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Board of Directors Meeting
July 29-30, 2001 – Cherry Hill Hilton, Cherry Hill, NJ
Sunday, July 29, 2001
Attendance: Jack Frailey, Kelly Blazek, Brenda Kelley, Liz Miles, Don Langford, Ron Chen, Evelyn Ireland, Fred Stitt, Anne Gallagher, Bill Woodman, Lisa Johnson, Cathy Kemper, Lyn Wylder, Nick Peterson, Lianne Nelson, Monk Terry
Excused Absences: Ellen Minzer and Mark Zembsch
Absent: Chris Ahrens
Also present for the Board meeting: John Dane, Mark Sniderman, Suzette Bewley, Alix Robertson, Mary Lee Pappas and Larry Wittig.
1. Opening Remarks: Given Monk Terry’s brief delay at the airport, John Dane, Interim Executive Director, convened the Board at 4:00pm. John introduced staff present for the meeting. Future policy regarding Board member excused and unexcused absenteeism was discussed.
2. Executive Director’s Report: John Dane will sign his employment contract upon the arrival on Board President Monk Terry. John relayed his intention to draft a letter for the Board of Directors laying out his vision, values system and goals regarding how the organization will grow, relationships with donors, sponsors and those affiliated within the rowing community (this became the Quaddrennium Plan). John reported on the recent achievements of USRowing since the last Board meeting: a stabilized organization, USOC and USADA relationships improved, USRowing moving from one of the lowest to one of the highest rates of NAN testing compliances, National Team coaching staff hired, Mercer Lake Boathouse to be expanded for the benefit of the National Team, AT&T sponsorship received, Speedo contract imminent, expanded member benefits (two examples; Avis and medical insurance), and put to rest several legal issues. Quadrennium plan items to be addressed. We need to hire a development director and make online enhancements.
3. President’s Report: Monk Terry presented John with a bell signifying John’s transition from Interim to permanent Executive Director effective August 1, 2001 and thanked the members of the Nominating Committee for their work and the transition into a proactive administration. Monk stated that this step forward toward stability is a message about the effectiveness of the board.
4. Secretary’s Report: Ron Chen reported that he had the minutes completed for the March Board meeting andd would provide copies later.
5. Nominating Committee Report: Evelyn Ireland asked that the nomination of a male Mid-Atlantic Representative be held over because there are still 4 interviews to conduct. Conversation ensued regarding the length of time the nominating process is taking and the process by which members were selected to serve on the Board.
6. Long Range Planning Committee Report: Lisa Johnson reiterated the importance John Dane’s quadrennium prospectus plans. She stated that the Board of Directors should act as a sounding board for John’s prospectus/quadrennium plan.
7. Master’s Report: Liz Miles reported that we would begin a series of focus groups with the masters clubs to determine what they would like to see from USRowing in terms of additional services. The focus groups will also provide USRowing information on how to access clubs to build an individual membership base.
8. Legal Services Report: Suzette Bewley, USRowing counsel from the firm of Baker and Daniels, introduced herself and reviewed selected materials from her written report that covered legal issues they have worked on for USRowing since December. She reminded the Board that with respect to the IRN relationship, either party, by terms of the contract, must move to terminate the IRN relationship with written notice by October 2, 2001. Baker and Daniels will be a sponsor at the patron level at the Masters Regatta. John Dane thanked Suzette for her dedication to USRowing’s legal issues. A discussion on selection procedures led by Lianne regarding legal protection from athletes filing arbitration ensued.
9. Treasurer and Controller Report: Don Langford addressed reasons why the budget was short $100,000 for the first six months of 2001: membership dues were under by $57,000 (this is a ledger timing issue), IRN ad payments to USRowing were slow, Casitas Fund contributions were also slow and NRF has continued to condition further significant financial contributions based on 1) signing a permanent Executive Director, 2) signing the existing coaching staff and 3) completing a Quadrennium Plan for the National Team. We have also budgeted for an additional $100,000 sponsor that may not materialize as we are just starting the process of hiring a Development Director.
10. IRN Contract Status Report: The Board discussed the benefits and issues pertaining to the IRN contract.
MOTION (Chen/Terry): That the Executive Director provides a recommendation to the Executive Committee to renew or dissolve the current contract with the IRN by September 15, 2001. That the Executive Committee will communicate this action to the full Board for consideration if the Executive Committee was not unanimous about the recommendation allowing 72-hours to voice concerns. The Executive Committee shall not take action until the 72-hour period has passed. THIS MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
In a subsequent meeting with the IRN in August 2001, they expressed dissatisfaction with the existing contract, particularly the advertising section and agreed to terminate the old contract and begin discussions to define a new relationship regarding the renewal. IRN is to provide USRowing with some proposals by mid-September, 2001.
11. Treasurer and Controller Report: A range of items was discussed generally to decide how various costs and income items are accounted for. Alix Robertson, Controller, understands that both the coach clinics and merchandise areas have been profit centers for USRowing this year. The Casitas Fund was again discussed regarding the $200,000 that has been committed but not received.
Subsequent action in a Casitas Fund meeting on August 1, 2001, released $200,000 to USRowing and another $75,000 was authorized.
Monday, July 30, 2001
Also Present: John Dane, Mark Sniderman, Alix Robertson, Suzette Bewley, Mike Vespoli, Jody Wilhelm, Mike Teti, Tom Terhaar, Doug Ingram and Mary Lee Pappas.
12. The President convened the Board at 8:00 am.
13. USOC Presentation: Doug Ingram, Director of Sports Partnerships for the USOC, said that the USOC loves what they’ve seen from USRowing: consolidation of the men’s and women’s training center to the Princeton Training Center creating a cohesive team, work in cooperation with USADA (having gone from the bottom 10% in compliance to the top 10% in less than a 6 month period of time - this being important because the US is viewed as the “dirtiest nation” for “drug cheats”) and that the coaching team is superb. Their credo is, “athlete centered, coach driven and performance oriented.” Doug discussed a cohesive and comprehensive accountability plan (in light of the quadrennium plan) which included putting a budget in place that matches the NGB’s goals, athlete and coach support from the NGB side, and minimizing the exposure to litigation by selection procedures being done in a timely manner and in accordance to the rules set forth by USRowing. Doug believes that USRowing could be a world leader in the sport. Doug explained that there would be a shift in funding over the quadrennium. Currently, 80% of funds are based on entitlement ($900,000) and less than 20% is performance based ($300,000). Over the next few years this funding ratio will shift; 80% will be performance based and 20% will be base funding with success, impact and need being factored into that equation so that performance initiatives are customized and so that success is rewarded and performance potential is encouraged. Doug reiterated that the bottom line is the medal count. For example: instead of boats in every event, fewer boats performing better in fewer events are preferred.
14. Sponsorship/Advertisement Specifications: Ron Chen reviewed the current specifications regarding sponsorship and advertisement specifications. Mike Vespoli made a visual presentation of examples of advertising in other sports markets and of other boat manufacturers out of compliance with current requirements for advertising. After the presentation, evaluating the pros and cons of the existing logo standards ensued.
MOTION (Stitt/Miles): That the Executive Director forms a committee to take a look at the logo standards for manufacturers and sponsors and how to enforce them and approach FISA about them. That the suspension be continued through the next Board of Directors meeting in October 2001. THIS MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
John appointed Liz Miles, Ron Chen, Lisa Johnson and Don Langford to this committee.
15. Selection Procedures: The Board of Directors will fine tune the selection procedures and take action on them incorporating them into the quaddrenium plan at the October 2001Board meeting. Mike Teti reviewed his handout about the activities of the boathouse since the training camps combined.
16. Development and Fundraising Strategy: John Dane secured sponsorship from New Jersey philanthropist Finn Casperson of a $1.5 million dollar plus gift that would provide two new boat bays to house the US National Rowing Team and would provide 1500 square feet plus of office, a portion of which would accommodate our athlete support staff and other visiting USRowing staff.
MOTION (Dane/Johnson): That the Board of Directors conditionally accept Casperson’s offer and allow Dane to negotiate the appropriate terms. THIS MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
17. Judge-Referee Committee Name Change Bylaws Change: Ron briefly explained the nature of this request. MOTION (Chen/Blazek): That the Judge-Referee Committee name be changed to Referee Commission. THIS MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
18. Adoption of USADA Anti-Doping Change, Bylaws Change: USRowing’s compliance to USADA’s anti-doping procedures impressively went from the bottom 10% to the top 10% in compliance in a three-month period of time.
MOTION (Chen/Stitt): That the President appoints a drafting committee to submit a sample amendment for the Rules of Rowing. THIS MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Monk Terry appointed Ron Chen and Mark Sniderman to the Drafting Committee.
19. Board of Director Evaluations: Evelyn Ireland handed out Board evaluation materials and reviewed them.
MOTION (Blazek/Frailey): That the Board of Directors agrees to adopt annual Board evaluations and that the current evaluation is to be submitted by the end of August. THIS MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
20. High Performance Committee Call for Nominations: Mark reviewed nominations document and a discussion followed regarding election timing ensued.
MOTION (Chen/Frailey): That the HPC officials are seated are to be held in tandem with the Board elections and that the Board will review and clarify the role of the HPC prior to the call for nominations in January 2002. THIS MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
21. MOTION (Blazek/Langford): That more information be derived about the Youth Advisory Committee and that its roles and responsibilities be reviewed. THIS MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
22. Nominations for Secretary: Monk asked for nominations for Secretary. Ron nominated Evelyn. It was decided by virtue of unanimous acclimation that Evelyn would replace Ron as Secretary as he stepped into the role of Vice President. It was necessary for Evelyn to step down from the Nominating Committee in order to serve as Secretary, so Kelly will chair the nominating committee to replace Evelyn on the Nominating Committee.
23. Fred Stitt requested to have his absence at the October 2001 Board meeting excused.
24. Ron moved to adjourn. Everyone seconded |
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