General Chairman Jeff Gray called the meeting to order at the High Plains Community Center in Orange, CT at 7:40 P.M.

Present: Peter Boucher, Bruce Collins, Ed Doernberger, Dana Gnerre, Jeff Gray, David Heller, Mike Huffman, Chris Hug, Henk Jensen, Susan Lecza, Christine Pelham, Barry Silver, Jeff Scobee and Judy Snow

Not Present: Stuart Ainsworth, Michael Ferraro, Ellen Johnston, Bill Krumm, Rick Lewis, Dan Zeek

Also Present: Nan Cooper and Clark Cooper

Announcements: General Chairman Jeff Gray accepted the resignation of Bill Krumm, Ex-officio General Chair. Bill has accepted a position as Western Zone Sports Development Coordinator with USA Swimming. Jeff reminded all board members to prepare for the House of Delegates meeting and to sign this year’s Statement of Principles. In addition, General Chairman asked all Committee Chairman to review their Committee membership and update CSI Committee records and rosters for distribution.

Approval of the Agenda: A motion to accept the Agenda as written was unanimously approved.

Approval of the Minutes: A motion to accept the minutes of the April 27, 2007 Board of Directors meeting was unanimously approved.

2007-2008 CT Swimming Meeting Schedule distributed and unanimously approved.

2008 Nominating Committee formed by the appointment of Peter Boucher and David Heller by General Chairman Gray to represent the Board and 3 additional committee members to be selected at the House of Delegates meeting.

Six coaches applied for Coaches Education Grants from CT Swimming. Four Grants were awarded to Henk Jensen (PSDY), Ellen Johnston (WRAT), Dan Mascolo (CDOG) and Mark Kinney (GLAS). Maximum amount of each Grant is $500.00. Two coaches Jen Lyman and Dan Zeek were not eligible.

CT Swimming budgeted $17,500 for 2007 Athlete Travel expenses. CT Swimming awarded $19,607.50 in travel funding for 2007. Motion made by Henk Jensen and seconded by Barry Silver to allocate $2, 107.50 in additional athlete travel funding for 2007. Motion was unanimously approved.

Athlete travel funding policy changes discussed for 2008. Athlete travel funding awards to be made only for reimbursement for actual expenses incurred. Request made to award a specific lump sum reimbursement per meet.

Olympic Trials $750.00 per swimmer 10 swimmers $7,500.00
Long Course Senior Nationals $500.00 per swimmer 5 Swimmers $2,500.00
Short Course Senior Nationals $400.00 per swimmer 10 swimmers $4,000.00
Long Course Junior Nationals $400.00 per swimmer 10 swimmers $4,000.00
Para Nationals $500.00 per swimmer 2 swimmers $1,000.00
Sectionals $125.00 per swimmer 20 swimmers $2,500.00
Open Water Nationals $125.00 per swimmer 2 swimmers $250.00

CT Swimming selected Alex Righi (YALE/OMNI) as the 2007 Swimmer of the Year. Swimmer to be introduced and award presented at Annual Awards Banquet by Tim Wise, Head Swim Coach of OMNI Swim Club and Assistant Swim Coach of Yale University.

Former General Chairman Steve Carroll nominated and elected by a unanimous vote to be awarded CT Swimming’s Volunteer of the Year for 2007.

Discussion conducted regarding meet entry fees for Outreach Athletes. Outreach interest and participation is increasing dramatically throughout the USA and in Connecticut. Swimmers qualify for Outreach funding if they qualify for the Federal Free School Lunch program. Motion made to waive Regional, Age Group and Senior individual entry fees for CSI registered Outreach athletes and CSI to reimburse meet host teams for waived entry fees. Motion unanimously approved. Policy subject to annual review. Program Operations Committee to review and finalize specific procedures regarding CSI’s Championship Meet Outreach Entry Program.

Jeff Scobee recommended donation to Ross Bradshaw Memorial Fund in the amount of $250.00. Ross Bradshaw was a Financial Advisor who supported CT Swimming for many years. General Chairman Gray appointed Jeff Scobee and Chris Hug to an Ad Hoc Committee to review CSI donation policies and procedures.

Administrative Vice Chair – Chris Hug
124 CSI swimmers applied for the 2007 CT Swimming scholar athlete award and 118 swimmers were selected as Scholar Athletes for 2007.

Treasurer – Sue Lecza
August 2007 CSI Financial Report distributed and discussed. Expense increases resulted from various programs for CSI athletes. As a result, CSI income decreased. From September 2006 through August 2007, CSI’s annual profit was $34,600 which was less than 2006 profit for the same period which was $48,000.

Finance Vice Chair – Jeff Scobee
Budget Meetings to be scheduled and held for 2008 – 2009.

Age Group Committee – Peter Boucher
Ken Block and David Heller resigned as members of the Age Group Committee. Marcy Berlinski from Glastonbury was appointed as a member of the Committee. Committee approved Age Group time standards which standards were also approved by the Program Development Committee and which will be distributed at the House of Delegates meeting. The Head Zone Coach to be selected by the Committee as the Head Coach for both the 2008 Short Course and Long Course Zone teams. The Head Coach is expected to participate in the selection of Assistant Zone Coaches and to attend Age Group Committee meetings conducted between the Short Course and the Long Course Zone meets. The Committee to consider a proposal to eliminate the 800 freestyle relay at Age Group Championships. The Committee to review and consider limitations on relay only swimmers at the Age Group Championships based upon warm-up and deck safety issues.

Senior Committee – Henk Jensen
Committee working on arrangements for a Coaches Clinic with Speaker Ernie Maglischo for a full day clinic including lunch to be held the third or fourth Saturday in April in the New Haven area. Minor changes approved for the Senior Meet announcement and changes made to the order of events based upon USA Swimming rulebook recommendations. No changes made to Short Course Senior Meet time standards.

Program Development – Rick Lewis- No Report

Program Operations – Barry Silver
Bo current problems exist with current Short Course meet schedule. A Meet Selection Committee was formed and will meet when necessary. Selection Committee members are Bruce Collins, Mike Huffman, Dan Zeek and Barry Silver.

Technical Planning – Ellen Johnston - No Report

Coach Representatives – Dan Zeek and Mike Ferraro - No report

Athlete Representatives – Stuart Ainsworth and Dana Gnerre
Dana attended the USA Swimming Convention in San Diego with Stuart Ainsworth. In accordance with the recommendations of USA Swimming, Dana would like to increase athlete participation to at least 20% on all appropriate committees.

Coach at Large – Christine Pelham
Age Group and Senior Coach elections conducted successfully. Coaches Committee members are Jon Levine, Ann Hughes, Jen Lyman, Mike Ferraro, Dan Zeek and Christine Pelham. 2 meetings of Coaches Committee were conducted in 2006 – 2007. Committee discussed the creation of a coaches internet forum.

Safety – Bruce Collins
Bruce attended a USA Swimming Risk Management Workshop in August in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the workshop, discussions took place regarding concerns about camera phones in locker rooms and Marshals at swim meets. Bruce recommended that Safety Chairman attend and participate in Meet Selection Meeting to discuss safety issues with meet hosts. During Workshop discussions also conducted regarding safety issues regarding conducting swim meets during lightning storms and chlorine issues.

Officials – Mike Huffman
Referee, Starter and Stroke and Turn Clinics are being conducted throughout the state. Monica Prangley (WRAT) was the CT Swimming representative to the National Officials Clinic conducted by USA Swimming. Annual Officials Clinic conducted at Southern CT State University in New Haven was very well attended.

Registration – Judy Snow
15 Clubs registered to date for 2008. Thirteen hundred swimmers registered for 2008. Four new clubs registered for 2008. These clubs are West Hartford Aquatic Team, JCC Bridgeport, Waterbury YMCA and Farmington Valley YMCA.

Next meeting to be conducted on Wednesday January 16, 2008.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,