First, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL JUDGES WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD THIS YEAR. Some of the meets have been grueling and our judges are still there. We appreciate all you have done for the athletes this year.

On a sad note we all miss the presence of our fellow judges and great contributors to our sport in every way, Emma Gene Edwards and Marian Kretschmer.

This year we have been continuing to work on goals to "enhance and clarify the TRAINING AND PREPARATION OF JUDGES at every level". The goal is to increase participation and the quality of performance of all judges. The following items have been completed this year.
1. The Judges Training Manual has been revised and will be distributed at convention.
2. Zone and Officials chairs have been sent information on procedures for judges training, testing, and evaluating. More information will be shared at the LSSC Officials Chairs meeting at convention.
3. The national judges' update has been set for December 6-8 in Colorado Springs. Zones should schedule dates for their updates.
4. Discussion of the solo event was held at the U.S. Collegiate meet. It did not go as planned due to reluctance of some coaches and judges to have routines discussed before finals. Hopefully we can have more frank discussions in the future. U.S. Open was held under the new format and with FINA rules and many FINA judges. Don Kane, the Observer for the meet, held judges discussions after three events. Coaches and athletes were invited. These went well and hopefully will dispel judge and coach fears. Many judges and coaches noted a need for more education and discussion.

Several things are set for future completion.
1. The figure video to go with the Training Manual will hopefully be completed in the fall of 2003.
2. A new routine video needs to be made to accompany the Training Manual.
3. Information on "How To Become a Judge" will be updated on the website.
4. Level 4, 5, and 7 Judges Training will be given at convention. Level 7 will include Free Combination judging and Senior Technical Routine juding. Sign up with Carol Tackett by September 1, 2003. Fees are in Appendix G of the rulebook.
5 Judges exams will be given at convention. Notify Mary Ellen Wiegand if you wish to take an exam and at which level. You should be either renewing or have had the training course for the level you wish to take. Fees are in Appendix G of the rulebook.

Congratulations to the following who have attained a national judge rating this year.
Jack Benzie, Level VI-F Shannon Korpela, Level VI-R Ted Roche, Level VI-R

The following items will be moved to Appendix G from the "Board Policy Manual".

Added as Section 1.11
Pre-selected Judges Housing
A. Pre-selected judging assignments shall be distributed by January of each year to both the National Judges and the competition hosts.
B. Judges shall be given a deadline to respond to the Officials Vice President of their intent to attend the competition. If no response is forthcoming by the stated deadline, the Officials Vice President will assume that the judge will not be in attendance and will notify the next official in line.
C. Based on this response, the Officials Vice President will notify the competition host of the pre-selected judges who will be attending and requiring housing. Judges will not be required to book their own room(s) and shall not contact the host organization. Judges will be assigned up to three to a room by the competition host in consultation with the Officials Vice President.
D. If, due to any unusual circumstance, a judge has needs other than the assignment as stated, he/she will contact the Officials Vice President with those needs. Any spouse/significant other will be required to book and pay for their own space in the hotel.

Added as Section 1.12
Officials Review Subcommittee Procedure
A. Upon committee or Chair receiving written complaint or observation of unacceptable behavior.
1. Chair or designee shall notify the individual
a) That a complaint has been received, and
b) That an investigation is in process.
2. Committee shall investigate, using any or all of the following, as appropriate:
a) Conversation with complainant.
b) Conversation with individual about whom complaint was filed to get response.
c) Talk to others who might have seen or heard incident.
3. Committee will make a determination regarding incident.
4. Chair will notify all involved of the outcome of the deliberations and the procedure for review.
B. Notes
1. In order to maintain a written record for future reference all complaints should be in writing. Responses may be in writing or verbal; if verbal, a written record of the response should be put in the records of the committee.
2. All complaints should be addressed by the Committee regardless of infraction.
3. In the case of complaints about biased judging, the records of the evaluations shall be put in the records of the committee.
4. If Complainants are not willing to be identified, it may be difficult to proceed with confidentiality.
5. At all times we will stay within the confines of the USSS Rulebook
6. If a complaint is received that involves behavior other than judging, then the complaint will be referred to the Board of Directors.
7. Every effort will be used to keep deliberations confidential.