Dear USTA/Virginia District Member,

I need to inform you regarding an effort by a few members of the Mid-Atlantic Section leadership to limit Virginia’s voting power and potentially dissect our District. As a membership organization, I believe that transparency and honesty is paramount. Currently, there are very disturbing actions occurring that need your attention and could potentially affect your membership benefits with the USTA.

Virginia has a long history of good tennis programming—whether it is the 10 and Under Initiative, Asian Festival, Wounded Warrior Program, League Tennis, or Tennis on Campus. There has been strong support from the Virginia Tennis staff and volunteers to grow and improve the game of tennis. Virginia has been a leader in USTA in “Growing the Game”. The current organizational issues, being led by just a few individuals, could reduce your benefits.

There is currently a movement to limit Virginia’s voting strength to 40% and could potentially split the Virginia District into multiple jurisdictions. This could force thousands of Virginia members to be served by an organization outside of Virginia. Additionally, the funds that would be lost from such a split would not only affect our organizational structure but could jeopardize every tennis program in the Commonwealth. For most of us, programs such as leagues, tournaments, grants, camp scholarships, schools programs, wheelchair tennis, adaptive tennis, and tennis equipment being made available to clubs and CTA's are at the core of bringing people to the wonderful game of tennis. USTA Virginia Tennis is about growing the game and sadly, these few individuals seem to have lost sight of the very mission of our organization.

The Board of Directors of Virginia wants you to know that everything is being done to protect you, the member of USTA Virginia Tennis. The three specific issues that are of concern are:

1) A Call Item to National USTA that would limit Districts, including Virginia, to a maximum of 40% voting strength at the Section level. (Currently, Virginia represents 57% of the membership in Mid Atlantic.)

2) Proposed bylaw changes at the Mid-Atlantic Section that would take away Virginia’s autonomy to administer its leagues, programs, etc. while at the same time diminishing financial transparency and volunteer oversight.

3) Potential bylaw changes at the Mid-Atlantic Section to split the Virginia District into multiple jurisdictions.

The Mid-Atlantic Delegate to USTA articulated the above call items at formal sessions of the USTA Semiannual Meeting in New York without the knowledge or consent of the Mid-Atlantic Board of Directors. The Call Item was formally submitted in December to be voted on at the USTA Annual Meeting in March of 2012. Should the Call Item pass at the national level, Virginia would be compelled to comply. The changes impact very few Districts, nationally and it is clearly directed at Virginia.

Virginia Tennis belongs to you—the members. I will keep you informed of future developments concerning this very troubling matter. Your voice is important; I hope you will make every effort to voice your concern.

We welcome letters of support. Since this matter will be decided at the March Annual meeting, your timely action is most appreciated. Please direct letters to:

Attn: Jon Vegosen, USTA President & Chairman of the Board
Gordon Smith, USTA Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer

C/O: USTA
70 West Red Oak Lane
White Plains, New York 10604

 

 

Respectfully,

Wayne McCoy, President, USTA/Virginia