State Board Meeting Minutes
Pennsylvania State Board Meeting
June 18th, 2012
Harrisburg, PA
Meetings minutes:
Board Members present: Donna Guenther, Karen Clark, Kevin Pope, Jill Morris, Lynn Ross, Cara Jane Blumenschein, Gene Speer, Jane Caruso, Barb Cutillo, Rich Fiorintino, Steve Heasley, Mike Vanim.
Board Members absent: None
Meeting called to order by PA USAG State Chairperson Donna Guenther.
1. The annual PA USAG State Clinic will be held on September 29th & 30th, 2012 at CPAG (Gymettes) in the Harrisburg area. The format will be similar as in past years where the clinic will be geared mostly towards the athletes as opposed to the coaches. Judges testing and safety certification will also take place at the clinic. More information will be posted on the PA web site shortly.
2. Elections for the PA USAG State Board will be taking place this summer. More information will be posted on the PA web site shortly.
3. Over the next year, USAG will be attempting to standardize all coaches certification dates (USAG Membership, Safety Certification and Background Check), so members will only have to remember one date.
4. Beginning 8/2012 the cost for a event sanction will be $85.00. There will no longer be two different priced sanctions based on the number of gymnasts in the event.
5. A motion was made to keep all the PA USAG qualifying scores the same as last year. The motion was passed 11-1.
6. The Xcel program will be implemented in the 2013-2014 season. This program is intended to be a nationally standardized “Prep Optional” program. According to USA Gymnastics, “The Xcel Program is designed to offer a broad-based, affordable competitive experience outside the traditional Jr. Olympic Program to attract and retain a diverse group of athletes. The program gives an opportunity for:
A. Class students to participate in organized gymnastics events.
B. Those athletes who have competed in the USA Gymnastics Jr. Olympic Program and have qualified to Level 7 or above but need a more basic introduction to optional competition.
C. Those athletes who have competed in the USA Gymnastics Jr. Olympic Program at the Compulsory level and would like to experience a basic optional program during their "off" season while they train skills to move up in the JO Program, if they wish.
D. Those athletes who have either "retired" from the Jr. Olympic Program or do not wish to train or compete at Level 7 or 8.
E. Athletes not previously involved with USA Gymnastics to enter the program.”
7. Discussion was held concerning what Vaulting Chart should be used for the Advanced Prep Optional (APO) for this final year of the program. A motion was made to use the Level 8 Vault Chart. The motion was passed 11-1.
8. Meet bids. A selection committee was formed to review meet bids for the upcoming 2012-2013 competition season. The committee was made up of board members; Jane Caruso, Barb Cutillo, Steve Heasley, Jill Morris, Kevin Pope, Gene Speer and Mike Vanim. The following is where the meets will be held:
Level 4 States: Aerials Fit n Fun
Level 5 States: Gym Dandy’s
Level 6 States: X-Cel
Prep Optional States: Somerton
Level 7 States: Wilson
Level 8 States: Berks
Level 9/10 States: Dynamats
Note: Any State Board member who had placed a bid for one of the above meets recused themselves from this part of the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned by Donna Guenther.
Respectfully submitted,
Kevin Pope
PA USAG Record Keeper