WC-AGM-03-Minutes.doc (Eud/Att.)
WINDSURFING CANADA
2003 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) held at the Howe Sound Inn,
Squamish B.C., Thursday, July 24, 2003
GENERAL NOTE:
Windsurfing Canada has not held an Annual General Meeting for some time.
The "Outgoing 2002-03 Executive" is presently composed of
volunteers from across the country. This executive proposed a
"slate" of officers to ensure participation coast-to-coast.
Candidates from all regions of the country have been urged to accept
positions on the "Incoming Executive 2003-04" to be elected at
the Squamish BC AGM, whether they can attend or not. Additional
nominations were invited until the AGM elections.
Thereby, I as Chair of W.C. I declared NOMINATIONS FOR THE "INCOMING
EXECUTIVE OF W.C". OPEN AS OF JUNE 24, 2003 (one month in advance).
Nominations could be made by return email to johndarling130@hotmail.com
or in person at the AGM. Nominations closed just prior to the
elections. They were not required to be seconded, and persons could
nominate themselves.
Likewise resolutions on any subject or points of discussion could be
submitted to the Outgoing Executive at any time via email or at the AGM
during appropriate discussion. Questions on procedure or suggestions were
welcomed.
The time and location was advertised on the Official Notice Board at the
Canadian Championships on the Squamish jetty at noon, July 23, 2003 and
announced at the Skippers' Meeting on July 24th.
MINUTES OF THE A.G.M.
1. Meeting to order by 2002-'03 Chair John Darling. The Meeting
started late by one hour, due to low attendance. (Note: the AGM was
called on the first day of competition to avoid scheduled social events on
the second and third day. However it was apparent that competitors were
still occupied with "settling in" on the first day, and
subsequently it was evident that an early evening time of the second day
would have been better. Note for the 2004 Regina AGM: it
should be scheduled for the second day, early evening, Friday Sept. 3rd.)
2. John D. assumed duties of Chairperson of the AGM. by general
agreement
3. John D. assumed duties of Recording Secretary by general
agreement
4. Nominations and election of Election Officers (see
Elections item below)
5. Welcome from the Squamish Canadian Championship by Squamish
Windsurfing Club president Jamie Martin who reported that the City was in
active support of the event and has assisted with improving the event
site, with road improvements and setting up the steel bleachers.
There followed the introduction of event Judges Mel and Helen Preston and
David Hart
6. Welcome to international competitors of the USW NRT and IFWC
Formula Windsurfing Women's Cup (included in general report)
7. REPORT OF THE OUTGOING 2002-03 CHAIR/PRÉSIDENT, John Darling:
Due to the low attendance (10 persons) the Chair gave a general report of
the activities of Windsurfing Canada 2003 which is now
establishing a new Formula series in Ontario and Quebec and promotes the
same in B.C. and Saskatchewan. A new adult Formula fleet as well as
a very promising youth Formula fleet are developing in Ontario and Quebec.
2003 saw the second annual Centre nautique de Francheville and Barrie
Windsurfing Club events. The most advanced Formula fleet in Canada
continues to develop around the Vancouver Island WIRED event organized in
Victoria, and by our Canadian National Windsurfing Championships this year
in Squamish. Carrie Strangway is working hard to establish a
national women's Formula fleet, and the first moves towards establishing a
genuine women's fleet in Eastern Canada is just taking shape (with women's
Formula participation centering in Quebec up until now.)
"Youth Formula Team" organizer Phil Soltysiak has made great
progress with the Junior and Youth Formula fleets in Ontario, which we
expect will be expanded in Ontario and hopefully started up in Quebec next
year.
John. D. confirmed the cancellation of the annual Magdalens event, slated
as a PWA "Grand-Slam" event by event organizer Marc Boucher due
to inability to secure sufficient funding from the Quebec and Federal
governments and other sponsors. This does leave a large hole in our
schedule, but this year also sees the starting up of a new event in Quebec
City: "Le Festival international du Vent" organized by Eric
Girard, and featuring two days of Slalom and Formula along with
windsurfing lessons and displays. The great potential for a large
slalom fleet in Quebec promises a big event, one which is planned to
continue for several years. Cheap camping is available on site at
Baie de Beauport, where the 2000 "Canadians" drew 160
competitors, the largest-ever recent attendance figure.
B.C. is very strong on Formula competition, but this 2003
"Canadians" will also reintroduce Slalom as a major discipline
(along with preserving Freestyle as an essential part of the
"Canadians"). The restoring of Slalom as a major
discipline is in line with its increasing popularity in the U.S., Europe
and around the world. Discussions are taking place to include Slalom
as part of the 2008 Olympic windsurfing event.
W.C. Championship policy:
The Overall "Canadians" trophies are presently awarded for best
performance in TWO of the three championship disciplines. A
discussion was held at this AGM on the merits of this policy:
whether or not to retain Overall performance as the criteria for Best Male
and Best Female Windsurfer in Canada. While it was recognized that
to a significant degree, Freestyle is becoming more and more a specialty
not sailed by racing windsurfers, it was also decided that enough racers
do have waves and freestyle expertise as chronic shortboarders, and that
these minimal wave-riding and maneuvering skills are a sufficient basis to
retain Freestyle as a championship discipline. The great advantage
of doing so means that Freestyle/Waves is retained as a Championship
event, providing this very important discipline with a national event.
In fact, a special Freestyle/waves trophy is probably needed to continue
to attract the top sailors in this field.
DECISION: of the AGM to retain the policy of the national champions
being decided on the best (Canadian) performance in two of the three
disciplines: Formula, Slalom and Freestyle/waves.
2004 is already shaping up very well: It is expected that the
early-season Quebec Francheville and Ontario Barrie events will repeat,
with a repeat Sail Kingston event slated for June 26-27. An
additional event hosted by Sail Kingston will now follow the next weekend,
as a Formula fleet will get a start at the Sail Kingston "Unlimited
Regatta" also featuring high-speed dinghies, in the July 1-5 period (TBA).
As this second consecutive weekend event in Kingston becomes a permanent
fixture, it is hoped a week-long Formula clinic will evolve to link the
two events.
As well, we have every reason to believe that Quebec City will provide
another major Eastern event in late August 2004, and beyond.
Most important was the proposal for the 2004 "Canadians" at
Regina Beach in Saskatchewan.
DECISION: to accept the proposal from the Saskatchewan
Windsurfing Club to host the 2004 "Canadians," four days
September 2-5. A discussion on the event followed on the agenda
(see below).
Bids to host the 2005 "Canadians" are now open, and an Eastern
venue would have priority. The two immediate prospects would be
Quebec City and Kingston Ontario, both end of August/early September.
8. Financial Report (John Darling presented,
see
attached. Adopted.) It was noted that liability
insurance costs have doubled since 2001, but that administrative costs
have been trimmed by cutting down on printing costs (running xerox copies
as required, dispensing with printed envelopes, etc.) Noted was the
fact that W.C. ran a deficit in 2001 and 2002 but is on a break-even
course for 2003, with approximately $1000 in the bank and $300 worth of
medals on hand. I.W.A. international class association dues (IFCA and IMCO)
have jumped as well (WC is not affiliated to IFWC and runs its Formula
events without IFWC sanction). John D. holds the post of Honourary
Secretary of IFCA, the funboard class association with its World Slalom
and Freestyle Championships coming up this fall in France.
A discussion was held on keeping WC dues to the same level ($34 for
non-club affiliated members and $20 for CYA club affiliated members).
It was agreed to hold the line on these prices and to try to collect more
back dues from sailors not renewing each year.
9. Discussion of "Old Business" arising out of these
reports (reported on by John D. in Chair's report.)
a) Youth Formula Team b) Women's Formula c)
Quebec Formula series d) Canadian Windsurfing Team project: all
referred to incoming Executive as reporters absent.
e) Canadian Coast Guard submission on optional law for PFDs.
John Darling reported on the excellent work done during the past 18 months
on a major submission to CCG in favour of abolition of mandatory PFD laws,
by Michael Fischer of Kingson ON, a leading member of the local freestyle
"fleet." Including the results of an extensive petition
circulated in the windsurfing community and personal testimonials from
prominent Canadian windsurfers, some competing on the international level,
this thick tome reviews the hazards posed by wearing bulky PFDs to
windsurfers who naturally and normally spend a lot of time in the water,
where they urgently need complete mobility to swim both to retrieve
equipment and to self-rescue. The report has been in the hands of
CCG since Spring 2003 but no word has been heard of its progress.
The AGM expressed its congratulations to Mike Fischer and others for
their extensive work in preparing this constructive and reasonable appeal
to the Canadian authority on water safety, the CCG.
10. Discussion on number and titles of Executive posts for
2003-04. (Included in Chair's report and accepted with the addition of a
Women's Windsurfing position.)
In the year 2002-03, there were seven (7) posts: Chair, Vice-Chair Youth
Development, International Formula Liaison, Formula Experience co-ordinator,
Prairie Representative, Canadian Coast Guard Liaison - Safety Director,
Webmaster. This list of posts was accepted by the AGM.
There was no Treasurer in 2003 (duties will continued to be assumed by
Chair.)
11. ELECTION OF 2003-04 EXECUTIVE
a) Final call for nominations to the 2003-04
Executive. b) Close of nominations
c) Elections Voted to accept the slate as proposed.
12. Nominations and election of Consultative posts:
a) Discussion on Consultative posts. Last
year there were 6 Formula Technical Advisors (3 from QC, and one each from
ON, BC and AB)
As well, Sam Ireland headed the "Canadian Windsurfing Team
Project."
b) Elections (accepted as proposed)
13. New Business -- Incoming Executive 2003-04
a) Elect Constitution Committee (CYA liaison)
Decision to appoint John Darling and Cam Rawlinson to a
"Constitution Research Committee" to locate any possible CYA
constitution or the drawing up of a constitution, with reference to the
USW.
b) 2004 Canadian Windsurfing Championships, Regina Beach, SK
(Steven Huszar)
A delegation of four people from Saskatchewan was present that explained
the advantages of Regina Beach as a site for the "Canadians,"
citing the proximity to Regina and an international airport, the features
of the event site and suitability regarding wind and infrastructure (RC
Chair Mark Lammens of Association of Saskatchewan Sailing Clubs.)
"Pro" and "Open" divisions are proposed.
Literature on Saskatchewan was distributed and the AGM enthusiastically
adopted the report.
c) Other new business: Ian Stewart raised the issue of safety
at the Skippers' meeting, wanting to confirm that there were enough rescue
boats on the water tomorrow, and stating that Windsurfing Canada should
draw up a "Guidelines for Safety" document concerning its
events. There is also the issue of high-jumping kitesurfers, to
leeward but very close to the jetty and bleachers. It was also
pointed out that with the higher speeds of racing today, the old rule
"speed=danger" comes into play (*see Note below.)
Decision: to draw up a "W.C. Event Guidelines for
Safety" document.
13. Further event announcements
14. Adjournment at 8:30 pm.
(*Note: Ian's remarks were born out with unexpected force the next
day as a serious collision in a Formula race took place, with
hospitalization of both competitors involved. A "Special Report
on Collisions" is being written to document the accident, and to
initiate proposals for measures necessary to prevent future such
incidents.) Expect to see discussion on this issue soon.