Post by schlager7 on Feb 14, 2009 21:08:30 GMT -6
Vice President Report, Jerry Benson
Board of Directors Meeting, February 14, 2009
Board of Directors Meeting, February 14, 2009
I will start with the area with which I am having difficulties, or in other words, the area with which I am not having the success I would like. I have been unable to find a working Chair for the Club Development and Support Task Force. This, in my opinion, is one of our most important groups, and one that could have a direct effect on our success in the future. Given the current economic situation, our clubs need more support and help than ever before. We started the year right after Beijing with most clubs showing a positive growth in membership. Across the nation, many were reporting a 15-20% increase. In talking to other club owners, I have found that this growth has stopped or at least slowed down. Many clubs did use the information and help provided on the web site and initially obtained some very positive results. However, these results appear to be fading. We have a good group of members on the committee, but we need a Chair who can spend the time and energy directing their efforts and goals. We have been looking for volunteers from the ranks of current club owners, but many now seem to not have the time to volunteer. I hope to be able to suggest a new name to the President before this meeting.
The Paralympic Development Resource Group has been very active, and I will let its report speak for the efforts and hard work of its members. Our Resource Development Committee lost one of its key members due to health reasons but has been able to recover and move on. Although you may have not heard a lot from this Committee, it has been meeting frequently and working very hard and to have programs and suggestions ready for the incoming Executive Director. The Resource Development Committee is now ready to hit the ground running and soon hopes to be able to start programs that will show some results. Again, I refer you to the Chair's report for the particulars. Sports Medicine is working to develop our current staff and to recruit more volunteer staff to be able to address our needs both domestically and internationally. The Chair of the Sports Science Technology Task Force has meet with several coaches and with the design team to try to get a working product to our coaches using e-scout as soon as possible. Please refer to the Chair's report. Finally, the Hall of Fame Committee is getting ready for the annual election and installation of new members into our Hall of Fame at Summer Nationals.
As a member of the EC, I am very excited about the hiring of our new Executive Director, Kurt Aichele. He has impressed me in a very short time. The demands of this job were going to be immediate with no time to settle in or prepare. Kurt has somehow found a way to hit the ground running. I have also found him very open to ideas and he is willing to listen to suggestions. I refer you to his report. I hope we all give him as much support as possible and that, if we are asked to help, we do not hesitate to volunteer to do our part. Although we have been able to stop the "bleedingĀ”," we are still not out of the hospital yet. Much cooperation, understanding, patience, and hard work are still needed before we totally recover.
With Respect,
Jerry Benson