President's Report

By Sheri Soderberg Pittman

The previous issue of the magazine contained a lengthy "Letter to the Editor" from Grant Misbach. USOC staff members Chris Vadala and Leslie Gamez (the USOC Sports Partnership Team assigned to serve as liaisons with USATT) shared some similar views with the Board at our last meeting in May. Another person wrote to ask after hearing a rumor that USOC was decertifying USATT as an NGB. In this "association primer series," I will address their concerns.

Grant cited a friend’s summary of the association that "they are just always fighting among themselves." Chris shared with us the same observation and added that this was of particular concern to the USOC. The USOC has recently adopted the slogan "Athletes First." Chris stated that USATT’s preoccupation with problems and in-fighting unfortunately shifts the focus away from our number one priority: the athletes and development of the association towards serving our athletes and cultivating medallists.

Grant’s letter focused on three recommendations:

• Greater transparency, including full financial information;

• The need for a strong, competent executive director who is allowed to run the organization; and

• A very strong code of ethics and conflict of interest policy that is strictly followed.

Chris impressed upon the Board the serious nature of the review being conducted by the USOC’s Membership and Credentials Committee. Just to make sure no one was uninformed about the power of the USOC in regard to national governing bodies, Chris stated that, if an NGB does not address USOC concerns, it is within the authority of the USOC to decertify it (after an extensive and exhaustive process). He cited previous concerns with USATT’s financial situation and a series of turnovers in the executive director position as potential threats to the perceived viability of USATT as an NGB.

In regard to athletes, Chris cited extreme concern that no money from the USOC had been allocated for national team training camps. Without training camps, athletes cannot be properly prepared for competitions. Without proper preparation, it is unlikely our athletes will achieve "sustained competitive excellence."

Chris added that he was disturbed to have received an unusual volume of communications from USATT members other than USATT’s official liaison, the executive director. In regard to the executive director, Chris stated that he and Leslie were extremely pleased both that Doru Gheorghe had been promoted to the position and that a three-year contract had been entered into.

Chris and Leslie graciously remained at the meeting in order to answer questions. Since Chris was going to be presenting a report on USATT to the USOC’s Membership & Credentials Committee the following day, I asked him to share the following information (which also responds to Grant’s concerns):

• USATT has in place an Executive Director highly regarded by the Sports Partnership Team;

• The termination of the Oakbrook Training Center contract will save USATT in excess of $85,000 in otherwise encumbered expenses (through the end of 2004);

• That contract termination also restores the right of USATT to hold training camps at a location other than Oakbrook (that did not appeal to athletes);

• Virtually all of the money saved would mean an additional funding for elite athlete development (due to USOC funding requirements);

• USATT achieved other cost savings by retaining Dennis Taylor as Legal Counsel on a pro bono basis;

• USATT’s financial situation has improved so significantly that both USATT’s independent auditor, Waugh & Associates, and the USOC auditor submitted extremely positive reports (see Tong Lee’s separate report in this issue);

• The magazine continues to produce record ad revenue;

• The recent outsourcing of ratings to NATT has already resulted in timely processing of tournaments and will continue to result in providing a more efficient and improved membership service, freeing up the staff to focus on USATT’s core objectives;

• Pro bono event management by NATT ensures that the U.S. Open is in good hands and opens the possibility of an additional win-win outsourcing arrangement, which would further free up staff resources;

• USATT’s Board unanimously approved the appointment of Bob Fox, a person with years of excellent working relations with the USOC, to fill the vacant Board position;

• USATT has developed a new league concept, identified Paddle Palace and Stiga as the sponsor, and will market it to the recreational table tennis market;

• This opportunity could also provide USATT with an excellent vehicle to launch a joint marketing venture with the USOC, known as the OXL (affinity) card;

• USATT is now receiving ITTF funds, through the North American Table Tennis Union agreement with the ITTF, for elite athlete development programs, including camps;

• USATT’s national junior women’s team recently qualified for the first-ever Junior World Championships; and

• USATT’s recent team trials were well conducted (at the time of the meeting, Gao Jun had not yet had her near-medal performance at the world championships).

I had already given my president’s report to the Board, citing new measures that I would seek to have ratified at the meeting and calling for adoption of certain proposals being recommended to the USOC by its own internal reform task force. In brief, one recommendation called for the creation of three Board working groups: planning, finances, and oversight. Another recommendation was the clearly articulated increased empowerment of the ED. Later in the meeting the Board embraced both measures.

Board members excused themselves when issues presenting a potential conflict of interest were taken up. USATT follows a code of ethics that is almost identical with the USOC’s. It is published at: www.usatt.org/organization/USATT_Code_of_Ethics.pdf. Every Board member and employee must sign this code of ethics and each is expected to abide by it. The code of ethics deals primarily with conflicts of interest and is a guide to the actions, conduct and behavior of Board members and staff.

I commend Grant for submitting his letter, which was thought provoking and inquisitive. Please note that to the extent that transparency conflicts with the need to refrain from discussing staffing issues, I follow legal counsel’s advice to favor a conservative approach.

USATT’s Board is extremely appreciative to Chris Vadala and Leslie Gamez for their candor and time spent addressing issues of vital importance to the ongoing viability of USATT as our sport’s national governing body.

As USATT’s staff and volunteer leaders, Doru and I, respectively, are cooperating on all levels with the USOC. Doru’s leave necessitated that I represent USATT at a recent NYC2012/USOC/NGB meeting in which the collaborative effort to win the 2012 Olympic bid and strategy was conveyed.

To facilitate improved USOC/USATT communications and relations, Chris initiated a monthly conference call with the executive director, president and athlete representative. (Eric Owens has not yet been able to participate.) All concerns, challenges, and rumored problems are discussed freely and directly. Other important issues, including the timing of Doru’s vacation and my absence at the world championships, were discussed and okayed.

Interestingly, the very people criticizing my absence in Paris are the same ones who have previously attacked my record of representations as USATT’s president as "personal vacations." Given the seriousness of the SARS epidemic, all members of USATT’s delegation (including team members) were given the option of attending the world championships. This was consistent with the USOC’s policy on SARS. Both my employer and my husband urgently requested that I not travel internationally under the circumstances.

I nominated Aly Salam to replace me as the North America’s Continental Vice President and withdrew my name from the ITTF’s Executive Vice President election. My decision is to dedicate my primary energy and attention as a volunteer to national table tennis issues; I have agreed to serve on ITTF matters, as requested, on a scaled-back basis.

As I conclude, I would like to remind everyone, as Doru did also, that USATT needs its members to act like a TEAM – "Together Everyone Achieves More." USATT’s staff and volunteer leadership welcomes, preferably by email, sincere inquiries and constructive criticism based on facts, not rumors or disinformation, as well as individuals dedicated to the promotion of table tennis and advancement of our national governing body.