USA Gymnastics Online: Technique: Men's Program Committee, Conference Call, May 29, 2002

Men's Program Committee Minutes
Conference Call, May 29, 2002
The meeting was called to order at 11:05 a.m. CDT by Chair, Yoichi Tomita.
I. Roll Call
Members Present:
Yoichi Tomita, MPC Chair & Vice Chair for Men
Steve Butcher, MPC Secretary & Jr. Coaches Rep. (joined call at 11:10 a.m.)
George Beckstead, FIG Rep.
Kurt Golder, Sr. Coaches Rep.
Miles Avery, Sr. Coaches Rep.
Bill Foster, Jr. Coaches Rep. (absent)
Mihai Bagiu, Athlete Rep.
John Roethlisberger, Athlete Rep.
Butch Zunich, NGJA Rep. (voice, no vote) (absent)
Ron Brant, Sr. National Team Coordinator (voice, no vote)
Dennis McIntyre, Jr. National Team Coordinator (voice, no vote)
Ron Galimore, Senior Director, Men's Program (voice, no vote)
Tomita commended the men's team on their fine performance at the Pacific Alliance Championships, our marker meet for 2002.
II. Collegiate Program Fundraising
In response to USA Gymnastics being asked to assist the Collegiate Gymnastics Association (CGA) in fund raising efforts to support men's collegiate gymnastics programs, Bob Colarossi had a donation check box placed on all USA Gymnastics Membership Application forms. These funds will be maintained by the USA Gymnastics National Gymnastics Foundation for distribution. The donation check box on application forms will allow individuals to donate to all disciplines as well as men's and women's collegiate gymnastics. The MPC will establish guidelines for men's funds distribution. The funds could go to a collegiate club or varsity program. Further suggestions included using these funds for programs and not individuals. The MPC will form a committee to distribute these funds. The MPC recommended that this committee have a finance committee member, National Gymnastics Foundation member, and two CGA members.
Motion to form a distribution committee to oversee the funds collected for the men's collegiate program through the membership applications. This distribution committee should be comprised of a USAG Finance committee member, National Gymnastics Foundation committee member, at least two CGA members and another individual to be named later.
   Motion: Yoichi Tomita
   Second: Steve Butcher
   PASSED: Unanimously
III. USAG Standardization Task Force
A task force has been created to review ways in which USA Gymnastics programs could take on a more standardized form. The Task Force is made up of the 5 Vice-Chairs and 5 Program Directors. Examples of some of the things to be discussed include having a common name for all the Junior Olympic disciplines: levels or classes. Standardizing USA Gymnastics programs could be very beneficial when communicating to potential sponsors and explaining the organization structure of USA Gymnastics to the general public. This committee will meet for the first time tomorrow. This is viewed as a long-term process and compromise by each program will be necessary to reach solutions to all of the issues.
IV. Foreign Athlete Permission to attend the Qualifier & U.S. Championships
Alexander Artemev is requesting permission to participate in the U.S. National Qualifier and U.S. Championships in an exhibition only status. His finish at J.O. Nationals would have qualified him to the U.S. Championships if he were a U.S. citizen, but his application for citizenship is still being processed. Jason Shen from Region 6 has parents that are U.S. citizens. Jason was not granted U.S. citizenship because of a missing birth certificate. Relatives in China are attempting to expedite the process by locating a copy of his birth certificate. He is requesting permission to attend the Qualifier and to participate in the U.S. Championships in an exhibition status if qualified among the top U.S. citizens. No U.S. citizens would be displaced by either gymnast.
Motion to permit Alexander Artemev to participate in the 2002 Qualifier and U.S. Championships in an exhibition only status. Also, to permit Jason Shen to participate in the Qualifier with the possibility of participating in the 2002 U.S. Championships, exhibition only, if he qualifies among the top U.S. citizens.
   Motion: Kurt Golder
   Second: Steve Butcher
   PASSED: Unanimously
V. Injury Petition to U.S. Championships
Aaron Rakes is attempting to petition to the 2002 U.S. Championships. He has been sidelined with an elbow injury. Aaron is a Jr. National Team member. This petition would not displace any other gymnasts if approved. Motion to approve the injury petition of Aaron Rakes to the junior division of the 2002 U.S. Championships.
   Motion: Kurt Golder
   Second: Steve Butcher
   PASSED: Unanimously
VI. U.S. Championships AA Finals Format
If a junior gymnast qualifies within the scores of the top 36 senior AA gymnasts then he would be eligible to compete in the senior division AA Finals. Specialists in the top three from the first day will be advanced to the second day.
Motion to advance the top 36 AA gymnasts regardless of division, junior or senior, to the 2nd day of competition at the 2002 U.S. Championships, AA Finals.
   Motion: John Roethlisberger
   Second: Kurt Golder
   PASSED: Unanimously
Motion that any gymnast that ranks in the top three on an apparatus, regardless of division, will be invited to compete on that apparatus on the 2nd day in the AA Finals of the 2002 U.S. Championships.
   Motion: Yoichi Tomita
   Second: John Roethlisberger
   PASSED: Unanimously
Athletes do not need to be age eligible to move on to the AA Finals. Also, foreign exhibition athletes will be permitted to move on to the AA Finals, in an exhibition status only, if they place among the qualifiers.
V. Replacement of pre-qualified AA gymnasts for the U.S. Championships
Motion: Pre-Qualified athletes can be replaced for the U.S. Championships up to one week prior to the competition.
   Motion: Kurt Golder
   Second: Steve Butcher
   PASSED: Unanimously
VI. New Business
Motion that Senior National Team positions 10th-14th will be selected by the MPC after the U.S. Championships and they will remain on the team through the 2003 Winter Cup Challenge. These positions could be awarded to an all-around gymnast, specialist, or injured athlete.
   Motion: John Roethlisberger
   Second: Mihai Bagiu
   PASSED: Unanimously
VII. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn.
   Motion: Steve Butcher
   Second: Yoichi Tomita
   PASSED: Unanimously
The call adjourned at 12:15 a.m. CDT.
Respectfully submitted by: Steve Butcher, MPC Secretary
Approved: Ron Galimore, Senior Director, Men's Program
Approved: Bob Colarossi, USAG President

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