605.1 ARTICLE 605 ZONES 605.1 For administrative purposes, the LSCs shall be combined into contiguous zones as follows: Eastern Zone - Adirondack, Allegheny Mountain, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Metropolitan, Middle Atlantic, New England, New Jersey, Niagara, Potomac Valley, Virginia. Southern Zone - Border, Florida, Florida Gold Coast, Georgia, Gulf, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Texas, South Carolina, South Texas, Southeastern, West Texas, West Virginia. Central Zone - Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Lake Erie, Michigan, Midwestern, Minnesota, Missouri Valley, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ozark, South Dakota, Wisconsin. Western Zone - Alaska, Arizona, Central California, Colorado, Hawaii, Inland Empire, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Pacific, Pacific Northwest, San Diego-Imperial, Sierra Nevada, Snake River, Southern California, Utah, Wyoming. 605.2 Zone Directors — See 504.2 for election of the Zone Directors. 605.3 Zone Meet Administration — The Zone Age Group Championship Meet shall be conducted and administered by the Zone. 605.4 Change in Zone Alignment — If an LSC by a two-thirds ( 2 /3) vote of the members present at a meeting of the LSC House of Delegates approves a change moving the LSC from one Zone to another, and if both Zones approve of the change by majority vote of the LSCs in each Zone, that change shall become effective at the close of the next <strong>USA</strong> <strong>Swimming</strong> annual meeting at which the <strong>USA</strong> <strong>Swimming</strong> House of Delegates shall approve the change. Prior to the vote of the House of Delegates, the <strong>USA</strong> <strong>Swimming</strong> <strong>Rule</strong>s & Regulations Committee shall make a recommendation as to approval or disapproval of the proposed change. ARTICLE 606 REGIONAL COMPETITION In order to reduce travel distances for athletes and to provide equitable quality competition the LSCs may make arrangements to compete on a regional basis. ARTICLE 607 APPEALS AND REVIEW 607.1 Petition to the <strong>USA</strong> <strong>Swimming</strong> <strong>Rule</strong>s and Regulations Committee — Any House of Delegates of any LSC or any member of <strong>USA</strong> <strong>Swimming</strong> may petition the <strong>USA</strong> <strong>Swimming</strong> <strong>Rule</strong>s and Regulations Committee with respect to any proposed changes referenced in Articles 604 and 605 above. Such appeal must be submitted at least one hundred (100) days prior to the next regular or special meeting of the <strong>USA</strong> <strong>Swimming</strong> House of Delegates. 607.2 In any case in which an LSC House of Delegates or a Zone fails to approve or agree to a requested change, the proponents of the change may petition the <strong>USA</strong> <strong>Swimming</strong> <strong>Rule</strong>s & Regulations Committee to investigate and determine whether the change should be allowed notwithstanding the failure of the LSC or Zone to approve. Such appeal must be submitted at least 140 <strong>2012</strong> <strong>Rule</strong>s & Regulations
3 4 5 7 8 R 607.2 one hundred (100) days prior to the next regular or special meeting of the <strong>USA</strong> <strong>Swimming</strong> House of Delegates. 607.3 Submission to the Committee shall be in writing; shall contain the name of the proponent(s), the name(s) of the club(s) involved, a record of vote(s) taken at any level certified in writing by an appropriate officer; and shall contain a summary of the rationale for the proposed change(s). 607.4 The <strong>Rule</strong>s & Regulations Committee shall investigate the matter and hold a public hearing thereon at the time of the next annual meeting of the <strong>USA</strong> <strong>Swimming</strong> House of Delegates. The Committee shall then make recommendations to the House for its final determination. 1 2 6 <strong>2012</strong> <strong>Rule</strong>s & Regulations 141