Board of Directors hold annual meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo., August 18

d of Directors held its annual meeting on August 18, 2007 at the Antlers Hilton in Colorado Springs, Colo. The meeting was moderated by USA Wrestling President James Ravannack of Metairie, La.

Held alongside the Board meeting was USA Wrestling’s State Leaders Conference, where state association leaders from across the nation held a series of workshops, seminars and planning meetings.

“I want to thank the Board members for their commitment to USA Wrestling, and the state leaders for their attendance here this weekend,” said Ravannack. “We have had our largest membership year ever, with our largest revenue stream this year.”

Included in the meeting were elections for positions on six Standing Committees of USA Wrestling, which was voted upon by the members of the Board of Directors.

Elected to the Finance Committee were Art Martori of Paradise Valley, Ariz., Bill Stecklein of Sea Isle City, N.J. and Rance Stein of Cashion, Okla.

Elected to the Sport Science Committee were Dr. Dave Curby of La Grange, Ill., Dr. Robert Hines of Edmond, Okla., Jim Porter of Henderson, Nev. and Greg Strobel of Bethlehem, Pa.

Elected to the USA Wrestling Marketing Committee were Chris Bahl of St. Paul, Minn., Chuck Elvin of Lenexa, Kansas and Patricia J. Fox of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Elected to the Legislative Committee were Chuck Elvin of Lenexa, Kansas, Mark Reiland of Iowa City, Iowa and Ed Gould of Merrick, N.Y.

Elected to the International Exchange Committee were Rusty Davidson of Grants, N.M., Jim Hall of Copiague, N.Y., Joe Russell of Minneapolis, Minn. and Ron Tirpak of Swarthmore, Pa.

Elected as chairperson of the Insurance Committee by acclimation was Chuck Elvin of Lenexa, Kansas.

The Board of Directors also approved the fiscal 2007-08 budget, with total revenues of $8,874,850 and total expenditures of $8,634,134. The budget had revenues over expenses of $240,000.

“Our finances are in very good shape,” reported Treasurer Duane Morgan of Hollister, Calif. in his Treasurers Report. “This can be attributed to staff, our volunteers and the Finance Committee’s efforts.”

Morgan presented the budget proposal on behalf of the Finance Committee, and it was approved unanimously by the Board.

“I want to thank the organization for the opportunity to serve on the Finance Committee, It was a learning curve for me and I appreciate the knowledge I have gained this year. The Finance Committee has its eye on this $8.5 million organization. I want to applaud the team effort on this document. The committee members are talented and not afraid to voice their opinions,” said Morgan.

In his report to the Board, USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender presented updates from each of the USA Wrestling staff departments and praised those who had helped make it a successful year.

“I want to thank the Board for providing me with the opportunity to serve as your Executive Director,” said Bender. “It is a pleasure to work with you, and to serve with the best staff in the Olympic family. I want to salute the State Leaders for their efforts on behalf of the sport.”

“I want to thank Jim Ravannack for his work as our president,” said Bender. “I appreciate his time and efforts for the sport. He does not take his role as president lightly. He has been all over the world on our behalf. He embodies what is right about USA Wrestling, and devotes his time, talents and treasures to the organization.”

Morgan presented the Junior Olympic Wrestling Committee report, which was unanimously accepted by the Board. Included were new changes in the age-group programs of USA Wrestling, including:
• New weight divisions in the Schoolboy/girl division
• No limit on the number of participants from each state at the ASICS Junior Nationals for women
• An increase in the fees for the National Dual Meet Championships
• In age-group events, an athlete who forfeits a match is not withdrawn from the competition.
• A request for USA Wrestling to fund the team competing at the Pan American Junior

d of Directors held its annual meeting on August 18, 2007 at the Antlers Hilton in Colorado Springs, Colo. The meeting was moderated by USA Wrestling President James Ravannack of Metairie, La.

Held alongside the Board meeting was USA Wrestling’s State Leaders Conference, where state association leaders from across the nation held a series of workshops, seminars and planning meetings.

“I want to thank the Board members for their commitment to USA Wrestling, and the state leaders for their attendance here this weekend,” said Ravannack. “We have had our largest membership year ever, with our largest revenue stream this year.”

Included in the meeting were elections for positions on six Standing Committees of USA Wrestling, which was voted upon by the members of the Board of Directors.

Elected to the Finance Committee were Art Martori of Paradise Valley, Ariz., Bill Stecklein of Sea Isle City, N.J. and Rance Stein of Cashion, Okla.

Elected to the Sport Science Committee were Dr. Dave Curby of La Grange, Ill., Dr. Robert Hines of Edmond, Okla., Jim Porter of Henderson, Nev. and Greg Strobel of Bethlehem, Pa.

Elected to the USA Wrestling Marketing Committee were Chris Bahl of St. Paul, Minn., Chuck Elvin of Lenexa, Kansas and Patricia J. Fox of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Elected to the Legislative Committee were Chuck Elvin of Lenexa, Kansas, Mark Reiland of Iowa City, Iowa and Ed Gould of Merrick, N.Y.

Elected to the International Exchange Committee were Rusty Davidson of Grants, N.M., Jim Hall of Copiague, N.Y., Joe Russell of Minneapolis, Minn. and Ron Tirpak of Swarthmore, Pa.

Elected as chairperson of the Insurance Committee by acclimation was Chuck Elvin of Lenexa, Kansas.

The Board of Directors also approved the fiscal 2007-08 budget, with total revenues of $8,874,850 and total expenditures of $8,634,134. The budget had revenues over expenses of $240,000.

“Our finances are in very good shape,” reported Treasurer Duane Morgan of Hollister, Calif. in his Treasurers Report. “This can be attributed to staff, our volunteers and the Finance Committee’s efforts.”

Morgan presented the budget proposal on behalf of the Finance Committee, and it was approved unanimously by the Board.

“I want to thank the organization for the opportunity to serve on the Finance Committee, It was a learning curve for me and I appreciate the knowledge I have gained this year. The Finance Committee has its eye on this $8.5 million organization. I want to applaud the team effort on this document. The committee members are talented and not afraid to voice their opinions,” said Morgan.

In his report to the Board, USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender presented updates from each of the USA Wrestling staff departments and praised those who had helped make it a successful year.

“I want to thank the Board for providing me with the opportunity to serve as your Executive Director,” said Bender. “It is a pleasure to work with you, and to serve with the best staff in the Olympic family. I want to salute the State Leaders for their efforts on behalf of the sport.”

“I want to thank Jim Ravannack for his work as our president,” said Bender. “I appreciate his time and efforts for the sport. He does not take his role as president lightly. He has been all over the world on our behalf. He embodies what is right about USA Wrestling, and devotes his time, talents and treasures to the organization.”

Morgan presented the Junior Olympic Wrestling Committee report, which was unanimously accepted by the Board. Included were new changes in the age-group programs of USA Wrestling, including:
• New weight divisions in the Schoolboy/girl division
• No limit on the number of participants from each state at the ASICS Junior Nationals for women
• An increase in the fees for the National Dual Meet Championships
• In age-group events, an athlete who forfeits a match is not withdrawn from the competition.
• A request for USA Wrestling to fund the team competing at the Pan American Junior