1. Master Athlete of the Year
2. Nominations for Stan Powell and Ted Simpson Awards
3. New Swimmer Registration Numbers
4. Get Meet Results to us
5. Is your Club registered?
6. Important Insurance Notice
7. AGM and Notice of Elections
8. Host required for 2008 Provincials
9. Coaches Clincis
10. Cowichan Meet
11. Upcoming Events
12. Register on line for Provincials
13. Hotels for Provincials
14. Masters Canada Elections

It is with great pleasure to announce that the Board of Directors of MSABC has nominated Avila Rhodes as a nominee for the Sports BC Master Athlete of the Year.

NEW SWIMMER REGISTRATION NUMBERS

Effective September 1, 2006 all sanctioned swim meets in Canada required meet entries to be accompanied by a 9-digit registration number. This is why all Master swimmers have been issued a new 9-digit number since we fall under this new ruling by our association with Swim BC and Swimming Canada (SNC). All swimmers registered on Swim Direct this year were assigned a new number; this number can be obtained from your club registrar. Keith Kendal has taken on the task of getting all swimmers their cards in the very near future.

SWIM MEETS AND SWIM MEET RESULTS

In order for swimmers to be ranked on the Masters Swimming Canada website all meet managers must submit their swim meet results to MSC. On the MSC website under the “Meet Results Header” there is a link on “How to submit results”. Will all meet manager’s review this process and submit all results at the conclusion of your meet, please.

We would still like you to submit your results to the MSABC webmaster so we can also post the results on our webpage.

As a registered Masters Club in BC there is an annual Club fee of $25, some clubs have failed to forward this fee to the MSABC registrar maybe due to confusion on how to register the club on Swim Direct or possibly not knowing there is a fee. We ask that all clubs that have not forwarded the annual fee to do so as soon as possible. Keith Kendal will be contacting all clubs in default.

The Board of Directors would like to clarify for the registered clubs of MSABC the policy regarding insurance coverage for master swimmers:

• All registered masters swimmers with MSABC are covered by general liability and accidental insurance through an insurance policy with Swim BC/SNC. This policy is posted on our website

• All swimmers must register who train or compete with any Swim BC member club, with includes MSABC, allowing swimmers who have alternate insurance is not permissible. Clubs allowing non-members to participate in training and competitive activities are putting their swimmers, their organization and the entire Swim BC community at risk. Failure by any club to follow these guidelines will void your insurance and insurance for the MSABC board as well as all meet sanctioning abilities. This would not allow our swimmers to record BC, National or World records. (Ouch)

• Each club needs to review how they are structured in order to comply with the insurance requirements.

• Community based programs that offer “Master Swim Programs” and provide trained instructors are not considered to be “MSABC“sanctioned events. While there may be registered MSABC swimmers in the pool under the Community based programs they are covered by the Community Centre insurance while training. The MSABC swimmers will only be covered by Swim BC insurance at sanctioned MSABC events and all members of their Club must be registered members.

• MSABC clubs renting pool time and/or hiring their own coaches must ensure all members training or competing with their club are registered MSABC members without exceptions

• The Board of Directors considers this a serious matter and anyone wishing to discuss this further please feel free to contact us.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

MASTERS SWIMMING ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

NOTICE OF ELECTIONS

The 2007-2008 election of Directors will be held at the Annual General Meeting Saturday, April 21, 2007 at the Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex, 16555 Fraser Hwy (168 St) Surrey, BC. There are 5 vacancies (*) to be filled. Directors shall be elected for a term for two years [Bylaw 25(1)], expiring at the Annual General Meeting. If a successor is not elected, the previous officer continues in the office [Bylaw 25(4)].

CURRENT 2006-2007 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Glen Mehus (Okanagan Masters) President 2007*
Diane Ruffell (Cowichan Aquannis) Vice President 2008
Stephen Ricketts (Nanaimo Ebbtides) Secretary 2007*
Keith Kendall (Victoria Masters) Treasurer 2008
Tony Zezza (Marpac Masters) Registrar 2008
Vacant Editor 2007*
Leon Politano (Crystal Silver Streaks) Member at Large 2008
Vacant Member at Large 2008*
Vacant Member at Large 2007*

DUTIES OF THE DIRECTORS

On behalf of the membership, the Directors are responsible for planning and guiding the overall affairs of MSABC. The Board establishes committees which directors chair. There are six Board meetings a year. While engaged in the affairs of MSABC, board members shall be reimbursed for approved expenses that are necessarily and reasonably incurred. [Bylaw 29]

NOMINATIONS OF CANDIDATES

MSABC members in good standing may nominate candidates for the positions that expire at the 2007 Annual General Meeting. Candidates must be MSABC members in good standing. Nominations may be made in advance of the AGM by notifying Stephen Ricketts at secretary@mastersswimming.bc.ca or (250) 751-1506. Nominations may also be given to any Director and will be taken from the floor during the AGM. Candidates may be requested to give a brief (1 min) statement supporting their nomination.

VOTING

A member in good standing is entitled to one vote [Bylaw 21(3)]. Voting is by show of hands. Proxies are not permitted [Bylaw 22(1) and (2)].

MASTERS SWIMMING ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Location: Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex, 16555 Fraser Hwy (168 St) Surrey, BC.
Date: April 21, 2007
Time: Approx. 4:30 pm (1/2 hour after completion of day’s swim events)

AGENDA

• Call to Order
• Adoption of Rules of Order
• Adoption of Agenda
• Auditor’s Report
• Appointment of Auditor
• Reports of the Directors
• Setting fees Swim Year 2007-2008
• Awards

o Ted Simpson Trophy - Achievement
o Stan Powell Memorial Service Award

• Election of Directors
• Question Period
• Adjournment

The Board of Director’s request Club’s interested in hosting the 2008 MSABC Provincial Swim Meet to submit confirmation of interest to Glen Mehus at president@mastersswimming.bc.ca. We require the host club to have an 8 lane pool with warm up/cool down facilities.

We would like to remind all coaches that Swim BC conducts skills courses throughout the year, details can be found on the SwimBC website for up and coming courses.

SwimBC is offering a Level III coaching clinic during the Spring Nationals meet in Victoria, March 22 – 25, 2007, contact Mike at SwimBC if you are interested.

A reminder, anyone completing the Level I NCCP program and 30 hours of coaching with a registered Masters Swim Club in British Columbia is reimbursed $150 upon producing a completed and valid application. The applications are ordinarily posted on the MSABC website.

On Sunday, January 28, 2007 90 master swimmers from Vancouver and Vancouver Island descended on Duncan to meet with old friends and swim fast. Well, Bonnie Pronk moved into a new age group and four World records fell to the speed demon, well done Bonnie. Sarah McDonald raced to a national record in the 200 Breast, Grant Hall broke a 100 fly provincial record, Avila Rhodes broke the 50 free provincial record and Brian Stanton broke the 100 freestyle provincial record. Congratulations to you all.

(picture here)

This wonderful team of Steve Baker, Jim Portelance, Hugh McGregor and Peter Lofts
took 20 seconds off the national record in the 320 category for the 4x50 freestyle relay. Congratulations!!!!!

(picture here)

A VERY HAPPY COACH (AND FELLOW SWIMMER)

Victoria Masters Swim Club - 27 th Annual Swim Meet (Long Course)

• Date: Saturday March, 10, 2007
• Facility: 8 lane, 50m, electronic timing, cardless, separate warm-up/cool-down pool
• Warm Ups: 10:30 AM Meet: 11:30 AM Social: Following Events
• Meet Manager: Dave Kelsey
• Phone: 250.888.8160
• Email: meet@victoriamasters.ca

See the Victoria Masters Web Site for more information and details.

2007 British Columbia Masters Short Course (Meters) Swimming Championships

Hosted by the Semiahmoo Masters Swim Club

• Date: April 20, 21, 22, 2007
• Facility: Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex 16555 Fraser Hwy (168St) Surrey , BC
• Sanction: SBCM 0706
• Complete Registration and Event Schedule is now available on the MSABC web site at: http://www.mastersswimming.bc.ca/2007provinfo.html

2007 Nationals – Don't Miss Out on the 2007 Nationals in Winnipeg!

A special note to all members interested in attending the 2007 Masters Swimming Canada Nationals that they will be accepting very limited entries. For more information on the meet and to register, please visit the web site at: http://www.cmsc2007.ca

Glen Mehus will be the contact for MSBC relays at president@mastersswimming.bc.ca. Please let Glen know if you are going as a MSBC swimmer, what strokes you do and your times. Remember to register as MSBC for Nationals if you want to swim on the BC relays teams

• Date: May 2007
• See www.mymsc.ca for details.

Planning on competing at the Provincials?

Hotels packages are available from the following Hotels. These Hotels are about 6 KM from the pool and are the closest that you will find. Click to visit their web sites below to check availability and to book your room now. FOR ALL HOTELS QUOTE "MSABC or SWIM BC RATE".

	http://www.sheratonguildford.com/ Rate: 2 queens or 1 king per room - $89.00
	http://www.ramadasurreyguildford.com/ Rate: $89.00 standard or $119.00 suite per night
	http://www.sandmanhotels.com/ Rate: Top of the line - $120.00 per night

MSC Elections

Interested in being on the National Board of Directors for Masters Swimming Canada? There will be elections of four positions in May 2007 - check out their web page - for details and requirements.