Board of Directors Update: A Six-Hour Board Meeting...WHAT?
Share:
by USA Racquetball
Since the USA Racquetball Board of Directors just met on May 15, 2026, this seemed like a great time to go into detail on exactly how that looks and feels.
The Board meets on the last Monday of each month except for May, when the Board of Directors Annual Meeting takes place, generally mid-month. See Article V of the USA Racquetball Bylaws for governance language surrounding annual meetings.
Monthly Board meetings generally run 90 minutes to two hours. However, the Annual Board Meeting is an all-day undertaking. Friday, May 15, was just a few minutes shy of six hours...with a couple of short breaks...and the weekend to recover!
So, what did this Annual Meeting entail (pre, during, and post)?
PRE
Build agenda (Executive Committee with Board input)
Gather and send pre-read documents to the Board (seven this time) to support agenda topics
Ensure Board compliance on SafeSport, background checks, membership, Code of Conduct, and Conflict of Interest disclosures
DURING
Meeting on Zoom – May 15, 2026
USA Racquetball Board of Directors as of 5/15/2026
Kristin Wattz (President)
Jerry Lis (Vice President)
Cheryl Kirk (Secretary)
Sandy Rios (Treasurer)
Jake Bredenbeck (Athlete Rep)
Ro-el Cordero
Tom Fuhrmann (Athlete Rep)
Glen Gitterman
Janel Ledkins (Athlete Rep)
Charlie Pratt (Athlete Rep/Team USA AC)
Cindy Tilbury
All Board members were in attendance including newly elected directors Juan Canals and Alexxander Purcell who officially became sitting Board members after the adjournment of the Annual Meeting. Thanks were expressed to departing Board member Ro-el Cordero for this service the past two years.
Also attending were National Events Director Jonathan Greenberg and National Rules Commissioner Joshua Jones. A few outside presenters jumped in to contribute on select topics.
The agenda looked like this, with motions and votes taken (X) on a number of items.
(X) Approval of minutes/Board member compliance requirements
(X) Rules Committee – Proposed Rules Changes
Committee Reports
USA Sports Benefits – new program soon to be announced
National Junior Championships Update
Ranking/Seeding Process Update
(X) U.S. Team Committee – Vote to approve U.S. Junior Team Handbook and appoint Coach Director
(X) Financial Review – First quarter statements; vote to accept internal audit findings; vote to approve 990
Manilla Athletics Update
Fundraising and Membership Discussion
US OPEN Update
(X) Women’s Racquetball Day – Vote to approve (first weekend of February each year)
(X) Junior Referee Education Project – Vote to approve
In closed session, Board members stayed for a brief reconvened meeting to officially welcome the new members and hold an election for Board Secretary. Cheryl Kirk will remain in the role until May 2028.
POST
The Secretary records minutes of every Board meeting and submits them to the Board for approval at the next scheduled meeting. Once the minutes are approved by the Board, they are posted on the USA Racquetball website.
WHAT DOES USA RACQUETBALL DELIVER? – You’ve seen it in the past and here it is again...and always. This is our purpose as an National Governing Body under the USOPC.
USA Racquetball
Behind the scenes of these initiatives and services to the racquetball community are a dedicated group of individuals (all non-compensated volunteers except for one staff member and several independent contractors) who are in it for no other reason than love of the sport: the Board of Directors; Committees and Working/Advisory Group leaders and members; State Association directors; tournament volunteers at the national and state levels.
We thank these dedicated volunteers!
From all who love the sport, warm thanks go to our Premier Partners, Partners, Sponsors, and everyone who has made donations to support racquetball.
And, to our valued members – please know that maintaining your membership is of huge support to the sport and its players. You allow us to provide all you see above...for this generation and the next!
