USATT Board Teleconference Meeting

October 28, 2009

Board Teleconference Minutes
5:00 p.m. Eastern time

Board Members Present:  Peter Scudner, Linda Leaf, James Kahler, Han Xiao, David Del Vecchio, Ashu Jain, Michael Babuin, Christian Lillieroos

Board Members Absent:  Harold Jeffcoat (excused)

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

Guest Presenters:    Mike Guswiler-Grand Rapids, MI
                                    Kelly Peiffer-Milwaukee, WI

Guest Advisory Committee Chairs:  Ross Brown, High Performance AC; Alberto Prieto, Hardbat AC; Olga Kahan, Seniors AC; Larry Thoman, Tournaments AC; Wendell Dillon, Officials & Rules AC

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

MOTION to approve minutes of September 27, 2009 Board of Directors meeting.
Motion made by:  Linda Leaf
Second:  James Kahler
Vote:  Unanimous

2010 U.S. Open Bid Presentations:
            Mike Guswiler presented Grand Rapids, Michigan
            Kelly Peiffer presented Milwaukee, Wisconsin

>> Staff will follow up with a venue recommendation for the 2010 U.S. Open

Men’s National Team Coach Selection Briefing:  Ross Brown detailed the coach selection process leading to the men’s team coach recommendation.  The Search Committee has recommended Stefan Feth.
>> CEO will make final decision on men’s team coach selection
>> Ross Brown will correspond with candidates not selected         
>> CEO and Ross Brown will notify Stefan Feth
 
Hardbat Advisory Committee Recommendations:  Alberto Prieto submitted a report from the Hardbat AC outlining proposed changes in the following sections:

•  Equipment – eliminate the wording: UHRL rated

1.2  Racket Covering – include the following:  The Approved Hardbat Racket Coverings list is generated by the hardbat committee and subject to change at any time.  Anyone wishing a rubber sheet to be considered for approval should submit five samples and $30 to the hardbat committee chairperson for evaluation.

• Pre-Assembled Hardbat Rackets – replace existing paragraph with:  A “pre-assembled” hardbat racket is defined as a mass-produced, typically inexpensive prepackaged racket with an all wood blade and factory-covered with the same pimpled rubber on both sides and no sponge.  A player may use a pre-assembled racket at the discretion of the tournament organizer.  This situation is intended primarily for local hardbat events and would typically occur if the tournament organizer wishes to provide rackets for players new to hardbat that don’t have their own rackets.  Pre-assembled (recreational) hardbats are not to be used in championships or 4-star events.

• Service – eliminate the 2.1 Service section completely.

•  Foot-Stamping – replace the existing section with:  Foot stamping is never allowed during service.

Resolution passed Dec 2000 – A player may switch rackets between any two games.  Eliminate resolution

MOTION to accept recommended rule changes, with the exception of Section 2.3 Foot-Stamping.
Motion made by:  Christian Lillieroos
Second:  Ashu Jain
Vote:  Unanimous

Recommended approved hardbat racket coverings:
            Leyland (“Hock” rubber)
            Andro Classic
            Butterfly Orthodox DX
            Dunlop Barna Original
            Friendship RITC “Dr Evil”
            Gambler Peace Keeper OX
Hallmark MagicPips (illegal after March 1, 2010) Alphatool ATP (Reisman) TSP Millitall Yasaka A-1-2 Yasaka Cobalt

MOTION to approve recommended hardbat racket coverings.
Motion made by:  Michael Babuin
Second:  Christian Lillieroos
Vote:  Unanimous

Seniors Advisory Committee Recommendations:  Olga Kahan submitted a report from the Seniors AC with the following recommendations:

• Continue promoting senior events on local, national and international levels
• Speed up selection procedures and announcement of location and dates for the U.S. Open
• Support the 44 mm ball event for senior players
• Develop a Continental Veterans Championships

MOTION made to announce location and date for future U.S. Open tournaments on August 1st, one year in advance of the next U.S. Open.  Beginning August 1, 2010, USATT will announce the 2011 U.S. Open location and date.
Motion made by:  Christian Lillieroos
Second:  David Del Vecchio
Vote:  Unanimous

>>  Chairman Scudner directed staff to consider the inclusion of 44 mm ball events when analyzing both Nationals and U.S. Open events.  Staff will also consider future steps to take for hosting a Continental Veterans Championships.

Tournaments Advisory Committee Recommendations:  Larry Thomas submitted a report from the Tournaments AC with the following recommendations:

• Expand scope of TAC work by adding the following responsibilities:
1. Increase number of sanctioned tournaments and leagues
2. Develop standards and training programs for Tournament Directors
3. Create sanctioning guidelines for leagues
4. Monitor unsanctioned tournaments and develop outreach programs to assist these programs
5. Review and evaluate our rating system and make recommendations to BOD
• Put a web portal in place that would allow sanction requests to be submitted online; TAC requests input and approval of final design of web portal system before implementation.
• Change in fee schedule for sanctioned tournaments to help defray cost of liability insurance.  TAC recommends:

0 Star – increase from $25 to $40
1 Star – increase from $50 to $80
2 Stars – increase from $100 to $150
3 Stars – increase from $150 to $300
4 Stars – increase from $200 to $400

• Change policy for protecting tournament dates as follows:

0, 1, 2 Star tournaments must submit sanction request within 3 months of its annually recurring date.
3, 4 Star tournaments must submit sanction request with 7 months of its traditionally recurring date.
Tournament must be held within 1 month of sanctioned date.
Beginning 1/1/2010, a maximum of 2 dates per year, per club, may be protected.
Remove the multi-year tournament sanctioning prohibition and refer multi-year sanction requests to the TAC on a case-by-case basis.

• The International Paralympics event is held in conjunction with either the U.S.Open or the Nationals Championships.
• Create a system of certification for Tournament Directors
• Add the Junior Team events to the U.S. Open and Nationals Championships beginning in year 2010.

MOTION made to accept adding responsibilities #1, #2, #3 and #5 to the TAC scope of work and to change responsibility #3 wording from “Create” to “Recommend.”
Motion made by:  Christian Lillieroos
Second:  Michael Babuin
Vote:  Unanimous

>> CEO will take into consideration the recommended increase in sanction fee schedule during the normal course of the annual budget development.  Staff will also consider Junior Team events for future U.S. Open and Nationals tournaments.

Officials & Rules Advisory Committee follow up:  Wendell Dillon made the following recommendations:

• Require international umpires to complete recertification every 3 years.
• Challenge matches should not be counted in ratings.

MOTION made to require international umpires to complete umpire recertification every 3 years.
Motion made by:  Linda Leaf
Second:  Michael Babuin
Vote:  Unanimous

MOTION made that challenge matches shall not be counted in the ratings system.
Motion made by:  Linda Leaf
Second:  Ashu Jain
Vote:  Unanimous

>>  Michael Babuin to develop a policy document for situations where challenge matches would be allowed within the scope of an event director’s discretion.

Strategic Plan Initiatives Overview:

• Communications Task Force Report-Han Xiao, Chair

Focus on website migration to USOC website
Consider full-time web master to manage website
Decide on website content migration
Consider email blogs to keep members informed
Define and discuss 4 areas of communication
New logo design

>>  CEO will consider framework of the mission of USATT before recommending new logo graphics design.

• Grow Membership through Added Value (GMTAV) Task Force Report-Christian Lillieroos, Chair

Propose restructuring current membership system
Establish definition of a club and requirements to become a USATT club
Become a USATT member through clubs (required vs. incentive)
Establish different player levels of membership/pricing levels and benefits
            High performance member
            Tournament member
            Recreational member
Develop league system

Task Force will take into consideration the budget impact of proposed membership restructuring and provide model change figures for side-by-side budget comparison.

• Junior Development Task Force Report-David Del Vecchio, Chair

Note:  David Del Vecchio will replace Ashu Jain as Chair of the Junior Development Task Force
Concept to develop:  a program that will bridge a beginning player to the skilled athlete.
            Through recognition
            Define programs
            Develop consistency nationally and in clubs

Bylaws Update:  Ashu Jain – Bylaws are now complete in one document.  Some additional items submitted by Linda Leaf and the CEO are being considered.  Distribution to Board in the near future.

Next conference call:  Date to be set in late November.  Agenda to include preliminary review of 2010 Budget and an agenda for Annual Assembly in December.

Meeting adjourned 8:00 p.m. Eastern time

Respectfully submitted by
Deborah Gray, Secretary