MINUTES

Board of Directors Meeting

Fort Lauderdale, FL

July 8, 2001

Sunday, July 8, 2001

The meeting was called to order at 8:18 a.m. by President Sheri Pittman in the Amberjack Room of the Marina Marriott Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  Present were Board Members Li Ai, Tawny Banh, George Brathwaite, Tong Lee, Sheri Pittman, Barney Reed, Dennis Taylor, and Bob Tretheway and Acting Executive Director Dwight Johnson.  Present as guests were Wendell Dillon, Wayne Johnson, Larry Kesler, Sean O'Neill, and Margaret Smith. 

Wendell Dillon presented the Report of the Nominating/Elections Committee.  That committee is recommending that the ballot for USATT elections this fall contain the following names:

Morris Jackson has withdrawn his name from the ballot.

Motion 1: Moved to accept the report and recommendations of the Nominating/Elections Committee.

Proposed by: Tong Lee; Seconded by: Bob Tretheway

Passed:  8-0-0

In Favor:  LA, TB, GB, TL, SP, BR, DT, BT

Motion 2: Moved to place Tim Boggan on the upcoming election ballot as a candidate for Secretary.

Proposed by: Bob Tretheway; Seconded by: Tong Lee

Passed: 8-0-0

In Favor: LA, TB, GB, TL, SP, BR, DT, BT

Motion 3: Moved to place Bob Tretheway on the upcoming election ballot as a candidate for Vice President.

        Proposed by: Dennis Taylor; Seconded by:  Li Ai

        Passed:  8-0-0

        In Favor:  LA, TB, GB, TL, SP, BR, DT, BT 

9:00 a.m.  Board Member Jiing Wang joins the meeting.

 Motion 4: Moved to place Robert Mayer on the upcoming election ballot as a candidate for Vice President.

        Proposed by: Tong Lee; Seconded by: Barney Reed

        Passed: 9-0-0

        In Favor: LA, TB, GB, TL, SP, BR, DT, BT, JW

Margaret Smith and Wendell Dillon spoke on the election time line.

• Ballots will be counted on October 15, 2001.  Headquarters is requesting that the counting be outsourced to the corporate auditor, Ken Waugh & Assoc., at an approximate cost of $2000.  It was the consensus that the Board holds staff integrity in the highest regard and prefers that USOC volunteers again be requested to do the counting.

• Ballots must be in-house before the end of the counting process, but no later than the end of the October 15, 2001 workday.

• Ballots will be mailed on September 21, 2001.

• It is recommended that all adult members on September 1, 2001 be deemed eligible to vote.

• The deadline for receipt of campaign statements to be included with the ballots has yet to be determined.

•  The Editorial Board, Tom Wintrich, Chair, will administer the magazine advertisement process.  If a candidate is concerned about maintaining the secrecy of her ad, the candidate may mail the ad directly to Margaret Smith, who will distribute the ad to the Editorial Board.

• All ads must be paid for in advance.

•  If two or more candidates request to have their ads placed in the same location in the magazine, a lottery will be held to determine which candidate has preference.

Motion 5: Moved to place amend Nominating/Elections Committee Standing Rule 10 by striking August 1 and substituting September 1.

        Proposed by: Dennis Taylor; Seconded by: Bob Tretheway

        Passed: 9-0-0

        In Favor: LA, TB, GB, TL, SP, BR, DT, BT, JW

Wayne Johnson presented the Report of the Tournament Committee.

The following items regarding the 2001 U.S. Nationals  require rapid Board attention.

• A decision on whether to use 11-point games at the Nationals must be made soon in order to properly prepare the entry forms by the August deadline.  At this juncture, 21-point games may still be used, as long as that is clearly indicated on the entry forms.

•  If the Board chooses to use 11-point games, one or more of the following options must be selected:

• Revise the Net/Edge software program.  The estimated cost would be $5000.

• Use a different software package.  If this option is chosen, the staff and volunteers would need some time to learn the software.

• Stay mostly with 21-point games, and have a few, targeted 11-point events run by hand.

• Currently, Butterfly, our table sponsor, does not have an ITTC approved table for disabled events.  Such tables will need to be secured for the Nationals.

ITTF is requesting a prompt decision on whether USATT will be hosting a Pro Tour event in 2002-2003.  Currently, Dwight is seeking sponsors for such events.  A decision will be made close to the deadline.

Motion 6: Moved to amend USATT Bylaws, Chapter X, Section 8, by adding: “During election years, the budget must be set by the incoming electees.  The budget meeting must not be held before the term of the electees begins.”

        Proposed by: Dennis Taylor; Seconded by: Bob Tretheway

        Withdrawn 

Motion 7: Moved to amend USATT Bylaws, Chapter X, Section 8, by adding: “During election years, the budget must be set by the incoming Board.  The budget meeting must not be held before the term of the incoming Board begins.”

        Proposed by: Dennis Taylor; Seconded by: Bob Tretheway

        Failed: 5-2-2  (2/3 needed for passage)

        In Favor: GB, TL, SP, BR, DT

        Opposed: BT, JW

        Abstain: LA, TB 

10:00 a.m.  Board Member Li Ai departed. 

Motion 8: Moved to amend USATT Bylaws, Chapter XV, Section 1, by changing "Rules (Officials)" to "Rules and Officials."

        Proposed by: Dennis Taylor; Seconded by: Bob Tretheway

        Passed: 8-0-0  (2/3 needed for passage)

        In Favor: TB, GB, TL, SP, BR, DT, BT, JW 

Miguel Delgado, ITTF Latin-American Continental VP, spoke to the Board.  He proposed creating the Pan Am Youth Championships.

Yu Bin, Deputy General Secretary of CTTA, spoke to the Board.  He stressed the joint interests of our two associations, which include the development of the Elite Athlete Program and CTTA's need for a good ratings system. 

John Webb, Director of Sports Development for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, spoke to the Board proposing long-term relationship between Fort Lauderdale and  USATT. 

John Grinnel, Vice-Chair of the Hardbat Committee, spoke to the Board requesting:

• more input in tournament planning

• adoption of official hardbat rules

• allow one-color  hardbats in regular tournament events

• clarification of role of the committee

• either/or entry  at tournaments

Mr. Grinnel reported that the Committee had successfully encouraged a hardbat tournament in Germany.  Additionally, he reported that the hardbat movement will be applying to become an affiliated USATT club. 

Joe Kryzs, Warren Co., spoke to the Board by telephone:

• Regarding America’s Teams

  • Nine of the necessary 25 NGBs are totally on-board.  Many others have decision-making meetings scheduled soon.

  • Corp. Investors of America is ready to invest $30M in the project.

  • Once in operation, America's Teams will strive to be the number one commercial web stop for each of the participating sports.

• Discussion took place regarding the Warren Co. school program.

Sheri Pittman presented the President’s Report. 

Dennis Taylor presented the Secretary’s Report:

• Minutes from the November, 2000 Board Meeting were distributed.  No action was taken.

• Motions and Board Votes from between November 20, 2000 and July 1, 2001 were distributed. (Addendum 1)  No action was necessary.

• An additional four Motions from between November 20, 2000 and July 1, 2001 were distributed.  While the Secretary will attest that each of these Motions passed, a computer error has erased the proof of votes.  No action was taken.

Motion 9: Moved to create a standing rule stating, “The text of motions and recorded votes from Board of Directors meetings shall be made publicly available at the conclusion of that Board meeting; however, the remaining text of the official Minutes shall not be made publicly available prior to their moved approval by the Board of Directors.”

        Proposed by: Bob Tretheway; Seconded by: Dennis Taylor

        Passed: 8-0-0

        In Favor: TB, GB, TL, SP, BR, DT, BT, JW 

The Board went into Executive Session at 1:35 p.m.  Proceedings in Executive Session are confidential.  No Minutes are kept and no votes may be taken. 

The Board returned to General Session at 1:40. 

Tong Lee presented the Treasurer’s Report.  (Addendum 2) 

Dwight Johnson presented the Executive Director's Report.

• HQ has begun a corporate sponsorship mailing campaign.

  • Brochures have been distributed.

• HQ has begun a sponsorship campaign for disabled events at tournaments.

• Dwight has been working closely with Ft. Lauderdale, exploring future options.

• Dwight has been holding weekly meetings with Blair Tripody, the USOC Marketing Representative.  Expect a major announcement in the next month.

• Dwight requested the Board consider bringing the 2002 Pro Tour Finals to Las Vegas, to be held in conjunction with the US Nationals.

• Dwight believes families is the key that will help us bring in more sponsorships.

• HQ has begun new membership programs.

• HQ intends to survey club membership lists and cross-reference with USATT membership list.

• A cookbook for athletes is in the works.

• Dwight recommends looking at internet TV rights, as opposed to broadcast purchases.

• Dwight presented his strategic plan.  (Addendum 3)

• Dwight is planning a series of visits to the headquarters of our vendors and advertisers.

Motion 10: Moved to remove the “acting” from Dwight Johnson’s title, making him the Executive Director.  The President is directed to develop and offer a contract proposal.

        Proposed by: Dennis Taylor; Seconded by: Barney Reed

        Passed: 8-0-0

        In Favor: TB, GB, TL, SP, BR, DT, BT, JW 

Guests Larry Hodges, Aly Salam, and Kathy Reed joined the meeting. 

Aly Salam spoke to the Board.

• He is a candidate for Chair of ITTF Officials Committee.  His election would provide many opportunities for USATT.

• Aly requested Board approval for a program he wants to begin involving sponsorship for match officials.

• Aly believes the US Tennis Assoc. is in desperate need of a national ratings system.  This is a marketing opportunity for USATT.

George Brathwaite presented the report of the Leagues Committee.

• The committee's request for funding of the Northeast Regional League is still active.

Dennis Taylor presented the report of the Elite Athlete Committee.

• The Team Leader's report from Osaka was distributed.

• The Committee will be disciplining three athletes for conduct detrimental to the team in Osaka.

• The Committee's Proposed Standing Rules and Strategic Development Plan were distributed without a vote for adoption.

• The bid specifications for regional training centers were distributed.

• Mr. Taylor has appointed a Regional Center Task Force consisting of Morris Jackson (Chair), Dennis Taylor, Theodore Gheorghe, and Tawny Banh.

Motion 11: Moved that the bids should be solicited for Regional Training Centers, with a goal of opening 2-3 pilot centers in early 2002.

        Proposed by: Barney Reed; Seconded by: Dennis Taylor

        Passed:  8-0-0

        In Favor: TB, GB, TL, SP, BR, DT, BT, JW 

Barney Reed presented the report of the Chula Vista Development Committee.

• USOC has not notified us whether or not it will accept our proposed criteria for using the ARCO Training Center.

• In planning athlete training, USATT should note that the ARCO Training Center has sports medicine staff and equipment on-site, good dormitories, a good cafeteria, and many physical training facilities.  Tables are currently available at Balboa Park and are expected to soon be available at a local community college that is only three miles away.

• While the planned construction of a gymnasium is still at least two years away, land is currently available should USATT wish to construct its own training facility.

• There are rumors that USOC is considering downsizing or closing ARCO.

Sheri Pittman gave a report on the outstanding ethics issue. 

• The dispute is now close to resolution.

The meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Dennis M. Taylor, Secretary