USATT Las Vegas Board Meeting Minutes
Dec 16 and 17, 2008
Las Vegas Convention Center
Opening: Chairman Scudner called the meeting to order.
Present – Peter Scudner, Christian Lillieroos, Jim Kahler, David Del
Vecchio, Mike Babuin, Linda Leaf, Ashu Jain
Dr. Jeffcoat excused for personal reasons
CEO Mike Cavanaugh
Quorum established
Guests: Doru Gheorghe, Deborah Gray, Dick Evans
Special Guest:Dick Evans, Hall of Fame Chairman, as an invited guest, made a few
opening remarks of welcome and for future partnerships with USATT.
Agenda: Some agenda items suggested in terms of time were adjusted for
the second day of the BoD Meeting. Agenda approved by voice vote.
Minutes: Orlando Meeting Minutes motion to approve – Ashu Jain, 2nd LL.
Unanimous
CEO Hire: Executive Conference call resulted in Mike Cavanaugh being selected
as CEO and the offer was accepted. The date of the call was October
October 21, 2008
Business Plan:Mike Cavanaugh presented on the agreement made
with TSE Consulting for the development of a Business Plan for
USATT. Best conditions were attained with the combined involvement
of TSE, the USOC and USATT. USOC and USATT each will
contribute $8K to the total fee of $16K. The original fee total was
$18K. It was noted that the Board will have the opportunity to review
and to add to the report before a final report is issued.
Budget: Budget presentation by Deborah Gray – staff accountant and finance
director. Presented on conservative revenue sources first with questions
and comments
Mike Cavanaugh and Doru provided some additional background.
Han Xiao arrived late due to flight difficulties.
Significant discussion on the USOC allocation of $70, 000 – this needs
more in-depth discussion. Expenses were then explained along with
some forecast discussion.
HPP: Doru went through aspects of the HPP and the variables still
pending – ITTF qualification criteria, parents, athlete availability and
NATT partnership, amongst others, as they relate to our elite athletes.
Board needs to decide budget to program as a function of the HPPTF
presentation.
Han Xiao presented on an additional outreach to coaches to be
undertaken at Nationals. The HPP is directed at cadets and juniors as
well as developing the infrastructure to include coaches and clubs and
parents. We can’t focus on elite level and ignore the grass roots pool.
Original proposal was an outreach to coaches – additional survey
described that would reach out to clubs.
Jim Kahler suggests pie chart presentation for revenue and expenses so
Board can get a macro view of budget quickly.
Committees: Christian Lillieroos – presented the possibilities of structure within
current Bylaws. Audit Committee takes place of Finance/ Budget,
Compensation replaces Personnel Committee. Cancel Disabled
Committee with integration of disabled into all concepts. Eliminate
Women’s Committee but consider women reps in all committees.
Drop Ratings Committee as this should be staff driven. Editorial
Committee can be dropped as this could be staff driven, however, after
discussion, this was changed to stay as a committee. A Club system
should be developed where they elect the Club Representative Director
on the Board who also should be the Chair of the Club Committee.
Along with coaches, clubs are the life blood of the
sport. High Performance equates to EAC. Senior Committee proposed
along with a Junior Committee that is responsible for all aspects of those
age groups. NCTTA will assume all aspects of college and university
programs – cancel other collegiate- related USATT committees.
Contributing Organizational Member – Hall of Fame is an example.
Classic Hardbat is also thought to be best served as a Contributing
Organizational Member.
Task Forces – AATF, Bylaw TF, HPPTF and CRTF are current. USTT
Foundation and USATT Bylaws are not matching. The USATT
Bylaws need to be reviewed to clarify the representation issue involved.
Also the Foundation could be used as a fund raising arm – i.e. give them
the rights to promote a specific property like the Open. Editorial Task
Force discussed and rather than be a total staff function, there should be a
retention of some group to manage this effort.
Annual Assembly: Brief discussion on the agenda prepared for the Annual Assembly
Board Meeting Recess called to attend the Annual Assembly
December 17, 2008
ITTF: CEO tasked to report to the Board on a strategic nomination
consideration for ITTF Committees by January 15, 2009
AA Review: Annual Assembly review and de-briefing resulted in a consensus that
overall it was a positive experience. The absence of Table Tennis in the
USOC DVDs was noted, the Board needs to be more interactive
with the membership. Perhaps in 2009 we can seat a Board
member at each table to stimulate an exchange. Presentations went too
long. We should work to make each year’s AA more attractive to the
members and through word of mouth attendance will increase
CRTF: Christian Lillieroos continued his report on Committee Restructuring.
Advisory Committees – Officials and Rules
Tournaments
Seniors
Editorial
Juniors
Coaching
Clubs
Hardbat
High Performance
+ 4 Standing Committees = 13
Pursuant to ARTICLE 9 of the Bylaws that addresses
Committees, the USATT shall have the following four (4) standing
committees that includes an Audit Committee, an Ethics
Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nomination
and Governance Committee. USATT shall have the following nine (9)
Advisory Committees as listed above as of January 1, 2009.
Motion CL, 2nd LL Discussion followed and consensus reached.
Unanimous!
Task is to next define committee missions and make appointments. Ashu
will handle all USATT AAC Committee member assignments.
Motion to modify above motion to February 1, instead of January 1 to
allow for the open process for Committee Chairs and committee
members to be appointed. CL, LL 2nd – unanimous!
LIABILITY: Background checks deemed mandatory by the BoD. Motion to require
background checks for coaches, staff, Board members, Committee
members and non-athletes on national team staff complete and pass
background checks by July 1, 2009. CEO will work with the Coaching
Committee to define a process by April 1, 2009. Motion by AJ, 2nd JK –
Unanimous!
BRTF: The Bylaw Review Task Force work continues.
BUDGET: The Board Budget review continued. Forecast budget deficit is deemed
unacceptable. Lengthy discussion followed. Executive Session called to
discuss staff compensation and benefits. Executive Session ends and
Board Meeting continues. CEO is tasked to develop a break even budget
by mid-January. CEO and Chairman Scudner will have a discussion with
our USOC Sport Partners on possible freedom to use the offered $70,000
in USOC funding in 2009. USATT assumes a 3% staff salary increase,
and the health contribution increase along with the addition of a modest
vision plan.
Sanctioning: Once the Tournament Committee is appointed, they will be tasked with
reviewing the concept of multi-year sanctioning.
Celebrity: Celebrity Table Tennis events – exhibitions – promotions – eventually as
a fund raising project were discussed. Need a follow up program so the
push and momentum discussed is not lost. Jim Kahler will chair a Task
Force to run with various ideas. Linda Leaf and Ashu Jain are to join that
Task Force.
Bid Packet: CEO is tasked with the review of the Bid Packet / RFP for Nationals and
the Open event. Staff to make recommendations on maintaining the dates
for the Nationals and Open or for changing the dates and the impact that
might be expected from a date change.
Next Meeting: Bylaws indicate that the Board should meet three (3) times a year. One
meeting should be held in Colorado Springs to take advantage of the
proximity of key USOC staff to join the meeting, another is thought to
be held in conjunction with the USOC Annual Assembly and the third
was thought best to be held in conjunction with the December Nationals.
CEO to look for potential date conflicts in Colorado Springs with USOC
for a possible early Spring meeting.
Meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote!
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