Minutes of the UNITED STATES ORIENTEERING FEDERATION

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

24 June 2001

Double Creek Camp, Cle Elum, Washington

 

  1. Call to Order: President Charles Ferguson called the Annual General Membership meeting of the Untied States Orienteering Federation to order at 6:55 PM by reading the USOF Mission Statement.

USOF MISSION STATEMENT

Our Mission is to:
      1. Provide orienteering as a viable and attractive recreation choice for US outdoors enthusiasts.
      2. Promote orienteering for education, personal development, and environmental awareness.
      3. Improve the competitive performance of US orienteering athletes to world-class levels.

 

  1. MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA:

    2. President Charles Ferguson entertained a motion for approval of the agenda.

    Robert Buraczynski so moved.

    SECOND: Bruce Wolfe

    DISCUSSION: None

    VOTE: Yes – Unanimous

    No – 0

    Abstain – 0

    THE MOTION PASSED.

  2. REPORT BY THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE:

    3. The Credentials Committee, Joanne Sankus, Chair, Ardis Dull and Bruce McAlister reported that 170 votes were represented by proxy and 786 votes were represented directly. The 956 total votes assured a quorum.

  3. MOTION TO ELECT TWO CERTIFIERS OF THE MINUTES:

    4. The president entertained a motion to elect Bruce Wolfe and Rick Hood to certify the minutes of the 2001 AGM.

    Barb Sleight so moved

    SECOND: Steve Berman

    DISCUSSION: None

    VOTE: Yes - Unanimous

    No - 0

    Abstain – 0

    THE MOTION PASSED.

     

     

  4. MOTION TO DISPENSE WITH THE READING OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS ANNUAL CONVENTION AND ANY FEDERATION REFERENDUMS:

    5. The president entertained a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the previous AGM and any referendums.

    Sherry Litasi so moved.

    SECOND: Clare Durand

    DISCUSSION: None

    VOTE: Yes – Unanimous

    No – 0

    Abstain - 0

    THE MOTION PASSED

  5. REPORTS FROM THE TREASURER AND THE AUDITOR:
    1. Chuck Ferguson reported that Cathy Yekenevicz reviewed the USOF accounts and that they conform to acceptable auditing standards for consistency and accuracy.
    2. The Treasurers Report was provided in member packets. In the absence of Executive Director, Robin Shannonhouse, David Irving answered questions regarding the Treasurer’s Report. The Treasurer’s Report is provided on line in the USOF Virtual Binder (WWW.us.orienteering.org.).

  6. THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL PERIOD:

    7. David Irving commented on the 2001 USOF Budget. The budget for the next financial period is available on line in the USOF Virtual Binder (WWW.us.orienteering.org.)

  7. ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS AND AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS:
    1. Nominations for the USOF BOD are:

      2. Secretary - Michael Schneiderman

      VP Competition– Eric Bone

      VP Program Development – Mike Minimum

      VP Competition At-Large – Nancy Koehler

      AT-Large - Walter Sigenthaler (SE region – COK)

    2. The VP for Administration, Frank Kuhn entertained nominations from the floor. There were none. The nominations closed.
    3. Frank Kuhn made a motion to close the nominations

      4. SECOND: Robert Buraczynski

      DISCUSSION: None

      VOTE: Yes – Unanimous

      No - 0

      Abstain – 0

      THE MOTION PASSED

    4. The president entertained a motion for election by acclimation.

    Frank Kuhn so moved.

    SECOND: Barb Sleight

    DISCUSSION: None

    VOTE: Yes – Unanimous

    No – 0

    Abstain – 0

    THE MOTION PASSED

  8. REGIONAL ELECTION REPORT:

    9. VP Administration, Frank Kuhn reported the following members elected as new regional representatives:

    Midwest: Ken Lappin – Representative, Karen Rogers – Alternate

    Southeast: John Farley – Representative, Linda Ferguson - Alternate

  9. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT – President Chuck Ferguson
    1. ELECTRONIC PUNCHING SYSTEM: It was a good year for the new USOF Electronic Punch Committee, headed by Evan Custer. Most clubs administrating A-Meets have chosen to use electronic punching, with many clubs purchasing their own systems. Due to the overwhelming positive club response, more equipment has been ordered.
    2. MICROSOFT SHARES: shares donated to USOF originally to pay for the electronic punching system have not yet been sold due to a fluctuation in the market causing the share price to drop. The donors have consequently requested that the shares go to the new USOF Endowment Fund.
    3. ENDOWMENT FUND: The Endowment Fund Trustees have been approved by the USOF BOD and are now in the final stages of establishing their bylaws and moving ahead with establishing 501(c) (3) charitable tax status.
    4. 501(c) (3) TEMPLATE: Robin Shannonhouse has provided all USOF clubs a template for applying for 501(c) (3) status. The template is available online in the USOF Virtual Binder (WWW.us.orienteering.org.) It is very important for every club to establish their status as a 501(c) (3) organization, helping their members to claim deductions and to provide incentives for sponsor donations. An ad-hoc committee looked into providing 501(c) (3) for all USOF clubs but found that in doing so, it would take autonomy from the individual clubs, which is counter to BOD policy and the wishes of the member clubs.
    5. GROWTH OF ORIENTEERING IN JUNIOR ROTC: Growth continues in Junior ROTC, particularly in Navy JROTC, although Army JROTC has expressed interest in providing more information about Orienteering in their manuals of instruction. Clubs near participating JROTC units have been asked to get involved with the program.
    6. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS: Success on a consistently high level with other countries remains elusive and difficult to obtain when competing with countries sponsored through national governments and sports lotteries. A perfect USOF world would include a year-round national training center where USOF would provide training for teachers, coaches, mapmakers, and athletes in all forms of orienteering from foot-o and ski-o to trail-o.
    7. SILVA AWARD: The Silva Award was presented to an active member of USOF who has provided outstanding service to orienteering in the United States. The 2001 recipient of the Silva Award was a speechless J.J. Cote.
    8. PRESIDENT’S AWARD RECIPIENTS: The recipients of the President’s Award are selected from the many folks that help the president to serve USOF most efficiently and effectively. The 2001 recipients are Frank Kuhn, Bruce McAllister, and Bruce Wolfe for their many years of service participating at the pleasure of the President and at their own expense as representatives to the IOF.

     

     

     

  10. REPORTS OF THE VICE PRESIDENTS:

A. VP COMPETION (highlights of written report only) – Eric Bone:

1) Competition Awards:

2) Team Selection:

3) U.S. Team:
      1. Junior Team:
      1. USOF Rankings:

A full written report is on the WEB: (WWW.us.orienteering.org)

B. VP ADMIISTRATION – Frank Kuhn

(No written report – Highlights of verbal presentation)

1) The Investment and Finance Committees’ main tasks in 2001 were to organize the formation of the Endowment Fund Committee and to handle all the paperwork to get the Endowment Fund incorporated.

2) The Convention Committee has a new Chair in Sara Mae Berman, who has agreed to take the helm of the committee for the next two years to revitalize the USOF convention schedule. Suggestions have been solicited from the BOD and other interested members to help develop a convention strategy.

3) The Nominating Committee needs a chairperson.

4) The Fundraising Committee has been headed by Jack Williams for several years; however, he has agreed to market the Endowment Fund and asked for a replacement.

5) The Grievance Committee had only two grievances in 2001. Details are available from Frank.

6) The Rules Committee has been working on refining and clarifying some sections of the rules in the past year. Rule changes are published in the USOF Virtual binder. Of particular interest has been changes to the F-50 and 55 categories. This subject will be addressed at the BOD meeting following the AGM.

C. VP PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT – Mike Minium

(No written report – Highlights of verbal presentation.)

1) A Tabletop display is available to any member of USOF or Club to help tell the USOF story. It can be customized for the target audience. Contact Mike.

2) The 2001 World Police and Fire Games held every two years; this year it was held in Indianapolis. For the second time worldwide and the first time in the US (the first time being in Sweden) orienteering was an event.

The orienteering portion was held at Mounds State Park, Indiana. There were 60 volunteers, 45 entrants with 32 actual starts. All the participant clubs benefited from the games via significant map purchases as well as equipment purchased and donated to the clubs. The next games are to be held in Barcelona in 2003 and in Quebec in 2005.
      1. Six New Compass Starter Kits are available courtesy of Brunton. They are teaching kits of 24 compasses and teaching materials.
      2. Orienteering in Schools Karl Kolva retired as the longtime chair and has been followed by Greg Sack. Greg has started a monthly article in ONA specifically geared to teachers, which he plans to develop into a newsletter for teachers.
    1. VP CLUB SERVICES – Scott Drumm

      2. (No written report – Highlights of verbal presentation.)

      1. A map grant was contracted with the Illinois River Valley Orienteering Club to purchase OCAD. Another request was in the works from Indianapolis.
      2. The Map Grant Administrator position is vacant – Contact Scott
      3. The Insurance Chair is vacant – Contact Scott
      4. ONA published articles submitted by various clubs, with the idea of sharing good ideas and stimulating communication between the clubs.
    2. VP MARKETING AND PR – Sherry Litasi

      3. (No written report – Highlights of verbal presentation.)

      1. National Orienteering Day headed by Bob Rycharski grew in 2001.

        2. Regional representatives are asked to coordinate with Bob to help distribute the prizes donated by sponsors to National O-Day participants.

        The growth of the program has necessitated a call for assistants. May 2002 has been set aside for National O-Day participation.

      2. ACTIVE.Com is no longer being considered as a WEB tool for USOF.
      3. Digital Photos are available to clubs for instruction or to promote Orienteering. Liz Kotowski , who has headed the project would like to be replaced - Contact Sherry
      4. A Video Project is underway by Sherry, who hopes to use footage for Orienteering promotions.
      5. Club-net has been widely used and proved a wonderful conduit for passing information to the membership.
      6. Press releases have been a big project of John Nash.
      7. Magazine articles were published in Backpacker, Vogue, and Trail Runner magazines.
      8. The Women’s Sports Foundation Summit sponsors women in sports and among other objectives, provides various types of grants. Sherry attended and met Sandra Baldwin, new president of the USOC and discussed briefly, what it would take to get orienteering into the Olympics and was overall supportive. The next summit is in two years.
    3. INTRODUCTION OF THE BOARD – Chuck Ferguson

The members of the USOF Board of Directors were introduced.
  1. PROPOSALS FROM COMMITTEES AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Proposals
    1. Proposals from committees – none
    2. Proposals from the Board of Directors

    Frank Kuhn proposed a change to the USOF Bylaws:

    Article VI, Section A, Paragraph 1

    The Annual Convention of the Federation membership shall be held once each calendar year at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors. No Annual Convention shall be held within six months of the preceding Annual Convention.

    SECOND: Eric Bone

    DISCUSSION: Previously, the convention time was designated in the bylaws as being held between March and August. This change is to encourage clubs that cannot hold events during the summer due to heat restrictions to participate in organizing a convention.

    VOTE: YES – 956

    NO – 0

    ABSTAIN – 0

    THE MOTION PASSED

  2. PROPOSALS FROM MEMBER CLUBS – None

    3. QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS – None

  3. QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE COMPETITION RULES – None
  4. QUESTIONS RELATED TO COMPETITION MEETS BOTH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL:

    5. Bruce McAlister urged the membership to know what changes will take place regarding the change in international competition venues, specifically World Cups and World Orienteering Championships which will be voted on at the IOF meeting in Finland.

  5. QUESTIONS RELATED TO USOF PUBLICATIONS - None
  6. QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE MEMBERSHIP SITUATION – None
  7. QUESTIONS RELATED TO MEMBERSHIP FEES AND OTHER FINANCIAL MATTERS - None
  8. OTHER BUSINESS
    1. A BOD meeting follows the AGM
    2. Electronic punching is on the internet.
  9. ADJOURNMENT:

Bruce Wolfe made a motion to adjourn the AGM

SECOND: Scott Drumm

VOTE: Yes – Unanimous

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM

Respectfully submitted,

 

Linda Ferguson

Secretary

Board of Directors

United Sates Orienteering Federation

 

Certified: _____________________________ Rick Hood

Certified: _____________________________ Bruce Wolfe

 

 

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