Referee Committee
ADDENDUM to
November 11, 2015
Telephone Conference
Attendance:
Referee Committee:
Tom Fuller – Co-Chair
Chris Lang – Co-Chair
Ruth Macnamara – Vice Chair, Secretary
John Musial – Regional Coordinator
Marcus McElhenney – Athlete Representative
USRowing:
John Wik – Director of Referee Programs
In light of the email dated 11/30/15, 12:10PM EST from Marcus McElhenney, included
hereto as Attachment A, this addendum to the November 11, 2015 Referee Committee
Meeting Minutes is to reflect his original intent to vote NO to the Proposed Rule change for
Rule 2-305 Start.
As reflected in the November 11, 2015 Minutes:
Rule 2-305 Start (p.2) – Discussion. Major point of discussion, do we reflect in the rules what
our practice is at 90-95% of our races (reflected in the proposed change) or do we write our
rules to what our expectation is at Championship level races?
Rules Committee was split on this proposal.
Motion: Accept the proposed change to the Rule as written.
Referee Committee vote 3-2 to accept the proposed change.
Regional Coordinators vote 5-0 (1 absent) to accept the proposed change.
Proposal to be taken to the Board of Directors: Approve – accept the proposed change.
The language below is updated to change Marcus’ vote to reflect his intention to vote No to
the proposed rule change for Rule 2-305 Start. In addition, it clarifies that the Rules
Committee was unanimous in opposing this proposed rule change. This new language
below will be substituted to the previous list of proposed rule changes when presented to
the Board at the Convention.
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Rule 2-305 Start (p.2) – Discussion. Major point of discussion, do we reflect in the rules
what our practice is at 90-95% of our races (reflected in the proposed change) or do we
write our rules to what our expectation is at Championship level races?
Rules Committee was unanimously opposed to this change.
Motion: Accept the proposed change to the Rule as written.
Referee Committee vote 3-2 to DECLINE the proposed change.
Regional Coordinators vote 5-0 (1 absent) to accept the proposed change.
Proposal to be taken to the Board of Directors: Decline the proposed change.
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Macnamara
Vice Chair, Secretary
USRowing Referee Committee
[email protected]
703-201-4547
ATTACHMENT A
In a message dated 11/30/2015 12:10:21 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
John & Committee,
Per our discussion this morning, I wanted to clarify something from our last Referee Committee
call and vote discussing the implementation of the Rule "2-305 Start." Basically the change
stated that all crews would be ready 2' before the race. And that the starter may, when safe, start
all crews at any time after the 2' warning. On the call, I asked for clarification on the language of
the motion because I wanted it clear that I did NOT want to accept this change but it sounded like
we were voting on what the Rules Sub Committee wanted, which was not to accept the
change. As you, and the committee, will recall, I was pretty adamant that I and the rules sub
committee were pretty clear that we did not like this change. I believed I voted "yes" to the
motion mistakenly believing we were following the recommendation of the rule sub committee,
when in fact we were voting on accepting the change. Therefore I would like it to be known that I
change my vote, to make up for my mistaken confusion of the motion as stated, and vote "NO" to
fall in line with my fuller understanding and already stated intentions that this rule change not be
accepted. If this is confusing to you or anyone else on the Committee, please let me know and I
can clarify better over the phone. Thank you.
Marcus
See you all this week!
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