Bruce Wheeler, Executive Secretary (525-6621) Dave Bahrenburg, Colchester -
President
e-mail: wilobvt@together.net Ed Hockenbury, Essex -
Vice-President
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Meeting was called to order at 4:05 PM
Roll taken - all schools were represented-except BFA-St. Albans, Montpelier, Mt. Abraham, and Otter Valley; also in attendance were – Mike Yesalonia-Norwich; Steve Stoddard – VFOA; Dave Baldasaro – VFOA; Brian Haskell – VFOA; Jim Snarski - VFOA; Steve Audette-VFOA; and Jerry Jasinski-VFOA.
Secretary’s Report - Minutes of November 17, 2003 meeting as printed were accepted (Motion: Brian Trottier – Hartford; Second: Peter Brakeley-Middlebury)
Treasurer’s Report – $ 126.34 in checking acct.; $1,032.76 in savings acct.; Total on hand $1,159.10. Accepted (Motion: Gary Girard-North Country; Second: Dennis Sweet –Lyndon)
A) National Football Foundation – Mike Stone, Hartford
Coach of the Year (for state of Vermont) ballots were available. Votes need to be turned into Mike by end of the meeting. Winner will be announced at the NFF awards dinner at Middlebury College on Sunday, May 2.
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B) Awards – Bob Hingston - Windsor
Bob awarded plaques to each divisional Coach of the Year:
Division 4 – Bill Leggett (Mt. Abraham) (Absent)
Division 3 - Jeff Cassarino (Mill River)
Division 2 – Joe McDonald (South Burlington)
Division 1 – Mike Norman (Rutland)
C) Officiating Committee – Bill Mayville – Essex & Mike Norman - Rutland
Nothing to report
D) Sportsmanship Committee – Peter Brakeley, Middlebury
Labeling of sub Varsity teams – Proposal by Peter
After much discussion including issues of mis-matching at freshman games and losing games when teams cannot field full units, the proposal was dropped due to a lack of a motion. Lyndon still has problems with schools showing up for “freshman” games with sophomores on the rosters. Better communication between schools needed in these instances.
E) Alignment Committee – Bob Davis – North Country
Date for the Alignment Committee to meet next fall was set:
Wednesday, November 17th – 5:30 PM at Spaulding High School
A) Steve briefly discussed the rule changes for next year – they can be viewed on the National Federation’s web page: http://www.NFHS.org.
B) Discussion next centered on mileage for officials, and whether the VIFL should “Pool” mileage costs, and have each school pay an equal assessment.. Motion by Bob Hingston – Windsor, (seconded by Marty McDonough – MSJ) to pool Varsity Mileage only, and exclude Mt. Mansfield for this upcoming year only since they will not be hosting any home games. Motion passed.
Jerry Jasinski reminded the league that a shortage of officials still exists, all schools can assist by promoting in our local communities the need for people to join the VFOA.
C) Clarification of the Disqualification and Player Ejection –
Minutes of the January, 2001 Officials Committee was available as a handout, which clearly reviewed the process and procedures to be followed in the event of any player DQ. Appeal process was outlined, and all were reminded that an appeal could always be made to the VPA office, after the VIFL process was exhausted.
Budget and Dues for 2004-2005 – handout presented – Budget $2310; with $310 to be used to offset Varsity mileage costs, before school assessments are determined. Motion by Bob Hingston-Windsor (Second by Bis Bisbee – Bellows Falls) to accept. Motion passed.
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Dues $65 per school (65 x 33 = $2,145) Motion by Gary Girard-North Country (Second by Brian Trottier - Hartford) to accept. Motion passed.
Nomination (Gary Girard – North Country; Second-Bob Hingston – Windsor) to appoint Bruce Wheeler as League Executive-Secretary and Mike O’Day as Secretary/Treasurer/Scheduler. Motion passed.
A) Schedules for Varsity/Junior Varsity/Freshman levels are available on the web as part of the State Athletic Directors’ website maintained by Amy Molina (AD at U 32). Visit: www.vsada.org for schedules.
Any changes to Mike O’Day as soon as possible.
B) Division 3 adopted a tie breaking procedure since all league schools will not play each other next year – Jim McLaughlin (Woodstock) reported the schools agreed to use the existing QPR in league play to determine the top four seeds for playoffs. QPR with non-league games would be used as a second tie-breaker.
A) Champlain Valley Union officially requested joining the VIFL. Motion to accept CVU made by Bill Mayville (Essex) and seconded by Gary Girard (North Country). Motion passed.
B) B.F.A. – Fairfax letter from principal Scott Lang, requesting to join VIFL. Motion to accept BFA-Fairfax made by Paul Frenette (Winooski) and seconded by Mike Law (U 32). Motion passed.
C) Committee Assignments were reviewed and changes made to include:
Peter Brakely stepped down as chair of the Sportsmanship Committee. Jim Marrier (Burlington) was added to the Sportsmanship Committee. That committee was asked to pick a chair and let Mike O’Day know.
Committees for 2004 – 2005
are as follows:
Sportsmanship Committeee: Open (CHAIR)
Doug D’Olimpio – Lyndon; Chris Hughes – Milton;
Matt Kujovsky – Burr & Burton, Jim Marrier – Burlington.
National Football Foundation Committeee: Mike Stone – Hartford (CHAIR)
Dennis Sweet – Lyndon; Bruce Wheeler, Mike Law – U 32.
Officials Committeee: Bill Mayville – Essex; Mike Norman – Rutland (CO-CHAIRS)
Tony Brice – Rice; Jerry Jasinski – VFOA; Brian Haskell – VFOA;
Jim Snarski – VFOA; Steve Audette – VFOA; Bob Hingston – Windsor.
Awards Committeee: Bob Hingston – Windsor (CHAIR)
Bib Bisbee – Bellows Falls; Paul Frenette – Winooski;
Jim McLaughlin – Woodstock.
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Alignment Committeee: Bob Davis – North Country (CHAIR)
Peter Brakeley (Middlebury – D1); Chris Sawyer (Brattleboro – D1);
Phil Joyal (Spaulding – D2); Dennis Sweet (Lyndon-D2);
Dave Capman (Poultney – D3); Jim Taft (Windsor – D3)
Paul Frenette (Winooski-D4); Mike O’Day, Bruce Wheeler.
Executive Committeee: Dave Bahrenburg - Colchester (President - CHAIR)
Bruce Wheeler (Executive Secretary); D.G. Weaver - Burlington
(Past President); Ed Hockenbury – Essex (Vice President);
Mike O’Day (Treasurer/Scheduler); Jim Snarski (VFOA).
Chris Sawyer (Brattleboro) asked about the possibility of playing ten (10) regular season games. Process would be VIFL request to VPA Football Committee which would then need to send along to the VPA Activity Standards Committee. Impact on playoff season/All-Star Game/pre-season start in August… no further discussion.
Bill Mayville urged all coaches to join the National Football Foundation. Benefits were outlined.
Next meeting set for:
Monday - November 22nd, 2004
at 4:00 PM at Hartford HS.
Meeting adjourned at 5:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted,

Mike O’Day
Worthy Scribe