● Next Meeting will be Tuesday, Dec, 9 at 1pm Eastern Time.
Action Items
No action needed
2025 / 2026 Committee Goals
Goal
Target Date
Progress Notes
Increase total donations by 10% over 2025 Conference Conference 2026 Working on ideas to reach goal.
Come up with a new idea to replace the cork pull Conference 2026 Goal of 130 Bottles.
Review the scholarship process June 15, 2025 Sent link to all members to review.
Blog Topics & Timelines
Topic / Author
New scholarship process
ITEM
3.1:
ASSOCIATION OF AQUATICS PROFESSIONALS
BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MINUTES
DESCRIPTION: The Board of Directors meeting minutes for the regular meeting held on October 15, 2025, have been submitted for review by the AOAP Secretary on October 16, 2025. The minutes are inclusive of all items discussed during the meeting and have been submitted for the entire Board of Directors review no later than Friday, November 14, 2025.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the AOAP Board of Directors held on October 15, 2025.
ATTACHMENT: AOAP Board of Directors meeting minutes, October 15, 2025
Board of Directors Meeting Notes
Wednesday, October15, 2025
Meeting Called to order at 2:31pmCentral Time
I.Roll Call-
a)Attendees:Bob Bradley, Donita Grinde-Houtman,Manda Groff,Cory Hilderbrand, Ashley Ingram,Tammy Jaster,Joey LaNeve(2:39 pm),Helena Machado(2:42 pm),Craig Merkey,Alan Mogridge, Bill O’Melia, Gwen Wilcox,Kate Connell, Bob Kappel,Nathalie Martin(2:43 pm), Juliene Hefter, Kirsten Barnes, Mark Basnight
b)Excused:
c)Not Present:Bill Fraizer,SJ Idel
II.Announcements
a)Welcome our newly appointed board members, who will be joining us at the conference
o Kevin Goodrich-Aquatic Supervisor for the town of Marana Arizona
o Stephane Rebeek-Founder and CEO if Backyard Lifeguards
o
III.Committee Reports:
a)Conference Education: GwenWilcoxand Kate Connell, Co-Chairs
o Committee met on October 1 to discuss new task of proofreading the conference booklet and speaker schedule for errors and typos.
o Due date for corrections is October 16, 2025
o Next zoom meeting will be January 20, to go over room hosting duties and NDPA room hosts will be joining on that meeting, so everyone gets the same information
b)Drowning Prevention: Manda Groff, Chair
o Working on the last 2 blogs to be submitted, subcommittees are working on nalizing dates
o Received October grant applications and getting them uploaded for ranking
o
c)Governance: Cory Hilderbrand, Chair
o Met and talked a lot about regions and how we can better continue our outreach of our organization and the ability to work with other organizations
Board of Directors Meeting Notes
o Looking to come up with ways to work with regional organizations to help get information about what is available to them
o One idea is to reach out to all past presidents and see if they would be interested in forming a subcommittee to work on this.
d)Director’s School
o Numbers are continuing to go up and we are in a good position
o
o
e)Tech School: Bob Kappel, Chair
o Working on getting all presenters registered in the portal and getting their information to us
o The program is strong, and we have a lot of support
o Already have seen lots of interest and looking for a good turnout
o Good response to the flyer that Kirsten created
f)Professional Development: Joey LaNeve, Chair
o 232 responses to the wage and salary survey (up from 140 last year)
o Representation from 41 states, wide range of organizations
o Report went out today via newsletter, Members only data will go out soon
o Beginning in November we work to get letters out to vendors who are registered
c)Diversity,Equity, Inclusionand Justice: Kate Connell, Chair
o Next meetingis scheduled for November
o Everyone is working on submitting materials for the website and webinar
V.Executive Director Report:
o Conference registrations are coming inas well as exhibitor registrations
Board of Directors Meeting Notes
o Answering a lot ofquestions,emails and calls
o Working on getting speakers to complete tasks, 9 tasksthat each speaker needs to complete, we need that informationfor IACET requirementsas well as ensuring they are aware of all items
o Working on potential new partnershipproposals
Not sure if CMAHCwill go forward, they have had a change in leadership, we were supposed to get an answer by September 15, and it was extended several times
Working on thepartnership proposal withILCIRA, drafts have gone back and forth, and more than likely Juliene will send them to our Attorney for nal reviewonce it is nalized
o Working on renewing advertisers for 2026, Doug Duran from H2O Innovations has renewed to continue the top leader board ad space
o Working on sponsorship renewal proposals
o Kirsten and Juliene have spent signi cant time working on 2026 budget, just waiting on a couple of the partnership groupsto know if additions need to be made
o Making a lot of down payments for the conference, payments need to go out as the revenue comes in
o Working with conference partner groups, United States Swim School Association is holding their spring workshop in conjunction with AOAP
o Working with ProMinent to work on some additional things with that
o Kirsten has almost completed the IACET application process with some informational assistance fromJuliene
VI.Assistant Director Report:
o Kirsten is at Colorado Park and Recreation Association Conference setting up an exhibitor booth with Jeff Fryer
o Elizabeth Beisel will be attending Athletic Business with Kirsten and Mark as an exhibitor and there will be a videographer to tape PSAs while they are there to use throughout the year to promote AOAP. We have set up her own special Zeffy account, so whenever she promotes anything on social media it will be an opportunity for people to donate towards AOAP grant/scholarship funds
o Kirsten is almost done with the IACET application, packet will go in be then end of the week
o Working with a lot of advertising and creating new pieces for social media to promote conference sessions
o Reminder to view webinars on Board responsibilities and website information
Board of Directors Meeting Notes
o 38 on demand and live courses purchased and 1 AqP renewal, a lot of people are taking advantage of the 3 x $25 coupons for free webinars that each member receives that has joined after April 18th
o Hosted live webinars on September 18, 25 and October 9 and we have one scheduled for October 30
o Juliene and Allissa hosted a let’s talk conference webinar on Tuesday and it will go live on the website on Friday
o Looking on expanding conference signage, this year is 15th Conference year
VII.Deputy Director Report:
o Getting ready for World Water ParkAssociation conference
o Excited to retain more vendors and attendees
o Will go to Athletic Business after WWA
o We have 11 new vendors this year so far
o Working on nalizing Tech School
VIII.Minutes-
a)September2025minutes
o Motion to approve-Bob Bradley
o Seconded by-Craig Merkey
o Motion Carried-passed as written
IX.Treasurer’s Report
a)September2025 Treasure’s Reports
o Motion to approve report-MandaGroff
o Seconded by-Donita Grinde-Houtman
o Motion passed-approved as written
X.Adjournment
o Next meeting:Wednesday, November19, 2025, 2:30 PM CST via Zoom
Meeting adjourned at 3:08pmCT
ASSOCIATION OF AQUATICS PROFESSIONALS
ITEM 3.2: TREASURER’S REPORT
DESCRIPTION: The October Treasurer’s Report has been prepared for review by the Board of Directors. The report shows revenues of $862,136.13 and expenditures of $683,182.51 with a balance of $178,953.62. Additionally, the overall account balance is $893,504.97.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the August Treasurer’s Report dated October 31, 2025.
ATTACHMENTS: October 2025 Treasurer’s Report
and Expenditures for the year to date as of 12/30/2024 – 10/31/2025/2025
ASSOCIATION OF AQUATICS PROFESSIONALS
ITEM 3.3: PROPOSED 2026 AOAP BUDGET
DESCRIPTION: The proposed 2026 AOAP Budget has been submitted by the AOAP Executive Director for review and approval by the Board of Directors. The proposed budget is balanced and considers additional expenses to the organization such as increased conference costs, the addition of the AOAP Water Safety Spokesperson, and enhanced speaker incentive packages. The proposed budget anticipates revenues of $866,250.00 and expenditures of $865,770.00, leaving a remaining income of $480.00.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION:
RECOMMENDATION:
Unanimously approved the proposed 2026 AOAP Budget on October 29, 2025.
