Committee

14.   Dick Rose announced an upcoming discussion meeting on the 432 page ISAF rules submissions for 2005-2005 RRS.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.


Respectfully submitted,

Dick Hanneman, Secretary

Next Meeting, Friday, Oct. 17, 8 a.m.