Minutes

1. President Rich called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m.

2. Secretary Anderson distributed lists of certified votes, proxies and member elected directors by member region, called the roll, and declared a quorum present. There were no new members or suspensions.

3. Motion by A. Brown, Bammel second, to approve the minutes of the last meeting, held in March 1999 at Duluth. Approved.

4. Rich appointed Bob Hardy as parliamentarian.

5. Ogden Nationals report. Rich asked the Ogden Nationals Host Committee Chairperson, Aimee Preston, to report on the event.

Preston reported that she considered the event to have been a great success. She lauded the job Bob Hardy had done as USCA event liaison, and thanked the 250 local volunteers for a job well done. She applauded the great technical support provided by the USCA.

Preston credited the USCA senior officials and icemakers for their excellent job. Courses had been conducted to train 30 statisticians for the 2001 Junior Worlds and 2002 Olympic Winter Games curling competition. Many volunteer officials and icemakers who served at these nationals would also serve at the 2001 and 2002 events.

The venue rated well, especially for its first use for a curling championship. Preston lauded the job done by the staff of The Ice Sheet. Icemaker Williamson and his crew did a great job.

Preston reported there had been very good local media coverage, which was facilitated by the excellent press releases furnished by Rick Patzke. Patzke also organized the TV coverage, which was a huge production, and Preston again offered kudos to Patzke. There was also local cable TV coverage including educational TV commercials.

Preston also thanked the local event sponsors for their great support. Kudos to Megan Dunphy, who reports that many local sponsors will stay on board for the 2001 World Juniors.

The transportation system went OK, with some early communications problems because athletes sometimes changed their minds and used rental cars instead of airport pick up.

Preston felt that the existence of the event contract was very helpful, as it defined what needed to be done and by whom.

There were some challenges for this first time project, with some early week glitches. By the third day, the event was running well.

Iain Hueton, the Competition Chairperson, reported that he was nervous on first day, but all worked out well, including having excellent ice. Hueton stated that about 5000 school children attended the event, which will help promote the Ogden Curling Club.

Preston concluded her report by reading the goals and mission of the event. She concluded that, except for the lack of the "Olympic stones," the mission had been accomplished. The members then applauded Preston and the Host committee for a job well done.

Status of rocks to be used at 2001 Junior Worlds and at the 2002 Olympic Games. S. Brown expressed concern that the "Olympic stones" had not been delivered for use at the nationals, and asked Preston for a status report on the whereabouts of the stones. Preston repsonded that SLOC’s purchase order included a January 1, 2000 delivery date and that the date had not been met.

Whitehead (WCF Director of Finance) explained that the stones are owned by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, but are under control of the WCF technical delegate (Roy Sinclair). Whitehead stated that Kay’s of Mauchline, the only new stone vendor, had been unable to deliver the stones in time to first test the stones in Scotland and then ship them to arrive in time for the U.S. nationals. The reason to test first in Scotland is the proximity to the manufacturer, in case reconditioning of some of the new stones would be required. As a result of the manufacturing delay, the stones were tested at the 2000 Scottish nationals, and will be used again at the 2000 Worlds in Glasgow.

S. Brown asked why his proposal to furnish new (insert) stones for Olympic use, from Fred Veale, whose product Brown stated had been perceived as superior to the Kay of Mauchline stones in some quarters, had been ignored. Lowe (USCA WCF rep) explained that control of the Olympics and all aspects thereof are controlled by the Olympic Charter, which states that the IOC Technical Delegate for a sport (Sinclair, for curling) has total control of all technical issues, which in the case of curling includes the provider of the stones. Frosch encouraged the world coaches to research the Olympic rocks at 2000 Worlds. Evidently the plan is to ship the stones to The Ice Sheet shortly after the Worlds. Subsequent use of the stones will be subject to a letter of restrictions from Technical Delegate Sinclair.

6. Rich asked if there was any new or unfinished business. There was none.

7. Rich asked that the meeting be recessed until the conclusion of the directors meeting. Approved. Rich recessed the members meeting.

8. A motion to adjourn the Members Meeting was seconded and approved. Rich adjourned the Members meeting at 5:25 p.m.