Present:		Ron Wyzynski, Bob Price, Don Burroughs (arrived 10:30 am), Stephen Donahue, Michelle Fox, Brian Hemelgarn Al Herbert, Gary Hesse, Michelle Hills, Ken Leckler, Terry Miller, Loren Paulozzi, Patty Salvatore, Emi Vishoot
Not present:	Keith Burke, Art Faura, Tom Kohl, Nick Nystrom, Hank Trimble, Bill Zehler
Guest:	Adam Evans

Called to order @ 10:00 a.m.

Approval of meeting minutes from Oct 2007 and August 2007

• Bob had requested that everyone review the previous minutes in advance
• Motion #1 (Miller/Vishoot): approve previous meeting minutes
• Comment: minutes on the web site are the synopses (for public use) and not the full minutes
• Based on discussion, Miller withdrew his motion; Board tabled this action until we can access and review the full minutes

Wyzynski (CEO)

• GCCC will be available for our events
• Fully supports the server upgrade effort that Nick is organizing
  • Had not discussed Nystrom's suggestion that the upgrade cost differential come from his salary
  • Stated that the Board did not need to vote on any issues relating to Donahue's email recommending the OVR pay for the upgrade rather than deduct the cost from Nystrom's salary
• Registrations
  • We are ahead 1400 members from this time last year; currently at 13,953 and on track to exceed last year's membership count
  • 38 new clubs have registered so far
• OhioNets facility has lowered our rental fee for adults' tournaments so we are in a "break even" situation (now $250/court per day)
• Rating/Training efforts: 56 new referees
  • Wanted to thank the staff and officials who participated in the officials' clinics and officials' training tournaments
  • Had to be flexible with the late change in venue last weekend (moved from Toledo to Oxford on 12 Jan)
  • Friendship tournaments seem successful; teams benefited from them
• JVDA does not appear to have impact on us

Price (Commissioner)

• Update on GCCC
  • Water/structural damage primarily affected meeting rooms; exhibition rooms were not impacted
  • Media sensationalized the situation
• Kudos to
  • Hemelgarn: referee clinics went well
  • Kohl: does great job scheduling 800 to 1100 events, taking into consideration geographic location, age groups, etc.
• Hills concern: agrees that Kohl does great job; concerned about clubs entering teams early into tournaments when team doesn't exist yet because have not held tryouts; then club/team drops from tournament because team never formed, which may be preventing other clubs/teams from getting into local tournaments
• Discussion ensued with comments from Donahue, Hills, Salvatore, Hemelgarn, Price
  • Donahue/Nystrom: responsive and proactive with registrations and processing background screen paperwork
• Background screening: this year, only one member was flagged from the background check
• Only five out of 10,000 in last four years have been flagged, which is a positive reflection of the quality of OVR members
• Player movement from one club to another
  • To date, fewer than 10 junior transfer/release situations
• Bob has negotiated with club directors and parents to resolve most of these issues
• Six are resolved; four are pending
  • Note: if a parent has signed a contract with a club, the OVR cannot declare a contract is invalid or intervene with the club director on their behalf; we can only take action if a club violated OVR policies or procedures; OVR is sympathetic to the parents' concerns but we have an equal responsible to the integrity of the club system
  • If mutually agreeable, parent can buy out the contract (pay the full year's financial obligation) and then join another club; else the player must play with that club or sit out for the year
• Club Licensure 57 clubs are currently licensed; 4 clubs are pending
• Suggestion to include a presentation on NCAA athlete eligibility regulations to the annual Club Director meeting
  • Specifically, clubs providing scholarships to junior players and whether this affects player's eligibility for collegiate athletics
  • Revamping the "Recruiting Guidelines" document: Price is discussing this issue with Zehler; Hills is willing to participate on a working group to complete this effort
• Server upgrade process: no new web site enhancements/requests until the upgrade has been completed

Fox (Men's and Women's Tournament Director)

• Recruited additional adults' tournament directors to help schedule more events
  • NE Ohio is doing well with tournament numbers; needs to work on increasing SW Ohio events
  • Women's A/BB: need more events for this level
  • Currently has 50 more courts this season compared to last year
• Winter Fest: filled or over-filled; will work with Al to accommodate more teams
• Eliminated Women's B division due to low participation numbers; contacted team reps to make the transition
  • Adults' Regionals: may need to split Women's BB into Gold/Silver/Bronze if competition warrants this action
• OVR teams in PA (15 men's/women's teams; about 12% of OVR adult player population): tournament events that are sanctioned by Keystone Region are not advertised on OVR web site and events in Pittsburgh haven't filled
  • Would like these events that are hosted by OVR members but sanctioned by another region to be listed on the OVR web site so OVR teams are aware of these playing opportunities
  • Concern that if we post these events, will open floodgate for requests to advertise other non-OVR events; consider a narrowly-defined description of which events qualify for inclusion on OVR web site
  • Bob will contact Steve Covert (Keystone Commissioner) to broker a compromise (perhaps these events be co-hosted by OVR and KRVA)
• Registration issues: wants process clarified so OVR staff don't provide conflicting information or guidance to teams
• Wants to adjust registration requirement for adults' teams
  • Adults' teams must register online before playing in first tournament; will be allowed to collect payment and paperwork (and play) at the first tournament; all payment and paperwork must be received and verified before allowed to play in second tournament
  • Motion #2 (Fox/Herbert): Adults' teams must be registered online before playing in a tournament. Adults' teams may play in their first tournament without having submitted fees and signed waivers. Fees and waivers must be received and verified before any further participation by the team in subsequent tournaments. Motion #2 passed, 8-1-1
• Wants adults' teams that are part of a club be allowed to register with less than six players (minimum of four players)
• Motion #3 (Fox/Miller): Combine Women's Tournament Director position and Men's Tournament Director position into Adults' Tournament Director position, effective 1 September 2008 with a term of four years; Motion #3 passed, 10-0

Hemelgarn (Referees' Chair)

• Training events and clinics went well; thanks to staff who helped run things in his absence
  • Special thanks to Hills for coordinating the friendship tournaments in Toledo; unfortunate that various conditions led to cancellation and reschedule of officials' training to Oxford
  • OVR Training Camp in conjunction with OVR Winter Fest
  • Trainers: Wally Hendricks, Kathy Ferraraccio, Mary Blalock, Joan Powell, Julie Voeck
  • In addition to providing training and feedback to referees, will allow some OVR training team members to gain understanding of USAV training team process and philosophy
• OVR Referees' Handbook
  • Addressed specific comments and suggestions provided by Board members
  • Will provide copy of updated version; Board members should indicate approval/disapproval by 3 Feb
  • If approved, will post final document immediately after

Donahue (Verification Officer)

• Membership registration activities are on track; background screening paperwork sent daily to help expedite processing

Wyzynski (Registrar)

• No intentions to use USAV online registration system
• Burroughs: request addition of a section on "How do you become a coach" to website (consistent with existing sections for referees, players, etc)

Evans (Organizational Review Committee)

• Provided copy of minutes from ORC meeting held on Fri, 18 Jan
• Suggestions included:
  • BOD organization be increased to 18 Directors, of which 6 are district-specific (e.g., North OH, South OH, Central OH, Eastern OH, WV, western PA) and 12 are at-large members
  • Addition of advisory boards
  • Need to address/improve communication issues
• Question of changing the Board structure to satisfy a vocal minority or whether the silent majority is happy with the status quo

Paulozzi (Boys' Program Director)

• Projected team count is 45 boys' teams (5 less than 2007, primarily in western PA); three 14s' teams in Ohio
• HP tryouts
  • Email notices sent to clubs and posted info on web site; deadline to sign up is February 1
  • Only 7 players have signed up so far; need minimum of 20 players to make it worthwhile
• Boys' JOVC in Sandy City, UT, July 2-9; high travel cost may deter OVR teams from participating
• Boys' Regionals @ Veteran's Memorial, Feb 23-24
  • Entry fee: $175
  • Proposed court usage: 5-6 courts on Saturday, 4 courts on Sunday

Hesse (JODD)

• Updated the R2/SK evaluation forms
• Implementing some new recognition programs for junior officials who excel
• Working with clubs to host combined clinics to assist each other financially
• Will coordinate with Nystrom to offer additional online functions and resources

Herbert (Special Events)

• Update of Winter Fest: currently working on scheduling
• Discussed OhioNets events
• Bid Tournament: 40 courts each day for juniors; 12 courts for adults

Burroughs (Coaching Education and High Performance)

• Database management to indicate coaching education status of every coach
• New IMPACT instructors: Paul Claridades, Jon Bennett, Pete Wung (transfer from Gateway Region)
• Geographically, need instructors in eastern section of region
• CAP certification clinics
• Girls' HP tryouts
  • Will use Friday before Bid tournament as tryout location for central OH; continue to use various events in other sections of the region as satellite HP tryouts
  • Final HP selection will occur on the last two Fridays before the OVR Junior Championships
• Boys' HP
  • USAV is rethinking the age classifications for the Boys' HP Championships
  • Since we already advertised our tryouts, will look into alternate tournaments for the Boys' HP team; consider Boys' AAU (concern is this event takes place during boys' HS season)
  • As minimum, will look into offering a summer camp with "star" clinicians
• USAV HP Championships, Tucson AZ, July 23-27

New Business

• Nominating and Election Committee Chair: Vishoot will continue as Chair
  • Directors: Hills, Faura, Miller, Trimble, Zehler
  • Officers: Adults' Tournament Director (supersedes Women's Tournament Director), Administrative Assistant, Referees' Chair
• Awards Nomination and Selection Committee
  • Hills and Burroughs will be co-chairs, with Salvatore part of the committee
  • Fox should resubmit her nominations
• Requests for changes to web site to help us perform our duties: Nick has requested that these requests be provided at the May meeting; will allow more time for him to comply; will also allow more response time if USAV changes any requirements or criteria for the next season
• Hills: Question about budget or financial reports associated with our corporation business
  • Other organizations require that each officer submit a budget for the season which the Board approves; each officer submits a monthly financial statement that tracks expenditures
  • Wyzynski will provide these reports to the Board
• Motion #4 (Fox/Leckler): Effective March 1, 2008, adults' teams will be penalized two points per set (game) for uniform violations. The opponent will receive 2 points at the start of the set (game); Motion #4 passed, 10-0
  • Fox will notify teams and include specific examples
  • Nystrom will post information on web site
• Herbert: Power League event scheduled over three weekends; discussion about how points should be awarded to a team that doesn't participate all weekends

Motion #5 to adjourn (Miller/Hemelgarn); Motion #5 passed 10-0; meeting adjourned at 4:00 pm