Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes:
Saturday, December 8, 2001, 11:00 AM
Washington DC

Call to Order: 11:00 am
Roll Call: Officers present:
President Reyn Kinzey,
Secretary Carl Schmitt,
Treasurer DJ Jefferis,
Director-at-Large Nigel Willis.
LAU Reps present:
VRU (3): Reyn Kinzey, Kris Kabza,
PRU (3): Eric Pittelkau, Pat Costello, and Tom Walsh.
EPRU (3): Dana Bateman, Elaine Recchiuti, and Carl Ostermann.
MARR: Rick Simms

Guests:
Jamie Jisa
Kristen McCarty

Absent:
VP Dawn White,
Dave Chapman

May 6, 2001 Meeting Minutes:
It was requested that the minutes from this meeting be resent.
These minutes are posted on the MARFU website.

Ad Hoc Men's Competition Committee:
President Kinzey announced the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee to make recommendations to the Board to determine the best league structure for the MARFU Men's Club 2002 League Season. It was suggested that this Committee could tele-conference in January. Members will be the Men's Competition Committee (Chapman, Pittelkau, and Ostermann) and LAU reps Carl Schmitt, Pat Costello and Tom Lyons (PRU), and two members from the EPRU to be named ASAP. Ed Gaffney will sit with this Committee as a non-voting member.

MARFU 7's Coaching Clinic:
Emil Signesand John Redmond have requested that the MARFU Board endorse a MARFU 7's Coaches Clinic, to be held in May 2002. Emil has contacted USA, who has no problem with the clinic, as long as it is note billed as a USA sponsored event. MARFU will insist that all participants in the Clinic be CIPP registered. Motion to endorse was made by Willis, seconded by Walsh, motion passed by voice vote.

MARR Report:
There will be a Touch Judges Clinic in June, to be hosted by Rick Simms. There is a possibility it will be combined with a Referees Certification Clinic. Discussion about a Touch Judge Corp, provided with unique jerseys and shirts, be formed on 2002. These Touch judges would be paid on a scale, similar to refs, and would be utilized for Championships, All Star matches, and important league and Superleague matches, relieving the current need for additional refs to run touch. It would also provide a feeder pool for the referees Societies, and introduce prospective refs to the job in a less demanding way. Also, MARR requested that MARFU avoid scheduling multiple events on a given weekend, and that LAU's also try to prevent multiple tournaments on any given weekend.

There was a good deal of discussion concerning recruitment and retention of referees, and abuse of referees by players, sidelines and coaches. MARR is encouraging LAU Societies to educate their refs on options to handle abuse. Referees are also encouraged to file Disciplinary reports on abusive players, Coaches and/or clubs, as LAU's and MARFU cannot impose fines, sanctions and punishments unless a formal report is submitted. MARR also requested stricter enforcement of the requirement for sideline barriers.

2002 MARFU Collegiate Championships:
Jamie Jisa requested the MARFU Board review the Collegiate Men's Competitions Committee Seeding Guidelines. Kris Kabza outlined how the seedings had been determined the past two years, and for the 2002 Championships. After discussion, the motion was made by Reyn Kinzey (seconded by Dana Bateman) that the 2001/02 seedings be accepted as proposed by the CCC. Voting was 7 Yea, 3 Nay. Motion passes. It was noted the Women's U-23 Committee determined the seedings for the Women's Collegiate Championships.

Coaches Code of Conduct
A motion was made by Nigel Willis (seconded by Carl Ostermann) that the EPRU Coaches Code of Contact be adopted for all MARFU coaches, with copies sent, and requiring a signature page to be returned to MARFU. After discussion, a motion was made by Carl Schmitt (seconded by Eric Pittlekau) to table this item until the February Meeting in order that copies could be reviewed by the VRU and EPRU. Motion to table passed by voice vote.

Requirement for Certified Trainers at MARFU Collegiate Events:
A motion was made by Dana Bateman (seconded by Carl Ostermann) that MARFU require, and pay for, Certified Athletic Trainers be required for all MARFU Collegiate Events, in addition to the EMT's, which are currently required. A motion to table this item was made by Willis (seconded by Pittlekau) so more information about the need for and unique skills of certified trainers could be studied. Motion to table passed by voice vote.

In a related item, a motion was made and withdrawn by Pat Costello that Medical Kits be provided at no cost to all MARFU clubs. Pat is to distribute medical kit requirements and solicit prices from Rugby and/or other sports equipment suppliers.

Fines against Philadelphia Whitemarsh RFC for late withdrawal from a 2001 7's Qualifier
A motion was made by Dana Bateman (seconded by Costello) that the PWRFC be barred from entering any 2002 MARFU 7's Qualifiers until PWRFC pays the United RFC all fines prescribed by the MARFU 7's Guidelines.

Funding for the 2002 East Coast Men's Collegiate Division III Playoffs:
A motion was made by Carl Schmitt (seconded by Kris Kabza) to allocate a one-tine grant of $500 to support a Men's Collegiate Division III playoff with the NERFU, being coordinated by Steve Cohen. Passed by voice vote.

2002 MARFU 7's Qualifiers:
Award of the 2002 7's Qualifiers is delayed pending the receipt of recommendations from the MARFU 7's Committee. Kinzey will distribute all applications and the Committee recommendations. If the recommended qualifiers are not accepted, each voting member of the Board will be allowed to vote for 4 (four) qualifiers. High votes will be awarded qualifiers.

Other awards approved by the Board are as follows:
Div. II Men's Club Final 4 - Norfolk (April 27 & 28)
Div. III Men's Club Final 8 - Happy Valley (April 27 & 28)
Div I Women's Club - (April 6 & 7) tentatively awarded to North Bay (Aberdeen, MD) - sent letter of intent to bid. Formal application due to Elaine Recchiuti no later than January 15, 2002 (April 6 & 7)
Div I & II M & W Collegiate. Champs - Princeton Univ. (March 30, 31)
EPRU to host the "East" Boys HS Championships, (May 4 & 5)

2002 USARFU Conference on the Game; Washington DC
August 16,17,18, 2002. AJ Hagen Coordinator. Pat Costello to develop the cost to provide a Friday or Saturday Night Social. MARFU may also place an ad in the program book.

Treasurer's Report:
After discussion, the 2002 Proposed Budget was passed by voice vote, excepting $200 was removed from the Women's U-23 All Star budget to bring it in line with all other All Star teams, and $200 was removed from both the Men's Club Committee and the Women's Club Committee. This $600 was moved to the Emergent Requirements line item.

New Business:
Nigel Willis will contact Matt Godek Rugby Supply to find out what MARFU jerseys we have stored at their facility.

Nigel Willis will investigate having Fairfax County build two rugby pitches at the Lorton Prison Property.

Meeting Dates for 2002
Saturday - Feb. 2nd (Alexandria)
Sunday - May 5th at Virginia Beach in conj. w/Nat'l Collegiate Men's Championship
Sat OR Sun - Aug 17 or 18 -(in conjunction with The Conference on The Game in Washington, DC)
Saturday - Dec. 7th 2002-03 AGM

2002 MARFU Officers elected
Pres - Reyn Kinzey (VRU)
VP - Pat Costello (PRU)
Secretary - Carl Schmitt (VRU)
Treasurer - DJ Jefferis (EPRU)
Dir. at Large - Elaine Recchiuti (EPRU)
(note - Kristin McCarthy will take Elaine's former EPRU Director slot)