LA Call Minutes- 7.27.16

LA call – Wednesday, July 27^th
10:45am

Stefanie Larson - USAC
- Jack Seehafer from our Athletics department who is our Women’s Endurance and Athlete Development Director is here to tell us a few highlights and updates before the games start in Rio.
Jack Seehafer- USAC
- Jim Miller is on his way to Rio as we speak. Our biggest goal for all of our coaches during the Olympics is to walk away with 9 medals. There are medal potentials for both women and men. One of the things we’ll be doing once we get back, is all the coaches will sit and meet to see how we can do better.

Stefanie Larson- USAC
- We have Nathan Nicholas with Nicholas Hill Group here with us today. Nicholas Hill Group handled various insurance benefits for USAC for over 10 years. Nathan is developing a new Equipment Insurance Program for LAs and other USAC members. It’s in a working progress right now. He would like to receive your feedback on what you would like to see out of this new insurance. Here’s Nathan to tell you more about this potential program.
Nathan Hill- Nicholas Hill Group
- We provide a variety of insurance benefits. I’ve been working on a new equipment product that would help with race related items you purchase on an annual basis. In doing so we have located a valuable product for you. Your feedback will be much appreciated. I’d like to take your feedback and customize the program to better fit your needs.
- Coverage will be for lost, damaged, or stolen equipment. This will be a completely optional annual policy people may purchase.
  - Maximum limit is $750K on the high end, but any single item may have $150K of coverage. This will be on a replacement cost basis which is whatever it costs to replace the item. The minimum premium is approximately looking to be $250 a year for low cost items. Nothing is solidified as of now. It will be significantly based on the type of equipment insured. Items over $5K must be individually scheduled separately on the policy when you apply. Coverage is for all risk and peril- flood, transit. The deductible can be $250 up to $2,500 per claim. The higher the deductible the lower premium. This also covers rental reimbursement if you need to rent out the equipment to a 3^rd party.
- Can you all tell me the types of equipment you use as well as the locations the equipment is typically stored? I’d also like to understand what limits you all need.
Randy Legeai - LAMBRA
- We have a couple of finish line cameras, tripods, and a trailer.
- Would this insurance cover a camera when a rain storm comes through and knocks it over?
Nathan Hill- Nicholas Hill Group
- Yes, that would be covered. The insurance is strictly for property and does not include liability coverage.
Randy Legeai- LAMBRA
- Most of our equipment is stored in trailer or someone’s home. For a smaller association$250 would not be an excessive fee for the insurance.
Nathan Hill- Nicholas Hill Group
- What would be an excessive premium for you? What would be too uncomfortable to pay?
Randy Legeai - LAMBRA
- For our smaller association getting up to the $700 range would be a bit much and would cause me to take a second look.
Gina Kavesh - WSBA
- Our equipment is usually highway signs. Is this insurance for items on the higher end or lower end?
Nathan Hill- Nicholas Hill Group
- It would cover both lower and higher end items.
Gina Kavesh – WSBA
- We normally charge a small fee for people to rent equipment from us. Are there any exclusions on that?
Nathan Hill- Nicholas Hill Group
- No exclusions. Rentals are covered and would be included.
Randy Legeai - LAMBRA
- Does this strictly covers LAs equipment or can people outside an LA purchase this insurance as well?
Nathan Hill- Nicholas Hill Group
- We do intend to extend the program to individual members.
- The biggest question for us and these programs is to gauge interest to make sure there is a need and for the majority of you to find value in the program. Any feedback is appreciated. Please e-mail Nathan@nicholashillgroup.com.

Chuck Hodge- USAC
- Technical update- Cyclo-cross season is coming up. I am working on the assignment sheet. I will contact LA assigners next week. The goal is to bring in the most experienced race officials while keeping travel costs to a minimum. For the secondary positions we’re to going to rely on the LA to provide feedback for who’s available. We’ll at least get the main positions to the first races next week.
- New assignment tool- I have it down to two vendors. Currently, I’m doing things manually by using an excel spreadsheet. I didn’t want to get into one assignment tool to only change it in February. The plan is to have a new system in place to transition to so it’s easier to handle these manually.
- Upgrades- Our goal is to streamline, clarify, and clean up upgrade criteria going into 2017. We’ve seen a lot of inconsistency between the LAs. I received a couple e-mails this week about why the racer wasn’t upgraded when his buddy in the next state over had fewer points and was upgraded. We give the assigners the ability to use judgment calls to upgrade as necessary. Other than that, please try to be consistent with our guidelines because riders talk to each other and we all hear about it in the end. If you are uncomfortable with making a decision on a certain upgrade, contact your ESRM for advice. If you have feedback of what’s working and not working please e-mail me (chodge@usacycling.org).
- This is your chance over the next month or two to get any desired rule changes into me. These items will be given to sport committees in October. They will address feedback then the changes will go to board of directors the end of December. After the board approves the rules, they will take into effect in 2017.

Stefanie Larson - USAC
- Jon Whiteman and Kelly Reyes are on the call. There aren’t any updates this time around, but if any of you have any questions for them, this is the time to ask.
- Fred Blattspieler is no longer with USA Cycling. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. We are currently looking for an Events Services & Membership Project Coordinator. The job is posted on Teamwork online. If you know of anyone who may be interested in applying please contact Joan Hanscom at jhanscom@usacycling.org or apply online.
- As all of you know we are currently in the works of revamping our IT system. So that we fully encompass your needs and wants, I’d like to spend some time discussing your wish list. We have a good idea from past e-mails and meetings regarding your requests, but if all of you could give me examples how you would like the system to be improved, what you would like to see implemented, new reporting and/or resources, this will help us make sure we don’t miss anything. We aren’t promising for these changes to take place, but we will try our best to accommodate these requests within one of the waves.
JD Bilodeau - NEBRA
- On the LA report side we would like the ability to drill down into the race permits and racer days. We want to see what events we are credited for. Receiving those numbers will help with transparency.
Gina Kavesh - WSBA
- We want to be able to look at our regions to see who’s racing and who’s not racing to receive the total picture. We want data on all disciplines including mountain bike. Where are these riders showing up? Any historical data will help.
Bill Parsons - TBRA
- We want the ability to give discounts for multiple races in the same day. If I have a criterium and time trial in the same day, I only want to be able to discount the criterium.
Gina Kavesh - WSBA
- If you give us the tools we will use them. I’d like to be able to maximize the information on the website and not have to replicate if on my website.
- Will you give us the chance to test and learn the system before it launches?
Stefanie Larson – USAC
- Yes, we will schedule a time so that all parties involved have a chance to test and train in the new system. We don’t know that timeline as of now, but once we lock it down we will let all of you know.

Judy Rhyne - CCA
- Recently I had a few racers who complained that when they called USAC no one answered the phone. These were racers that submit an online request and did not hear back.
Stefanie Larson – USAC
- We’re sorry to hear some members had trouble getting through. Our main line is covered by a staff member during all business hours. We encourage everyone to leave a message because if the staff member is on the other line with someone else, the line will eventually go to voicemail. There are many times people call and don’t leave a message. Our staff returns phone calls right away. If you don’t reach someone through the main line, the ESC’s as well as ESRM’s direct lines are posted on the website. That could be a second option.

This Article Updated October 3, 2016 @ 09:41 PM For more information contact: