1. Present: Bill Mein (Potsdam FSC), Patricia Carvill (Massena FSC), Dianne Loonan (FSC Watertown), Bob Neulieb (Clayton FSC), Kelly Mundy (Norfolk Norwood FSC), Mary Ashley Carroll (Potsdam FSC), Mary Garwood (St. Lawrence FSC), Jan Knickerbocker (St. Lawrence FSC), and Penny Pitts (St. Lawrence FSC)

2. Special Presentation: A group of eight skating moms from several clubs, with Carrie Healy as their spokesperson, requested to address the North Council Board. They are concerned that clubs are not observing the 28 days that need to pass between test sessions for a skater who is retesting. The conflict seems to be in St. Lawrence Co. clubs. Bill is aware of the situation. North Council will try to make sure that clubs are aware of the problem and that there is a North Council calendar that is available.

3. Secretary's Report: The report was accepted with the following correction under New Business - Judges' School: Bill, not Karen Kelly, will submit the sanction for the Judges' School.

4. Financial Report: Report was distributed.

5. Old Business:
   1. Calendar updates - Additions and changes were presented. (An updated calendar is attached.) Our website is updated as items are given to Bill.
   2. Dance School - The North Council-sponsored Dance School will possibly be held at Lake Placid in conjunction with the Dance Competition.
6. New Business:
   
   1. Bill provided us with the following information:
      1. Heather Nemier, Eastern At-large Board Member, mentions, in a positive way, North Council.
      2. Dance Committee is looking at: updating dance test sheets, promoting judges for the international dances, ambiguity in re-skate rules for dance, guidelines for free dance tests, number of patterns for preliminary dance (from 3 to 2).
      3. Singles and Pairs is looking at: restricting skaters from taking MIF tests more than one or two levels above their free skating level, making MIF optional for taking free skating tests, revising the test structure to incorporate a competition test structure (only at the intermediate currently), keeping recreational skaters in USFSA.
      4. SyS increase the maximum number of skaters on introductory teams from 12 to 16 (so teams have 8-16 members) and deceasing the size of Juvenile and Adult teams to 20 skaters.
      5. Test Committee will now oversee the Letter of Test Achievement sent to school principals. Test chairs should be watching for information regarding this.
      Most of the above items will be decided by March.
   2. Doping - Jan provided a great deal of information from the the Olympic Committee that synchronized skating teams need to be aware of regarding drug testing at national competitions. Any skater may be tested without advance notice. Many over-the-counter medicines contain ingredients that are not allowed by <I>USOC.</I> Even caffeine (found in chocolate, tea, coffee, etc.) is not allowed. Many common adolescent medications (Ritalin, inhalers) are not allowed. The parent, if the skater is ill from December on, needs to tell the doctor that the child is an athlete and may have the opportunity to compete at the national level. The parent then needs to check as to what medications for that condition are allowed. Also ask the pharmacist when the medication will be out of the skater's system. Each skater must also have a doctor completed document for any prescribed drug, or over-the-counter drug, that is allowed.
         To obtain a packet that gives information as to what drugs are allowed and not allowed, call 800-233-0393 (USOC). This packet is to be updated on February 1, 2000. Not knowing is no excuse.

7. Announcements:
   1. Bill provided us with statistics as to the number of figures that have been tested from 4.7.99 to 7.16.99.
   2. Bill continues to visit clubs and would like the opportunity to visit each club this year.
   3. Appleton Arena is now open on Sunday.
   4. Snowflake Announcements were distributed.
   5. All performance sanctions go to Bill Mein.

8. Club Concerns:
   1. Bill is preparing a letter to send to John McHugh regarding problems clubs encounter when attempting to obtain Canadian male pros.
   2. Mary Garwood, speaking for the pros, asked why time ranges had been removed from intermediate level freestyle in competitions. It was reported that, according to Heather, a sanction will not be granted if the time range is used in a competition. North Council will check with Heather to see if a pre-intermediate or an intermediate A and B would be allowed. In August at the Competition Chair meeting, the clubs should work together on this.
   3. The Clayton tax adviser has told the club that if the club collects fees from the parents to pay the pros, tax and social security need to be deducted as the pros are no longer independent contractors, but employees of the club. The St. Lawrence CPA states the same.

9. Next Meeting: January 18^th, 2000, 7:00pm, M^cCarthy's, Canton, NY

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