2008 NCSG ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM IN THE BOOKS
- Posted by Jeff Scully about 1 month ago|
- 0 comments
ROCHESTER, NY--The National Congress of State Games' annual symposium was held at the Rochester Plaza Hotel, and hosted by the Monroe County Sports Commission September 23-26.
This symposium marked the first time the event was not organized by a member organization of the NCSG. On Tuesday afternoon, the September NCSG Board of Directors meeting was held. Discussion included budget, past business, and the events of the week.
After check-in, a reception was held under the outdoor tent at the Plaza, and then the group was treated to a event at the Artisian Works--a very unique art gallery featuring tens of thousands of pieces of art from local artists. The General Assembly was held on Wednesday morning following breakfast, and then workshops and meetings filled the remainder of the day.
Pat O'Connor, of City Securities, co-sponsored a lunch with K & K Insurance. O'Connor announced that next year's insurance rate has been reduced to $1.24 per athlete, a savings of $.20 over last year's rate. This continues a trend of reduced insurance costs for the membership over the last four years. The new rate begins January 1, 2009. One meeting of note was held in the late afternoon in the hotel board room.
Peter Martell, executive director of the Ice Skating Institute and Kady Hayden also of ISI joined Mary Anne McGivern and Cassy Papajohn, of the United States Figure Skating Association (USFS); along with Doug Martin (State Games of America), Kevin Cummings (Bay State Games), Jeff Scully (Maine Games), Kevin Bourke (Iowa Games), Barclay Kruse (Star of the North Games and NCSG president), Pat Fisher (Nutmeg State Games), Ken Ash (Show-Me-State Games), and Mike Meyer (USFS) convened the session to iron out a structure to create a blended set of rules and scoring for State Games organizations to use in their skating competitions and to allow for standardized qualification for medalists wishing to compete at the State Games of America.
Other meetings of a smaller sub-committee including Hayden, Papajohn, McGivern, and Martin, finalized the details over the next few days, and a standardized set of rules will follow. Meyer and Martell pledged cooperation and support from their respective organizations to help State Games streamline the sanctioning and endorsement process. Wednesday evening the annual "T-shirt" swap was held in the outdoor tent, and then the group was on their own for dinner, and several attendees enjoyed a meal and music at Dinosaur Bones, a downtown favorite rib joint and watering hole. After hours many members shared some fun in the "hospitality suite" at the hotel.
On Thursday, the membership was given a weplay demonstration by Jim Woodman. Weplay became a sponsor of the NCSG this year. Other workshops were held throughout the remainder of the day, and the formal portion of the day culminated with the annual Athletes of the Year Awards banquet.
Following a key-note speech by guest, Olympic fencer, Iris Zimmerman, of Rochester, the attendees were treated to the highlight of the evening, the presentation of the AOTY awards. Each recipient was introduced by a five-minute video, and then NCSG president, Barclay Kruse presented the awards which were created by Ashworth Awards of North Attleboro, MA.
At the conclusion of the banquet, photos were taken of the athletes, their State Games representatives, and other attendees. The majority of the group then were treated to a night on the town. "After hours" were again held in the hospitality suite untill the wee-hours of the night.
The annual business meeting was held after breakfast on Friday, and 19 separate by-law changes and proposals were voted on. Marc Riker, of the Alabama Sports Festival, was elected to the NCSG board of directors, taking the place of April Luke, of the State Games of Mississippi. Karen Sandford-Gall (Big Sky State Games), Jeff Scully (Maine Games), Dave Mlnarik (Cornhusker State Games), were all re-elected to the board. Sanford-Gall (vice-president) and Mlnarik (secretary) were re-elected to officer positions on the board. Tom Osborne (Rocky Mountain State Games) was re-elected treasurer.
The Convention Committee recommended that the 2010 Annual Symposium be held in San Diego, in anticipation of the 2011 State Games of America. Acceptance of this recommendation required a suspension of the by-laws because no formal proposal from the California State Games was submitted, and no request for proposals was issued. The voting members present agreed to such a suspension, and then voted to award the 2010 symposium to San Diego.
Following the annual meeting, many members of the delegation were treated to a trip to Niagara Falls. Other members took the early departure opportunity. The 2009 NCSG Annual Symposium, will be held in Ames, Iowa, and hosted by the Iowa Games, October 5-8. Details of that symposium will be issued at a later date.
This symposium marked the first time the event was not organized by a member organization of the NCSG. On Tuesday afternoon, the September NCSG Board of Directors meeting was held. Discussion included budget, past business, and the events of the week.
After check-in, a reception was held under the outdoor tent at the Plaza, and then the group was treated to a event at the Artisian Works--a very unique art gallery featuring tens of thousands of pieces of art from local artists. The General Assembly was held on Wednesday morning following breakfast, and then workshops and meetings filled the remainder of the day.
Pat O'Connor, of City Securities, co-sponsored a lunch with K & K Insurance. O'Connor announced that next year's insurance rate has been reduced to $1.24 per athlete, a savings of $.20 over last year's rate. This continues a trend of reduced insurance costs for the membership over the last four years. The new rate begins January 1, 2009. One meeting of note was held in the late afternoon in the hotel board room.
Peter Martell, executive director of the Ice Skating Institute and Kady Hayden also of ISI joined Mary Anne McGivern and Cassy Papajohn, of the United States Figure Skating Association (USFS); along with Doug Martin (State Games of America), Kevin Cummings (Bay State Games), Jeff Scully (Maine Games), Kevin Bourke (Iowa Games), Barclay Kruse (Star of the North Games and NCSG president), Pat Fisher (Nutmeg State Games), Ken Ash (Show-Me-State Games), and Mike Meyer (USFS) convened the session to iron out a structure to create a blended set of rules and scoring for State Games organizations to use in their skating competitions and to allow for standardized qualification for medalists wishing to compete at the State Games of America.
Other meetings of a smaller sub-committee including Hayden, Papajohn, McGivern, and Martin, finalized the details over the next few days, and a standardized set of rules will follow. Meyer and Martell pledged cooperation and support from their respective organizations to help State Games streamline the sanctioning and endorsement process. Wednesday evening the annual "T-shirt" swap was held in the outdoor tent, and then the group was on their own for dinner, and several attendees enjoyed a meal and music at Dinosaur Bones, a downtown favorite rib joint and watering hole. After hours many members shared some fun in the "hospitality suite" at the hotel.
On Thursday, the membership was given a weplay demonstration by Jim Woodman. Weplay became a sponsor of the NCSG this year. Other workshops were held throughout the remainder of the day, and the formal portion of the day culminated with the annual Athletes of the Year Awards banquet.
Following a key-note speech by guest, Olympic fencer, Iris Zimmerman, of Rochester, the attendees were treated to the highlight of the evening, the presentation of the AOTY awards. Each recipient was introduced by a five-minute video, and then NCSG president, Barclay Kruse presented the awards which were created by Ashworth Awards of North Attleboro, MA.
At the conclusion of the banquet, photos were taken of the athletes, their State Games representatives, and other attendees. The majority of the group then were treated to a night on the town. "After hours" were again held in the hospitality suite untill the wee-hours of the night.
The annual business meeting was held after breakfast on Friday, and 19 separate by-law changes and proposals were voted on. Marc Riker, of the Alabama Sports Festival, was elected to the NCSG board of directors, taking the place of April Luke, of the State Games of Mississippi. Karen Sandford-Gall (Big Sky State Games), Jeff Scully (Maine Games), Dave Mlnarik (Cornhusker State Games), were all re-elected to the board. Sanford-Gall (vice-president) and Mlnarik (secretary) were re-elected to officer positions on the board. Tom Osborne (Rocky Mountain State Games) was re-elected treasurer.
The Convention Committee recommended that the 2010 Annual Symposium be held in San Diego, in anticipation of the 2011 State Games of America. Acceptance of this recommendation required a suspension of the by-laws because no formal proposal from the California State Games was submitted, and no request for proposals was issued. The voting members present agreed to such a suspension, and then voted to award the 2010 symposium to San Diego.
Following the annual meeting, many members of the delegation were treated to a trip to Niagara Falls. Other members took the early departure opportunity. The 2009 NCSG Annual Symposium, will be held in Ames, Iowa, and hosted by the Iowa Games, October 5-8. Details of that symposium will be issued at a later date.