Summit Nordic Ski Club Minutes
Summit Nordic Ski club
Annual Retreat Minutes April 25, 2009
Home of Colleen Richmond
Present: Karen Perkins, Peggy Koeng; Scott Oberbreckling; Hanna Taylor, Lowell McCoy, Colleen Richmond, Justin Easter and Dan McCrerey.
Coaches Report – Justin
There is talk of acquiring and building a yert for use by the club to be located on the Peninsula.
Hanna – The relationship between the Club and High School is healthy. Hanna would have liked to see more commitment from some of the High School girls, but overall this past season everyone skied hard and well.
There was discussion that some of our club skiers could at times be “over raced” with the dual season. Dan suggested the HS coach keep track of when a skier qualifies for state. Then if that skier needs to miss a race it could be done without damaging the teams state qualifying numbers. Pros and cons to this policy were discussed.
The Middle School/Club relationship this past season was strained. SNSC offers a higher level of coaching, greater opportunities to race at a more competitive level and caters to skiers (and parents) who are committed to training and racing. The Middle School situation is these kids are a very wide range of abilities and this challenges the coaching staff. The Club will continue to support and cultivate a healthy relationship with Summit Middle school.
DUE FOR THE JUNE BOARD MEETING: Coaches contracts will become very clear as to start/end dates, pay grade and expectations.
Web Site – Scott expressed concern that the club web site needs to be brought current. Justin has set in motion a new hosting software and is working with Tucker on a new look which will also be easier to manage. Dan confirmed that Tucker is capable of making this happen. Task for the summer: get the new web site up and running!
The untapped opportunity remains with elementary school aged kids. After school skiing and the winter recreation program are offered at Gold Run, Frisco Nordic and Keystone Nordic centers. We need to place flyers at the schools and pass out flyers to the kids participating in these programs. Dan suggested a framed sort of recruitment/information poster be given to the 4 Summit County Nordic centers to promote our club (and Nordic skiing in general). Mac mentioned he knows someone who could design a recruiting/info poster.
Treasurers Report – Colleen: Last year’s income rose slightly from the 07/08 season, however we incurred more expenses resulting in a $ 4275 loss for the past 12 months. However our current cash position is strong and we will continue to raise our level of service to the athlete. Colleen made a strong case for raising program fees; stressed the importance of the van and mentioned the yert idea.
We had 43 youth athletes and 35 masters participating in 2008/09.
Mac: our focus needs to be on providing quality coaching for a wide range of programs.
Assets: discussion on how to best manage our ski equipment. A use agreement and fee needs to be paid prior to the skier getting the equipment. Justin will begin the process of getting our skis/boots back from athletes who check them out last season.
Masters Update – Justin: this year participation doubled in size. We served a wide range of skiers (a 65 person mailing list). This coming season there is opportunity to expand the number of ski times per week and create a formal “Masters Division” of the SNSC. Discussion of what the structure would look like for 09/10: Multiple coaches addressing more diversity. Level 1: Social, one ski weekly with a volunteer group leader Level 2: Technique, one ski weekly, coached Level 3: Competitive, twice weekly, coached with a training plan.
Level 4: Elite skier, restricted enrollment
Mission Statement: this needs to be rewritten to include participants outside youth. Board approval given to Mac to proceed with restructuring the mission statement. A regular agenda item will be “Masters Restructuring”. This could include a schedule for clinics in the upcoming season.
Program Fees for 2008/2009: Keep the fees low and increase fundraising
AGE AGE 07/08 SKI #’S
RMN COACH SCHOOL FEE +- FREQUENCY 07/08
J5&J6 Willie Elementary $225 up $25 twice weekly 16
J3&J4 Jessica Middle $500 up $100 4X week 15
J2&J10J Justin High School $800 up $50 5-6Xweek 12
Masters NOT DISCUSSED
Justin has become a year around coach, with reduced compensation during the off season. He is expected to produce a training program for the summer months. Currently he is offering weight training 3 times weekly before school for J2 & older athletes.
Van Discussion – Lots of benefits to the club. Is there a summer van opportunity? We need to expand the winter van to three months, December, January and February and should discuss implementing the van program as early as November. Mark Richmond knows of a company who’s vans are dormant during the winter months.
Uniforms – We need “an identifying piece”. The High School is purchasing warm up jackets in the Fall. Perhaps we could add to that order for an additional volume discount. Justin will call the School and the supplier Podium Wear. He also knows of a potential sponsor for the jackets.
Grants – Silverthorne for the use of the Pavilion for the fall fundraiser Breckenridge for usage of Gold Run for the NRL race
Sponsorships – needed for uniforms, merchandise, the NRL, Gold Rush and Van
Timing System – We need a lead person(s) to work our equipment. There are some “quirks” in the software, but the supplier is always available via phone to work things out. An “all call” should be put out via the web and e mail to solicit someone who might be interested in this challenge.
Future Goal Summary – Expand van availability, investigate the Yert idea, obtain uniforms, expand recruitment to after school elementary programs and better serve the masters age.
Mission Statement ideas: SNSC becomes the nucleus of Nordic skiing in Summit County by developing opportunities for Nordic skiers. Kids are the core of the Nordic community’s broad base.
Vision: The club becomes a breeding ground for new coaches, our advisory board increases in size as our base grows. We will attempt to bridge the gap to those not introduced to skiing.
ADJORN 5PM
— Dan McCrerey
