Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting

Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting

Miami Lakes, Florida

January 19, 2013

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Dick Dubose at 10:30 am. Present at the meeting were:

Dick Dubose-Chairman

Fred Coleman-At-Large Director

David Simon–Independent Director

Cynthia Kelly-At-Large Director

Ruth Menchaca-Athlete Director

Absent

Michael Halchak-Independent Director

Mesinee Mangkalakiri-Athlete Director

Elaine Kong-Technical Official Director

Open Seat – Andy Gouw has resigned and the coaching seat is open.

Chairman Dick Dubose brought the meeting to order at 10:30. He designated Fred Coleman as acting Chair for this meeting. Dick then left due to other obligations. Since a quorum had been established the meeting continued to transact the business of the USAB.

Minutes from the Fall October 6, 2012 meeting were reviewed and approved.

2013 Board Election Update. Dan Cloppas, CEO reported:

1. That May Mangkalakiri had been re-elected to her position as USAB representative to the USOC Athletes Advisory Council and will continue in her position for four years.

2. No candidates had applied or been nominated for the empty Coach Director Position, this position will be sent to the USAB Nominating and Governance Committee for action to fill.

3. The Member at Large Election had two candidates. Don Chew and Fred Coleman. The general membership elected Fred Coleman for a new four year term.

4. Both candidates for At- Large Director, Don Chew and Fred Coleman raised questions regarding how the process of the election had gone:

a. How well had the general membership been notified of the election?

b. Had the Nominating Committee’s Work gone smoothly?

c. Had the use of e-mail rather than a paper ballot worked well? ($1500 of money which is currently tight had been saved)

ACTION – The BOD instructed CEO Dan Cloppas to request review and formal report by Nominating and Governance Committee and Ethics and Judicial Committee in order to certify election process and make recommendations for improvement.

Budget

1. Review of preliminary Performance Partnership Agreement (PPA) with USOC – CEO Dan Cloppas presented the format and content of the document. The USOC is willing to continue certain funding areas based tightly on performance. These areas include Club Relationships, Membership Growth, Ranking /Rating Systems, Fundraising, Marketing and Coaching. If USAB can meet all of the goals, the budget for 2013 from all other sources plus the USOC funds will be adequate for planned expenditures.

2. Fred Coleman suggested that BOD members and all staff should also approach the year with formal performance goals. The BOD supported this approach.

ACTION – Performance based goals will be set for each BOD member and each staff member.

3. Funding for programs – In 2012 due to budget shortages, the amounts set for program elements (coaching, juniors, and court officials) were low at the beginning of the year and raised in June. This made planning very difficult.

a. Coaching requested and was granted $10.000 for 2013

b. Juniors requested and was granted $10,000 for 2013

c. Court Officials report from 2012 and request for 2013 had not been received by the time of the BOD meeting. Granted for 2013 was $10,000. Based on 2012 report and 2013 request when received, this will be reviewed.

4. Funding for staff salaries

a. Salary for the Communications Administrator was increased to full time in fall 2012 and will be continued at that level for 2013.

b. Director of Coaching and High Performance Salary will be raised by $10,000 for 2013.

5. Funding for Sudirman Cup Team was proposed in the budget presented at $5,000. Although full funding for a team of ten plus 1-2 coaches would need to be $25-30,000, USAB is currently unable to fund at this level. Funding however was increased to $10,000. In the past USOC provided direct support for International teams. This is no longer done. Further funding will need to be athlete self funding or sponsorship.

Planning

1. The Strategic Plan developed in 2009-2010 was again reviewed and updated.

2. Development (financial)

a. Development Advisory Group (Responsibility Peggy Savosik and Cynthia Kelly)

b. We need to have Female Athletes apply to Women in Sport Foundation grant program

c. Annual Fund Drive is being coordinated by Cynthia with USBEF for joint solicitation.

d. We need to clarify program for bequests between USAB and USBEF. It is important not to duplicate efforts, but greater clarity is needed regarding roles and responsibilities.

e. Cynthia Kelly attended the USBEF BOD meeting 1/18/13. Harry Orr, Dave Carton, Mary Ann Bowles, Andrea Weiss, Al Woodard were in attendance. Joint fund raising was discussed and needs to be further explored.

f. USAB needs a future Capital Campaign program. A commitment was made for 4 hours weekly staff time dedicated to fundraising.

g. USAB needs a Donor ID program

3. International

a. Paisan’s position with BWF is important to USAB. Are other positions open for USAB delegates?

b. There is no strategy for relationship with the Pan Am Zone for maximum cooperation and joint growth. With the loss of Don Chew in a leadership role with Pan Am, we need to rebuild.

c. David Simon is the USAB BOD member deputed to work with International Relationship issues. He needs regular liaison with Paisan. We need to explore Friendship program moneys through USOC. We need to pursue State Department funded programs. We need to look at Pan Am Solidarity foundations

4. Grassroots Development and Non High Performance athlete relationships

a. Ruth Menchaca has been competing more and talking with players in different parts of the country. There is an enthusiasm in clubs and interest in various parts of the country in starting new clubs

b. School programs are very important. We do not have a consistent plan or approach. There is a good market.

c. Boys Clubs and Girls clubs also have badminton programs in some areas, but USAB has limited liaison with them.

d. New areas of development can be identified if USAB has on the ground face to face contact. Example Texas – San Antonia, Dallas, Houston, Austin. Capacity for Junior Camps, Junior Circuit, Coach Clinics, Ranking and Rating services, Schools project.

USAB OFFICE

1. Club Interface

a. Currently 70 member clubs (rough estimate there may be 400-500 or more in existence).

b. Need a rebate to club owners for new members

c. USAB website store is close to operational

d. Website needs better links to regions

e. Need to create a template for National Clubs Survey (Peggy Savosik/ Lauren)

Marketing Group

1. Dan Cloppas has two individuals working on percentage shares looking for Corporate Donors

2. We need a Marketing Advisory Group with people from in and outside badminton

3. We need a set of projects for specific funding (Teams, Tournament Circuit, Coaching Program, Schools Project, etc.) with well thought out proposals with clear budgets and clear measurable outcomes, our marketing people will be more successful.

Strategic Plan Priority List (review 2010-2012 lists)

1. High Priority Items

a. USAB Olympic Medal Project – Needs to be replaced with a 2016, 2020, 2024 set of projects

b. Director of Coaching and High Performance – The BOD was pleased with the work of Mohan Subramaniam and voted an increase in his salary. New specific performance goals are needed for 2013 and 2013-2016

c. USAB-Club Partnership Project was reviewed. The November Colorado Springs Conference on Training Centers/High Performance Clubs (Mohan Subramaniam) was reviewed. The next steps with contracts (Dan Cloppas), Coaching – April High Performance Coach Conference in LA

(Mohan Subramaniam), and Increasing Club Members, and Individual Membership from Clubs (Peggy Savosik) needs continuing effort.

d. The High Performance Advisory Group has been formed (Mohan Subramaniam) and is functioning well. The next step is writing procedures for International Coach Selection and forming a Coach Selection Committee (Mohan Subramaniam)

e. Communications – With authorization of full time status for a staff member with addition of money for communications role, the next steps are clearer definition of the tasks. (Dan Cloppas and Fred Coleman)

Discussion of Coach BOD Director position – Should the following be considered by the Nominating Committee?

1. Geographical balance

2. Gender

3. Experience

4. HPCP membership a conflict of interest or not

5. Knowledge of HP and Grass Roots.

6. Fred Coleman/Mohan Subramaniam/Dan Cloppas to generate information and possible candidate list for Nominating Committee

Future BOD Meetings

1. April/May either April 19-21 or 26-28 weekend in Chicago at Airport Hilton, with invitations to Chicago area members to a reception, discussion time.

2. Alternate - May 3-5 weekend at Boston Open (although we have been in Boston and never in Midwest).

3. July 5 in San Francisco at Junior Nationals

4. October – Date TBD – either Colorado Springs to coordinate with USOC or Electronic.

There being no further business to come before the board, it was adjourned at 2:00 pm.