2006 Eastern Region Fall Newsletter (2007 Ski Year)

2007 Eastern Region Winter Meeting & Clinics

MEETING ATTENDANCE:   USAWS members are welcome to attend both meetings.

CLINIC REGISTRATION:     

• Any rated officials needing clinic credit for maintenance or upgrade of rating may attend.
• Any unrated aspiring officials may register for clinic participation.
• The Eastern Region pays clinic registration fees.
• Registration deadline is Friday, December 15, 2006.
• Notify Doug Robbins by email or call 877-770-5102.

LOCATION:

Valley Forge Suites Hotel
888 Chesterbrook Boulevard
Chesterbrook, PA. 19087
610-647-6700

RESERVATIONS:

• Call 866-388-6106 for reservations
• Room rate is a group rate of $109.00 per night plus taxes.
• Reserve room by Monday, January 2, 2006, for group rate.
• When making reservations reference group code ‘USA Water Ski Regional Meeting’ for discounted room rate.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

• From I-76 / PA Turnpike, take Exit #326 toward I-476 / Philadelphia / US 202 / Valley Forge
• Merge onto US 202 South via Exit 328A toward West Chester
• Take the Chesterbrook Blvd. Exit
• Make a U-turn at Duportail Road onto Chesterbrook Blvd. to hotel at 888 Chesterbrook Blvd.

Visit http://www.vfsuites.com for more detailed directions and information.

ATTENTION EASTERN REGION OFFICIALS!

Judges, Scorers, Drivers, Safety Directors, Technical Controllers, and Announcers are needed for the 2007 Eastern Regionals at Twin Lakes, in Monroe, NY., and the 2007 Nationals at Ski West Village in Bakersfield, CA.

The Eastern Regionals will be held Thursday, August 2, 2007 through Saturday, August 4, 2007.

The U.S. Nationals will be held Monday, August 13, 2007 through Saturday, August 18, 2007.

Anyone who can volunteer to serve as an appointed official at either or both of those events, please contact Doug Robbins by Monday, January 1, 2007 by email or call 877-770-5102.

CHIEF OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED FOR 2007 REGIONALS

ATTENTION TOURNAMENT SPONSORS

Please complete all sanctions for 2007 Tournaments on or before Monday, January 15, 2007 to ensure listing in the 2007 Guidebook.

Sanctions can be completed on line at www.awsaeast.org.

Sanction fees are as follows.

USAWS sanction fees can be paid via credit card or check directly to USAWS Headquarters, or given to your council person for submission at the winter meeting.

Eastern Region sanction fees can be paid via check to your council person for submission at the Winter Meeting, or to USAWS Headquarters via credit card. Tournament ads will not appear in the guidebook unless Regional sanction fee is paid by the Winter Meeting.

Please contact Eastern Region tournament coordinator, Bill Fosbenner, by email or call (609) 432-6233 if you have any questions throughout the sanctioning process.  

Eastern Region Junior Development News

Congratulations to our medal winners at the 2006 Nationals in Bakersfield. Chad Meny, Michaela Cooper and Alex Lauretano made us all proud as did the other Eastern participants. Just making the Nationals is an accomplishment in itself and we all recognize their success. Great job!

2006 was a year to be proud of. Participation at the Regionals was up by 50% with more than 60 junior skiers. We have not had a turnout like this in many years. Lake Holly was a fantastic host and I would like to thank the club as well as Kathy Lovello for hosting a jr. party that will be tough to follow. We also acknowledge the support from Mastercraft who funded the party. They have been loyal throughout the years and we all appreciate that.

Several clinics took place throughout the year in Virginia, New Jersey and Connecticut. Virginia hosted a clinic involving more than 40 juniors which directly correlated into Regional participation….well done Virginia. Bill Fosbenner brought in Kristie Overton and Avon Old Farm skiers brought in Carly Clifton making for two additional very successful clinics. It takes many people and hard work to run a clinic and everyone appreciates the effort that goes into these. If anyone is interested in hosting a clinic for 2007, please contact me. They are an important part of junior development.

2007 is already setting up to be a great year. Just this fall, we have seen some great skiing by some juniors that are going to create names for themselves and I am looking forward to watching them next year. Twin Lakes is preparing to put on a tremendous Regionals and I predict that the skier count will be one of the highest ever. Twin Lakes is focused on doing whatever it takes to increase the participation as well as performances and I am excited for the juniors next year. Don’t miss this one.

With that being said, the Eastern Region is till the weakest when it comes to participation at the Nationals. I encourage all the juniors to pay attention to the rating system, and to work on qualifying and participating at a National level. The excitement of skiing at the Regionals can only be topped by participating at the Nationals. There is enough of a support system throughout the region for every junior, and all are encouraged to set and obtain personal goals and work their way up to becoming a National competitor.

As always, we are looking for support. Fundraising is as important as ever and although we have made some large steps in the right direction, we need to continue to raise money and host development clinics to increase skier activity and performances on a National level. We are looking for all the help we can get. Anyone who is interested in becoming involved can contact me.

Have a great winter.

Hutch Haines