Dateline: World Finals, May 1998:

OM Association, Inc.
Division IV Meeting
Minutes
by Sue Welsch

The meeting began with a discussion of the history of OM with a handout. The fact that the number of teams has doubled to 51 teams this year was discussed.

A Division IV survey was passed out with a request for each attendee to fill it out and hand it back before the end of the meeting. This survey will be posted on the web page so that those not attending the meeting could also have input. The results will also be available.

Great progress has been made since the 1997 World Finals meeting due to implementation of some of the suggestions given at that meeting. A Division IV Web Page has been developed which links from the OM home page. Jake Willis is the webmaster. This web page gives e-mail connections to both Jake and me. Many messages from Division IV team members and those wishing to start a Division IV team have been answered since the implementation last fall. An estimate of five to ten messages per week have been answered. The next big accomplishment was the formation of a Division IV newsletter. Two newsletters were sent out - one in the fall and one in the spring. The spring newsletter was handed out at the meeting for all those who did not receive one. This will be continued with an updated mailing list each fall and spring. A decision was made not to have a steering committee, but rather to have the whole group communicate by e-mail and newsletter.

The states where Division IV has gained representation on the state boards have had the most success in spawning teams and becoming integrated with their state associations. Those states are Georgia, Texas, and Nevada. Other teams were encouraged to get involved with their associations. Currently Division IV teams do not need to qualify at the state level. We discussed the fact that this is probably an eventuality and that all Division IV teams are encouraged to participate now. Problems noted are that some Division IV teams act as judges at the state competition so it would be difficult to do both.

It was discussed that because of the rapid growth of this division, next year there is a strong possibility of separate Division IV judging teams - one team for the two performance problems and one team for the structure and vehicle problems. The consensus was that this would be a positive step for Division IV. The request was made that competitions not be held too early in the morning and be held so that teams from the same state be staggered as they are for other divisions. There was overwhelming support for returning to a college campus for the competitions.

Discussion ensued about the problems of some team members being on more than one team. Arguments were given by some team members for this necessity. The arguments mainly centered around team members dropping out and needing to be replaced. The argument also was given that it is much more cost effective for the schools.

Other requests were made by the attendees:
1. They would like the newsletter to address the steps necessary to become a World Finals judge.
2. They would like to implement a chat group in the web page and also have access to each other's e-mail addresses.
3. They would like to be housed all together at World Finals rather than with their associations.
4. They would like the Association Directors to know about them so that they can participate more fully.
5. They would like to see a mailing to all high school graduation senior Omers telling them about Division IV.
6. They would like a shuttle for them at World Finals, since most teams do not have coaches or members above the age of 25 and therefore, cannot rent vehicles.
7. They would like web links to spontaneous problem sites.
8. They would like their own party and to have it a better party similar to the coaches party.

Sue discussed the fact that she would be on sabbatical next year and travelling around the country in a trailer. She offered to visit any teams that would like her to do this and had several requests.

Respectfully submitted,
Sue Welsch

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