USA Table Tennis
Board Teleconference
June 21, 1999

Monday, June 21, 1999:

The meeting connected at 5:06 p.m. MST by Sheri Pittman. The sole item on the agenda was the grievance Lily Yip filed regarding the composition of the women’s team for the Pan Am Games. According to USATT’s teleconference protocol, any motions not directly pertaining to the agenda item would not be considered to be in order.

Present(proxy): George Brathwaite, Jim Butler (Bob Tretheway), Jeff Davis (Bob Tretheway), Diana Gee, Tong Lee, Jimmy McClure, Khoa Nguyen (Tong Lee), Sheri Pittman, Barney Reed, Dennis Taylor, Bob Tretheway, Jiing Wang (Sheri Pittman), Acting Executive Director Linda Gleeson, and Corporate Counsel Bart Enoch.

Derek May participated in the teleconference in the capacity of athlete representative since Lily Yip’s grievance complaint was the subject of the teleconference. It would not have been appropriate for Ms. Yip to serve in the capacity as a Board member on this issue. Derek was the next highest finisher in Active athlete Representative voting.

Absent: Lily Yip. (See above discussion on Derek May.)

The only issue on the agenda for this meeting is Lily Yip’s grievance against USATT.

1. The Secretary had worked with Ms. Yip to get the complaint into the proper format for submission and had assisted Ms. Yip by explaining the required documentation. The complaint had been sent to the Grievance Committee, along with instructions for an expedited hearing. However, the Grievance Committee had taken no action. That being the case, the Board had accepted the matter to be handled as an appeal from both Ms. Yip and Ms. Gao, the party who would have to be given a hearing if the Grievance Committee had found in favor of Ms. Yip.

MOTION 1: Moved that the National Teams Committee is directed to produce a written set of standing rules for consideration by the Board at its August meeting. One of these standing rules will be that all competitors for positions on any national team must have all necessary eligibility materials submitted 5 business days prior to the first day of the corresponding team trials.

Proposed by Dennis Taylor; seconded by Jimmy McClure.

Ruled out of order because motion was outside of the scope of the teleconference agenda.

MOTION 2: Moved that in the year where there are both a World Championship event and a Pan Am Games, there will be two separate trials for the selection of teams to represent the USATT.

Proposed by George Brathwaite; seconded by Dennis Taylor.

Ruled out of order because motion was outside of the scope of the teleconference agenda.

A call was placed to Barry Dattel to confirm that Lily Yip approves of the Board acting in an appellate capacity. Lily, through Barry, did not confirm that understanding.

MOTION 3: Moved to table this matter and reconvene at 5:00 p.m. MDT Tuesday evening.

Proposed by Dennis Taylor; seconded by Bob Tretheway. (No opposition.)

MOTION 4: Moved to go to Executive Session to consult with counsel.

Proposed by Dennis Taylor; seconded by Barney Reed.

Passed: 12-1

IN FAVOR: GB, JB, JD, DG, TL, KN, SP, BR, DT, BT, JW

OPPOSED: JM

All discussion in Executive Session is confidential. No minutes are kept.

The Board returned to General Session.

Dennis Taylor withdrew Motion 3.

MOTION 5: Moved that the Board approve a hearing panel of Bob Partridge (chair), Diana Gee, and Derek May to hear the Yip grievance. [Note: Mr. Partridge was unavailable to serve. Shonie Aki replaced him as chair.]

Proposed by Jimmy McClure; seconded by Dennis Taylor.

The primary supporting argument was that USATT’s corporate attorney advised that Ms. Yip’s grievance mandated a "full" hearing where counsel representing the grievant would be able to cross-examine all parties, but counsel for the other party (Ms. Gao) would remain silent. Participation of counsel for Ms. Gao would be allowed to participate if her counsel’s schedule was convenient for others involved.

Passed: 13-0

The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

Submitted by Dennis Taylor, Secretary