PRESENT:  Denis Landry, Al Tschirhart, Earl Farrell, Gary Crossley, Roman Olszewski, John Craig, Dave Watt

Guests:  Enrico Toscano, Don Mills
Regrets: Dennis Fairall

The meeting began with a minute of silence for Justin Lambert-Belanger.

Additions to Agenda:

Review of OTFA restructuring
Integrating OTFA and Disabled Athletes
Dave Mills' request

1. The summer that was:

i) Canada Summer Games:

- Congratulations to Roman, Al and Enrico for successful Games
- Roman: Thanks to Association for allowing office time to do Games - volunteers can't do it all.
- Al: Thanks to Roman for providing means to provide 'perks' to athletes

- Who will head OTFA drive for next CSG? Al will act as advisor but will not be captain - others on this year's team could handle it given their experience this year.

- Get new applications out soon and get started for 4 years from now.

- Acknowledgement to Enrico for doing such a great job organizing our officials to handle all competitions in a very busy summer.

ii) OTFA Supermeet

- Roman - good meet - one problem - list of unregistered athletes wasn't available - disappointing - but we sorted it out afterward
- Recommend we go back to Ottawa and the OTTL next year.
- OTTL membership up this year, though total OTFA membership is down.
- OTFA confirms OTTL as hosts for Supermeet 2002

- Earl: Is there a chance we can come up with a 1 time first year membership that is cheap enough to attract more kids, especially those interested in competing in our Championships? Some discussion suggesting that all non-school competitions have some input from OTFA - we give it all away, then only ask athletes to be registered for the OTFA Championships. We need to get all coaches to register athletes in all competitions.
- This is the idea of Universal Membership, which is undergoing investigation. On-site membership at meets with incentive to meet directors to make sure all athletes are OTFA members.
- This topic should be introduced at this year's AGM to prep them for implementation next year. Could we get a Government grant to facilitate this for Summer 2002?
- We need to go to mandatory coaching membership as well - i.e. all OTFA athletes must have registered coaches or must indicate a coach's name on registration form, even if it is their own name (self coaching)

MOTION 1:

That all athletes' provincial registrations will not be accepted unless an OTFA registered coach is identified on the OTFA registration form of that athlete.
Note: a self-coached athlete must be registered in the athlete-coach category.

Gary Crossley/Albert Tschirhart                              Carried
 
Universal registration - begins with coaches as noted above. To move further we need to get a group together of athletes and coaches to examine issues and process.

We can establish a forum at OTFA AGM to get committee moving in right direction.

iii) Supermeet 2002 - August 2-4

iv) Ontario Summer Games - Roman

See Technical Committee Meeting Motion (motions below): That a sub-committee be struck to determine the minimum standards acceptable for Track & Field's participation in the 2002 Ontario Summer Games.

- Bureaucracy is a problem
- Low support is a problem
- No news on site/date for 2002
- Fee of $65/athlete is reasonable
- Roman: We need to outline to Government what we require to make OSG a reasonable proposition but the OSG is badly under funded.
- As it is the OSG is dying
- John & Roman to draft a letter for Earl's signature to Minister and other sports re: getting OSG back as important component of development programs in Ontario.
- All sports to sign onto letter.
- (OTFA's continued involvement is in jeopardy given current situation. Clubs and athletes aren't supportive. We are interested in continued development and contribution of OSG to sport and recreation programs in province. Suggest OSG advisory committee).

v) Fun in Athletics

- 4000 kids involved in Earl’s program
- Go into gyms in winter
- 1700 in OTFA summer program
- If we charge we can call them members (must get names) for report to Ministry.
- Give some money to clubs for local assistance.
- Need to get this into schools.
- Bring video to OTFA AGM - show in room or hall prior to meeting - bring some         equipment and some testimonials (display boards)
- Develop instructional manual that meets Ministry of education guidelines

2. Universal Registration

This topic was already covered above.

3. Technical Committee Report

Motion: That the following motions from the Technical Committee Meeting of September 28 be accepted:

1.  That a sub-committee be struck to determine the minimum standards acceptable for Track & Field's participation in the 2002 Ontario Summer Games.

2.  That the meet directors, in concert with the Ontario Coaches Council, develop a standard check-in procedure to be used at the major OTFA championships (ie. Indoor Juvenile-Seniors, Indoor BMJ's, Supermeet, Cross Country).

3.  That the list of new records, as recommended by the Director of Technical Services be accepted. 

4.  That the Director of Technical Services recommendations concerning changes to the NCCP in Ontario be adopted.

5.  That performances achieved by Bantam- and Midget-aged athletes in mixed races after October 1, 001 be allowed to stand as Ontario records.  Note: such performances may not, however, be claimed as records in Juvenile and older categories if they also equalled or exceeded the current records in those categories.  Records achieved in mixed races will be specially annotated "mc" and will be listed below the non-mixed records, which will be retained on the list.

Gary Crossley/Albert Tschirhart                               CARRIED

4. Budget for 2001-2002

John reported that the grant from the Ministry for 2001-2002 had once again been reduced. A meeting with the Ministry is scheduled for October 9 to discuss the application process and future applications. John advised that the OTFA needs cooperation from all clubs to help with the application such that we need to know of all club activities so we can inform the Ministry.

A checklist for clubs to respond to re: programs etc. will be drafted and there will be a follow up with phone calls

Ask Hazel to get e-mail contacts for all clubs

Wendy's proposal re 'club administrator' membership category is accepted. The OTFA membership category of ‘Club Administrator’ will now simply be called ‘Administrator’, and the category of ‘Community Membership’ will be discontinued.

On OTFA registration form - try to make e-mail addresses for coaches mandatory. In the future Hazel will compile coaches e-mail address list for mass/important mailings.

5. OTFA AGM - November 24, 2001.

MOTION 2

That the OTFA membership decides on a percentage increase in membership fees for 2002 through discussion at the 2001 AGM on November 24/01.

Denis Landry/Gary Crossley                                   Carried

Issues and Concerns for AGM:
- Budget
- FIA
- Universal Membership
- Motion #2

Elections

1 portfolio not filled and no-one has stepped forward. Chair, Vice-Chair, Director of General Operations and Director of Technical Development position are up for election.

6. Road Race Sanctioning

John outlined some of the concerns that arose this summer and fall regarding the road race sanctioning process at the provincial and national level with respect to two marathons being staged in Toronto, and a third one in Niagara. The whole process will undergo review in the fall of 2002 and/or spring of 2003, headed by the Run Canada Committee. Some important issue revolving around protection of dates and sponsors need to be clearly outlined in order to avoid problems in the future and to bring current guidelines into step with IAAF rules and other country’s standards.

7.  AC AGM

New Chair, Roman, John to attend President's meeting on Friday, December 7.

AC elections - 4 spots open – positions open include those previously occupied by Ian James/Alex Gardiner/Danny Daniels/Roly Bullock

- Roly Bullock asked OTFA to support his nomination - agreed
- Who else? From OTFA?

8. Volunteer Screening and Coaching Registration

Some of this was covered earlier in the meeting. Volunteer screening, which pertains most commonly to coaches, should be an initiative directed by the OCC rather than foisted onto the membership by the OTFA. This is a program of increasing importance and one which will require a good deal of work and study. John to apply to the Ministry for Project Funding for 2002-2003 to assist in this initiative.

9. Restructuring

Hazel - job title to be changed to: Administrative Assistant

10. Integration

The Ministry has initiated a move to integrate track and field athletes with a disability into the OTFA programs. A meeting was convened in September to discuss the idea and see what barriers and solutions might be available. Some concerns were expressed about the concepts with respect to available resources, time management and scheduling, but the Board felt the ideas were worth pursuing. John will continue to discuss the ideas.

Adjourn: 1:34 a.m.

Next meeting - November 23, 2001

Minutes by John Craig