CALL FOR NOMINATIONS - OFFICIALS

TO:                   Umpire Members of USA Field Hockey

FROM:             Sheila Walker, Executive Director
USA Field Hockey

SUBJECT:      Election of Officials’ Director to USA Field Hockey Board of          Directors

Dear Official Member:

Olympic success hinges on many significant factors, not the least of which is high level coaching and officiating, and highly committed and talented athletes.  We are making great strides with the Coaching Accreditation Program under the direction of Master Coach Terry Walsh and with the organizational support of Laura Darling.  At the National and Olympic level, Steve Jennings and Pam Bustin (both Olympians) lend tremendous support to Head Coach Lee Bodimeade (Olympic silver medalist) while Head Coach Nick Conway continues to build the men’s program.  Shellie Onstead, team videographer, is providing one of the most powerful information feedback loops imaginable to our players.  Tracey Fuchs (2 x Olympian) will take our U21 to the Pan Am Cup this fall, and onto the BDO Jr. World Cup in Boston, MA next August.  It is very clear that coaching of the highest caliber is crucial to success in our sport; no less important is achieving and maintaining the same high bar for officiating. 

Another new step lies ahead of us this fall:  the election of an Officials’ Director to the Board of Directors.  This position calls for a comprehensive approach to the integration and advancement of officiating throughout the USA Field Hockey structure.  USA Field Hockey has a governance Board which operates at the 35,000’ level to set major goals and help guide the USFHA to future success.  The Officials’ Director will bring to the Board knowledge of officiating as it exists in the US and will help the Board understand the inter-relatedness of officiating and success.

Effective immediately, USA Field Hockey seeks nominations for Officials’ Director for an election this fall for a position effective 1/1/2009.  Per the USA Field Hockey Bylaws, only Officials’ Members (also known as Umpire Members) of USA Field Hockey are permitted to run for and vote for this position.  Please review the attached document for details of the nomination requirements and expectations of the elected Officials’ Director.

Please feel free to email me if you have questions about either the process or the position.  Details are attached.

DATE OF RECORD

To be eligible for election to the Board of Directors of USA Field Hockey, candidates must hold current membership at the time of nomination and election not to expire before 12/31/08.

To be eligible to vote for the Officials’ Director, umpire members must hold current membership at the time of the election.

The date of the election is yet to be determined. 

Very best wishes… Sheila

Sheila M. Walker, Executive Director
USA Field Hockeyy

Call for Nominations

Officials’ Director to Serve on USA Field Hockey Board of Directors

USA Field Hockey seeks nominations for the position of Officials’ Director to serve a 4-year term on the Board of Directors.  Listed below are the Bylaw provisions relating to the election and service of the Officials’ Director. 

5.2      Function of the Board. The USFHA Board of Directors shall represent the interests of the field hockey community for USFHA in the United States and its athletes by providing policy, guidance and strategic direction.  The Board shall oversee the management of USFHA and its affairs, but it does not manage USFHA.  The Board shall select a well-qualified and ethical Executive Director and diligently oversee the Executive Director in the operation of USFHA.  The Board shall focus on long-term objectives and impacts rather than on day-to-day management, empowering the Executive Director to manage a staff-driven organization with effective Board oversight. 

5.4      Qualifications. Each Director of the Board of Directors must be a citizen of the United States and eighteen (18) years of age.  A director need not be a resident of Colorado.
A Director shall:

1. Be a dues paying member in good standing of the USFHA; have the highest personal values, judgment and professional integrity; have demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment; and be effective, in conjunction with the other members of the Board, in collectively serving the long-term interests of USFHA. 
2. Directors shall possess understanding of athletic competition and the Olympic ideals, and have diverse experience in the key business, financial, and other challenges that face USFHA.  Directors shall have a high level of experience and capability in Board oversight responsibilities, including in the areas of finance, marketing, fundraising, audit, management, communications, and sport.  At least one (1) of the independent directors, who shall also serve on the Finance & Audit Committee, shall have financial expertise. Directors shall inform the Nominating Committee of any changes in their employment responsibilities or other constraints on their time in order for the Nominating Committee to determine whether it is appropriate to nominate the Board Director for continuing Board service.

1. Officials Director. The Officials’ Director will come from nominations made by officials’ members of USFHA who are in good standing.  At the appropriate time, the Nominating Committee will solicit nominations of officials who are officials’ members, in accordance with procedures to be established by the Nominating Committee.  The nominees will be considered by the Nominating Committee to determine that they each qualify to serve if elected. 

The Nominating Committee will then timely present the names of three (3) qualified nominees to the officials’ members for election (or, in the event there are fewer than three (3) qualified nominees, the names of all qualified nominees).  All current USFHA officials’ members in good standing shall then vote for the Officials’ Director in accordance with procedures to be established by USFHA.  Each USFHA officials’ member in good standing shall have one (1) vote. The individual with the highest vote total is elected.

Expectation of Directors

1. Attend all meetings of the Board of Directors each year (3 in person and at least 1 by conference call).
2. Actively serve on a Standing Committee of Board.
3. Serve the higher good of USA Field Hockey and all its members and programs.
4. USA Field Hockey pays for air travel (lowest available coach fare) and lodging for Board members.  In addition, USA Field Hockey assumes the cost of all approved conference calls of the Board.

Interested candidates should direct their nomination as follows:

1. Letter of Interest to include a synopsis of the official and leadership values and skills the candidate will bring to the Board of Directors, if elected.
2. Resume of official credentials and experience
3. Three (3) references as to character and official expertise
1.  

DATE OF RECORD

To be eligible for election to the Board of Directors of USA Field Hockey, candidates must hold membership at the time nomination, election not to expire before 12/31/2008

To be eligible to vote for the Officials’ Director, officials’ members (umpire members) must hold current membership at the time of the election.

Nomination Due Date:  September 15, 2008

To:      Sheila M. Walker, Executive Director
USA Field Hockey
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
swalker@usafieldhockey.com

End of Call for Nominations