The NYSOMA Board held its second meeting of the program year October 16 in Rochester.

Refer to the NYSOMA web site (www.nysoma.org) for important dates, registration information, coaches training locations and dates, etc. This information will be updated as it becomes available.

Jackie Otte represented NYSOMA at the Association Directors meeting in Orlando. Jackie reported that there will be a Creativity Fest again this year at World Finals. NYSOMA will participate using the same booth that we used the past two years. She also reported that the facility at the University of Colorado in Boulder used for opening and closing ceremonies only holds 11000 people. There is concern that as participation in the program continues to grow that this will be insufficient seating for closing ceremonies. CCI is investigating various solutions. Also, at the meeting the ADs agreed that teams or coaches proven to have used an internet chat room to help with their problem solution will be assessed a 50 point Outside Assistance Penalty.

The NYSOMA Fall RD meeting was held in Rochester on Friday October 15. Jackie reported that all regions were represented. About half of the regions are planning to develop a regional pin for sale in the region and for trading at State Finals Tournament. The RDs also brainstormed ideas for celebrating NYSOMA’s 25th birthday.

NYSOMA will participate again in the PTA Annual Conference. This year’s conference will be at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center on November 5 and 6.

The board agreed to use the new event center at Binghamton University for this year’s state tournament closing ceremony. This will allow NYSOMA to have one closing ceremony. The board felt that this was particularly important for our 25th year celebration. The site will also be used for one of the problem venues. The operators of the event center have informed NYSOMA that in future years sporting events have the highest priority and the availability of the events center for NYSOMA usage will have to be determined each year. The use of the events center for future years will depend on its availability and on the cost of usage.

Head judge/ problem captain training will again be held this year in Binghamton at Broome Community College on January 8. A new session will be added this year for new head judges. Invitations will be mailed in November.

The Marketing committee presented designs for this year’s NYSOMA pins. The board, based on the committee’s suggestions, decided on items to be purchased for sale and on items to be provided on consignment to the regions. An expanded list of NYSOMA consignment items will be available for sales at Regional Tournaments.

The Standards Based Education Committee provided the regional directors with a draft document showing how Odyssey supports the education standards. The RDs will review the material and provide feedback to the committee by October 31.

The scholarship committee has made the application form for this year’s scholarship available on the NYSOMA web site.

The next board meeting will be in Binghamton on January 9, 2005.

Jim Hoelscher, Chairman of the Board, October 19, 2004