Racquetball: 2003 Election Preview

In reviewing the final slate, the following list of “great expectations” may help guide you in selecting candidates who will have the best “fit” for board service. Here’s what they’ll be asked to do:

So, You want to be a USRA Board Member … GREAT! Serving on the Board to further a sport we all love is a wonderful endeavor. There are many ways to help our sport, and joining the Board of Directors is certainly a major step. Please take a few minutes and review the information below. After reading it carefully and putting good thought to the requirements, make the decision best for all concerned.

1. Each board member will be required to attend meetings. There is always the annual meeting just prior to the National Singles. Usually there is a fall meeting in Colorado. In addition to these meetings, which require time and travel, there are many phone conversations and e-mail sessions. This generally means you will be required to take time off from your job for travel and meetings.

2. Every board member should be willing to give an annual gift to the USRA. The amount isn’t important. What is important is that our Board be 100% vested in our organization. This is very important when applying for grants.

3. Each board member will be asked to be on at least three (3) committees. This means meetings of some type (phone, email, or travel). You will be asked to make decisions that are in the best interest of the USRA in these committees and then present them to the board. The Board will endeavor to assign you a committee that matches your interest, however, may be asked to serve in another area.

4. You may be asked to work at National tournaments, without remuneration. These are our events to host and we should expect to help if staff needs our assistance.

5. Each board member must remember that confidential issues are often discussed, and it will be important to hold those confidences dearly.

6. Everyone who sits on the board must sign a letter regarding Conflict of Interest.

7. You must remain accessible to the general membership and be willing to address concerns.

8. USRA membership must be current at all times.

9. All USRA Board members are expected to respond to member needs in a professional manner. It is important to be able to have a positive and professional dialogue with our membership.

In the next issue of RACQUETBALL (the March/April edition), the annual USRA Board of Directors election materials and ballot will be delivered to all adult members in good standing. To be certain of receiving them, you’ll want to make sure that your membership doesn’t lapse between now and then, since there were two important procedural changes that were approved at the May 2002 Board meeting that will go into effect with this voting round. They are:

1. The National Singles entry will no longer contain a separate ballot (making the magazine ballot the only method by which to vote, other than by numbered ballot on request).
2. Eligible USRA voters must be 18 years of age or older.

By previewing these changes, and alerting readers to the coming ballot, one of the most important changes that the Board would like to affect is voter turnout. Of 18,000 USRA members, only 584 actually turned in ballots last year – or only 3.5% of our membership! And that was the highest turnout in the history of board elections … The 2000 Gore/Bush Presidential election garnered a 49% return (and everyone decried that turnout) so 3.5% obviously doesn’t cut it for true voter involvement.

In the next few months, you’ll be able to find information on the candidates and their stances on relevant issues, in both print and website presentations. We hope that this will help members make an informed choice. Members play an important role in the process, since your vote helps appoint directors who perform oversight functions and set policy for the USRA. The Board makes budget and programming decisions, so if you have an interest in the sport as a whole, or anything about the USRA in particular, it’s your responsibility to study the candidates and make informed choices. Let your voice be heard. VOTE!

Great Expectations
When the election materials arrive, you’ll find candidate photos and platform statements from those who have either been nominated by board committee, or have petitioned for a spot on the ballot. The USRA Board Election Committee, chaired by Jim Garner, reviewed the qualifications of the following five individuals, and has pre-approved them for the slate: Lorraine Galloway (N.Y.); Lance Gilliam (Texas); Geoff Peters (Ill.); Tom Rall (Colo.); and Frank Taddonio (Ariz.). No additional candidates have been added to the ballot, by petition.

Material compiled by USRA Board members Chris Cole & Jan Stelma. See full Board List online at www.usra.org > “Directories”.