February 14, 2004
Annual Members Meeting of Alaska Masters Swimming
Bartlett High School

Meeting opened 3:37 pm by JoAnn Wainwright, who announced there are three board
members present which represents a quorum.  JoAnn Wainwright, Paula Smith and Dave
Leonard.  Approximately 60 members were present.

OLD BUSINESS

• First order of business, Ed Mjolsnes moved to accept the agenda, second by Joel Curtis. Motion carried unanimously
  
• Move to accept the minutes from last year by Carol, 2nd by Ed Mjolsnes. Motion was carried unanimously.
  
• JoAnn read statement from Janna Miller, who is resigning as chair.
  
• JoAnn Wainwright, Secretary, ran meeting. She had a large list of items to cover including meets, and new items.  
  

Report from Convention in SanDiego

• 2005 short course Nationals will be in Fort Lauderdale, we’d like a large Alaskan contingent.
  
• 2005 long course meters in Mission Viejo.
  
• US bidding 2006 Worlds, as is Egypt
  
• Legislation changes
  
• Safety and Sports Medicine
  
• Injuries in Masters practices will not be covered by USMS insurance if participants are not doing a masters swimming workout (e.g. water polo not covered)
  
• Joel Curtis Stager presented a PowerPoint on aging athletes -- “Is it a matter of killing time or letting time kill us.:” Have Masters Swimmers found the fountain of youth? Studies will be posted on the AKMSwim web site for participation by Alaska swimmers.
  
• Men and women will be seeded together in 800, 1000 and 1650’s in national competitions.
  
• No long course nationals if US gets the world bid.
  
• National meets can eliminate shuttle (formerly required).
  
• Two awards went to individuals from our zone.
  
• Link to workouts on national web site will soon be available only to registered masters swimmers.
  
• No major rule changes.
  
• NW zone revising policies and regulations
  

Discussion of having Long Course Masters meet in Alaska in 2005.

• Much discussion revolved around our own LCM meet. and other (additional) meets.
  
• Pieter deHart, Fairbanks, indicated one reason for poor attendance was poor communication. Better advertising is needed
  
• Peter Guiannini emphasized that having the meet after Memorial Day will conflict with the summer race season for triathletes, bikers, runners, etc.
  
• Paula Smith discussed co-hosting a meet with USA swimmers -- there was favorable discussion.
  
• June 19, 2004, Fairbanks is hosting a SCM meet to coincide with Summer Solstice events.
  Peter Guiannini reminded everyone again of potential for conflicts.
  
• Jim Lehman, liked the idea of having a meet after Memorial Day to coincided with the tourist season.
  
• Paula will check to see when USA Swimmers meet occurs (1st or 2nd week of June)
  
• Dawn Ketchikan, all for bidding, but difficult for southeast to help.
  
• SCY and SCM -- interest in having meet in March instead of April.
  
• Peter indicated Fairbanks would be interested in 2005 or later.
  
• Planning committee working on structure and government of USMS (similar to USA Swimming)
  
• National elections
  

Paula Smith gave Top Ten report

Dave Leonard, Sanctions:
Suggests getting meet entry form from another sanctioned event, and using it as a template. The release of liability must be copied exactly.  Meet must be sanctioned for competition to be recognized.   Paula indicated this is true for records also. JoAnn Wainwright, suggests that you include an emergency contact and phone no.

Scholarship Committee gave a report:
There were six applications that were judged according to criteria on GPA, swimming, extracurricular activities, and an essay. Ashleigh Atkinson was selected and will be awarded the $500.

JoAnn gave the Treasurers Report:
180 members
$1696 in the bank
$4000 in CDs for the scholarship fund which earned $37.01 in interest.

Janna Miller is going to Nationals in Racewalking.  She was asking for a volunteer to audit
AKMS books.  Jennifer Fredricks (245-4462) volunteered.

NEW BUSINESS

Paula discussed Meet Management
Wants to form a Meet Committee to deal with entries, contract, pool reservations,
and so on. Could be a good way to involve a non competing AKMS member in the meets.

Last year AKMS took a financial hit from the group that timed the meet. This year there was a cap in the request for proposals and a clear contract was written. Two age group teams pooled resources and were selected. Comments and constructive criticism regarding the meet are welcome.  They can be sent to any board member.

This year the Saturday session started at 11 am with an 10 am warm-up, previously it started at noon. Was this okay? No comments from the attendees.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Joann presented a modification of the bylaws to include four officers plus other positions.
Joel Curtis moved to accept the modification, Stan Steck seconded. Motion
carried unanimously.

Nominations for Chair to replace Janna Miller
JoAnn Wainwright was nominated by Ruth Carter, she declined the nomination
Peter deHart was nominated by Paula Smith, Second by Joel Curtis.  Unanimously elected.

Volunteers for 2005 Committee
Ken Winterberger and Ruth Carter from Anchorage, and Dawn from Ketchikan

Volunteers for Meet Committee
Ruth Carter, Joel Curtis, Mimi Cook, and Paula Smith

People for Pools
Discussed by Ken Winterberger. It’s a grass roots organization trying to save
pools in Anchorage Bowl. Please vote yes on the Parks bond in April.

Often USA Swimmers volunteer at Masters meets.  Suggestion was made that we print
tee shirts and have Masters Swimmers volunteer at their meets.  As one young timer said
to a Juneau swimmer: “I can’t believe this many old people swim!”  

National Places to Swim web site is out of date. Every team needs to check their entries
and correct them.

Meeting adjourned 4:15 pm.