Board Meeting 2002-2003

Minutes from May 8, 2003

In Attendance: Richard Muller (St. Patrick), John Benson (Evanston), Judy Zielinski (Barrington), Joseph Kostal (Oak Park River Forest), Aaron Hayes (West Chicago), Carol Miller (Glenbrook North), Tom Weisgram (Glenbrook South), Phil Gartner (Glenbrook South), Pam Sullivan (Conant), Wanda Gongol (Libertyville), Peter Nilsen (Maine South), Mike Andrews (Maine South), Chris Thibaudeau (Stevenson), Craig Morse (Naperville North), Laura Gibson (Lake Forest), Isaac Greenspan (Evanston), Tracy Schield (Warren), Sandy Golas (Warren), and George Pryjma (Niles North emeritus; Northeastern)

  1. Treasurer's Report: Carol Miller distributed NSML FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. Our balance as of 4/3/02 was $2,852.41 and as of 5/8/03 is $4,344.95. The difference is largely due to the fact that a multi-year supply of All-Conference Clipboards was purchased in 2001-2002. The league will need to buy more non-gold ribbons. Thanks to our challenging contests, the supply of gold ribbons should last for many years. Carol recommended that League dues remain at $175 for the 2003-2004 academic year. Because this means no change in dues, Board action to approve was not needed.

  2. Written Topics: Aaron Hayes gave us copies of both the proposed written topics for 2003-2004 and a brief list of comments that he received after the topics were posted on our website. Responding to these, the Board authorized some changes in the topic for Meet #1 at the Junior level and the switching of Meet #1 and Meet #2 topics at the Senior level. Copies of the approved list of 2003-2004 Written Topics will be distributed at the Annual Coaches Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, and will also be posted on our website.

  3. Oral Topics: Chris Thibaudeau shared with us a list of proposed oral topics for 2003-2004 along with a 2-item list of suggested topics to replace the topic for Meet #1. The Board approved the list of proposed topics and these will be distributed at the Coaches Meeting and put on our website. The Oral Topics Committee will meet on May 21st to select topics for the 2004-2005 academic year.

  4. Schedule and Dates: Richard Muller passed out a list of tentative dates for meets for 2003-2004 along with a list of date conflicts reported to him by member schools. The Board approved the following meet dates for 2003-2004:

    Meet 1: Thursday, October 2, 2003
    Meet 2: Thursday, October 30, 2003
    Meet 3 Thursday, December 4, 2003
    Meet 4 Wednesday, February 11, 2004
    Meet 5 Wednesday, March 10, 2004 (at ETHS)
    (The ICTM Regional Meets are on Saturday, February 28)

  5. Web Site, Data Entry, Forms, and Processing Information: Mike Andrews reported that all statistics for the 2002-2003 academic year have been computed and all, except for individual student results, have been printed and will be available for pickup at the Coaches Meeting. All statistics, including individual student results, will be on our website. Craig Morse suggested that an errata sheet for test answers and solutions be published after every meet and that appropriate corrections also be made in the end-of-year summary packet. John Benson presented some ideas that our Webmaster Abe Hassan said can be implemented for 2003-2004. These include the sending of all contests and solutions to host schools via e-mail (eliminating the time spent collating materials and the postage or UPS charges required to send these to host schools), the posting of all forms on our website for downloading as needed, AND the entering of ALL MEET RESULTS online (thus eliminating the need for the yellow meet score sheets and their sending to Mike Andrews and Peter Nilsen). With this system in place, final league-wide results would be available by Awards time at each meet! Abe Hassan should have a preliminary version of the software needed to do these tasks for a trial run later this month. In a related action, the Board agreed to increase Abe's Webmaster compensation from $250 to $500 per academic year. Carol Miller made the motion to do so, Aaron Hayes seconded the motion, and the Board approved the motion unanimously.

  6. Hosting Conflicts: Richard Rukin will need to know ASAP about any date conflicts with hosting NSML meets. The "conflict form" will be available on our website and also at the Coaches Meeting.

  7. The Annual NSML Coaches Meeting will be on Wednesday, May 14, 2003, in room C-120, at Maine South High School. The meeting will begin at 4:30 PM. COACHES HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EITHER THEMSELVES PICKING UP MATERIALS AVAILABLE AT THE MEETING OR DESIGNATING SOMEONE TO DO THIS FOR THEM. ANY MATERIALS NOT PICKED UP WILL NOT BE SENT. THEY MAY BE AVAILABLE AT THE NEXT CONFERENCE MEET (in 2004).

  8. Thank you: Special thanks to all those who make the NSML such a superb organization that gives our best math students the opportunity to learn even more mathematics, sharpen their skills as they work with others, and enjoy the challenges and camaraderie of being math team members.

Respectfully submitted for your edification, George Pryjma