NZSSRA: 2023 AGM Minutes

1. Declaration of Membership
   Each school in attendance has paid their 2023 NZSSRA subs.
2. Roll Call
   • Schools in attendance (78): ACG Strathallan, ACG Tauranga, Aquinas College, Ashburton College, Auckland Grammar School, Baradene College, Cambridge High School, Cashmere High School, Christchurch Boys High School, Christchurch Girls High School, Christs College, Columba College, Craighead Diocesan School, Diocesan School For Girls, Epsom Girls Grammar, Gisborne Boys High School, Gisborne Girls High School, Glendowie College, Hamilton Boys High School, Havelock North High School, Hillcrest High School, Huanui College, Iona College, John Paul College, Kings College, Marian College, Marlborough Boys College, Marlborough Girls College, Mt Aspiring College, Mt Maunganui College, Nelson College, Nelson College For Girls, Onslow College, Otago Girls High School, Pompallier Catholic College, Queen Margaret College, Queens High School, Rangi Ruru Girls School, Rotorua Girls High School, Rotorua Lakes High School, Rototuna High School, Sacred Heart Girls College (Hamilton), Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Scots College, Shirley Boys High School, St Andrews College, St Bedes College, St Cuthberts College, St Hildas Collegiate, St Kentigern College, St Margarets College, St Mary's College (Wellington), St Pauls Collegiate School, St Peters College, St Peters School, St Thomas Of Canterbury, Taradale High School, Tauhara College, Taupo-Nui-A-Tia College, Tauranga Boys College, Tauranga Girls College, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Horouta Wananga, Timaru Boys High School, Twizel Area School, Villa Maria College, Waikato Diocesan School, Waimea College, Wakatipu High School, Wellington College, Wellington Girls College, Wentworth College, Westlake Boys High School, Westlake Girls High School, Whanganui Collegiate School, Whanganui High School, Whangarei Boys High School, Whangarei Girls High School, Woodford House.
   • Quorum: The AGM is not considering Amendments to the Constitution, Regulations, Rules or Safety System so the quorum is 23 (20%) of the 113 schools entered at the 2023 Aon aadi Regatta: 78 schools entered at the regatta are in attendance. Quorum is met.
   • Schools Committee members in attendance (5): Bruce Tong, Janey Charlton, Mark Weatherall, Jane Stanley, Mark Cotham
   • NZSSRA Board members in attendance (5): Janey Charlton, Kim Dowden, Trudy Keys, Gus Scott, Andrew Carr-Smith
   • Life members (1): Trudy Keys
3. Apologies
   • Schools: Burnside High School, Dunstan High School, Hamilton Girls High School, Hauraki Plains College, John McGlashan College, Otago Boys High School, Otumoetai College, Rangitoto College, Roncalli College, St Johns College (Hamilton), St Patricks College, Te Awamutu College, Te Kauwhata College, Trident High School, Waitaki Boys High School, Waitaki Girls High School, Whakatane High School.
   • Schools Committee members: Richard Dykes
   • Life members: Father Earl Crotty, Garry Carr-Smith, Jack Collin, Fred Strachan, John Drummond
4. In Memoriam
   One minute silence held for life member, Brother Terrence Costello.
5. President's Address
   Verbal update given by Janey Charlton (outgoing President).
   
   Welcome everyone to the 2023 Aon Maadi Regatta, it is fantastic to finally be here at Maadi after a full racing season under everyone's belts, as it's been four long years since that last happened. While it has been a challenging three years, with lots of ups, downs, twists and turns, we are all here now and ready to go.
   As I reflect on the past few years it has definitely shown me a few things about our rowing community.
   
   We are a resilient bunch, nothing too much phases those involved in rowing. This has been seen from the very entry level to the top level in our sport. While we have faced all sorts of variations on lock downs, restrictions, weather disruptions and disasters over the past three years, our sport has still managed to carry on and excel, seen with the amazing performances of our Elite team in the delayed Tokyo Olympics and also seen with the large numbers we see entered in our regattas this season. Through all this we have still carried on and just got on with life.
   
   We have a strong sense of looking after our community. After the recent weather events, it has truly been wonderful to see the rowing community getting in behind and supporting clubs like Gisborne and enabling those rowers to be here competing despite not currently been able to train on their local river and access their shed. This support also extends to local clubs helping support smaller clubs being able to come to regattas that they wouldn't have come to, for example it is fantastic to see the Twizel Area School rowers here at Maadi this week, when they thought it would not be something they would ever do at the start of their season.
   
   Finally, we can think outside the box, as it was shown by everyone having to adapt to remote training during our COVID lock downs. Zoom trainings and creative ways to keep people engaged really pushed our coaches to look at other ways to train. What it did show is that you can still be successful without having to put hours and hours of training miles on the water in your program, you can find alternative ways to engage young people. Also the innovation and tireless work by the likes of SIR last season to keep regattas going despite not many other community events going ahead during the time. Despite two completely different lead-ins to Maadi in 2022, both the North Island and South Island schools shared equal success last year at Maadi.
   
   As we move forward we need to remember these things, we are resilient, we have a strong community and we can think outside the box. The current pressure on both our regatta hosts (KRI and SIR) will need us to look at how we manage the amazing growth we have had in our sport. With the numbers involved, the time off school, the ever changing and unpredictable weather, the increased pressure on sporting performance at a school level, the huge demand on volunteer help to run our events, we really do need to look to the future about what our purpose is and how we meet everyone's expectations and provide meaningful and rewarding regatta experiences.
   
   I would like to make sure that I sneak in a few thank yous as the work that goes into putting an event like the Aon Maadi Regatta on is huge. A big thank you to all the work behind and in front of the scenes that our regatta hosts KRI have done and will do over the next few days, especially Carol, Dennis, the regatta committee and the huge number of volunteers involved.
   
   The team at Rowing NZ who also do a lot behind the scenes to make sure this event goes ahead, thanks to Mark, Kate and Mandy. A big thank you to our major sponsors AON and all the other regatta sponsors. A huge thank you also goes out to all the amazing coaches, managers, parents and supporters that have created a community around our rowers to get them ready to line up on the start line throughout the season.
   
   Good luck to all the rowers and coxswains out there this week, can't wait to see you all have the best races of your season.
6. Correspondence
   Nil received.
7. Minutes of SGM
   Presented in information pack.
   Call for acceptance of minutes.
   
   Moved: St Peters School     Seconded: Nelson College
   Any discussion? None.
   
   Vote for acceptance of minutes:
   All for, nil against
   
   Call to destroy ballots cast in SGM.
   
   Moved: Whanganui Collegiate     Seconded: St Margarets College
   Any discussion? None.
   
   Vote to destroy 2022 SGM ballots:
   All for, nil against
8. Finance Reports
   Presented in information pack.
   Call for acceptance of financial reports.
   
   Moved: Whanganui Collegiate     Seconded: Hamilton Boys High School
   Any discussion? None.
   
   Vote for acceptance of financial reports:
   All for, nil against
9. Report on business
   Presentation made by Rowing NZ General Manager Community and Development - Mark Weatherall.
   Call for acceptance of Mark Weatherall's report.
   
   Moved: Ashburton College     Seconded: St Cuthberts College
   Any discussion? None.
   
   Vote for acceptance of Mark Weatherall's report:
   All for, nil against
10. Membership Fee
    The fee was $160 per school per year.
    Call for acceptance of the current subscription.
    
    Moved: St Kentigern College     Seconded: Christs College
    Any discussion? None.
    
    Vote for keeping the annual NZSSRA subscription at $160 per school per year:
    All for, nil against
11. Election of Officers
    1. Life membership
       No nominees received
    2. Elected members (2)
       With the retirement of Cathy Ewing and Lauren Farnden we have two vacant elected positions. We have received two nominations:
       • Christine Sinclair - Columba College, Dunedin
       • Adrian Riepen - Cashmere School, Christchurch
       Call for acceptance of the two nominations received for the Schools Committee.
       
       Moved: St Peters School     Seconded: Whanganui Collegiate
       Any discussion? None.
       
       Vote for the two nominations received for the Schools Committee:
       All for, nil against
    3. President of the NZ Secondary Schools Rowing Association
       The position is for a three-year term. Janey Charlton completed her term and is not seeking re-election. We have received one nomination:
       • Mark Cotham - Rangi Ruru Girls School
       Call for acceptance of the nomination received for President of the Schools Committee.
       
       Moved: Ashburton College     Seconded: St Bedes College
       Any discussion? None.
       
       Vote for the nomination received for President of the Schools Committee:
       All for, nil against
12. Championship Regattas
    1. Applications to host Championship Regattas
       
       2024 New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships - South Island Rowing
       2024 North Island Secondary School Championships - Karāpiro Rowing Incorporated
       2024 South Island Secondary School Championships - South Island Rowing
       
       Indication from representatives on the floor from Karāpiro Rowing Incorporated and South Island Rowing that applications are forthcoming for the following regattas:
       
       2025 Zealand Secondary Schools Championships - Karāpiro Rowing Incorporated
       2025 North Island Secondary School Championships - Karāpiro Rowing Incorporated
       2025 South Island Secondary School Championships - South Island Rowing
       
       Call to deal with the 2024 and 2025 regatta applications together.
       Moved: St Peters School     Seconded: Christs College
       Any discussion? None.
       
       Vote to deal with the 2024 and 2025 regatta applications together:
       All for, nil against
       
       Call to accept the 2024 and 2025 NZSSRA regatta applications from:
       2024 New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships - South Island Rowing
       2024 North Island Secondary School Championships - Karāpiro Rowing Incorporated
       2024 South Island Secondary School Championships - South Island Rowing
       2025 New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships - Karāpiro Rowing Incorporated
       2025 North Island Secondary School Championships - Karāpiro Rowing Incorporated
       2025 South Island Secondary School Championships -South Island Rowing
       
       Moved: Hamilton Boys High School     Seconded: St Peters School
       
       Vote to accept the 2024 and 2025 NZSSRA regatta applications as stated above:
       Any discussion? None.
       
       All for, nil against
    2. Setting of fees for the 2024 Championships
       
       Proposed fees for the 2024 North Island Secondary Rowing Championships
       

       No changes are proposed for NISSC fees, which remain as follows
       NISSC Fees:					Proposed:
       Year	2020	2021*	2022	2023	2024
       Single	$19	$19	$21	$22	$22
       Double/pair	$21	$21	$23	$24	$24
       Quad/four	$29	$29	$31	$31	$31
       Eight	$36	$36	$38	$38	$38
       Amenity (per competitor)	$24	$24	$19**	$26	$26
       NISSC Levies:	2020	2021*	2022	2023	2024
       Tent site	$160	$160	No tents**	$165	$165
       Tent site (rear)	$130	$130	No tents**	$135	$135
       Competitor (Covid levy)			$15**
       Regatta penalties				NISSC	proposed:
       Did not start (non-notifed scratching)				$60	$60
       Non-notified crew change				$50	$50 $0
       Late scratching				$40	$40
       Non-progression***				$150	$150 $100

       
       * fees were unchanged from 2021 due to the 2020 AGM being cancelled
       ** NISSC 2022 amenity was set at $28 and tent fees at $160 & $130 but the fees were revised due to COVID-19 (amenity reduced, COVID-19 levy added, tent fees removed)
       *** no late scratching fee applies for non-progression
       
       Proposed fees for the 2024 South Island Secondary Rowing Championships
       

       $1-$3 rises are proposed for some SISSC fees, and some SISSC penalties are being reinstated as follows
       SISSC Fees:					Proposed:
       Year	2020	2021*	2022	2023	2024
       Single	$17	$17	$18	$19	$20
       Double/pair	$20	$20	$20	$21	$22
       Quad/four	$30	$30	$30	$31	$32
       Eight	$44	$44	$44	$44	$44
       Amenity (per competitor)	$24	$24	$25	$25	$26
       Regatta penalties				SISSC	proposed:
       Did not start (non-notifed scratching)				$40	$50
       Non-notified crew change				$0	$0
       Late scratching				$0	$0
       Non-progression***				$0	$100

       
       * fees were unchanged from 2021 due to the 2020 AGM being cancelled
       ** no late scratching fee applies for non-progression
       
       Proposed fees for the 2024 New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships

       Entry fees are rising by $2 since South Island Rowing last held Maadi, some penalties are dropping, as follows
       Maadi Fees:	Ruataniwha	Karapiro	Ruataniwha	Karapiro	Ruataniwha Proposed:
       Year	2020	2021*	2022	2023	2024
       Single	$28	$28	$29	$31	$30
       Double/pair	$37	$37	$38	$40	$40
       Quad/four	$49	$49	$50	$52	$52
       Eight	$68	$68	$68	$70	$70
       Amenity (per competitor)	$30	$30	$32	$36	$34
       Maadi Levies:
       Tent site	n/a**	$200	n/a**	$390	n/a**
       Tent site (rear)	n/a**	$160	n/a**	$270	n/a**
       Regatta penalties				MAADI	proposed:
       Did not start (non-notifed scratching)				$60	$60
       Non-notified crew change				$50	$50 $0
       Late scratching				$40	$40
       Non-progression*				$150	$100

       
       * fees were unchanged from 2021 due to the 2020 AGM being cancelled
       ** tent sites at Ruataniwha are booked for a Season through South Island Rowing; rather than having regatta-specific bookings
       *** no late scratching fee will apply for non-progression
       
       

       NZSSRA Fees	(no changes proposed)
       Regulation 10.2	Entry protest	$20.00
       Rule 23.3	Race protest	$20.00
       Rule 24.3	Appeal	$20.00

       
       
       Moved: Whanganui Collegiate     Seconded: Wellington Girls
       
       Any discussion? Yes.
       
       Janey asked a representative from SIR (Tim Babbage) and KRI (Graham Oberlin-Brown) to discuss any fee changes.
       Tim said there were some slight increases due to the increasing costs of hosting a regatta. Graham said that there were no increases from the 2023 regattas.
       
       Proposal from Sean Durkin, speaking in a private capacity, that the non-notified crew change penalty that was introduced for KRI-hosted Championships and now only remains for Maadi be removed and that the non-progression fee for all regattas be aligned and be charged at $100. Logan Keys from Rangi Ruru then suggested no penalty fees as an option.
       
       Call to amend the proposed fees by accepting the proposal to remove the non-notified crew change penalty altogether and align the non-progression fee to $100 across all regattas:
       Moved: Wellington College     Seconded: St Cuthberts College
       No further discussion.
       
       Vote to accept the amendment to remove the non-notified crew change penalty altogether and to align the non-progression fee to $100 across all regattas:
       All for, nil against.
       
       Vote to accept the proposed fees as amended:
       All for, nil against.
13. Remits
    No remits were received in relation to changing the constitution or the Safety System.
    The 2023 AGM is not a Rule-change AGM so there are no proposals to alter the Rules or Regulations this year.
    However, there are items of general business proposing work start on potential alterations to the Rules in preparation for the next Rule-change AGM, in 2025 (see Other Matters).
14. Other Matter/Business from the Floor
    • Restructure of Age Based Classification to School Year Classification
      "That the executive undertake consultation with membership to assess support for a change from age based classification to a classification system based on the Year of a student has reached in their education.
      The consultation should be completed in time to present a report and potential remit to the 2024 AGM" - That is Under 15, 16 17 and 19 become year 10, 11, 12 and 13.
      
      Background:
      The range of experience at under 15 level is significant. Some athletes are in their first year of competition while others may be in their 2nd or even third season. This range of experience and training age can lead to significant margins in competition.
      At the 2022 National Secondary School Championship saw, due to the Covid Pandemic, the exclusion of U15 age group rowers who had not reached year 11. In a sport where training age and experience is a significant contributor to success it would seem that at year based classification system is more appropriate than one based on age.
      In the last decade many sports have recognised the need to allow athletes to develop their skill and fitness level without the pressure of adult level competition. The traditional codes of rugby, netball, and soccer have all replaced age group tournaments with festivals of sport that have a skill based focus.
      While it is recognised that rowing is a late development sport, it is none the less important that athletes are given the opportunity to develop a level of skill and fitness that will see them thrive in competition. If we want athletes to have longevity in the sport, we should ensure that they have opportunity to develop sufficiently before being exposed to full competition.
      In the debate over the place of Under 15 rowers competing a Maadi Cup it appears to argument is skewed by rowers with "lucky birthdays" who are eligible to row in the classification when in year 11. The bulk of the athletes, however, may be as young as 13 with many lacking the physical development to be competitive.
      Under 15 and novice events at early season regattas are a constant source of frustration for regatta organisers. The lack of boat handling skills and large margins in racing often leads to significant time loss and events running over time.
      The following proposals are made for consideration:
      • Change the classification system to a school year based system i.e Year 10, 11, 12 and 13
      • Year based classification would be determined by the year level at the NZSSRA Championships that season
      • Only offer entry at Maadi Cup for Year 11, 12 and 13 students
      • Year 10 events to be run over 1000 and 500m distances.
      
      Notes:
      The change to an age based system as proposed will align with training age rather than physical age.
      Limiting Maadi to Years 11, 12 and 13 will stop the inclusion of age eligible students returning to school only to compete at Maadi.
      The reduction in distance for Year 10 athletes will remove the need for held starts. Attempting to get novice athletes into a held start is often the biggest source of delay at a regatta. The shortened distance will result in closer racing which may sustain athletes in the sport. Margins of a 100m or more a not a good motivator to young athletes who are deciding whether the sport is a good fit for them.
      
      Moved by: John O'Connor - Life Member, Seconded: Justin Wall - Ashburton College
      
      Justin Wall spoke regarding this proposal and suggested that a working committee was established regarding this proposal.
    • Change of the name of the event
      Continuing to call the NZSS regatta 'Maadi Cup' signals that the boys U18 8+ event is the pinnacle race of the event, not showing suitable recognition for the girl's event having equal standing.
      The Maadi Cup race is only 1 event out of 40 and we believe this significant name change is a step towards ensuring the girls races receive the same recognition as the boys' races. It is a move towards being not only more gender inclusive, but inclusive of ALL that the NZSS regatta entails - and not just the last boys' race.
      
      Rangi Ruru proposes:
      Rename the regatta to the New Zealand Secondary School Championships and remove 'Maadi' from the title.
      We feel strongly that there needs to be more effort made to establish gender equity within the NZSS Rowing programme. We believe that continuing to call the regatta the Maadi Cup reinforces the imbalance in status of the male and female events.
      
      Advised that Aon own the naming rights of the event and have already changed the name to the "Aon Maadi Regatta" to make it more inclusive.
    • Change of rules for transmittable devices
      Rangi Ruru proposes the NZSSRA considers changing the rule around transmittable devices to align with those of the NZ Club rules.
      The club rules are currently if you get caught with a device, your crew is disqualified from the race. The NZSSRA rule is currently if you get caught with a device then your whole school is disqualified from the regatta.
      We believe the Club rule is a fairer consequence and would like to see both the school and club rule the same.
      Advised that we can look at this proposal in 2025 when rule change proposals can be made and voted on.
    • NZSSRA Volunteer of the Year nominees
      There was a request from the floor from Andrew Carr-Smith that all schools put forward a nomination for a Schools Volunteer of the Year. Janey asked for nominations to be made quickly as this award will be presented at the Rowing NZ AGM in May 2023.

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