SPECIAL EVENT
IAB Summit in the Rockies

Cheyenne Mountain Resort
Colorado Springs, Colorado
September 4-6, 2003

preview | updates | photos | focus groups

NOTE: Where PowerPoint presentations are made available, please remember that these basic outlines lack the personal interaction that completes them and makes them easier to follow. Questions can be directed to the authors of the work (if needed), and follow-up written documentation will be developed to more fully explain the new programs, as they "go live" later in the season.

 See the PowerPoint ranking presentation by:
Usher Barnoff

The 2003 International Association of Businesses (IAB) United States Racquetball Association (USRA) Summit in the Rockies concluded Saturday afternoon at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There were more than 100 participants from all over the United States, including some from Canada and Venezuela, that took part in the summit.

Saturday's meetings began with a presentation by USRA Membership Director Kevin Joyce on the new online membership service to be offered by the USRA. As early as October 1, 2003 members will be able to access and manage their memberships online, as well as renew, sign-up, view certifications, competition history, national standing, and update their information on a secure server. Security features are also incorporated, and expanded, for state association presidents, which will assist them in managing their affiliate operations locally. Future projects will include online event sanctioning, a tournament scheduler, and an event management system.

Kevin Joyce celebrates

Greg & Kelly Serrault elaborate

Usher Barnoff demonstrates

"The online membership system will create a critical communication link between our members, the state associations, health clubs, and the national office," Joyce explained. "Our intention is to make it user friendly, fun to use, and, over time, a series of additional online services will begin to unfold and be available to our members."

Greg Serrault, Presidential Director of IAB, followed Joyce and explained the goals and benefits of the relationship between IAB and the USRA. Serrault set forth two goals during his presentation. The first was to make available affordable and comprehensive medical and dental benefits to all members and associates of the USRA and secondly to create membership growth that will provide monthly revenue contributions to help support local efforts of each state within the USRA.

"A portion of each membership sold within a state association will be contributed to that state association," Serrault detailed. "IAB plans to give long term support to build the sport of racquetball. The more racquetball is successful, the more IAB will be successful. That is the way that we are looking at this."

Usher Barnoff of VantageTech then demonstrated the new ranking system that the USRA hopes to have in place this upcoming season. The ranking system is based on a player's performance against others and not just the number of tournaments that a player participates in. In the new system, players will be rewarded for competing against and defeating players ranked higher than them. The players standing is calculated using a logarithm that Barnoff created after consulting other ranking programs used by squash, table tennis, and Racquetball Canada.

Joyce was back up at the podium during the afternoon session to unveil the new credit-card style USRA membership card, which is more attractive and durable than previous versions. In addition to the cosmetics change, the card carries additional sponsored benefits associated with the U.S. Olympic Committee XCel marketing program.

The final activity for the summit was a banquet for attendees followed by a dance and silent auction to benefit the U.S. National Racquetball Team. The banquet also took place at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

If you have PowerPoint software, you can view edited presentations by:
Jim Hiser,  the Racquetball Manufacturer's Council [RMC], and Joe Garcia

The International Association of Businesses (IAB) United States Racquetball Association (USRA) Summit in the Rockies officially got underway on Friday at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. The summit has nearly 100 attendees from all aspects of the sport including manufacturers, board members, state presidents, volunteers, sponsors, and other influential decision-makers.

USRA Executive Director Jim Hiser opened the morning session, themed "A New Direction and Initiative", and featuring several key speakers from various organizations, who discussed not only what has been done to help promote the sport, but their future plans. Dr. Hiser outlined the results of a 2002 USRA survey, and the plan of action that arose from identifying areas of concern. [PowerPoint Presentation]

Jim Hiser & James Wood

Jim Scherr

Tyrone Lockhart

Ivan Davis

Scott Winters

Joe Garcia

James Wood, CEO of IAB, [near left, with Hiser] began the morning session and discussed the new partnership between the USRA and IAB. IAB is currently the largest existing sponsor to the USRA and the first major sponsor that has been engaged outside of the sport.

"I'm impressed with the dedication of all of the representatives attending the summit and I feel that it will be a big success," Wood said after the morning session. "It renews our commitment to assist the USRA in all of its goals. We know that this will also help IAB and we are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship."

Following Wood was Acting CEO of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Jim Scherr and USOC Sports Partnerships Manager Tyrone Lockhart. Scherr and Lockhart took time from the USOC's 25th Anniversary Gala to show their support for the USRA and its new direction.

Ivan Davis, the USRA Director of Marketing, then took center stage to unveil the new marketing strategy for the USRA. Davis explained his plan to attract sponsors to the sport including a new tagline for the USRA - Fast, Furious, Fitness.

"There are three components to the tagline. The first one - Fast - which is the essence of our sport with the ball traveling to speeds of 180 mph," Davis explained. "Then there is Furious. Due to the dynamics of the court a furious atmosphere is created when two players battle it out during a match. Fitness is, of course, maintaining our core. With health being such an important issue in our country, especially in the 35-54 demographics group, we want people to know that our sport offers exceptional health benefits."

After a brief break, Scott Winters and Doug Ganim took the podium representing the Racquetball Manufacturers Council (RMC). They unveiled the new RMC plan to grow the sport from a grassroots level within the health clubs. Winters and Ganim also stressed that the bond between competing racquetball manufacturers has never been stronger and that they were all working towards the common goal of promoting increased participation. [PowerPoint Presentation]

Bruce Rider of the Tennis Channel then gave a presentation on the newly-debuted, all-digital broadcast network. Rider explained that the Tennis Channel was not just for tennis, but more of a "racquet sports network" and that racquetball would fit nicely into their programming. Plans are being discussed to include racquetball programming although Rider wants to keep the details under wraps until everything is finalized.

Joe Garcia of the Association of United Wallyball Players (AUWP) wrapped up the morning presentations with a discussion on a new portable court. Racquetball currently uses a portable court for the Choice Hotels U.S. OPEN that takes days to construct and tear down. Garcia's ideas included a truly portable court that would be faster to assemble and disassemble and easier to ship from venue to venue. [PowerPoint Presentation]

Afternoon presentations centered on focus group breakout sessions which were tasked with identifying and prioritizing a series of "blue sky" proposals. The working groups were asked to consider any and everything, without restriction, presuming that any/all projects were fully funded and do-able.

The winning team of Steve Fredericks, Rob Getts, Brad Lunquist, and Don Miller [grouped at left] shot 12-under par (59). 

There was a tie for second place between the teams of Mark Coppolella, Gary Custer, Dean Gorell, and Tracy Frank and David George, Connie Martin, Tom O’Donnell, and Rob Yardumian [see photos]. 

The second place teams shot 11-under par (60). The prize for first place was $100 gift certificates to Champs; second place teams received $60 gift certificates good for USRA merchandise along with a $50 gift certificate valid at Red Lobster.

In addition to the overall team prizes, individual prizes were also awarded for a number of skills contests throughout the course. Winning the prize for closest to the pin was U.S. OPEN Director Doug Ganim. The longest drive was won by Rob Getts for the men and Connie Martin for the women. Joe Houck and Angie Birchler won the men’s and women’s straightest drive contest, respectively.

Immediately following the scramble, the USRA held a putting contest in which a 2003 Harley Davidson was up for grabs. Players first had to make a 10’ putt followed by a 30’ putt and finally a 50’ putt to win the motorcycle. Only three players, John Foust, Greg Serault, and Derek Robinson, were able to make the 10’ putt to earn $25 cash. No one was able to advance past the 30’ putt or the 50’ putt for the grand prize.

The golf scramble was held to benefit the U.S. National Racquetball Team. The total dollar amount raised Thursday was not available at press time, but the event was considered “very successful.”

The summit will continue Friday and Saturday with meetings and presentations at which the USRA plans to unveil several new benefits to its members as well as discuss the future of the sport. The summit concludes on Saturday with a banquet, dance, and auction to benefit the U.S. National Racquetball Team.

Fellow Racquetball Leaders: 
As the USRA Board President, I felt it was important to take a moment to welcome you all to what promises to be the most meaningful and ground-breaking meeting to date. Each of you brings distinct and valuable contributions to the sport of racquetball and you were invited to this summit because your commitment to the game extends beyond simple recreation and competition.

For most of you, this is not your first conference. In the past, you committed valuable time, money, and other resources into conferences that ultimately yielded very little in the way of tangible results or incentives. This year, Jim Hiser and the USRA Staff have worked diligently to present these incentives to you UP FRONT. Hopefully, this will serve to allay some of your doubts that arose from previous conferences and restore confidence in this summit's mission.

Highlights of the 2003 Summit include many important issues, including new membership database, new rankings system and a USRA Tournament Management System. Regardless of what you personally find rewarding about the sport of racquetball, be it the thrill of competing, the lifelong friendships, or even the bottom line (capitalism!), your voice in this summit matters. Keep that in mind as we progress through each topic or decision point. I'm counting on you to maintain a positive attitude, an open mind, and a sincere interest in what is truly best for the organization and the sport as a whole.

I'm looking forward to a great weekend with all of you. Please feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions or concerns at all. Let's have a safe and memorable summit!

Respectfully, FRANK T. TADDONIO 
President, USRA Board of Directors