To the Board of Directors of USTA Northern California
On behalf of the Adult League players of Northern California, #SavingNorCalLeagues is sending you this open letter to demand the immediate revocation of the deeply alarming “facility use fee” you approved during the December 11, 2019 Board of Directors meeting.
Within only five days, over 2,600 League players have signed the online petition to revoke this fee, and more signatures are being received every day.
We strongly believe this fee violates the core mission of USTA NorCal, which is “to promote and develop the game of tennis as an inclusive and inviting lifetime activity in Northern California.” Tennis is already perceived as an elitist sport, and this fee will only add to the discrimination against lower income and minority communities and make tennis even more exclusive.
As the Adult League Committee minutes show, the ALC has repeatedly voted against the implementation of this fee over the past few years. We, the League players, find it extremely worrisome that the Board chose not to consult with the League department staff or the Adult League Committee. Those Directors in favor of the fee knew they would never get support from those in charge of running and growing the League program and therefore chose the path of least resistance, abusing their power as the Board to push their own agenda. This shows that the Board acted solely in the interest of their own benefit and without their obligation to do what’s best for USTA NorCal and us, the players of NorCal, in mind.
We also find it very concerning that the Board purposefully voted against doing its due diligence of researching the impact such a fee would have on not only the League program, but also the other various NorCal programs, before approving this fee. The vote to form a task force was in secret, which gave directors the chance to do the right thing without having to fear retribution from fellow Board members. It is plainly obvious that the Board members who support this fee are only interested in their own benefit, even when given the chance to secretly do the right thing for USTA NorCal as a whole.
Furthermore, those Directors who voted for the fee have yet to provide any data supporting the claim that the League program has a financial or physical impact on facilities that would warrant the implementation of this fee. Lacking any supporting evidence, the argument of the need of this fee is rendered void.
Additionally, USTA NorCal is a not-for-profit organization that does not serve to finance facilities. Any facility is free to either charge their own members an additional fee to have a team, change their membership model or choose not to allow League teams if the financial and physical burden of having and hosting teams is indeed unbearable.
You will find over 120 additional comments from over 2,600 League players in the petition.
We, the League players of NorCal, demand you take immediate action to revoke the ‘facility use fee’ and start acting with the fiduciary duty you have to the organization you serve: USTA Northern California.
The ball is in your court.
The League Players of USTA Northern California
#SavingNorCalLeagues
How is this board appointed? What is their mission? It certainly is not elected, and therefore they do not represent us, the players, in any actions they take. It seems pretty clear that their lack of informing us, the players and payers, of this action, shows how deceitful they are.
ReplyDeleteWe need to press the National USTA leaders to disband this board and start over with a group of people that are really interested in what the players feel is in their best interest.
I was trying to figure this out this morning. I found the USTA NorCal bylaws here: https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/northerncalifornia/USTANorCalBylaws.html.
DeleteSection G. Nominating Committee and Nomination Process. Not later than May 1 each year, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of not less than three nor more than five members, of which the President shall designate one member as Chairman. The chairman of the Nominating Committee shall cause a written notice to be mailed to each Organization Member by May 15, which notice shall contain the names of those directors whose term of office will expire, the names of directors whose term of office will not expire, and the organization affiliation, if any, of each director. Each Organization Member may nominate in writing one individual for each position to be filled. Nominations from Organization Members must be submitted to NorCal’s office by July 15. Nominees must sign an application, as prescribed by the Nominating Committee, accepting the nomination and stating that they are Individual Members of the USTA. Said application must be submitted to the NorCal office by August 15. After August 15 and not later than September15, the Nominating Committee shall select a slate of preferred nominees for director from such names placed in nomination. Once the nominating committee has completed the slate it shall prepare a report reflecting the slate of preferred nominees, and containing a list of all other nominees who accepted the nomination and who are Individual Members of the USTA. Said report shall be mailed to each Organization Member no later than October 1. Proxies made out in blank, or to NorCal, or to the Secretary of NorCal, either by name or title, shall be voted in favor of the Nominating Committee's slate of preferred nominees. If a quorum for the transaction of business has not been reached by the deadline required in Article V, Section D, the Executive Director is authorized to solicit proxies for no more than 24 hours, and only until a quorum for the transaction of business is reached. Proxies received during such 24 hour period must appoint the Secretary of NorCal to be valid.
Section H. Election Process. The election of directors shall take place by written ballot, and only those names submitted in nomination as above provided in Section G of this Article are eligible for election. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected directors. Should a tie vote occur for the last available position on the Board, the incumbent Board of Directors has the deciding vote. Votes may be cumulated.
This might be of some relevance:
ARTICLE X AUDIT OF BOOKS AND ACCOUNTS
At least once each year, and as often as the Board of Directors shall determine, the Board of Directors shall cause an audit to be made of NorCal's books and accounts. Such audit shall be made by a public accountant selected by the Board of Directors, and such public accountant shall not be a member of the Board of Directors. The audit so made shall be kept in NorCal's office available to the inspection of any member of NorCal, and such audit shall be made available at the Annual Meeting of NorCal.
I will boycott all USTA NORCAL leagues & events if this fee is implemented. We already have alternate leagues such as SWAT that have been formed in retaliation for poor USTA decisions, and this will only further the march to create more independent organizations to bring tennis league options to the players.
ReplyDelete