COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 21, 2019) – The USA Volleyball Board of Directors held its fall meeting Oct. 9 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with Dr. Cecile Reynaud directing her first meeting as the new board chair.
Five new directors were also attending their first board meeting: Dain Blanton (Beach-at-large), Steve Bishop (Beach Development), Cassidy Lichtman (Indoor Female Athlete rep), Bob Baker (RVA rep) and CiCi Rojas (Independent). Once the Official’s Assembly Director position is filled later this fall, the Board will be complete with 17 voting members.
Much of the board meeting was open to the public with several regional commissioners and other guests attending. Dr. Reynaud detailed her activities since taking over as Board chair in late June. She has met with FIVB President Dr. Ary Graca and NORCECA President Cristobal Marte Hoffiz. Dr. Reynaud attended the FIVB Volleyball Nations League Finals in Chicago, the 2020 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana, where she witnessed the U.S. Women secure their bid to next year’s Olympic Games, and the NORCECA Champions Cup for both our indoor national teams in Colorado Springs.
Dr. Reynaud participated in the USA Volleyball staff retreat where she engaged with the talented and dedicated employees who work for the national governing body year-round. She emphasized working on developing a positive culture with all factions of volleyball from the staff to the Board to the Regional Volleyball Associations to outside organizations. Her long-term vision is for “USA Volleyball to be a model sport governing body in the United States.”
USA Volleyball CEO Jamie Davis reported on major staff activities and team accomplishments that have taken place since the last board meeting, highlighted by the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Indoor Teams both qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games, the earliest for our teams since the 1996 Olympic Games as host country and the 1988 Olympic Games where qualification on the court was necessary. Several USA men’s and women’s beach teams are in a good position in the world rankings to qualify for the Olympics as well. The U.S. Women’s National Sitting Team has qualified for the Paralympic Games in 2020 while the U.S. Men’s Sitting Team will have a last chance to qualify in March 16-21 at a tournament to be held at their training center in Edmond, Oklahoma Davis shared the shared core values the staff have worked together to develop.
The Board reviewed a new Beach Assembly proposal. Bishop led the new the Beach Assembly proposal with Todd Rogers (Male Beach Athlete), Sara Hughes (Female Beach Athlete), Blanton, Reynaud, Davis and Andy Reitinger (Governance Committee Chair) assisting.
The Board invited United States Olympic and Paralympic General Counsel Chris McCleary to address the directors. He discussed recent actions by the U.S. Congress and USOPC concerning national governing body requirements and the responsibilities that go along with being the NGB. After the informative presentation, McCleary answered questions from the Board members.
The Board toured the USA Volleyball national headquarters in Colorado Springs and had a meet-and-greet with USA Volleyball staff members. “It was a treat for the board and staff to see all the people that work for all the disciplines throughout the year,” Reynaud said.
In other Board meeting highlights:
- Treasurer George Thompson gave a thorough presentation from the USA Volleyball Audit, Finance & Budget Committee.
- Bishop, who also serves as president of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, provided an update on the upcoming Hall of Fame inductions taking place Nov. 8 in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
- The USA Volleyball Foundation report was given by Reitinger, who serves as chair of the Foundation Board.
- Athlete reports from Kawika Shoji (indoor male athlete), Cassidy Lichtman (indoor female athlete), Brent Rasmussen (sitting athletes)
- Junior Assembly report was presented by Juniors Director Dave Gentile
- Chris Seilkop, USA Volleyball’s USOPC Athletes’ Advisory Council representative, called in and gave an update from the USOPC Athlete Advisory Council.
- The Regional Volleyball Association Assembly did not provide a report due to its fall meetings being held immediately following this board meeting.
The 2020 Board meetings are as scheduled:
- Friday, Jan. 24 in Denver
- Thursday, May 21 in Minneapolis in conjunction with the annual meetings
- Friday, Sept. 18 in Chicago.