Present were Executive Committee members Sarah Alger, Charley Cook, Paul Callahan, Jim Capron, Don Durant, Bruce Eissner, Louise Gleason, Fred Hagedorn, Tom Hubbell, Stephen Jeffries, Jim Muldoon, Joni Palmer, Dave Rosekrans, John Ross, and Mike Schoettle. Also present were Interim Executive Director William Placke and, at the invitation of the president, Nick Craw.

1.       Approval of Board of Director’s Minutes .

  • A motion was made, seconded and approved to accept the October 21, 2001, minutes of the Board of Directors, as amended.

2.      Treasurer’s Report. Stephen Jeffries reported that a corrected balance sheet would be distributed.  Year-end cash is accurate at $225,000.  Unaudited year-end closing is estimated to be $34,000 after accounting for approximately $160,000 in unbudgeted expenses, as a result of Terry Harper resigning. Stephen Jeffries also reported that US SAILING has not had to draw on its line of credit.

3.       Interim Executive Director’s Report.
3.a.  Membership Report. William Placke reported that the membership report was
        being reworked to account for two- and three-year memberships.

3.b.    Hull Speed” Work Plan.  He reported that staff is drafting a plan for the web site. He noted that after talking with three possible vendors, he has selected a consultant from Cambridge Consulting to define, utilizing flowcharts, US SAILING’s current business processes and determine how they could be streamlined, and to help determine the organization’s technology requirements. Finally, he is reviewing employee policies to ensure consistency.  

4.      Olympic Report. Fred Hagedorn reported that an Olympic Sailing Committee was being held in Rhode Island during the weekend of Nov. 30.

5.       ISAF Report. As a member of the ISAF delegation, Charley Cook reported briefly on the ISAF meeting that was held in Lisbon. It was decided that the weight limit for Ynglings would be 205 kg for the women’s keelboat, with the method of weighing still to be determined.  He noted that two issues likely to come up in the near future are the anti-hunting rule, 16.2, and the equipment rules for sailing.  Delegation member Bruce Eissner reported that the Offshore Racing Council will continue to oversee administration of the IMS rules. He noted that life rafts were discussed, and any questions from interested individuals should be forwarded to him.  Dave Rosekrans added that the presentation by Bruce Eissner, Dan Nowlan, and Jim Teeters on the PHRF Toolbox and Laser Measurement was a great success.

6.       ISAF Team Racing Seminar. Jim Capron noted that ISAF would like to hold a team race umpiring seminar at the US Team Racing Association’s national championship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He asked that the Executive Committee approve the ISAF seminar, with the condition that US SAILING must have input into the on-the-water assessment of the umpires to ensure the highest quality of the umpiring for the athletes during the event.   

  • Motion:  a motion was made, seconded, and approved to approve the seminar and authorize Jim Capron or his designee to be a liaison to the ISAF umpiring subcommittee in coordinating the ISAF umpiring seminar.

7.       Paralympics. Fred Hagedorn asked that US SAILING accept the USOC’s invitation to be the NGB for Paralympic Sailing.  Paul Callahan noted that he is impressed with how far disabled sailing has come and he applauds US SAILING for taking a progressive stance in this area.  He stated that he is proud to be a disabled sailor and a member of US SAILING, and he applauded Dave Rosekrans and Fred Hagedorn for making this happen.

  • Motion: a motion was made, seconded, and approved that US SAILING put itself forward as the National Governing Body for Paralympic Sailing.

8.       2001 Mallory and Adams Event. The Executive Committee supported its earlier decision that the event held in Rush Creek, Texas, should be recognized and a trophy awarded, but that the names Mallory, Adams and Championship should not be used in conjunction with that event.

9.       Fund Raising. Fred Hagedorn reminded members that two RFPs have gone out seeking a firm or individuals to do a feasibility study and to begin raising funds.  Three finalists have been reviewed, and committee members John Ross, Craig Healy, Bartz Schneider, Dave Rosekrans and Fred Hagedorn, supported by Jonathan Harley and Bill Placke, were in the process of voting on a finalist.

10.   Committee Membership .

10.a.    Chairman of the Junior Women’s Championship. Dave Rosekrans reported that he would like to name Joe East to be chairman of the Junior Women’s Championship.

10.b.    Prince of Wales Committee. John Ross reported that the POW committee did meet in St. Petersburg.  He noted that a new chairman is still to be determined.  He applauded the efforts of Kirk Brown and Chuck Kober who have worked over the last several years to advance the championship to a better level of participation. 

10.c.    Communications Subcommittee.  Dave Rosekrans has formed a communications subcommittee that will be part of the General Services. He proposed Hugh Elliot as the first chair of the new subcommittee.

10.d.    Committee Membership
  ·         Motion:  a motion was made, seconded, and approved to ratify the
        committee list, as corrected by Bruce Eissner and Fred Hagedorn.

11.   Membership Research. Bill Placke reported that cost estimates for the qualitative membership research are proving to be on target with the projected budget. The staff is working to be as cost-effective as possible, with Nell Roberts developing the qualifying questions. She also will facilitate the sessions.  The goal is to schedule the focus groups for the first week of January.  The purpose of the research is to answer fundamental questions about why people join US SAILING, and why they leave.

  • Motion:  a motion was made, seconded, and approved to proceed with nine focus groups, as recommended. 

12.   Directory. Bill Placke reported that the cost of producing loose-leaf pages has proved to be substantially higher than printing a perfect-bound directory, given the quantities involved.  Recipients of the directory would be volunteers and high-level members.  Bill Placke will circulate a detailed list of recipients for review. 

  • Motion: a motion was made, seconded, and approved to print 5,000 directories for 2002, with the specific content and distribution list to be determined.

13. Athlete Definition. Fred Hagedorn reported that the Sailor-Athlete Advisory Council has put forth a revised definition of athlete clarifying US SAILING events in the definition. A vote will be taken by e-mail. Note: an e-mail vote was taken and the revised definition approved on November 27, 2001.

14.   Executive Session (Executive Committee members and Executive Director only)
 Article 14 and RRS 69 Issues.

Adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
Next Executive Committee meeting - Tuesday, December 18, 2001 at 8:00 pm (Eastern standard time).