US Gaelic Athletic Association 2019 Annual Convention San Diego, Ca. November 8th-10th www.usgaa.org ………………………………... 2019 USGAA Convention Agenda .............................................. 5 USGAA Convention Standing Orders ........................................... 8 Minutes of 2018 USGAA Annual Convention ............................... 9 Liam Hegarty (RIP) .................................................................... 24 Youth Officer Report ................................................................. 25 Review of 2019 Registration ...................................................... 35 USGAA PRO Report ................................................................. 59 Games Development Report ...................................................... 67 Hurling Development Committee Report ..................................... 87 Ladies Football Development Committee Review ......................... 99 Referee Development Plan 2020 .............................................. 101 Overview of 2019 Registration Process .................................... 105 Treasurer’s Report ................................................................... 113 Secretary’s Report .................................................................. 135 Insurance Report ..................................................................... 151 Motions submitted for 2019 USGAA Convention ...................... 155 Officer Nominations for 2020 .................................................. 173 2019 USGAA Sanctioned Tournaments .................................... 174 USGAA Memorial Trophies ..................................................... 175 2019 USGAA Champions ....................................................... 176 USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org 3 ………………………………... 4 USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org ………………………………... 2019 USGAA Convention Agenda Friday, November 8, 2019 Evening Session ● 8:00 pm-10:00pm: o Presentation of Reports: ▪ Youth Officer ▪ PRO ▪ 2019 Registration Review o Old Business ● 10:00 pm: Adjournment USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org 5 ………………………………... Saturday, November 9, 2019 Morning Session ● 8:30 am Registration of Delegates ● 9:00 am Welcome Addresses: o Tracey Rivera (San Diego GAA) o Bernie Connaughton (USGAA) o Liam Lenihan (Munster Council) ● 9:15 am Adoption of Standing Orders ● 9:20 am Minutes of 2018 Convention ● 9:30 am Presentation of Reports o Games Development o Referee Development o Central Council o Registrar o Treasurer o Secretary o Chairman ● 2019 USGAA Club of the Year ● Any Other Business ● 12:00 pm Lunch 6 USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org ………………………………... Saturday, November 9, 2019 Afternoon Session ● 1:00pm Resumption of Convention ● Roll Call ● 1:15pm Joe Carton (Munster GAA Games Development) ● 1:45pm Motions ● Election of Convention Chairperson/Secretary ● Election of Officers for 2020 ● New Business ● Adjournment of USGAA Convention Evening Session • 5:00pm Q&A for non-GDA Divisions with GDO\Munster Games Development • 6:30pm Meetings with GDA Divisions USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org 7 ………………………………... USGAA Convention Standing Orders In order to carry out the proceedings of the Convention without delay the following Standing Orders will be observed. 1. The Proposer of a motion or an amendment thereto may speak for 2 minutes, but not longer than 2 minutes. 2. A Delegate speaking to a motion or an amendment must not exceed 1 minute. A maximum of 2 delegates from one club may speak on a motion. 3. The Proposer of a motion or an amendment may speak a second time for 1 minute before a vote is taken, but no other delegate may speak a second time on the same motion or amendment. 4. The Chair may at any time he considers a matter has been sufficiently discussed call on the Proposer for a reply, and when that has been given, a vote must be taken. 5. A Delegate may, with the consent of the Chair, move “that the question be now put,” after which when the Proposer has spoken, a vote must be taken. 6. No motion, other than that properly before Convention, shall be considered. 7. Suspension of Standing Orders may only take place with the consent of two thirds of those present and voting. 8. Any motion seeking to amend or change a Bylaw must have a majority equal to three fifths of those present and voting. A simple majority of those present and voting is necessary to alter a Regulation. 9. The Chair of each Divisional Board shall be entitled to one vote. Each affiliated and registered Club present shall be entitled to two (2) votes even if only represented by one delegate. 10. The Chair may change the order of the items on the agenda with the consent of a majority of those present and entitled to vote. 8 USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org ………………………………... Minutes of 2018 USGAA Annual Convention November 9-11, 2018 Gaelic Park, Chicago. USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org 9 ………………………………... Friday November 9th, 8pm. Youth Officers Report – presented by Liam Hegarty. Report was adopted as presented. Registrar’s Report – presented by Tom Lagan. Rob Tierney queried why there was a drop in Registered Clubs, and how many Dual Players were registered. Tom Lagan addressed both questions. Report was adopted as presented. PRO Report – presented by Rory O’Donnell. Report was adopted as presented. Hurling Development Report – presented by Colm Egan. Jon Ebers enquired as to the overall number of Hurling games during 2018. Colm Egan estimated there were between 700-1,000 games, including informal intra-club leagues. Report was adopted as presented. At 9:35pm the meeting was adjourned until Saturday, November 11th. 10 USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org ………………………………... Saturday, November 11th, 9am: Meeting was convened at 9am by Gareth Fitzsimons. Opening addresses were made by John Bridges (on behalf of Chicago GAA), Gareth Fitzsimons (on behalf of USGAA) and Jerry O’Sullivan (Munster GAA), who all welcomed the delegates and wished them a successful convention. Standing Orders were adopted, with the noting of one correction due to a change in the Official Guide. Minutes of 2017 USGAA Convention (Held in Virginia Beach, Virginia) were adopted. Bereaved: A moments silence was held for those that passed during the year. Presentation of Reports: Games Development Report – presented by Rob Tierney. Vince Beach enquired as to the source of Global Games Development Funding, and the process of Allocation Decisions. Rob Tierney addressed both questions. Report was adopted as presented. Referee Development Report – presented by Hugh Duggan. Report was adopted as presented. USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org 11 ………………………………... Central Council Delegates Report – presented by Paddy McDevitt. Colm Egan brought up the issue of Irish-based units fund-raising in USGAA’s jurisdiction. Paul Keane outlined steps being taken to address this matter. Report was adopted as presented. Treasurers Report – presented by John Young. 1. Sean Gehrold enquired as to whether USGAA circulated a Budget Proposal. John Young replied that there was no formal budget as such, and that, notwithstanding unforeseen events, costs were usually expected to be in-line with those of the previous years. 2. Vince Beach enquired as to the 2019 Insurance Costs John Young addressed this by noting a 2019 Policy had not yet been sourced. 3. Tracey Rivera complimented USGAA on the approach to providing referees for the USGAA Finals. 4. Liam Moloney asked when the 2015 Insurance Overage would be distributed. John Young responded that it was in process, and cheques would be issued in the near future. 12 USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org ………………………………... 5. Tom Regan enquired as to why the New York Feile Grant was listed in USGAA Reports. John Young stated that this was due to a Croke Park process, but that it had been a straightforward pass-through with no impact on USGAA funds. Report was adopted as presented. Secretary’s Report – presented by Paul Keane 1. Steve Shannon, Paul McGarry, Liam Moloney, John Bridges and Maurice Condon spoke on the need for civility and respect to be shown at all times, noting that this was clearly not the case in 2018. Paul Keane thanked them for showing leadership on the matter. 2. Vince Beach brought up the matter of 2 Junior C Men’s Football competitions at USGAA Finals. Paul Keane noted that 13 entries had been received for the Junior C Men’s Football grade, and that as 2017 Convention delegates had mandated no more than 8 teams-per-competition, USGAA’s options were limited. 3. Susan Pierce complimented USGAA on the Website overhaul. 4. Skip Hunter acknowledged composing one of the emails referenced and apologized for doing so. Paul Keane thanked Skip for his apology. USGAA National Convention 2019 – November 8th-10th 2019 – www.usgaa.org 13 ………………………………... 5. Mary Beth Glaccum, Kevin Pearson and Anthony Picozzi suggested that the abusive nature of discourse in 2018 may have been a result of the attitude of USGAA Officers. Paul Keane thanked all 3 for their contribution and addressed each claim individually. 6. John Farrell brought up the matter of the GPA not being inclusive. Paul Keane addressed the issue, and outlined steps being taken