USAV Board Commits to Member Safeguards

Bill Kauffman May 30, 2010

Photo: Texas Star

USA Volleyball Board of Directors

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 30, 2010) – USA Volleyball held its May Board of Directors meeting on May 28 to cap the organization’s Annual Meetings held May 25-28 in Phoenix.

“This past Board meeting had a good balance of business and governance issues,” said Kevin Twohig, USA Volleyball Board of Directors pro-tem. “Highlights included reports from both the beach and indoor programs and the first interaction with new USAV Managing Director of Beach Volleyball Dave Williams. The Audit, Finance and Budget (AFB) committee reported a strong first quarter against budget and a clean 2009 audit. USA Volleyball has been re-incorporated in Colorado and will officially transition at year-end.”

The new business items discussed included the development of a member safeguard task force led by Cecile Reynaud and a parent task force designed to provide USA Volleyball feedback on a variety of current topics relating to its youth membership.

“USA Volleyball is committed to the well-being and safety of its members, especially our junior members,” USA Volleyball Chief Executive Officer Doug Beal said. “I think as an organization, we have been at the forefront of this issue. At the same time, we are trying to stay ahead of the curve and put into place additional appropriate safeguards and programs as needed.”

The Board also received detailed reports from Beal on a variety of beach, indoor, international and business issues, a USAV Foundation report showing positive investment performance, and a report on cooperative opportunities available through the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Qualifiers.

“This year has already started out on a positive financial basis through the first quarter for USA Volleyball,” Beal said. “We are committed to an increased investment in beach programming and are excited to have Dave Williams on board to help further develop this area of our programming. The beach teams have enjoyed lots of success early on with Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser winning three gold medals on the FIVB Tour, while the pairs of Jen Kessy-April Ross and Angie Akers-Tyra Turner have won medals as well.

“On the indoor courts, our teams have done well early in 2010 as the U.S. Men’s Team picked up the gold at the Pan American Cup,” Beal continued in regards to the early-season successes. “The U.S. Youth National Team won its NORCECA event and qualified for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games. Our U.S. Women’s National Team is excited to begin its international season next month, while the Men’s National Team starts its FIVB World League schedule in June. USA Volleyball is also committed to creating a very positive experience for disabled players across the world by hosting the 2010 Sitting World Volleyball Championships at Edmond, Okla., an event that will represent the largest international volleyball championship ever hosted in the United States.”

In other Board business, Twohig welcomed new and recently re-elected/re-appointed Board members to their posts.

“The Board welcomed Joy Fuerbringer to her first meeting as a Board member in the Beach Elite Development position and congratulated Adam Rymer, Jon Lee and Andy Reitinger on their new terms on the Board,” Twohig said.

Earlier in the week, Rymer was re-appointed to a four-year term to the USA Volleyball Board of Directors as an independent director by the Nominating and Governance Committee. Lee was re-elected to the Board with a four-year team as a Regional Volleyball Association Director. Reitinger was elected to the Board as the Junior Indoor representative and will serve a four-year team starting July 1, 2010.

Rymer, who works at Universal Pictures as the senior vice president of Digital Platforms, was originally named an independent director on the USA Volleyball Board of Directors in 2008 as the organization instituted its new governance structure and streamlined Board of Directors. His second term officially begins July 1, 2010.

“I am honored to have been re-elected to the Board of Directors,” Rymer said. “Over the last two years, with the support of USAV Staff, I believe this new board has embarked on a real path of community and growth. I look forward to contributing to USAV's legacy of success.”

USA Volleyball Board of Directors
At-Large: Kevin Twohig (June 30, 2012)
Beach Athlete: Tyra Turner (June 30, 2010)
Beach Athlete: Sean Scott (June 30, 2012)
Beach Elite Development: Joy Fuerbringer (June 30, 2012)
Coach: Kathy DeBoer (June 30, 2013)
Independent: Bill Barnum (June 30, 2013)
Independent: Adam Rymer (June 30, 2014)
Independent (chair: September 30, 2012): David Schreff (June 30, 2011)
Indoor Athlete: Reid Priddy (June 30, 2013)
Indoor Athlete: Sarah Noriega (June 30, 2011)
Indoor High Performance: Dr. Ted Leland (June 30, 2013)
Junior Indoor: Christena Clauss (June 30, 2010) to be replaced by Andy Reitinger (June 30, 2014)
National Beach Tour: Jason Hodell (June 30, 2011)
Officials: Mike Carter (June 30, 2011)
Regional Volleyball Association: Jon Lee (June 30, 2014)
Regional Volleyball Association: Ken Cain (June 30, 2012)