SCKA Meeting Minutes

August 7, 2002 7:30 PM at Coach's

SoCal Kiteboarding Association Meeting Minutes
July 01,2001   Belmont Shore

-Start 12:15

-Open floor, due to no official agenda, caused by communication error

-New meeting procedures established:
1) 30 second limit per speech, enforced by meeting leader
2) General discussion only after all business has been taken care of

-Lifeguard training:
Lifeguard officials now seem to have lost some interest (they won't return
Erik's calls), possibly since it appears we may be "self policing" now,
meaning they don't need to bother. They should at least all be given the
"Lifeguard Tips*" (directly to the tower staff, instead of relying on their
own hierarchy). It may be a greater issue in areas where the lifeguards are
actually rescuing kiteboarders (Cabrillo!). Brian & Rob (sorry, I don't
have their full names) were "volunteered" to be the lifeguard liaison
committee for Huntington, where there are two separate lifeguard divisions.

-New Jet-ski ramp protest could gain support from all areas through an
announcement on www.iwindsurf.com

-Next meeting's agenda should include discussing elimination of mandatory
dues, with corporate sponsorship (which will likely require a DBA, so we'll
need to recruit an attorney & a CPA, who kiteboard), or selling ads &/or
links to businesses from our website. Basic membership could remain free, &
only charge dues for extra benefits (such as travel discounts).

-Belmont rules clarifications:
-If the wind is so light that you can't stay upwind, launch & land south of
the catamaran ramp. Shorter runs, but more of them!
-Confirmed: head tap = "Please grab my kite" (same as any international kite
beach)
-Lifeguards are already noticing non-compliance:
NO RIDING WITHIN 200' OF BEACH.
ROLL UP LINES ON BEACH (unless you're right there to move them when their
truck comes by)
NO FLYING WITHIN A LINE LENGTH OF BIKE PATH. Maybe the first people to pack
up can just sit & hang out by the path, instead of by the parking lot (so they'll be available to land).

-New suggestion: Always try to help anybody struggling, BEFORE someone
well-intentioned but unknowledgeable tries.

-Everybody should do their best to follow all the general guidelines,
whenever applicable (not just "within reason", since they ARE reasonable).

-Items to add to http://www.scka.org (check it out & give constructive
criticism):
Belmont stingray warning (shuffle feet, wear booties, carry a thermos of hot
water, etc.)
Parking lot pass information
Possibly classified ads, possibly with a "consignment" fee (like $5 for any
item sold)
*Lifeguard tips now have official SCKA approval, so they could likely go on
the website too.

-Next meeting to be announced on this e-mail group.

SoCal Kiteboarding Association Meeting Minutes
June 20, 2001,  Duke's

7:25 Late Start

Unfinished Business:

-Membership requirements: It is our stance for members to abide by 
the following: 1) Active Participation 2) Recruit 3) Follow the 
Safety Guidelines (within reason)

-Decided that the necessity of "dues" is in order. Agreed on $20 per 
year for membership plus some type of fundraiser

-Mentor Program-Give someone pointers in return they give pointers 
and so on

-Hand signal for help with kite: One hand in an arc position patting 
the top of your head. PUT TO REST By Chuck Patterson

-Logo submissions are due for voting on Sunday, June 1, 2001 (Next 
Meeting)

-New Business:

-Stay 200' away from the swim areas unless launching or landing 
kites. Kites are not to be flown while crossing the bike path. 
Citations will be given out. Strictly enforced for summer. May 
change for winter time

-www.scka.org is up with guidelines only. May need more input on 
what else should be on the website.

-Agreed that there is a need for an official Board of Directors. 

-SCKA Spokesperson has a new pager number 714-531-3789. No 800 
number.

-Local rules will be printed on the back of laminated business cards; 
however, the pamphlets seemed to have been more effective. Will 
continue to use both.

-Pamphlets will need a map on them. Submissions for maps are due for 
voting on Sunday, June 1, 2001 (Next Meeting)

-July 7th, 2001, there will be representation at the Sport Kite 
League's competition at Belmont Shores.

-Sign in sheet will be kept private. To obtain contact information 
on a specific person, contact Deon. 

-Scott Carter was elected to inform us on the proposed Jet Ski ramp 
and arena. Let's support Scott with the petition that he has been 
passing around.

-Lifeguard Liaison Committee will need to relay information to the 
Marine Safety Boats on how to rescue and react to kiters while out in 
the water

-How can we get all shop owners' support? How can we support all the 
shops?

-Meeting frequency was not determined. No specific place has been 
decided on. 

-Additional Business:

Chuck Patterson showed up and gave insight on how things are done in 
Hawaii. He answered "how to" questions on camera angles, tricks and 
kite sizes in different areas. He talked about winning the Waddell 
Creek Classic and how he is making a wave video along with Peter Trow 
and company. His participation was appreciated! Thanks Chuck!

End 9:00 P.M.

NEXT MEETING: SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2001, BELMONT SHORE
PARKING LOT @ 12:00 PM

SoCal Kiteboarding Association Meeting Minutes
June 9, 2001, at Belmont Shores

-10:15 Late Start
-First-name introductions all around, new faces recruiting is going on

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
-Unanimous agreement on keeping SCKA as our name
-Agreement to use amended Mission Statement #1 ("promote the positive
growth")
-Agreement that amended membership requirements still need work, with
respect to not requiring every guideline to always be strictly adhered to.
Some of those present objected to the kite leash guideline.
-Agreement that small, voluntary member donations at meetings is a good way
to maintain our "No Dues" status
-Agreement that beginner clinics would not be wise, due to SCKA liability.
The previously discussed mentor program was suggested as a possible
alternative.
-Once again, no decision was reached on a mentoring program. The issue of
inconsistency in training methods was mentioned.

NEW BUSINESS:
-The recent lifeguard meeting was discussed:
-We agreed to add local guidelines to the general guidelines, which were
slightly amended as follows:

In addition to the general guidelines, the following rules apply at Belmont
Shore, & will be enforced by the lifeguards, if necessary:

1. a) No kite flying within a line length of the bike path.
b) Lines must be fully wrapped on the bar when crossing the bike path.
2. a) No downwind riders, body draggers, or students between the catamaran
ramp & the yellow "Flip Flop Shack" (S. of Jet Ski ramp), they must stay
south of the catamaran ramp.
b) Others must rig & launch between the catamaran ramp & the "Flip Flop
Shack"
3. (both ticketable offenses)
a) No riding, jumping or jibing within 200' of shore, only brief
launching & landing, as close to perpendicular as possible.
b) No jumping near any other watercraft. Allow enough room to prevent
any possibility of contact with the kite, lines, bar, board, or rider.
4. Wind up lines of grounded kites, & keep all grounded gear at least 25'
from the water.
5. No kite flying of any kind July 4th.
6. Inform any offenders of their infractions. If they continue, inform the
lifeguards.


-We accepted the lifeguards' decision that Belmont does need a beginner
area, as described in the new local rules above.
-It seemed some felt we should NOT send all beginners to Belmont, but no
actual vote was held.
-At the previous meeting we'd already agreed that Erik, Jenny, Troy, & Deon
are our lifeguard liaison committee.
-We agreed to wait until the Malibu group accepts a hand signal & Jenny
reports back regarding her meeting with Martin Kirk of HKA (Hawaii
Kiteboarding Association).
-Alan Sandoval was not present to be introduced, & the website costs were
not discussed.
-In a landslide against the published opinion of the CKA-LA yahoo e-group,
the proposed logo was disapproved.
-SCKLA.com was unanimously accepted as our web address.
-We decided that laminated cards for recruitment purposes should have our
logo & contact information on the front (website, 800 number, yahoogroups
signup address), & general guidelines on the back (abridged if needed for
readability), and that the cards could be as large as possible to fit most
harness pockets, in order to fit as many guidelines as possible.
-We agreed not to require AKA membership, but to strongly recommend it,
since it provides extremely reasonably priced additional liability insurance
even for those with homeowners/renters coverage.
-We agreed that Deon will be our primary contact person, at 714-593-6005, or
deon@t..., until our website is done, at which time he will
monitor the 800# we'll have by then.
-We agreed that the yahoogroup will be used for discussion & contact
purposes, but decisions will be made at meetings.

ADDITIONAL BUSINESS:
-We agreed that we should assist Kenny's interests so he doesn't quit
teaching, in order that there is at least ONE instructor readily available
to limit beginner hazards.
-We agreed to extend our northern boundary to match the southern boundary of
the Malibu group.
-We failed to discuss meeting frequency.
-We failed to establish the date, time, or location of the next meeting.

End meeting 11:48AM

4. We voted that our regional boundary should be from Dockweiler Beach to San Diego County Line, San Onofre State Beach

5. We voted that our name should be SoCal Kiteboarding Association subject to approval by the San Diego Kiteboarding Association, since technically they are also in Southern California.

6. We decided to follow the SDKA’s example of requiring no financial membership fee. Meeting attendance & active recruiting of prospective new members will be the only requirements. We did not formally discuss meeting frequency.

7. We accepted the proposed Mission Statement, but discussed the possible need to change the word "Protect", possibly to "Promote".

8. We unanimously accepted the proposed Objectives And General Safety Guidelines

9. We discussed approaching beginners in as friendly a manner as possible, & doing so while they’re setting up, or at least BEFORE they had a chance to break any of the guidelines (after which the situation would be much more likely to become adversarial). We decided that laminated business cards would be the best way of distributing our contact & sign-up information to any prospective members, since they could easily be carried in a harness pocket.

10. Belmont Shores Local Safety Guidelines were added to the General Safety Guidelines:

1. Cross the bike path ONLY with lines fully wrapped on bar.

2. Wind up the lines or at least bring the bar to the kite, while it’s grounded. (extension of General Guideline #9)

3. Use international signal (hand on head) to show you want assistance with kite landing.

1. We nominated & elected the following people to be on the Lifeguard Liaison Committee, and to keep the association updated on what will be discussed.

1. Erik Dahlin Lifeguard Committee Chairperson

2. Troy Harris Lifeguard Committee

3. Steve Kent Lifeguard Committee

1.  

2. We did not come to a conclusion about beginner clinics at this time. Some felt it would only teach enough to make them dangerous, & others felt it might be a good alternative to NO lesson

3. We also came to no conclusion about a mentoring program, although it was apparent that an informal one already exists

4. We decided that the next meeting will be NEXT Saturday, June 9, 2001 at 10:00 Am at the South West corner of the Southern Belmont Shores parking lot (closest parking lot space to the catamaran ramp)

5. Meeting concluded at 9:10 PM