Southeastern Association of USA Boxing
2770 Smyer Circle, Birmingham, AL 35216
To all members,
PLEASE CONTACT CHUCK GLOVER WITH ALL SHOW
DATE REQUESTS ASAP.
As we gear up to head into the 2009-2010 year
of amateur boxing, we find that our association is growing.
We have several new teams within our association that will
help increase and maintain our level of competition as well
as help with the increase of funds to help operate as we
need to. I would like to welcome all of our new clubs and
members to our boxing family. An updated list of clubs and
contact info will be posted to the website.
On November 7th and 14th,
2009, we will be hosting a dual meet with the US ARMY
National Team. They will be in Chattanooga, TN on the 7th
and Huntsville, AL on the 14th. No sanctions will
be issued for these two dates so that we can field a team to
compete. The association will receive funds from both of the
events. Special thanks to Rayford Collins and Scott Vance
for agreeing to move shows they had scheduled for these
dates to accommodate the events.
Our website over the years has been an item
of both affordability and the ability to keep it updated.
Larry Bright of Hunstville has volunteered to undertake this
task. He has found us an affordable avenue and has even
donated the funds for the first year. The website is
reachable by both southeastboxing.org and
southeastboxing.net. The site will eventually have all
forms that we need right on the site. Also, each club will
have its own email thru the site. The club representative
will be assigned an email. This will allow me to stay in
touch with each member club. It will also allow members to
contact me at their leisure should they have any concerns.
Eventually we will assign all coaches and officials an email
also.
This past summer at the National JO and USA
Senior Championships our association had one of the worst
showings we have ever had. The lack of discipline was
something we should be ashamed of. We had boxers
disqualified for not making weight; we had more than one
decide not to make the trip, one disqualified because the
coach did not have all the documentation, and one of our
best had the attitude he couldn’t wait until it was over. I
know I do not have to stress to our coaches that this
ultimately falls on us when discipline breaks down.
As many of you know, USA Boxing has once
again gone through a financial crisis. Everyone at the
national level was dismissed right after the National
Championships in June. We have an interim CEO, his name is
Mike Martinio from Reno, Nevada. The structure has undergone
a dramatic change that will allow the membership to have
more of an active roll. Following is the proposed structure
and how it will function.
Vision 2010 and Beyond
USA BOXING
USA Boxing is at a crossroads and with the support of
membership working as a team with the USOC and the
Foundation, as equal partners, USA Boxing is ready to move
forward with a spirit of financial stability and
responsibility.
With the new governance structure in place, membership will
have a more active role within USA Boxing with greater
transparency. With policy in place that membership expenses
must be met by the income stream, USA Boxing will remain
financially stable while seeking sponsorship opportunities.
However mistakes of the past must not be repeated. Windfall
of dollars should and will not be treated as sustainable
income where budget over-projections the following year
places membership dollars at risk. Dollars or equivalent
value should be returned back to the LBCs.
Our elite program has been and will continually be supported
by the USOC. Mistakes of the past such a mixing these
dollars with the general fund will be eliminated by the
formation of a separated accounting system and a budget
within our budget. Our elite athletes will be guaranteed the
support necessary and the USOC must feel comfortable that
their dollars are being spent as budgeted.
The Board of Directors will continue with the authority of
budget formalization and oversight. The Board of Governors
shall be offered the opportunity to participate in a budget
committee hearing to
offer recommendations and suggestions. But the final budget
approval will be within the jurisdiction of the BOD.
The Board of Directors will comprise of no more than 10
members and no fewer than 7, with 20% comprised of athlete
representation. Membership will elect all members to the BOD
with the exception of 2 independent members, who shall be
appointed by the BOD. The BOD can solicit membership for
recommendations to these independent seats. Membership will
elect a President, Treasurer, Coach Representative, Official
Representative, and two at-large members. Athlete
representatives shall be elected by the athletes. Terms of
office shall be 4 years, structured where half the board
turns over every 2 years.
Committee structure will once again be in place, as advisory
to the Board of Directors.
The National Office will be lean, yet effective. We are a
volunteer driven organization.
USA Boxing has a twofold mission:
1- Through a high performance plan allow the growth and
continued involvement to our Olympic Quality athletes with
the end result to represent the United States with success
and dignity on the International scene.
2- To establish and support the growth of amateur boxing as
a safe sport encouraging participation for recreational and
fitness purpose.
Amateur Boxing is on the verge of great things, led by the
foresight of President Wu of AIBA. With the establishment of
the World Series of Boxing our elite athletes will be able
to participate at a semi-professional level with financial
compensation and will not violate their ability to
participate in the Olympic Games. This program will allow
our best of the best to continue within the Olympic movement
and reap the rewards of a professional boxer. We in the
United States have the most to gain. It is no secret that we
produce some of the best boxers in the world, yet our
success in the Olympic Games has been below expectations
over the years. The problem is twofold: 1- we send boys
17-21 years to box men; 2- men outside of the US have years
of international experience. This program will level the
playing field. It will allow our young boys to stay involved
in the Olympic Movement, while earning a good living and it
guarantees our boxers the international experience needed
for success. This is truly an exciting time in amateur
boxing, make possible by the vision of Dr. Wu.
In conclusion, as the world changes to a global economy, USA
Boxing must change. We can no longer rely on our natural
talent. Partnerships with the USOC, the Foundation and AIBA
will contribute to the success of USA Boxing. No longer is
it us against them, it is all of us together trying to
improve the quality of our sport.
Once we, USA Boxing reaches parity with the rest of the
world, corporate america will jump on board, but first we
must develop20of product worth its weight in corporate
dollars.
All of this starts with a foundation and that foundation is
membership. Responsible membership and leadership with a
spirit of hope and transparency will become the building
blocks of success.
Chuck Glover
President
Southeastern Association of
USA BOXING
