I'm suprised nobody has made any comments about this. Looks like our state champions will have to pay their way to the otc this time. It's pretty dissapointing knowing that these people told us by voting "yes" a few months ago we'd get rid of all the bs, guess they lied.
A MESSAGE TO THE MEMBERSHIP FROM INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOHN STAVROS
Dear Members,
As the Acting Executive Director of United States Amateur Boxing, I am writing this letter to the membership in a spirit of cooperation and partnership. I know that some of the members are concerned about the status of USA Boxing and are attempting to find a way to demonstrate their discontent, particularly over the new requirement that members pay their own travel and other expenses for the National Championships and over the scheduling and qualification for the Olympic Trials.
While each member of the Board of Directors and I definitely understand the concern of many members and the anger of some members, we ask you to please remember that we were appointed to our positions only a short time ago, at which time we had to focus immediately on a number of very unfortunate legal and financial problems that we inherited from the prior Boards of Directors. The financial problems are now particularly acute. The loss of A2P’s $1 million sponsorship, along with the obligation to pay more than $1 million for insurance premiums, are having a tremendous negative impact on our 2007 operating budget. Please be patient with the members of the new Board of Directors in order to allow them the chance to deal with the issues at hand.
Some members have expressed appropriate concern over the perceived lack of communication from the new Board of Directors. The frustrating failure to keep you informed has been directly due to obligations of confidentiality set forth in a contract approved and signed by prior Boards of Directors. As we continue to work to resolve all matters under that contract, the members of the new Board of Directors and I commit to a much greater flow of information to our members.
I know that the vast majority of you love our sport and intensely desire amateur boxing to survive and thrive. Personally, I have been involved with our organization for over eleven years, serving as a Trustee on the Foundation for USA Boxing though the administrations of Gary Toney, Dr. Robert Voy, Sandy Pino, Bill Meartz and now Tom Virgets. Because of my experience, I am very familiar with the politics of the past, but I am not as familiar with you as individuals, something I am trying to address on a daily basis.
From my current position as Acting Executive Director, I see that USA Boxing is now, once again, at a crossroads:
Either we can work together to fulfill our mission or we can continue to witness the collapse of our organization.
One of the major issues we face is insurance. With 28,000 participants, boxing is defined in the insurance business as a “Catastrophic Sport.” Hockey is also defined as a “Catastrophic Sport,” but can spread its liability cost across its 400,000 participants. That is one reason our insurance premiums are so high. We are searching for ways to offset the high cost of insurance.
The USA Boxing website contains Chairman Tom Virgets’ Vision for the Sport of Boxing. In order to implement his vision, the new Board of Directors simply needs your patience. Once we are successful, all LBCs will be improved. Task Forces have been established to address AIBA, the LBCs, Women’s Boxing, Grievance and International Boxing Coaching Issues thus far with more to be established. They are just getting underway, and their membership is posted on the web page. Unprecedented in recent years is the make-up of these Task Forces which are void of special interest groups.
I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you and to working together to make USA Boxing all that it can be.
Sincerely,
John Stavros
Acting Executive Director
USA Boxing
Letter from USABOXING
Art - I think some of us did discuss the letter on another thread (can't remember which one, however). I, personally, am not surprised. It's the same people behind the scenes, pulling strings. The three Task Forces that have been selected can be found in the Membership section on USAB's web site (takes a detective to find it!). All three are out of compliance because the Governance Reform states that a committee or task force can't have more than 5 members and must have 20% athlete representation. If you look at the names, there are a few token people - and the rest are the same old "Good Old Boy" faces. I'm not surprised. Once the BOD was announced, I saw the writing on the wall.
Will be interesting to see how many athletes actually show up this year; Hawaii thinks maybe only half their team will make it. On the other hand, we are the only NGB who does not charge a stiff entry fee and who has paid for food and housing for many years. Guess it will force LBCs to actively fund raise (wouldn't that be a miracle!).
Will be interesting to see how many athletes actually show up this year; Hawaii thinks maybe only half their team will make it. On the other hand, we are the only NGB who does not charge a stiff entry fee and who has paid for food and housing for many years. Guess it will force LBCs to actively fund raise (wouldn't that be a miracle!).