Tri-State Collegiate Rugby Conference Annual General Meeting on Sunday January 26th, 2020 at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Conference web site at http://www.tristaterugby.com
Women at 12:00 pm Men at 2:30 pm
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS AT AGM
Team representatives signed-in. The Conference consists of seventeen (17) women’s teams and all but Stony Brook University were represented. The Stony Brook coach was unable to attend due to a last minute family issue.
Attendees: Women’s Teams (17) – Bard College, Drew University, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Hofstra University, Manhattanville College, Marist College, Monroe College, Montclair State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University, Siena College, Stony Brook University, SUNY-New Paltz, University at Albany, University of New Haven and Vassar College. In addition a new program, the SUNY-Maritime College Women was represented.
There are 15 men’s teams in the Conference and twelve (12) were in attendance.
Attendees: Men’s Teams (12) – Bard College, Drew University, Hofstra University, Marist College, Molloy College, Monroe College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, SUNY-New Paltz, SUNY-Oneonta, USMMA Kings Point and Vassar College.
Not present: Montclair State University, Seton Hall University and William Paterson University.
Contact Information – Team representatives checked the team contact details on the conference web site and provided updates and corrections. The Conference website and mailing list has been updated with this information.
Conference 7s Championships dates and venues confirmed.
The Women’s Conference 7s Championship will take place on Sunday April 26th, 2020 at Stony Brook University. The Men’s Conference 7s Championship will take place on Saturday April 11th, 2020 at Vassar College.Both Championships will start at 9:30 am
Spring Schedules – Teams were reminded to check with the Referee Society if they chose to host a 7s tournament or mini-7s tournament.
Teams must send their Spring Schedules to the Conference – tobrown@vassar.edu and to the Referee Society no later than February 15th, 2020.
Fall 2019 Report & Conference Website
A brief synopsis of the Fall 2019 Season was presented and sheets with the regular season standings and playoff results were distributed. The Tri-State Rugby Conference Fall 2020 Champions and playoff teams were recognized.
Administration
A request for help running the conference was made and 3 women volunteered to assist with improving the conference web site. In addition, Andy McDonnell, volunteered to serve with Rob Gilmore on a fiscal committee.
USA Rugby & Colleges update – Conference Division II & NSCRO
The current situation with USA Rugby was outlined and mention of the conference potentially joining NSCRO, NIRA, ECAC or remaining a part of USA Rugby was discussed. At present the conference is waiting to see if and how USA Rugby will reorganize before determining the best alignment for the teams and players of the conference. A couple of articles were made available to the teams detailing the predicament that USA Rugby has created. Due to serious fiscal mismanagement they have incurred substantial debt and the future of the governing body is uncertain.
Fall 2020 Conference Structure & Schedule (to be published Spring 2020)
Women
At the meeting there was a god discussion about how to structure the divisions in the future i.e. Fall 2020. Manhattanville College Women will depart as that program is to be a varsity team and will join the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA). Following the AGM a list of alignment and playoff options were sent to all the women’s teams and they were asked to choose a preferred option. The divisional alignments and playoff format for the women’s teams will be determined once the votes have been counted.
Men
The Conference was contacted by Columbia University Men with a view to that team possibly joining the conference. However, the membership felt that this would constitute a significant imbalance in the competitive structure of the conference and so at this time Columbia University Men are not to be a part of the Tri-State Conference. Western Connecticut State University also have expressed an interest in joining the conference and was accepted to be a part of the NSCRO division starting in the Fall of 2020 – as long as the team is in good standing with the current conference of which it is a member and the school administration.
Referees/Officials
Teams were reminded that we should be wholly inclusive as a sport and that the referees are an integral part of the rugby community. Teams were asked to be courteous and welcoming to the referees for games understanding that we all share a love of the same sport.
Uniforms and conduct on and off the field
Teams were asked to ensure that all teams on the field wear matching uniforms. Jerseys, shorts and socks should be the same so that we can present the sport in a serious light and not be considered intramural or like a pick-up game.
Budget Review
The accounting firm of D’Arcangelo & Co., LLP has responsibility for the Conference account and members with questions can contact the firm directly. The dues paid for the academic year 2019-20 were provided as were statements from the Bank of America for the months September through December 2019. The current balance in the Conference account is $22,061.57
Expenditures had been for the most part for referee dues and playoff expenses. In addition at the start of the academic year every team had been sent field flags (14) and Conference rugby balls for divisional play. Further discussion concerned wanting to keep a good balance so as to be able to fund teams in need of a subsidy at playoff time. In addition, with the introduction of select side teams funds would be needed to assist those programs.
Medical requirements mandatory at games
Teams were asked to ensure that their college or university develop an Emergency Medical Plan for the rugby team(s). Club Officers were asked to approach the Club Sport Director, Recreational Sport Director or Faculty Advisor and have them oversee this plan.
All-Conference Team
The Fall All-Conference Team nominees should be sent to the conference and the team(s) announced. Maren Milliard of Marist College Women has agreed to facilitate this together with Jack Wallace of Fairfield University Women.
Select Side Teams
James Kimberley of Marist College Men & Andrew Denson of Rensselaer Polytechnic Men agreed to initiate a Men’s Tri-State Select side program.
Tiffany Faaee of Monroe College agreed to initiate a Women’s Tri-State Select side program. These programs would commence in the Fall of 2020 with player identification and games in the spring of 2021 would be scheduled.