https://usgcoa.org/us-gymnastics-club-owners-summit-2019/
USGCOA Report from Board of Directors Meeting
Report from USGCOA Board of Directors Year End Meeting.
As a new organization we are still trying to get things off the ground while making sure bylaws and Rules and Policies are in-order. I will post minutes here as soon as they are approved.
The agenda was pretty full but truthfully nothing exciting.
Our priority is the safety and well being of all those involved in the sport of gymnastics. Our goal remains to be a transparent organization created to serve as a voice, advocate, and partner for owners of gymnastics clubs located in the United States.
This organization is also open to presidents/directors of community and non profit organizations like YMCAs, JCCs, etc. For the record, we were asked if we could take on clubs from other countries (Canadian clubs contacted us). Unfortunately we cannot. It complicates our 501c3 status.
With the new makeup of the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors (something mandated by the USOC) the voice of coaches and club owners in our sport has been diminished. Unlike most other Olympic sports, the gymnastics community is by and large comprised of privately owned clubs. Our livelihood is affected by many of the decisions made by USOC, USA Gymnastics, and US Congress.
The board is all in agreement that we want USA Gymnastics to weather this current storm, but our organization will not be affected by decertification. We do not want this to happen. But, if it does, we will carry on with our role supporting gymnastics clubs and trying to be the voice to what ever comes next.
There is a rumor out there that the USGCOA is positioning itself to take over USA Gymnastics or become the new National Governing Body. This is NOT why we started this and not what the plan is. Our current structure and bylaws do not even take this into account.
I have been contacted by more than a few people trying to understand this organization. Some wanting the organization to move faster, some wanting it to slow down and some wanting it to go away. There are times I get frustrated that we are not moving fast enough and getting things done. The reality is that the organization is starting at ZERO. It started as an idea. A number of clubs from through out the USA believed in the idea enough to put up $1000 to get the organization off the ground. As you can imagine there is a lot of leg work involved. Everything from the design of the logo and getting the website up to, 501c3 status, legal and financial compliance. None of it is terribly exciting or what any of us really want to do- but it needs to get done just the same.
At our October meeting we wrote out the bylaws, job descriptions, term limits etc. Regional reps will be elected by their regions but we needed to stagger the the first reps so that their is continuity on the board.
Other things we covered were the dates of elections, adding industry and supplier members, date for USGCOA summit.
A great deal of time was spent on cleaning up language (so that it was easily understood) and making sure different parts of the bylaws were in agreement.
Cassie spoke eloquently and passionately that each of us must model the behavior we want the rest of the country to follow. To not bully or intimidate the gymnasts we work with.
Committees were formed and an e-mail will be sent out to membership to get their input and encourage their participation on committees. If you would like to be part of a committee – please contact us.
- USGCOA summit- Sandy and Kim
- US Congress safe sport act– Tony
I have stated before that the strength of our organization is the diversity of our board. We have representatives for each of the 8 regions (currently based upon USAG women’s program). We have representatives who have coached at the Olympic level and coaches who work primarily in recreational programs. TOM KOLL (yes- That TOM KOLL) has recently joined the board as the Program Advisor.
As soon as the minutes are approved (reality is that will be after the first of the year) I will post the minutes.
The Bylaws have been reviewed and approved.
For the record- NO USGCOA funds have been used for the transportation, housing or meals (other than lunch during meetings) at Board of Director meetings. USGCOA secures and pays for the meeting space. Every Board member pays their own travel, lodging and food. At sometime in the future we hope that funds will be used to reimburse these expenses. The Board does not feel we are there yet.
USGCOA Charter Members
We would like to officially introduce the United States Gymnastics Club Owners Association. This is an independent organization that has been formed by US club owners to help provide guidance to USA Gymnastics in moving the sport of gymnastics in a positive direction. Our purpose is to be the trusted and unifying voice, advocate, and partner for owners of gymnastics clubs throughout the United States; and our priority is the safety and well being of all those involved in the sport of gymnastics.
We would like to publicly thank the club owners who have donated both time and money to ensure the formation of this much needed association. The following charter members donated $1,000.00 each to cover the financial and legal obligations in forming such an organization.
The charter members will have lifetime recognition on our website, and their donation will include their 2019 membership dues. Charter membership will close on December 31, 2018. If you are interested in getting more information, or attaining charter membership, go to our temporary website USGCOA.ORG. 2019 membership dues have been set at $350.00, and will be available for purchase within a few weeks.
Our intention is to share information as it becomes available. At this time, our branding is complete, our bylaws will be voted on very soon, and our permanent website will be live mid-December. We are beyond excited about the progress and recognition this association has already accomplished. We’ve had a very promising discussion with the current USA Gymnastics Board of Directors, and they have reached out for our opinion on more than one occasion! Together, our voices are being heard!
Wishing you all a very happy holiday season. Your support is beyond appreciated.
Sincerely,
USGCOA Board of Directors
US Gymnastics Club Owners Association. AGENDA for Upcoming Board Meeting
The USGCOA will have a Board of Directors meeting the weekend of November 30-December 2. If you have anything you would like addressed- please contact me.
Tony
USGCOA Board of Directors Meeting
Aria Hotel, Las Vegas
November 30 to December 2nd 2018
Agenda:
Greeting and Call to Order-
– Roll Call-
Announcements and recognitions-
– Approval of minutes-
Reports:
– *Finance-Kim Thomson
– *Membership-Sandy Flores
– *Website-Sandy Flores
– *Liason-Claudia Kretschmer
– *Bylaws- Brent Phelps
Business:
– mission Statement-
– *Discuss term limits and nominations to stagger term-
– *Summit- open annual meeting
– *Summit- hotel- non union hall- Cassie
– *Summit- suppliers association- vendors
Scott & Claudia
– *Summit speakers-
– *Ways to combat the negative -Partner with vendors or other org. For a positive campaign…’Got milk?’
– *Lobbying arm to talk to congress. Ie) safe sport, innocent until prover guilty.
– *Athlete wellness-Cassie
– *Note from Karen Golz
– *Note from Holcomb
– *Decertification
– *Polling membership and polling question development- Scott
It Takes THREE
As you know I have just returned from a rather lengthy work trip to Europe. My final stop was in the UK. I really enjoyed the pub culture. These pubs were not just places to meet and have a beer. They were parts of the community. They were set up to be comfortable and you did not feel rushed.
The 3rd place social theory.
In community building, the third place is the social surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of HOME (“first place”) and WORK (“second place”). Examples of third places would be environments such as churches, cafes, clubs, public libraries, or parks. In his influential book, The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg (1989, 1991) argues that third places are important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing feelings of a sense of place.
In short, it takes 3 places to make your life complete.
Your Home
Your Work
That 3rd place.
Our Gyms have become the THIRD PLACE for many, if not MOST of our athletes.
In Business there is also the rule of 3. There must be a working partnership between 3 individuals or entities. At it’s simplest form you have the raw product, the manufacturer and the consumer. In an office it could be the Owner, the Manager, and the Program Director.
Each person must be competent and have the faith of the others for this to be a successful relationship where the whole is greater than the individual sum of its parts.
Each of us must be committed to maintaining the reputation of all of us. And all of us must be committed to maintaining the reputation of each of us.
—Jim Rohn
In our gyms we must have a working triad between the parent, the gymnast and the coach. Each building up and supporting the other.
Our industry has been in crisis for a while. Instead of looking to build up the other parts, we look to blame the other entities and tear them down. I believe that in USA Gymnastics the BEST IS YET TO COME. We have great things left to do in all disciplines.
This can only be achieved if we are working together for a common goal. Our strength is in our membership. The partnership between the ATHLETE, the COACH and the CLUB OWNER. Each party must strive for excellence while supporting each other.
USA Gymnastics should be about the ATHLETES first. The athletes should be protected by the federation, USOC, Safesport and every coach and club owner.
I find myself in a situation where I am involved in trying to start 2 different organizations. One for the CLUB OWNERS and one for ALL PRO MEMBERS.
The US Gymnastics Club Owners Association has the promise of being an important part of that triad. Of offering a guidance, protection and a voice for the club owners. Our experience in gymnastics has taught us that failure and set backs are part of the learning process. Each board member brings our own views into the mix and that diversity is our strength, not our weakness.
The US Elite Coaches Association is trying to get the US Professional Gymnastics Coaches Association off the ground. This will hopefully complete the triad.
I was in a bar recently (big surprise) arguing over what the hardest skill was to learn in gymnastics. As this was an educated group of professionals we all were focused on the important basic skills.
- The Kip
- The Roundoff
- The Hurdle
- Handstand
Each skill (and a few more) were all a good argument. I was more of an observer (mostly because this was in Italy and the conversation was going a bit faster than I could keep up). They asked me what my opinion was.
My response, “L’abilità più difficile? Pazienza.”
I will save you the Google Translation. “THE HARDEST SKILL? PATIENCE”.
Our end of the bar got quiet. Everyone nodded their head.
I believe in these organization. I believe in the reason they were founded and I believe in the people who took action.
It will take time and patience for us to forge a clear paths.
These organizations could be the base of our future. Each working in the best interests of their constituents while supporting each other.
It Is a Journey.
We cannot let the perfect become the enemy of the good. (I got torn apart on FB the other day for posting that statement. From someone who doesn’t know me. I have thick skin so I can handle it but it still hurt. It did get me thinking.)
We are waiting for a messiah. Someone to swoop in and lead. The perfect person does not exist and the perfect organization will have some weaker or flawed individuals. We cannot afford to let the PERFECT become the enemy of the GOOD. Real change is necessary for USA Gymnastics to grow. That process will have some hiccups and set backs. Kerry Perry came in and tried to do a good job and failed. Let’s learn from it and move on. There are a few organizations that are trying to help lead the change. The US Gymnastics Club Owners Association and The US Professional Gymnastic Coaches Association to name a two. They will not be perfect. They face an up hill battle and will have to make some difficult choices. But they are at least trying to make the sport a better experience for ALL those involved.
It is about the journey. Our sport is ever evolving. Look at the equipment we use today compared to what we as coaches competed on. The common coaching practices of today are going to look archaic in a few short years.
We must learn from our past successes and failures. We cannot hide from it. We need a team of great minds to come up with great ideas. Ideas to help us get back up.
It’s time we did something great.
I may be a dreamer but nothing great was ever accomplished with out it first being a dream.
- I believe that we still have great things to do. We can still have our New Deal or our Great Society.
- I believe we can continue with the success in the women’s program while protecting the athletes promising- NEVER AGAIN.
- I believe we can continue to grow the Trampoline and Tumbling program through out the USA
- I believe we can continue to improve the Men’s program as we support and protect NCAA programs.
- I believe that we can build a National Team Training Center for all disciplines that will make us all proud.
- I believe that we can form a partnership with athletes using their energy, enthusiasm and experience to help us on this journey.