2018 Minutes
By Al Myers, USAWA Secretary
2018 Annual General Meeting Minutes
The Annual General Meeting of the USAWA was called to order by President Denny Habecker on June 23rd following the competition at 3:15 PM, at the site of the meet. Roll call was taken and these USAWA members were in attendance: Al Myers, Denny Habecker, Cody Lokken, Brandon Rein, Cale Dunlap, Joe Ciavattone Sr., Joe Ciavattone Jr., LaVerne Myers, Dean Ross, Eric Todd, Judy Habecker, and Dennis Mitchell. The reading of the previous minutes were read by Secretary Al Myers. Judy moved to accept the minutes, with a second by Dean, and they passed unanimously. The Financial report was given by Treasurer Al Myers, which showed a yearly profit of $1994. No drug tests or online store purchases were made in 2017 which explained the profit. Joe Sr. moved to approve the report, with a second by Dean, and the report passed unanimously. A website report was given by Al Myers, website director. Details of all things the USAWA website provides was given. Joe Sr. moved to approve the report, with a second by Dean, and the report passed unanimously. The report from Awards Director Al Myers was next. Details of the awards given by the USAWA was outlined. Joe Sr. moved to approve the report, with a second by Dean, and the report passed unanimously. Next, the report from Records Director Al Myers was given. Joe Sr. moved to approve the report, with a second by Dean, and the report passed unanimously. The report from the Drug Enforcement Director Chad Ullom had been forwarded and given on his behalf by Al Myers, since Chad was not in attendance. The USAWA conducted nearly 20 tests this past year with no positive tests. Judy moved to accept the report, with a second by Dean, and it passed unanimously. Next the report of the Official’s Director Joe Garcia was given. Joe was not in attendance but had prepared his report to be given by Al Myers. In his report Joe encouraged more Level 1 officials to become Level 2 officials. Joe Sr. moved to approve the report, with a second by Dean, and the report passed unanimously. Postal Meet Director Denny Habecker gave his report next. 19 men and 3 women competed in the postal series in 2017, with 6 doing all of them. Denny outlined another scoring system of ranking the postal lifters for the year. Joe Sr. moved to approve the report, with a second by Dean, and the report passed unanimously. The report of IAWA Technical Committee Chairman Dennis Mitchell was given next. Dennis informed us about the two new proposed USAWA lifts that we will need to vote on. Joe Sr. moved to approve the report, with a second by Dean, and the report passed unanimously. The discussion and vote on the two new lifts were the next agenda item, which were both approved prior by the USAWA Executive Board. The first lift, the Lurich Lift proposed by Lance Foster, involves an OTSM lift that is a Hack Lift from a height of 18 inches. Dean moved to accept the Lurich Lift, with a second by Joe Sr., and it passed unanimously. The second lift, the Habecker Lift proposed by Al Myers, involves an OTSM lift that is a Zercher Lift from a height of 1/3rd the lifter’s height. Joe Sr. moved to accept the lift, with a second by Dean, and the lift passed unanimously. Discussion and vote on a rule change for the Thor’s Hammer was next, with this addition, “Plates must be loaded using the largest plates and in the sequence of heavier discs innermost with the smaller discs in descending weight arranged, with a maximum of 10 pound plates used if possible.” Joe Sr. moved to accept the rule change, with a second by Dean, and it passed unanimously. In New Business, Judy discussed attending Art’s funeral and that she and Denny sent flowers on the USAWA’s behalf. Judy moved that she and Denny would like to host an annual Art’s Birthday Bash Memorial Meet in Art’s memory. Joe Sr. gave a second and it passed unanimously. Al Myers mentioned that a $500 anonymous donation had been given to the USAWA to do something in honor of the late Mike “Murdo” Murdoch. After prior discussing options with the donater, Al moved to have a Hall of Fame Plaque made which would list all USAWA Hall of Fame Members. LaVerne gave a second and the motion passed unanimously. Bids for the 2019 USAWA National Championships included only one bid, from Denny and Judy Habecker for Nationals to be held the 3rd or 4th weekend of June in Lebanon. Dean moved to accept the bid, with a second by Joe Sr., and it passed unanimously. Cody then gave details of the evening banquet, which was held at Fish Lips by the beach. Dean moved to adjourne the meeting, with a second by Joe Sr. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting ended promptly at 3:55 PM.