USTA Northern California Board of Directors Meeting
September 13, 2006
Board Members Present: President, Margie Peterman, Rosie Bareis, Liz Blum, Terry Cossette, Dale Evans, John Frank, Hunter Galloway, Don Jacobus, Paul Kepler, Rick Kepler, Mark Manning, Sherri Nordahl, Linda Peltz, Michael Quintana, Francisco Ruiz, Bill Schoen, Pam Sloan, and Fred Tierney.
Staff Present: Executive Director, Bruce Hunt
Others Present: Legal Counsel, Michael Harrison; Parliamentarian, John Togasaki.
Guests Present: Michael Cook, La Donna Williams, Yolanda Burke, and four of their children.
Meeting: The regular meeting of the USTA Northern California Board of Directors was called to order by President Margie Peterman at 6:32 P.M. at the Four Seasons Hotel in Pleasanton, California.
Introductions: Bruce Hunt introduced guest Michael Cook, a prospective candidate for the Board of Directors, who belongs to Round Hill Country Club. He also serves on the budget committee.
Public Comments: There were no public comments.
Meeting: A correction to the minutes of August 16, 2006, shall read
(under public comments) “Barbara Lewis (MPC Member) presented information on her junior organization, the Richmond Youth Tennis Center.” It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of August 16, 2006, as corrected with a vote of 10 in favor and 0 against.
Constitution and Rules Committee Report: Paul Kepler, Chairman of the Constitution and Rules Committee, indicated that he would like Articles I through VI of the ByLaws, which were distributed at the last meeting of August 16, 2006, to be accepted. Of concern was the title “Administrative Remedies” and exactly what was meant by that title.
A lengthy discussion regarding whether a USTA membership was a Sectional Membership or a National Membership ensued. Michael Harrison, Legal Counsel for USTA NorCal, believes that there is a Sectional Membership. He also indicated that USTA National has the right to say that the Sectional ByLaws conform or do not conform to the National ByLaws. Bill Schoen indicated that USTA National has
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received a copy of our ByLaws and will review them and advise us accordingly. Paul Kepler indicated that we must adopt our ByLaws first, then USTA National will advise us, and then we make the appropriate changes. Regarding suspension of membership, Michael Harrison said that all rights are suspended pending appeal. It was moved and seconded to table the discussion on the ByLaws. The motion carried with a vote of 7 in favor and 6 against.
Paul Kepler distributed a Time Line for amending NorCal’s ByLaws. It was moved and seconded to accept the time line as
presented. The motion carried with a vote of 14 in favor and 0 against.
Action Items: A: Approval of New Office Lease at 1350 South Loop Road, Suite 100, Alameda, California: It was moved and seconded and carried with a unanimous vote of 16 in favor.
B: Rescind the Community Tennis Grant Committee’s decision regarding quarterly accountability by Excel spreadsheet. As chairperson of the Community Tennis Grant Committee, Sheri Nordahl strongly agrees with this action item. It was moved and seconded and carried with a unanimous vote of 16 in favor.
C: To have the USTA NorCal Board of Directors adopt a Conflict of Interest Policy applicable to all Board members, volunteers, and staff. During some discussion of this action item, it was indicated that there should be a separate policy for Staff. It was moved and seconded to table this action item. The motion carried with a vote of 11 in favor and 3 against.
D: Objection to Operations Committee Motion for a $500.00 limit for grants to Community Tennis. This action item was withdrawn by the presenters as it was inappropriate and the limits placed were on checks above $500.00.
It was moved and seconded and carried with a vote of 12 in favor and 0 against to amend the agenda so that grant decisions could be reviewed. It was questioned by the Chair of the Grants Committee whether Marin City Community Services District was indeed an Organizational member. When it was determined that this group was NOT an organizational member, it was moved, seconded, and carried unanimously with a vote of 15 in favor and 0 against, not to grant
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Marin City Community Services District their request for monies as they are not an official USTA member organization. It was also moved and seconded and carried by the same vote to remove the word “proxy” from the Community Tennis Grant Committee minutes of August 21, 2006, and replace it with “written vote by Jolene Wells.”
Several guests had arrived after the formal introduction of guests. They were then introduced by Mark Manning. Ms. LaDonna Williams and Ms. Yolanda Burke and four of their children who are members of Youth Tennis Advantage were introduced. President, Margie Peterman was not going to allow them to speak as the time for public comments had passed and there was a great deal yet to accomplish in this Board meeting. Her decision was challenged by Fred Tierney, and a vote of 5 in favor of having comments made to 7 against resulted in the guests leaving.
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors went into Executive Session. The regular meeting resumed at 10:26 P.M. President Margie Peterman requested that she be allowed to appoint an acting Executive Director. She indicated that she had a couple of staff people in mind for this position. She also hoped that there would be a permanent Executive Director in place by the time of the USTA National Annual Meeting to be held in March, 2007. It was moved, seconded and carried with a vote of 12 in favor and 0 against, to allow President Margie Peterman to appoint an acting Executive Director.
Adjournament: Although there was additional business to be conducted, the meeting was adjourned at 10:34 P.M.
Respectfully submitted by,
Linda G. Peltz
Acting Secretary