1.0 Membership, policy approval, changes and
enforcement (Approved-1/18/98)
1.1 Council Membership
· Each state in the Eastern Region with an active federation recognized by the Eastern Region council shall be entitled to one regional council member.
· States are entitled to one representative for every 250 members, up to a maximum of 2 representatives.
· A state must have at least 10 AWSA members to
elect a councilperson. The EVP may
appoint a councilperson in states with fewer than 10 skiers.
1.2 Policy approval, changes and enforcement
· Regional Council has the authority to set, approve, change and enforce Eastern Region policies at any official Regional Council meeting (provided there is a quorum present), within the bounds of the National and Regional By-laws.
1.3 We encourage and support other sports disciplines of USA-WS, and we will cooperate with them to the fullest extent possible.
2.0 Meetings
2.1 Regional Meetings
2.2.1 Summer Meeting
· The Annual Membership Meeting shall be held in conjunction with the Regional 3 Event Tournament. Location and accommodations are the responsibility of the sponsoring club.
· The meeting is open to any Eastern Regional member in good standing
· Votes taken at the Summer Membership meeting to direct council shall be by all the members present.
· Council sets regional policy; and the membership gives direction to the council. Therefore, council vote is necessary for all actions of the Region.
· Minutes of the Annual membership meeting shall be available to each Regional Council representative, and shall be pending approval at the following winter Regional Council meeting.
2.2.2 Mid Winter Meeting
· The EVP is responsible for setting the time and place for the Mid-Winter meeting, and announcing it in newsletters, the Eastern Region website, and/or by letter or phone call to Regional council representatives.
· The mid-winter meeting shall consist of a council meeting and a general membership meeting. Only council persons have a voice and vote at the council meeting. Other members may attend, except for executive sessions, which may be called by majority vote for personnel or similar sensitive issues.
· Similar to the Summer membership meeting, Council sets regional policy; and membership advises council. Therefore, council vote is necessary on those items voted on by general membership during the open session in order to make them official policy of the Region.
· Minutes of the Mid-Winter meeting shall be available to each Regional Council representative, and shall be pending approval at the following Annual Summer membership meeting.
3.0
Tournaments
3.1
Regional 3 Event Tournament
3.1.1 Classification - The Eastern Regional 3 Event Tournament shall be an AWSA sanctioned Record capability tournament - at least Class E. Only if no bids are received or other unusual circumstances occur shall Class C be allowed, and only then with approval of the EVP.
3.1.2 Bids for Regional Tournament (approved -1/18/98)
· Bids for an Eastern Regional tournament may be submitted for any year at anytime, and shall be voted upon by majority vote of the Regional Council. (for, against, or defer)
· The official ER bid form shall be used (copy attached), and must be received by the EVP or Regional site selection committee chairman.
· If no bid has been received by the July 1 date two years prior to the Regionals, then any bid received after that time shall be considered at the next Council meeting.
· Bids received at least 30 days prior to the next scheduled ER Council meeting will be given priority.
· If no bid has been received by the last summer meeting prior to a regionals, the EVP and Site selection chairman are empowered to find a suitable site and sponsoring club, with ratification of the decision by council.
· The following information must be completed and submitted on the ER bid form - 1) Entry Fee; 2) Practice/site familiarization availability & charges; 3) Banquet ticket policy and costs for additional tickets; & 4) Site logistics and details if a site has not previously hosted a regionals.
3.1.3 Regional Tournament Mandatory Requirements
· The hosting club will provide a room or location of adequate size for the Friday evening/night Summer meeting.
· The hosting club shall provide trophies, medals or plaques for the first three places of each event for each division, and for overall in each division.
· The host club shall provide banquet tickets and room accommodations or reimbursement in lieu of rooms for the same number of nights as the tournament, for 20 (27 if two lakes) appointed tournament officials, including Chief Judge, Asst. Chief Judge, all Appointed judges, Chief Safety and Asst. Chief safety director, Chief Scorer, 2 Asst. Chief Scorers, Chief Driver, all Appointed Drivers, and Technical Controller.
· Alternate officials if used shall receive the same rooms or reimbursements as officials listed above.
3.1.4 Regional Tournament Optional Requirements
· Provide for a Saturday night Awards Banquet
· Provide “goody bags” for contestants, to include ski related and other complimentary products, T-shirts etc.
· Provide a designated time before the tournament begins for site familiarization practice. Site familiarization will consist of a minimum of two trick passes and two slalom passes, one in each direction, and of a minimum of 2 jumps.
· Practice shall be at the option of the sponsoring club, and shall be acceptable during the tournament on unused water. Sponsoring club is responsible for safety coverage.
· Tech controller shall have priority over practice at the tournament site the day before the tournament, should the site still need preparation.
· All Junior events shall be scheduled to complete before the awards banquet.
3.1.5 Regional Entry qualifications and Skier seeding
· Girls 1-2, Boys 1-2, Women 3-9 & Men 4-9 shall require first class rating or better. All other divisions shall require Expert rating.
· Persons qualified in two events may ski their third event with one rating lower than otherwise would have been required. However, in no case will a competitor be allowed to ski with less than a first class rating.
· Regional entrants are to be seeded by the Seeding committee.
3.1.6 Regionals Towboat selection
· Chief driver will divide events at the regionals into groups equal to the number of qualified towboat manufacturers participating. Each group shall be of approximate “equal weight” in terms of number of skiers.
· Towboat selection shall be determined by random draw in the presence of the qualified towboat manufacturer’s representatives and/or tournament officials.
3.1.7 Regionals Officials selection
· EVP shall appoint all chief and assistant chief officials. This includes Chief Judge, Asst. Chief Judge, Chief Driver, Chief Scorer & Asst. Chief Scorers, Chief Safety, Tech Controller and Announcer.
· Appointed Drivers (3) and alternate, and Appointed Judges (6) and alternate are to be selected by EVP (Rule 6.02) based on vote of council at the winter meeting prior to the regionals from among the officials who apply for consideration.
· One of the Appointed judges slots should be reserved for a Regular judge for development purposes, should any regular judges apply. Additionally, one of the Appointed driver positions or the alternate shall be reserved for a qualified Regular driver - should any apply.
· To appear on the council’s ballot, an aspiring judge must submit application & resume by the established deadline of the EVP, prior to the winter meeting.
· All regionals officials shall receive complimentary banquet tickets (no duplication if also a skier.)
3.1.8 Regional Tournament Special Awards
· Tiny Richards Memorial Awards shall be selected by Regionals officials at the Regional tournament.
· The James G. Sylvester Memorial Trophy shall be selected by council members present at the Regional tournament or voting prior to the tournament.
· The Tommy Kelly Jr. Memorial Award shall be presented each year to the best overall male and female skier in the Eastern Regional Tournament based on NOPS score.
· (The Ken Mead Memorial Award is selected by Lake Holly Ski Club in accordance with procedures designated by Lake Holly Ski Club.)
3.2 Other Tournaments
3.2.1 Scheduling Tournaments
· Tournament schedules in each state are to be set by that state’s federation, for submission to the EVP and the Regional Council.
· Each state federation shall submit requests for tournament dates to the EVP or his designated representative prior to the winter meeting, or earlier in accordance with schedules that are provided by the EVP or designee.
· Conflicts should generally be avoided unless agreed to by both sponsoring clubs.
· A conflict shall be deemed to exist when two tournaments bid for the same weekend, and both sites are within approximately 100 miles of each other for class C tournaments, and 300 miles for class R tournaments.
· State federations shall solve conflicts within each state.
· In the case of unresolved conflicts, R tournaments will generally have precedence over C tournaments, and class C will have precedence over Class I & N. F tournaments are not deemed to conflict with Class C or higher tournaments.
· With conflicting tournaments of equal class, those tournaments submitted earliest will generally have priority.
· The EVP shall have the Council vote on and approve the sanctioned tournament schedule.
3.2.2 Sanction Approval
· When a tournament sanction is requested, the EVP’s (green) signed copy of the sanction request must go to AWSA (USA Water Ski) HQ before they will approve the tournament. HQ must also receive the HQ (yellow) sanction form, along with required Nationals sanction fees.
· The EVP may check officials listed on the sanction forms to insure that they have been contacted and agree to work, and are qualified. Council authorizes the EVP to refuse to sanction a tournament where the listed officials have not been contacted and have not given their consent to work the tournament, or are not qualified.
· Tournament sanctions may be refused for the following year for any club that is delinquent in paying its sanction fees past the midwinter meeting.
· For a tournament to be announced in the Regional Guidebook, it must be a sanctioned USA Water Ski (AWSA or other affiliated sports division) tournament.
3.3 Regional Rules for Tournaments
3.3.1 Slalom (approved
August 4, 2000)
· In any Eastern Regional tournament, if the towboat is stopped at the end of a slalom pass in accordance with AWSA rules, the Eastern Region has voted that the minimum set down time shall be 45 seconds. A skier may waive the set down time and start the subsequent pass earlier, but when doing so he/she gives up any ability to request a reride due to backwash caused rollers. The time shall start when the skier’s knees enter the water upon completing a pass after the boat has stopped, and will end no earlier than the knees exiting the water upon startup of the subsequent pass. (“Knees in to knees out” shall be at least 30 seconds).
4.0 Records (no change from Jan 12, 2002 approved changes)
4.1 Regional Records (no change from Jan 12, 2002 approved changes)
4.1.1 Approval of records (added review of records by Tech committee Chairperson
- August 2002)
· EVP is responsible for approving all record applications approved by the Seeding Committee.
· Any application for a regional record should be submitted to the Seeding Committee Chairperson using the Eastern Region Record application form in the guidebook.
·
The Seeding Committee Chairperson along with the
Technical Committee Chairperson will review
and screen all applications, and will submit approved record applications to
the EVP for approval.
4.1.2 Eligibility
for Eastern Region Records (no change from Jan 12, 2002 approved changes)
· Regional records may be set at Class C tournaments
sanctioned and held in the Eastern Region or any sanctioned Class E,L,R
tournaments in other regions, or Record capability international tournaments.
Class C tournaments held out of the Eastern Region are not eligible for to have
Eastern Region records set.
· Only US citizens and “legal” residents of the Eastern
Region may set regional records.
Students are not considered residents of the Eastern Region unless their
official home address is in the Eastern Region
· Records may be set in each of the three events, Slalom,
Tricks, and Jump, and also in overall.
· The East
recognizes Class C & Above records. No Eastern Region records are kept for
any Class F (fun), N (novice) or I (Intermediate) tournaments.
· Guiding principle - Class C & Above Record is the
highest score set in a class C, E, L or R tournament. No distinction is made between C, E, L or R
tournaments.
· For a record to be considered and approved, it must tie
or exceed the existing Class C & Above record. If a score is a tie, then both skiers' scores
(old and new) share the record.
· The initial Class C & Above record shall be the highest
record score from the published Eastern Region
Records in the guidebook and AWSAEast website, kept current by the
Seeding Committee Chairperson and the Tech
Committee Chairperson. Three transition
scenarios may be encountered:
- First Transition
Scenario – if there is only a Class C existing record, it becomes the new Class
C & Above record.
- Second
Transition Scenario – if there is only a Class R existing record, it becomes
the new Class C & Above Record, and it will also become the new Class R
record, see section 4.1.4.
- Third Transition
scenario – if there is both a Class C & Class R existing score shown, then
the higher Class C score becomes the new Class C & Above Record. The lower existing R score from the Class R
tournament will become the new Class R
record, and will not be part of the Class C & Above record. see
section 4.1.4.
- If there is no
record listed, recorded or kept for that event and division, then the highest
future submitted score for that event/division will be considered for the Class
C & Above record.
· The East
recognizes Class R records, separate and distinct from Class C & Above
records covered in Section 4.1.3.
· Guiding principle - Class R Record is the highest score set only in a
class E, L or R tournament.
· For a record to be considered and approved, it must tie
or exceed the existing Class R record.
If a score is a tie, then both skiers' scores (old and new) share the
record.
· The initial Class R record shall be the highest record
score from the published Eastern Region Records in the guidebook and AWSAEast
website, kept current by the Seeding Committee Chairperson and the Tech Committee Chairperson, or established via the benchmarking process – see section
4.1.5.
· Three transition scenarios to the Class R records may be
encountered:
- First Transition
Scenario – if there is only a Class C existing record, then there is no Class R
record, and the initial Class R record must be established via the benchmarking
process, see section 4.1.5.
- Second
Transition Scenario - if there is only a
Class R existing record, it becomes the
new Class R Record.
- Third Transition
Scenario – if there are both Class C
& Class R existing scores shown, then the lower existing R record score
from a Class R tournament will become the new Class R record, and the higher Class C score will
become the Class C & Above Record. (See Section 4.1.3.)
- If there is no
record listed, recorded or kept for that event and division, then the highest
future submitted R score from a Class E, L or R tournament for that
event/division will be considered for the Class R record.
4.1.5 Benchmarking to establish initial Regional R Records (approved August 2, 2002)
· If an existing Regional record prior to approval of and
transition to this proposedamendment’s
record keeping procedure was established in a Class C tournament, then
initially there will be no Class R record.(See 4.1.4) However, over the past years, there may have
been many valid scores obtained in E, L or R tournaments that were very close
to, but did not exceed the existing C record. These past R scores need to be
appropriately considered in establishing new Eastern Region R records.
· It is the Eastern Region’s desire to provide a suitable
period of time (a Benchmarking period) for skiers to research their past E, L
& R tournament performances, and submit R record applications if they believe
they have and can document a past performance which should be considered for a
record.
· Skiers will have until January
15, 2003 – the initial benchmarking period -
to submit R Record applications for consideration by the EVP and his/her
designated representatives. The results of these submissions (highest R scores)
will be published in the 2003 Guidebook and AWSAEast website as “provisional”,
and subject to challenge.
· The Record applications from past performances need to be
verifiable – and signed performance sheets, scorebooks, HQ scoring data,
computer scoring databases, valid state record data will be used to verify past
performances. Other appropriate and verifiable documentation may be considered
on a case-by-case basis, with the proposed record subject to approval by the
EVP and council.
· For the next 12 months, from January 15, 2003 until January 15, 2004, the
Challenge period, the provisional records may be challenged, and a substitute
higher record from a past or current performance submitted for consideration in
its place.
· The final results after the end of the Challenge period –
highest R scores from the record applications submitted thru January 15, 2004 will become
the official Eastern Region R records, and will be published as official in the
2004 guidebook.
· After 1-15-04, documentation of verifiable past performances depicting
higher scores than listed in official Eastern Region R Record will only be
considered only on a case by case – rare exception basis, and then only with approval
of the EVP and ER Council.
· Current & future performances must be submitted on
the Eastern Region R Record form. Requirements will be the same as for Class C
& Above records, except that the Technical Controller signature is also
required.
4.1.6 Regional
Overall Records (approved
August 2, 2002)
· Overall NOPS scores will be used to determine
records. The NOPs scores alone (not the
underlying 3 event performances) will be used to establish the records. The
Eastern Region recognizes year-to-year fluctuation
in NOPS point values will cause inequities between current performances and
past performances. For example, performances in prior years may actually have
exceeded current performances but garnered lower NOPs points, or vice versa the
prior performances may have been lower than current performances, but with
attendant higher NOPs points.
· Overall records are subject to the same Class C &
Above Record and Class R Record distinction covered above.
4.1.7 Regional Tournament Records (approved August 2, 2002)
· The Eastern Region will establish a new set of records –
based on performances in the Eastern Region Tournament itself.
· Guidebooks and scorebooks/scoresheets will be used to
establish the initial Eastern Region Tournament Record.
· The first Eastern Region Tournament Records will be
posted at the 2002 Regionals site and also listed on the AWSAEast website as
provisional. Skiers will have until 1-15-2003 to get corrections to the EVP or his designates (Seeding Committee Chairperson and the Tech committee
Chairperson)
for the Regional tournament Records.
It is the Eastern Region’s desire to have the Regional Tournament
Records also be published in the 2003 guidebook as provisional.
· From January 15, 2003 until January 15, 2004, the Challenge period, the provisional Eastern Region
tournament Records may be challenged, and a substitute higher record from a
past Regional tournament performance submitted for consideration in its place.
· The final results after the end of the Challenge period –
highest Regional Tournament scores from the corrections/challenges submitted
thru 1-15-04 –
will become the official Eastern Region Tournament Records, and may be
published as official in the 2004 guidebook. Additionally, they shall be listed
on the AWSAEast website.
5.0 Guidebook
& Website
· Anyone not
paying a fee owed to the Region will not be granted a sanction the next year.
5.1 Tournament
Advertisements in the Guidebook
5.1.1 3 Event
Tournaments
· The Eastern Region
does not charge a “head tax” per skier in each tournament. Instead, the Eastern Region sanction fees for
3 event tournaments are as follows: Class C & R - $125; & Class N -
$65. There is no Regional sanction fee for Class F tournaments. Class F tournaments wishing to advertise in the guidebook will be charged
$65 per tournament for the guidebook ad.
Note that Eastern Region Tournament Schedule may also be “listed” on the
AWSAEast webpage
· Class N, C and R
tournament regional sanction fees apply regardless of whether the tournament is
advertised & listed in the guidebook.
· Class F (fun)
tournaments not listed in the guidebook are not charged a regional sanction
fee.
5.1.2 Other
tournaments - (Barefoot, Show Skiing, Wakeboard, Kneeboard)
· Other tournaments
not sanctioned by Eastern Region (e.g. Barefoot, wakeboard, ShowSkiing,
kneeboard, or Collegiate) will be charged $65 for a half page ad that is
similar to 3 event tournament ads.
· Other tournaments
may group their ads together and buy a commercial advertisement, at commercial
rates listed below. Camera ready art is
required for commercial style ads for other tournaments, and is the
responsibility of the advertiser.
5.2 Commercial
Advertisements in the Guidebook
· The Eastern Region
Guidebook shall have space available for businesses wanting to advertise. Guidebook rates for advertisements shall be $100, $180, and $300 for quarter page, half page, and full page
adds respectively, or as modified by Council.
· Camera ready art
is required for commercial ads, and is the responsibility of the advertiser.
· The region shall
donate net advertising proceeds (less cost of printing & paper) for ads
brought in by the Jr. Development Committee to the Eastern Region Jr.
Development Fund.
5.2 Website
Commercial Advertising
· The Website shall
allow advertising for businesses.
Pricing shall be determined by the WebMaster and EVP with Council
ratification.
6.0 Financial
Matters (Approved January 11,
1997)
6.1 Fund Balance
Policy-The Region should maintain a fund
balance (or cash balance assuming no significant accruals) of 1.5 times the
average of the actual expenditures of
the region for the last two fiscal years and the proposed expense budget for
the current year. Such excess shall be maintained for years when operations do
not support themselves. In such
years, Council shall develop plans to
return the Region to break-even or positive operations as quickly as possible. Any existing excess of cash should be considered available for special
non-recurring programs that would significantly promote our Region and our
sport. Council should consider the current financial reports in making decisions regarding the
spending of excess funds. No more than $3,000, or 33% of any excess, whichever is greater, should be budgeted in any one fiscal year for such non-recurring
programs. There is no requirement to
spend the excess funds in any year, but rather a policy that qualifying
programs should be considered. (Based on our current situation targeted fund balance would be approximately $16,500
($7,000+$16,000+10,000 (estimated budget for 1997))/3*1.5). The excess fund balance of $5,700 ($22,200-$16,500) would be available
for non-recurring programs to be budgeted at no more than $3,000 per year.
(Greater of $3,000 or 33% of $5,700) The
proposed program or programs would have to be non-recurring, such that the
Region could easily discontinue the program without undue hardship. )
6.2 Reimbursement
of expenses-No expenses should be reimbursed without the following:
· Item must be budgeted, or if not budgeted, approved by the EVP and a majority of the
National Directors and ratified by the
Council at the next Council meeting
· Proper
documentation must be submitted, i.e. invoice.
·
Approval of the EVP, or in the case of EVP expenses, approval of a National
Director
·
Approval of the Treasurer
· For
National Winter Board Meetings Directors may be reimbursed up to $300 for
travel expenses. No reimbursement is
made fro the summer meetings. National
Committee members may be reimbursed up to $300 for National meetings if
approved in advance by the EVP.
6.3 Other
Funds-Upon approval of
the Council the Treasurer shall be authorized to administer other funds for
activities related to the activities of
the Region, such as the existing Junior Development Fund. There shall be no requirement to keep
separate checking accounts for such funds, but the Treasurer may do so solely
at his or her discretion.
6.4 Reports
and Fiscal Year- The
treasurer shall annually submit a Statement
of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances and a Statement of Revenues and
Expenses Compared to Budget, both submitted on a calendar year basis. The Treasurer shall also submit interim
statements at the summer meeting.
6.5 Investment
Policy-All moneys shall
be kept in interest bearing accounts insured by an agency of the Federal
Government or other appropriate insurance.
Funds not needed should be considered for longer term Certificates of Deposits or other appropriate instruments.
7.0 Policy
Revisions (Approved
January 11, 1997)
Additional policies and procedures should
be approved from time to time by majority vote of the Council to accommodate
needs of the region.