USRowing
Board of Directors Meeting
July 23-24, 2005
Indianapolis, IN
In Attendance: Bebe Bryans, Christine Collins, Tom Fuller, Barb Grudt, Alice Henderson, Bill Howard, Robert Kidd, Laura Kunkemueller, Don Langford, Nick Peterson, Jean Reilly, Phil Sutton, Elmira Togliatti, Glenn Merry
MOTION: [Henderson/Fuller]
Excuse Brian Volpenhein, Anna Mickelson, and Ron Chen from the July meeting. Absences of Pete Cipollone, Chris Ryan, Kate Johnson, and Ted Patton are unexcused.
All in favor: Motion Passes
MOTION: [Henderson/Fuller]
Approve February minutes as written.
All in favor. Motion Passes
Governance: [Peterson]
We need to take the next step toward simplifying the explanation of what our governance structure is and what the goals are under the Carver model of Policy Governance. The Board is elected to support the mission of USRowing. The tremendous talents in our membership need to be tapped in the pursuit of mutually supported interests.
"The mission of USRowing is to provide opportunities to achieve excellence in rowing in the United States"
In pursuit of this mission, USRowing will achieve the following results:
- continually improved performance at the Olympic games
- safe, fair racing opportunities for all rowers
- increased lifetime participation in rowing
- increased awareness of rowing
- increased knowledge and practice of safety, healthy training methods, and effective technique
The Board then undertook a discussion of internal restructuring, including decreasing the size of the board to 14 members, changing and/or eliminating the geographical representative requirements, and the best manner in which to develop support amongst USRowing's member community for Board structural changes at the Annual Meeting in December, 2005.
MOTION: [Sutton/Collins]
Retain the two at-large positions on the Board without gender parity
9 Y, 2 N, 0 A Motion Passes
[Constitutional change]
Potential 14 member Board:
- 6 Regional Reps elected by Clubs and Organizations
- 2 At-Large Reps appointed by the Board without gender parity
- 2 VP's elected by individual members, 1 female, 1 male
- 4 Athlete Reps (2 voting)
One Board meeting per year will be dedicated to governance training for everyone. This should be timed to the election of new Board members.
The current financial support that USRowing receives from the USOC comes largely from the broadcasting rights that NBC has been paying. After 2012, NBC's contract is up and funding from this source will be uncertain. The USOC is encouraging NGB's to be more self-sufficient by then, in case a new sponsor is not found.
MOTION: [Fuller/Bryans]
Limit the time served on the Board to 3 consecutive terms
8 Y, 3 N, 0 A. Motion Passes
Policy Manual Draft:
The Board worked on revisions to the Policy Manual Draft. Nick will incorporate changes and redistribute. Board members will contribute further changes by next Monday.
NEW POLICY: When soliciting non-board participants on task forces that are deciding policy issues, run names of volunteers by the Board. When surveying opinions, there is no need.
Laura, Alice, Kate Johnson will undertake reviews of committee structures.
Executive Committee minutes will be distributed to all Board members in the future. All decisions made by the EC will be reaffirmed at next full board meeting.
2:30 PM Meeting adjourned. Board went to Eagle Creek to watch the National Championship and meet with various constituencies.
Sunday, July 23, 2005
8:00 AM
ED Report: [Merry]
- For the first time, there are over 1000 member organizations.
- USRowing will be producing a membership yearbook, which should be out by the end of the year.
- Education: The "Rigging" video, the first in a series of educational materials being produced by USRowing, is in final cut. Laminated charts will be sold with them. A grant from the USOC has been obtained for a "Sculling" video. Future educational videos will include "Sweep Rowing," "Trailer Driving," "Training" to start. A mentor program will also begin in 2006. National Team coaches will spend time at training centers mentoring top coaches.
- The Safety video was revamped last year. USRowing is currently working with the Coast Guard on things like life jackets and other safety equipment.
- Willie is the point person for education projects.
- Medical: USRowing will start to keep historic records of incidents, injuries, and events in rowing as part of a new study.
USOC Team Update: Four boats did not make time standard this year. They will not be going to Worlds. [LM1X, LM2-, LM8+, W4-].
Uberroth indicates that USRowing is ahead of most NGB's in revamping its governance structure. We spend less on governance than most NGB's. From now on, we must put in project requests with dollar amounts prior to every project in order to justify expenditures.The USOC is auditing USRowing compared to other non-profits and other businesses. We are the first NGB to be audited, sometime in the next six weeks. Should have results by end of Sept. Glenn will give copies to the Board.
Budget:
The Board went into executive Session to discuss budget and personnel issues
Adaptive Committee:
We are sending four adaptive athletes to Japan this year. In the future, the USOC will be tasking USRowing with developing adaptive selection procedures. The HPC indicates that this will require a separate group with more specific knowledge of adaptive needs. The adaptive group will need its own team leader in the future at Worlds. Potential staff needs should be considered. Isabelle Bohn from Philadelphia has been very helpful with this group. The USOC should be providing some funding in future for adaptive rowing.
MOTION: [Henderson/Howard]
Create a standing committee for the competitive adaptive rowing community
All in favor: Motion passes
Web Site:
Glenn reported for Brett that the revamped USRowing web site went live on July 17, 2005. Several pages are up and running. Video capability is ID functional. "Trailers" from newly produced educational materials and more content for the Adaptive and Collegiate pages will be coming soon. National team training tips will be up this week. More on organizational memberships will be up by the end of November.
Phase II of the web site will be launched in 2006. It will include more content on referees, the national team, e-coaching, self-service membership information update capability, and on-line chats.
A question arose regarding setting up a volunteer database on the web site. It would require staff help to back up and respond to offers of help. This might be a good way to begin tapping the expertise of our membership.
Women's Endowment: Collins
Fiscal accountability and transparency need to be established for this endowment. The endowment is currently under Casitas Fund management.
Recommendations:
1. Transfer the endowment from Casitas to NRF management. The Board directs the NRF on how to distribute funds. Give the NRF risk tolerance guidance on investing and charge the oversight of the endowment to an advisory board within the USRowing Board.
2. Create an endowment advisory board comprised of three female members, including one active athlete, appointed by the USRowing Board of Directors. The Board will fill vacancies. The advisory board will distribute an annual report to the Executive Director.
3. Task the Executive Director with devising a plan to restore $9,600 of principle removed from the fund in 2002. Reimbursement can be spread out over time.
MOTION: [Bryans/Reilly]
Accept the recommendations of the endowment committee report [attached] and charge the Executive Director with devising an aggressive payment plan to reimburse the Women's Endowment Fund.
10 Y, 0 N, 1 A Motion Passes
MOTION: [Henderson/Reilly]
To appoint Jan Harville to the Women's Endowment Advisory Board, pending her acceptance.
All in favor: Motion Passes
MOTION: [Henderson/Kidd]
To appoint Christine Collins to the Women's Endowment Advisory Board
All in favor: Motion Passes
Casitas Fund:
Liz Miles' term expired on December 31, 2004. She has served one term.
MOTION: [Fuller/Howard]
To re-elect Liz Miles as a Casitas Fund Steward
All in favor: Motion Passes
Treasurer's Report:
MOTION: [Fuller/Howard]
To aopt the audit for 2004
10 Y, 0 N, 1 A Motion Passes
The 990 will be available by Aug 10, 2005. It will be posted on the web site after it is filed, along with June budget numbers.
MOTION: [Howard/Reilly]
To approve Treasurer's report
All in favor: Motion Passes
Relocation:
Responsibility for considering the relocation project is being moved back to the Executive Director. A decision should be made by October. The office space is currently on a month to month lease.
Governance: [cont'd]
The Mission Statement has been revised based on yesterday's changes:
"The mission of USRowing is to provide ongoing opportunities to achieve excellence in rowing in the United States."
In pursuit of this mission, USRowing will achieve the following results:
- continually improved performance at the olympic games
- safe, fair racing opportunities for all rowers
- consistently growing lifetime participation in rowing
- continually increased awareness of rowing among the general public
- increased knowledge and practice of rowing safety, healthy training methods, and effective rowing technique
- fiscal growth and responsibility
MOTION: [Kidd/Fuller]
That the above text be adopted after amending the order of results to read:
- consistently growing lifetime participation in rowing
- safe, fair racing opportunities for all rowers
- continually improved performance at the olympic games
- continually increased awareness of rowing among the general public
- increased knowledge and practice of rowing safety, healthy training methods, and effective rowing technique
- fiscal growth and responsibility
MOTION: [Kidd/Fuller]
Amend the above motion to drop "among the general public"
Motion withdrawn, second withdrawn
Nick will wordsmith this part of the Policy Manual.
Further revisions to the Policy Manual draft were discussed, including setting budget priorities for the Executive Director. The Board will submit more revisions this week.
Add a Board Transition policy to the manual for people who leave the Board before their term expires. It tends to take three months to replace someone.
11:05 AM Meeting Adjourned
Next Board Meeting:
October 8-9, 2005
Wyandotte Boat Club
Recommended airport: Detroit Metro Airport