USATT Board Meeting – Colorado Springs

September 27th , 2009

Board Minutes
September 27, 2009
8.32 a.m. Mountain Time

Board Members Present:  Peter Scudner, Harold Jeffcoat, Jim Kahler, Christian Lillieroos, Han Xiao, Linda Leaf, David Del Vecchio  Teleconference:  Michael Babuin

Board Member Absent and Excused:  Ashu Jain

USATT Staff Present:  Michael Cavanaugh, CEO; Doru Gheorghe, Technical & High Performance Director; Deborah Gray, USATT Secretary

Guests:  Maureen Craig, Strategic Planning Meeting Facilitator; Ross Brown; Carl Danner; Larry Hodges; Rajul Sheth

Agenda Review and Roll Call:  Quorum present; Board members were asked to disclose any conflict of interest with agenda items.  It was determined there are no conflicts of interest.

MOTION made by Linda Leaf to approve September 16, 2009 Board teleconference meeting minutes
Second:  Jim Kahler
Passed:  6
Abstention: 1

Strategic Planning Meeting Wrap Up:  Maureen Craig
The 2-day strategic planning meeting, Sept.25-Sept.26, focused on brand image/development as an agent of change and strategic priorities action items.

Brand Promise 

• Taking our game to the next level

Brand Vision 

• Introduce a new generation of youth to table tennis by igniting a grassroots movement that connects ping pong to Olympic competition
• Develop relationships with clubs and league directors
• Increase collegiate table tennis scholarships and intramural competitions
• Develop table tennis as a varsity high school sport

Brand Values

• We believe that working together, we can accomplish far more than working alone.
• We welcome players from the basement to the Olympic arena.
• Respect and integrity will not be sacrificed for results.  We call our own faults.
• It is better to serve than to receive.

Strategic Priorities

• Junior Development-concurrent with High Performance Plan
• Membership restructure and growth-clubs, leagues, added value
• Communications-website redesign

Chairman proposed next action to endorse Brand Promise, Brand Vision and 3 Strategic Initiatives:

1. Junior development
2. Restructure/grow membership
3. Communications

MOTION made by Harold Jeffcoat to adopt Brand Promise, Brand Vision and 3 Strategic Initiatives
Second:  Jim Kahler
Vote:  Unanimous

MOTION made by Linda Leaf to create task force for each Strategic Initiative and designate individual to chair each task force.     
Second:  Jim Kahler
Vote:  Unanimous

Junior Development
Feeds into the High Performance Plan
Appeal to kids on grassroots level to join sport
Involve Coaching Committee
>> Task Force:  Ashu Jain; Michael Babuin

Restructure and Grow Membership
Redefine value added to reach a broader audience
Expand the sport
Bring in clubs/leagues to restructure membership
Create a taskforce to look at league relationships
Involve Clubs Advisory Committee to look at club relationships
>> Task Force:  Christian Lillieroos, Chair; Harold Jeffcoat; Linda Leaf; Joyce Grooms, staff liaison.

Communications
Website redesign
Technology Task Force will research and recommend website technology
Start using the USOC Fan Facing website as soon as possible
Jim Kahler will involve his class to do website studies
Outsource new logo design.  CEO will research logo design companies.
>> Task Force:  Han Xiao, Chair; Jim Kahler; David Del Vecchio

Task forces in each initiative must work in tandem with each other.

Goal deadline for presenting action items
Strategic Initiatives structure – next 30 days.  Review at next Board teleconference.

Timeframe to take action – next 90 days.  Report at Annual Assembly in December.Periodic review of progress on the Strategic Initiatives.

2010 U.S. Open Bid Update:  A summary comparison of 3 sites was provided to Board for review.  There will be site presentations from Grand Rapids and Milwaukee at the next Board teleconference.  Jim Kahler would like to know the financial impact of pulling out of Las Vegas.

Conference in by telephone:  Wendell Dillon reviewed the Officials & Rules Advisory Committee’s recommended changes/additions to USATT Laws of Table Tennis to conform to ITTF rules.

• The racket covering shall be used without any physical, chemical or other treatment.
• It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or the assistant umpire can be satisfied that he/she complies with the requirements for a correct service.

2.6.6.1 If either the umpire or the assistant umpire is doubtful of the legality of a service they may, on the first occasion in a match, interrupt play and warn the server.

MOTION made by Christian Lillieroos to adopt ORAC’s recommendations.
Second:  Linda Leaf
Vote:  Unanimous

• If a player is defaulted after the completion of a match for any reason, he shall be deemed to have lost the match, which shall subsequently be recorded as a loss in an unplayed match.

MOTION made by Linda Leaf to adopt ORAC’S recommendation.
Second:  Jim Kahler
Vote:  Unanimous

Further Board discussion requested regarding the elimination of voluntary challenge matches in a tournament.
>> Add to agenda for next Board teleconference.

October Teleconference:
Date for next Board teleconference:  October 28, 2009, 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Discussion:  Hardbat, Tournaments, Seniors ACs, 2010 Open. Strategic Plan

Annual Assembly and Nationals/Board Meeting:  CEO recommendation is to follow last year’s format for the annual assembly and BOD meeting.  Annual assembly will be on December 15; BOD meeting will be December 15-16, 2009.

Membership Directory Update:  TBD by Membership Task Force – it might be better to postpone this action item until 2011.  CEO to follow up with the company that did this in 2006.

New Business: 
            CEO presented opportunity for intern from Korea.
            Christian Lillieroos discussed possible training center/complex in Chula Vista.
Board discussion of a Ping Pong Diplomacy reunion between the US and China and USATT’s involvement.
           

Meeting adjourned 11:31 a.m. Mountain time

Respectfully submitted by
Deborah Gray, Secretary