GATFXCCA Meeting Minutes Nov. 11, 2014
Pictured above are the OC's of the GATFXCCA.
Minutes from the Meeting on 11-11-2014
6:50 PM Inaugural Meeting
• Social/pizza before meeting commenced courtesy of Eric Heintz, Marist School
7:15 PM Meeting Begins
• Coach Heintz, Marist School and organizer, welcomes the group formally; thanks all attendees and addresses Coach Tomy Sitton, East Jackson HS, and his commitment to the annual track clinic over the years and other influences in cross country/track & field
• Coach Heintz, Marist School, addresses the meeting purposes briefly
• NOT a complaint session
• NOT “we need mats at Carrolton…”
•Formal introduction of attendees
• Kevin Lisle, Marist School
• Tomy Sitton, East Jackson HS XC/Track & Field
• Matt Henson, Parkview HS Track & Field
• Mike Beaudreaux, Hebron Christian School XC/Track & Field
• Mike Demarest, Parkview HS XC/Track & Field
• Ryan Clay, St. Pius, XC/Track & Field
• Scott Neal, Tallulah Falls School, XC/Track & Field
• Tim Hamling, Woodward Academy, XC/Track & Field
• Jason Scott, Harrison HS, XC/Track & Field
• Claud Spinks, Eagles Landing HS, XC/Track & Field
• Andy Christie, Mill Creek HS, XC/Track & Field
• Dan McCauley, Paideia School, XC/Track & Field
• Patrick Parsons, Allatoona HS, XC/Track & Field
• Stephen Jayaraj, Holy Innocents School, XC/Track & Field
Coach Sitton briefly explained Ray Broadway being a huge help with the initial start of the GATFXC Coaches Association clinic at inception. He also addressed the following items:
• ATC (Atlanta Track Club) and the direction of the Hall of Fame
o Specifically, ATC removing role as award providers at state meets for extra places above 1-3
• This committee’s role with the current Track Advisory Committee and the GHSA
Coach Heintz began addressing the line items on the agenda
2. Discussion of Scope
• Who will be included? HS only? MS? Clubs? GISA?
• Coach Scott, Harrison HS, suggested that with the inception of the organization, it would be in the best interest to focus on GHSA HS programs (because MS programs already fall under the umbrella of the HS programs)
• Coach Neal, Tallulah Falls, proposed to include others because we are trying to change the culture of the sport and coaching education
• A few other coaches agreed with Coach Scott that in the beginning, this organization needs to focus on GHSA HS programs
3. Philosophy and Mission
• Organization should model after other existing organizations and begin to prepare a draft to be discussed/edited/approved at the December meeting.
• Committee formed that includes Scott Neal, Tallulah Falls; Eric Heintz, Marist School; Patrick Parsons, Allatoona—will discuss & form ideas/suggestions for the December meeting
4. Discussion of Structure
• Focus on the creation of “non-negotiables”
o South Georgia representation
o Minorities representation
o Female representation
o “Track” people representation
o Administration representation
o Classification representation
Noted that all classes (1-6) and public/private schools represented by the initial meeting group
Coach Sitton commented on Gary Phillips, Executive Director of the GHSA, being all about XC/Track & Field. He added that other states have representation from all over the state as we should, and that the GHSA is in favor of reforming XC to add a sectionals or area championship.
• Committee formed that includes Jason Scott, Harrison; Claud Spinks, Eagles Landing; Andy Christie, Mill Creek—will discuss & form ideas/suggestions for the December meeting
Coach Clay suggested a colleague that can write and edit by-laws for the organization to help this committee
5. Carry Over From Earlier Initiatives/Traditions
• Keep the Hall of Fame process as it currently exisists?
• Records? Clinic? Awards?
• Coaches Invite—does the new organization help this meet?
6. Membership
• Budget?
• Recruitment of membership?
• Benefits of membership?
• Cost? Initial vs. long-term?
o What is the organization ultimately working towards?
• Committee formed that includes Matt Henson, Parkview; Mike Beaudreaux, Hebron Christian; Eric Heintz, Marist School—will discuss & form ideas/suggestions for the December meeting
7. Website
• What needs to be included on the site?
• Not replacing Milesplit
• Committee formed that includes Matt Henson, Parkview; Andy Christie, Mill Creek—will discuss & form ideas/suggestions for the December meeting
8. Finances/Tax ID
• Create a “wishlist”
• Budget proposal from wishlist
• Committee formed that includes Tomy Sitton, East Jackson; Tim Hamling, Woodward Academy—will discuss & form ideas/suggestions for the December meeting
9. Public Relations
• GHSA/ATC/Other organizations—fostering relationship and building new ones
• How do we represent ourselves within interaction with other organizations including the GHSA?
• Committee formed that includes Tomy Sitton, East Jackson; Kevin Lisle, Marist School; Stephen Jayaraj, Holy Innocents—will discuss & form ideas/suggestions for the December meeting
10. Strategic Planning
• Creation of separate XC & Track committees to represent the interests of each area of the sport
• Establish a group to look at the long-term goals of progressive improvement
• Committee formed that includes Ryan Clay, St. Pius; Mike Demarest, Parkview—will discuss & form ideas/suggestions for the December meeting
11. Placement by January
• Establishment of 7 sub-committees to present at December meeting in their respective areas
• Proposals from each sub-committee
• Website in place and ready
• Scope and sequence
• Map of representation needs (several suggested using the GHSA maps for region alignment)
• Handout for the coaches clinic that explains our goal and benefits of joining the organization
Coach Heintz, Marist, commented on needing a name for the organization as we move forward.
Coach Henson, Parkview, recommended using the old “GATFXC” moniker to recognize the heritage of the history of the process of improving XC and Track& Field
Coach Sitton suggested keeping GA regardless of choice.
Decision was made to call the group GATFXCCA which stands for:
Georgia Track & Field / Cross Country Coaches Association
• Coach Christie, Mill Creek, will investigate the availability of the following domain names to be associated with the organization website:
o www.gatfxc.com
o www.gatfxcca.com
12. Open Floor
• Coach Sitton reminded the group that the GHSA is looking to reform the time involved at the state XC meet regarding posting the results and awards
• Coach Spink asked Coach Sitton if the GHSA would open to a different role of this new organization like the swimming coaches association has in terms of running the state meets?
13. Review Actions for December Meeting
• Committees will discuss/email to have proposals for the entire group
14. Adjournment
• Coaches gathered for a picture and meeting closed.
Next meeting will be Tuesday December 9 at Marist School