WADA District 2 Spring Caucus Minutes

Wednesday, April 4, 2001 -The Edison Club, Antigo  

The meeting was called to order by Bill Vickroy (Wis. Rapids Lincoln) at 1:00pm.

1.     39 members were in attendance as follows: 

Roger Toole- Bonduel, Bill Schweitzer-Amherst, Terry Owens- St. Pt. Pacelli, 

Chuck Raasch- Menominee Indian, Carl Bruggink- Clintonville, Jerry Aanonsen- Wittenberg-Birnamwood

Cindy Fischer-Antigo, Todd Fischer- Oconto, Ron Wilson- Tomahawk, Len Luedtke- Marshfield

Mike Younggren- Wausau East,  Don Tolkacz- Pulaski, George Maule- White Lake, 

John Lund-Antigo, Karen Goerlinger- Suring,  Jim Tomaszewski- Crivitz                                     

Ron Swanson- Wabeno,  Bill Greb- Three Lakes,  Harry Resch- Crandon

Bill Vickroy- Wis. Rapids Lincoln, Cal Tackes- Stratford, Vern Gaugush-Wausau Newman

Dorothy Nelson- Rib Lake, Jim Steinke- Edgar, Jack Overgaard- D.C. Everest

Pam Huston- Colby, Linda Fenske- Spencer,  Pete Miller- Merrill                                     

Bob Schoen- Wis. Rapids E/W Jr Highs, Jodi Devine- D.C. Everest Jr High

Roger Davis- Wausau Horace Mann, Tom Johnson- Wausau John Muir

Randy Shirek- St. Pt. P.J. Jacobs,  Jim Cliver- St. Pt. Ben Franklin                      

Mike Laliberte- Wausau West,  Frank Kleczewski- Medford Middle School

Steve Vanderwyst- Marshfield Jr High, Rhonda Sundberg- Marshfield Columbus, Darren Sommerfeldt- Rhinelander                          

2.     A.D.’s set for retirement are Roger Davis(Wausau Horace Mann), Bob Schoen (Wis. Rapids E/W Jr Highs), Harry Resch(Crandon), Carl Bruggink(Clintonville) and George Klingbail(St. Pt. Senior High). 

3.     Athletic Directors who are retiring were given WADA Newsletter Profile Sheets to complete and  to return to Bill Vickroy.  They will be used to highlight individuals in future issues.  (Anyone interested in obtaining this sheet can call Bill Vickroy at Rapids, 715-422-7179)

4.     Athletic Director of the Year nominations:  Bob Schoen and Carl Bruggink.  Those in attendance reviewed information on the nominated individuals and a vote was held.  The District II Athletic Director of the Year is Carl Bruggink (Clintonville – 41 years).

5.     Distinguished Service Award nominations:  Greg Albert (by Ron Wilson/Tomahawk) and  Terry Stake(by Jack Cepek/Rapids via Bill Vickroy ).  Presentations were made on behalf of the candidates…..both are radio/broadcast-related….and a vote was taken.  Terry Stake, WHFR Radio/Wisconsin Rapids is the District II D.S.A.winner.  Bill Vickroy will get the information sheet and photo from Terry Stake and forward it to Mark Kryka(Verona).

6.     Newsletter articles are encouraged and ideas, articles, information, etc. should be forwarded to Randy Allen, the WADA Communications Coordinator and the newsletter editor.  His e-mail address is rmdallen@dwave.net…. (His work on the WADA web site has created a great site….visit it at www.wadawi.org – it’s your site.)

7.     The membership was encouraged to consider running for WADA Vice President at the 2001 WADA Workshop.  This position entails a four(4) year commitment and written permission must be granted by a school district for an individual to be considered for nomination.  Anyone interested needs to identify this interest and have formal persmission to Bill Vickroy no later than October 1, 2001.

8.     WADA Golf Outing…Monday, June 25, 2001….Scramble…Noon Start…$65.00

Registration blanks were in the Winter Newsletter.  Numerous slots are open and registration is A.D. only until May 1.  Registration information can be obtained by contacting Bill Vickroy at Rapids….or check the Winter Newsletter.

9.     WADA Fall Workshop Information:  We are in Appleton Nov. 4-6,2001 and a multiple year  agreement has the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel as our host into the upcoming years.  Anyone with suggestions for door prizes, presentation ideas, presiding duties, etc. should contact Bill Vickroy or WADA Board members.  It was decided that Bill Vickroy and Mike Younggren should once again pursue the Dubuque, Iowa “weekend of chance” through Wojo’s in Wittenberg.  This package has been given for two years by Dist. II and winners have enjoyed it.

Volunteers for presiding were:  Pete Miller/Merrill, Jack Overgaard/DCE, Mike Laliberte/Wausau West, Bill Greb/3 Lakes, Jim Tomaszewski/Crivitz, Terry Owens/SP Pacelli and Bill Vickroy/Rapids.

(Cindy Fischer is interested in presenting Antigo’s program of developing officials via high school Physical Education opportunities.)

10. A discussion about Leadership Training Courses (LTC) was held and it was noted  WADA wants to avoid having the Fall Workshop become LTC-driven; the NIAAA convention is currently looking at the same problem. LTC interest is up and times other than the workshop are being reviewed.  Mike Younggren, NIAAA liaison discussed opportunities and emphasized that LTC 590 is necessary to complete before an individual may instruct.  Information will be presented in the newsletter as opportunities develop….new AD workshop, at WIAA offices, etc.

11. AD Mentoring Programs – Mike Younggren has coordinated this program and notes with turnovers of 40-60 AD’s every year it is a crucial to utilize mentoring to maintain quality programs.  Anyone interested should contact Mike at Wausau East.  The ulitmate goal is to have mentors within an individual’s conference; however, that is not always possible.

12. The WIAA’s Annual Meeting is back at The Mead Hotel in Wisconsin Rapids.  The date is Wednesday, April 25, 2001.  Principals, A.D.’s and Superintendents are all encouraged to attend.  The meeting begins at 9am…lunch for first 300 to sign up.

13. NIAAA and WADA membership.  The $37 for NIAAA membership is going to $50 but the advantages of education, information and insurance coverage outweighs the expenditure.  All WIAA  schools should have their A.D.’s as WADA members as a minimum…both costs should be covered by the district; especially when TLC courses in administration and law can increase NIAAA liability coverage to $2 million.  The NIAAA convention is in Orlando, 12/12-12/17, 2001.

WADA initiatives are still the recruitment of officials and an emphasis upon consistent and proper tournament management procedures.  Young officials must be cultivated….remember, high school students age 16+ can officiate junior high events. Also, with regard to tournament management, too many “experienced” A.D.’s often tend to practice seasoned ways of doing things “not ok by the books.”  Remember to utilize the WIAA tournament management manual. 

14. Issues of Concern from the Membership:  A.) the WIAA needs to get rid of the $2.50 ticket for Regional events.  B.)  Girls hockey and the lack of commitment on the part of school districts was discussed….money concerns.  C.)  It was noted that the WIAA needs to work with the schools involved as well as host sites when moving tournament games from a site due to  capacity or travel reasons.  Coancessions, staff, etc. are all concerns….decisions need to be made earlier if possible.  How should remuneration be made for people who have put forth effort for games that were taken away from them?  D.)  Concern was expressed about the custodial fees out-pacing percentages received from WIAA events for hosting.…will the WIAA cover large custodial fees in the future? 

15. Randy Allen’s duties as WADA Communications Coordinator:  newsletter, workshop program, web page design and maintenance, advertising, etc. Newsletter name suggestions were reviewed.  It was felt that Athletic Director is important to highlight.  Nothing jumped out at everyone. 

Individuals with  ideas for improving the New Ad’s Worksop in the summer should contact Mike Younggren of  Wausau East.

Mike Laliberte moved for adjournment/second by Pete Miller.  Adjournment-2:10pm.