Contact: Cynthia Goss
203-453-2731
ONLINE ELECTIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR
US SAILING’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Upcoming Election Gives Members Direct Role in Selecting
the Sport's Leadership
Portsmouth, R.I. (September 10, 2007) – US SAILING, the national
governing body of the sport, has opened the online election period for its
annual election of Board of Directors. This year, US SAILING members will
vote for three open seats on the Board. The 2007 election is the second time
in the organization's 110-year history that the membership has elected Board
members and played a direct role in selecting the sport's leadership in the
United States.
"I hope members will see their right to vote as an important responsibility:
to choose the people who will lead our sport in this country," said Janet
Baxter, chairman of the US SAILING Nominating and Governance Committee. "I'd
urge all members to visit the US SAILING website and read the candidates'
bios and statements, so they can vote for the individuals whose ideas best
match their hopes for the future of sailing."
Online ballots, bios and position statements for each candidate can be found
at the US SAILING Election homepage at
www.ussailing.org/BOD/election. Members have
until Friday, October 19 (midnight Eastern) to vote online for their chosen
candidates.
Members of the Board of Directors play a critical role in guiding US SAILING
policy, programs, strategic planning, and overall fiscal responsibility. The
slate of nominees for the Board of Directors is below; all Board nominees
are running for a three-year term.
Dick Allsopp or Harry R. Horgan
John Siegel or Jim Tichenor
Susan Epstein (running unopposed)
Members can also vote via faxed- or mailed-in ballots; more information on
manual ballots can be found at the US SAILING Election homepage. The final
opportunity for members to vote is in person at the US SAILING Annual
Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, October 28.
Board of Director election results will be announced after votes are
tallied, at the Annual Meeting on October 28.
Gary Jobson will join the newly elected members of the Board of Directors.
Jobson was recently named to the Board by US SAILING President Jim Capron.
Following the organization's bylaws, the President can nominate one select
Board member who, "is a high profile individual whose personal involvement
on the Board of Directors is likely to elevate the sport." Capron's
nomination was accepted unanimously by the Board; Jobson's term is for three
years.
In October 2005, US SAILING amended its Bylaws to restructure the
organization and dramatically downsize the Board of Directors, from 49 to 15
members, making the Board more nimble and efficient. The inaugural Board of
Director election was held in November 2006.
In addition to the nominees for the Board, Jim Capron (Annapolis, Md.) has
been nominated to serve as President for a second one-year term and is
running unopposed. Unlike the Board of Director candidates who are elected
by the membership of US SAILING, the position of President is elected by the
Board of Directors. When the newly elected Board meets at the Annual Meeting
on October 28, they will elect the President.
Any questions about the upcoming elections can be sent to the Nominating and
Governance Committee at
electionquestions@ussailing.org.
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing
body for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode
Island, the organization provides leadership for the sport of sailing in the
United States. US SAILING offers training and education programs for
instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing
organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and
provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the
country, including National Championships and the U.S. Olympic and
Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit
www.ussailing.org.
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