COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 8, 2019) – The USA Volleyball Board of Directors voted to confirm its designation as the Official National Federation for snow volleyball during its Jan. 25 winter meeting in Denver, and are currently taking necessary steps to approve the addition of Beach ParaVolley.
As such, the USAV Board amended the organization’s mission statement to state:
“Lead, serve and grow all areas of the sport of volleyball – including beach, indoor, sitting, snow and Beach ParaVolley – achieving excellence while providing a lifetime of opportunities for all to participate in a safe and positive environment.”
The board meeting dealt largely with governance and operational issues. Following a shift toward more independence and fiscal responsibility after its August meeting, the USAV Board welcomed George Thompson as the chair of a reconstituted Audit, Budget and Finance (AFB) Committee. Thompson, a former U.S. Men’s National Team player, was also elected as the Board treasurer last fall. He currently serves as the managing partner of Thompson Wealth Management, a registered investment firm with securities offered through Securities Service Network.
Thompson will lead a five-member AFB that includes associate chair Stew McDole (associate athletic director at Graceland University and USAV Foundation treasurer), Letitia Berbaum (wealth advisor at Optivest Wealth Management), Brent Rasmussen (president of Mortgage Specialists, LLC and USAV Board Sitting Volleyball Athlete Representative) and Patrick Henry (vice chair of investment management practice at Deloitte).
Denise Parker, a three-time Olympian and vice president of the USOC’s National Governing Body Services, was invited by the Board to give a presentation about the shift of NGB boards from constituent-based to independent members moving forward. The USAV Board has discussed composition over several meetings, including the definition of independent members.
In other Board highlights:
- The Board observed a moment of silence in honor of the passing in November of past President and CEO Rebecca Howard.
- USA Volleyball’s search for an official host city agreement for its indoor national teams continues. The current agreement with the City of Anaheim ends in December 2020. The U.S. Men’s National Team relocated to Anaheim in 2006 and the U.S. Women followed in 2009.
- The Board heard updates from athlete representatives, which included common themes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic cycle as well as forward thinking to the 2024 Paris Olympics and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- The Board approved formation of the USA Volleyball International Athlete’s Assembly, currently led by Paralympic gold medalist Katie Holloway.
- The USA Volleyball Board of Directors is 100 percent SafeSport certified under updated guidelines.