NYSSRA Spring Meeting: May 3, 2009. SUNY-IT, Utica, NY.
The annual Spring Meeting is approaching. The primary objectives of this meeting are for competition committees to review and assess the last ski season, and to schedule events for the upcoming season. Committee Chairmen will have breakout sessions in the morning where interested members are encouraged to contribute. If you would like to contribute to the committee meetings, plan to come to Utica on May 3, or please contact the following committee chairmen:
Cross Country: Larry Wilkinson nordic@roadrunner.com
Biathlon: Tim Halliday thalliday@adelphia.net
Ski-O, Bill Koch: Eric Hamilton ejh.bkh@juno.com
Mid-A/JO: Margaret Maher margm@nysef.org
Membership, Local Clubs Jim Kobak kobak1791w@yahoo.com
In the afternoon session, an open executive meeting will take place where competition committees will report, events will be scheduled, and business items will be discussed. During this meeting, our voting members approve programs and appropriation of funds. Our voting members include each of the above competition committee chairmen, the executive officers and regional representatives. Feel free to contact your regional representatives about issues you feel need to be discussed at this meeting. They, in turn will forward agenda items to me. Our secretary, Eric Hamilton, will finalize and publish the spring meeting agenda by the end of April. Here is the contact information for regional representatives:
Central:
Russ Myer rmyer@nycap.rr.com , John Nabors john-nabors@olympic.net
Northern Adirondack:
Jim Kobak kobak1791w@yahoo.com, Margaret Maher margm@nysef.org
Southeastern:
Janice Sibilia jansibilia@aol.com , Paul Kuznia (845-265-3773)
Southern Adirondack
Darwin Roosa roosmean@acmenet.net , Eric Hamilton ejh.bkh@juno.com, Doug Diehl lakegeorgesummer@yahoo.com
West Central
Barb Pudiak (pudiak@fronteirnet.net) , Anna Gorbold teamgorb@rochester.rr.com , Ruth Hayes gammu@juno.com
Western
Dan Schwenk djschwenk@rochester.rr.com
In between sessions, a number of us will participate in a rollerski interval workout on the SUNY-IT campus roads. If you choose to go to the meeting, feel free to bring your rollerskis and a helmet.
An item to be discussed at the afternoon session will be an update from the Empire State Games Organization. Presidents’ citations, AWARD and Club Championship awards will be presented. Likewise, liability insurance items will also be discussed. Another item on the agenda will be a proposed change to the bylaws. Currently, Regional Representatives are allowed voting rights to direct NYSSRA. I would like to see this changed to allow Member Clubs to have voting rights. My belief is that the grass-roots effort of Member Clubs does the most to develop the sport, and NYSSRA should allow them to direct our organization. This would be another reason to sanction a club with NYSSRA, and another reason for members to join a local Member Club. My proposal was presented to the voting members at the Fall meeting ’08 (can be found here), and will be voted on at the Spring meeting. Please contact your regional representative to let him/her know how you feel about this potential change.
NYSSRA Nordic, Inc. is a volunteer organization. Our committee chairmen, regional representatives and executive committee members are all volunteers who are committed to Nordic ski sports and have dedicated hours and hours of their time to the growth of Nordic ski sports in New York State. All of our members are encouraged to get involved. Join a local club. Attend the spring meeting. Send your representatives your input. And thanks again for supporting NYSSRA Nordic, Inc.
Jim Kobak
President. NYSSRA Nordic, Inc.