A USA Whitewater Slalom meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 12
in Colorado Springs, CO at the USOC Olympic Training Center the day
before the weekend USA Canoe Kayak Board meeting.
Here are the various "agenda" items sent out via email below:

From: Mike Sloan
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 1:41 PM
Subject: RE: Agendas for USAWS Committee Annual Meetings

>A few additional questions for consideration and dicussion:
>
> What do we expect from the National Office? How can we help the
national office do better?
>
> What kinds of support services would benefit the sport?
> e.g. on-line race registration.
>
> Also, a warning. The budget for next year is likely to be spartan,
even by recent standards. Most of the budget will again be
determined by USOC performance funding. However, we asked for
funding needed to make a four year commitment for two full time
slalom coaches. We are reasonably confident that at least this part
of our request will be granted. SO we need to start planning for two
coaches.
>
> Mike
--------
From: Chuck Hines
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 7:40 PM
Subject: Re: The 'Meritorious Service' Award

Chuck Hines to John Seeley. Thanks to you and others for posting
the agenda of the USAWS Business and Planning Meetings on the
USACK web-site. I hope y'all have a good meeting in CO Springs...
John, I would like to see USAWS revive the 'Meritorious Service'
award - this was an award presented to those whose volunteer work
over a period of Years helped further the sport (slalom racing). I
be-
lieve it was presented from the late '70s thru the late '90s, and,
dur-
ing this 20-year period, 55 persons were recognized. I have the list
in my possession.
The award itself was a small 20" canoe paddle with an engraved
plate. Nothing fancy. But it meant a lot to me to receive it in
1996.
Perhaps if USAWS renewed this award and appointed an award
committee of several people, they could compile a list of maybe 15
deserving volunteers whose efforts over the past five years (2000-04)
would merit the 'Meritorious Service' award. Then the award should
be presented to 2-3 additional deserving volunteers every year in the
future ...
Our sport depends greatly on its volunteers, of which you, John,
are one, but we generally do a poor job of recognizing these people,
especially when compared to other sports. (Water polo presents as
many as 40 awards -- trophies and plaques -- every year to its best
coaches, star players and especially its most deserving volunteers,
with each section of the country receiving recognition for its
efforts).
Please give this proposal some serious consideration, and once
again may I say that I hope the meetings in CO Springs prove to be
fruitful for the furtherance of our sport. Best Wishes.
--------
From: Mike Sloan
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 3:39 PM
Subject: Re: Agendas for USAWS Committee Annual Meetings

I had hoped that the agenda for the upcoming meeting might generate
some comments and discussion prior to the meeting. Since our time is
going to be limited in Colorado Springs, we need to be prepared ahead
of time to be effective. Hence, I am going to ask a few questions to
get a discussion started.

1) The Chair and Treasurer positions are up for election this year.
I expect that Bill Constable and Matt Taylor will be nominated for
treasurer. As in the past, I am willing to continue in the role of
Chair, but would be happy to pass on the position to a qualified
candidate. Any discussion?

2) Any thoughts on the proposal to do away with or revise the
regional qualifier system? Is what we have good, bad, or
indifferent? How can we improve it?

3) How much effort should we invest in reinstituting a rankings
system?

4) How effective is the JO program, and what can we do to improve it?

5) Any other suggestions?

I am out of touch until Sunday eve (Stockholm ICF congress), but hope
you will start commenting on these issues prior to that time.

Mike
-------
From: J E Seeley
To: slalom@...
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 12:33 PM
Subject: Notice of Annual Business Meeting and Annual Planning
Meeting of the USA Whitewater Slalom Committee

NOTICE OF ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND ANNUAL PLANNING MEETING
OF THE USA WHITEWATER SLALOM COMMITTEE

The ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING of the USA Whitewater Slalom (USAWS)
Committee will be held Friday, November 12, 2004, in Colorado
Springs, CO at the Olympic Training Center, 1 Olympic Plaza. The
Meeting is scheduled to start early Friday morning (exact time, when
determined, will be posted on the USACK website, www.usack.org. (See
Business Meeting Agenda below.) Members of the Current USAWS
Committee are expected to attend.

The ANNUAL PLANNING MEETING of the USAWS Committee will be held
Friday, November 12, 2004, in Colorado Springs, CO at the Olympic
Training Center, 1 Olympic Plaza. The Meeting is scheduled to start
immediately following the conclusion of the Annual Business Meeting.
(See Planning Meeting Agenda below.) Members of the then-Newly
Elected USAWS Committee are expected to attend.

USAWS Members not on the USAWS Committee are welcome to attend either
or both Meetings.

ANNUAL USAWS BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA

(See USACK website for possible updates)

1. Chair's Report

2. Approval of USAWS Committee Elections

3. Approval of Minutes of previous Meetings

ANNUAL USAWS PLANNING MEETING AGENDA

(See USACK website for possible updates)

1. Election of Officers

2. Subcommittee Elections / Appointments

3. 2005 Race Schedule

4. 2005 Rules Changes (See USACK website for proposed changes)

5. 2005 Budget

6. USOC Issues

7. ICF Issues

8. USACK Issues

9. Strategic Planning Sessions

Review of USAWS Coaching Philosophy

Review of USAWS Elite Team Philosophy

Review of USAWS Junior Team Philosophy

Review of USAWS Development Philosophy

Development of a Fundraising Philosophy

John Seeley, USAWS Secretary
------
From: John Seeley Secretary
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 12:33 PM
Subject: Agendas for USAWS Committee Annual Meetings

Set forth below (and, for those who prefer it, by email attachment)
is the agenda for the Annual Business Meeting and the Annual Planning
Meeting, to be held on Friday, November 12, at the USOC Training
Center, 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs. The Business meeting will
start probably around 8:30 am (exact time to be announced in
advance), and the Planning meeting will commence immediately after
the adjournment of the Business Meeting.

Anyone wishing to add an item to the agenda should contact Mike Sloan
well in advance, for his consideration. Subcommittee reports, if
any, and any proposals to be brought before the Committee should be
submitted to me in advance, in writing (email attachment please), for
advance circulation to the Full Committee.

It would help our planning if each of you would confirm to me whether
or not you will be attending these meetings. Again, it is requested
that you plan to arrive Thursday evening in Colorado Springs, so that
we may get a prompt start on Friday morning, and that you be prepared
to meet into the evening on Friday, should that be necessary to
complete business.

<<...>>

Agendas for USAWS 2004 Annual Meeting and 2005 Business Meeting

November 12, 2004

Colorado Springs

2004 Annual Meeting

1) 2004 Chairman's Report

2) Approval of USAWS Committee Elections

3) Approval of Minutes of Meetings

2005 Business Meeting

1) Officer Elections

Chair

Treasurer

2) Subcommittee Elections / Appointments

Election of Development Chair

Appointment of Standing Committees

Rules

Officials

Rankings

Elections and Nominations

3) 2005 Race Schedule

Senior Team Trials

Team Trials Qualifiers

Junior Team Trials

National Championships

Age Group Nationals

Junior Olympics

JO Qualifiers

Pan American Championship

4) 2005 Rules Changes (See Website for proposed changes)

5) 2005 Budget

USOC Issues
ICF Issues
USACK Issues

Strategic Planning Sessions
Review of USAWS Coaching Philosophy

Review of USAWS Elite Team Philosophy

Review of USAWS Junior Team Philosophy

Review of USAWS Development Philosophy

Development of a fundraising philosophy

Potential questions to be addressed during strategic planning
sessions:

(All questions based on the caveat "Given budget realities")

(Questions in no particular order):

How do we increase the number of high quality races?
How do we increase the number of casual races?
How do we increase the number of young athletes coming into the sport?
How can we increase top athlete retention?
Is the Team Trials Qualifier system necessary? Is it achieving its
objectives?
Is the JO program working? What needs to be changed?
Are rankings necessary? Are rankings valuable? If yes, how do we get
the rankings out? What needs to be included in the rankings?
Would using rankings to qualify for Team Trials increase desire for
more races and improve race attendance?
Does it make sense to try to attract crossover from rodeo, etc…?
If
yes, how?
How do we take advantage of new boat length rules?
What can we do to encourage race organizers to hold more races?
What can we do to encourage race organizers to hold higher quality
races?
What can we do to encourage USACK Membership by athletes?
What can we do to encourage USACK Membership by non-athletes?
What can we do to encourage USACK membership by clubs?
Should the structure of the USAWS Board be changed?
Do we need to change the operating procedures of the USAWS Board?
------
From: John Seeley Secretary
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 9:10 PM
Subject: USAWS Committee Annual Meetings -- Accommodations

Copied below is information on accommodations provided recently by
David Yarborough to members of the USACK Board of Directors (so some
of you already will have this information – my apologies for the
repeat). The meeting will be in downtown Colorado Springs at the
Olympic Training Center, 1 Olympic Plaza.

For those of you flying into the Colorado Springs airport, I am told
it is a 7 mile taxi ride to downtown, but I don't have a fare
estimate. I also don't know if there is a parking charge at the
OTC,
for those with cars. Parking at the Antlers Hotel is $7/day, if you
park it yourself.

As I indicated previously, there always is a lot of business to
conduct at these meetings. Please plan to arrive Thursday night so
that we can get an early start Friday morning (we cannot start the
meeting until a quorum is present), and be prepared to go into Friday
evening if we cannot finish our business earlier.

I also will circulate an agenda once one has been prepared and
approved by Mike.

Thanks for your attention.

David Yarborough's Message to the USACK Board follows:

Thanks to all who have responded to confirm your attendance. For
those of you from whom we haven't yet heard, please remember that
next Tuesday, October 12 is the deadline for us to confirm space at
the Olympic training center. We need to hear form everyone by next
Monday.

A number of you have expressed a desire to stay outside the Spartan
confines of the OTC. I recommend the Antlers Hotel (719-473-5600) for
anyone who prefers this environment. It is a very nice hotel and is
located reasonably close to the USOC. We can probably arrange
transportation from there if there are several people who are willing
to ride together. The room rate should be under $100.

For those who stay outside the OTC, there will be a charge of $25 per
day to attend the meetings and eat meals in the OTC dining room or $5
per day to access the center for our meetings, but not take any meals.

For those who will be attending committee meetings on Friday, we can
now offer rooms for the evening of Thursday 11/11 if you need to
arrive the day before. When making your travel plans, please bear in
mind that the OTC check-in time is 2:00PM. The check out is at
9:00AM.

Also, we have been advised that there will be no single rooms
available. We will be responsible for our own rooming assignments so
please indicate any preferences you have for whom you stay with.

We will have lots of important work to get done and it looks as if we
will have a very good turnout.

David Yarborough
Executive Director
USA Canoe/Kayak
www.USACK.org
-------
From: David Yarborough
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 4:00 PM
Subject: Yves Narduzzi

It is with a mix of sadness and pride that must inform you that Yves
Narduzzi who has served as our slalom canoe coach for the past three
years has resigned to accept an important position with the French
Canoe Federation. Yves will be returning to his homeland to serve as
national elite slalom coach for the one of the most successful slalom
programs in the world. Yves has done an outstanding job with our US
slalom canoe program and has endeared himself to many athletes,
families and friends during this stay in this country.

Yves' last day here will be Thursday, September 30.

David Yarborough
Executive Director
USA Canoe/Kayak
--------
from http://www.usack.org/articles/2004_election_results.asp
Whitewater Slalom Committee:

At Large Representative - Angela Lokken
At Large Representative - David Kurtz
Athlete Representative - Kurt Braunlich
Athlete Representative (1 yr term)* - Chris Ennis *term commences
immediately
--------
from http://www.usack.org/governance/whitewater_slalom_committee.asp
Mike Sloan - Chair
Richard Perlmutter - Vice-Chair
Bill Constable - Treasurer
John Seeley - Secretary
Amy Dingle - Athlete Director/Rep <out going, athlete rep above>
Brett Heyl - Athlete Director/Rep <out going, athlete rep above>
David Kurtz - At-Large Rep
Angela Lokken - At-Large Rep
Bert Hinkley - Northeast Rep
David Hearn - Mid-Atlantic Rep
Lee Leibfarth - South-Atlantic Rep
Bill Parsons - Mid-Continent Rep
John Brennan - Southwest Rep
Marian Davidson - Northwest Rep