The deadline for accepting nominations for the remaining spot (At-Large Representative) on the UPA Board of Directors has been extended to 5 p.m. MST, Friday, Nov. 20. The deadline was extended to ensure that UPA members have time to understand the new nominations process and identify quality candidates.

The UPA's Board of Directors Appointment Process has been put in place to help ensure that the Board contains members with the necessary skills and perspectives to oversee the organization, in its current form and in the future. Specifically, this year we are looking for appointees who possess the following characteristics:

• Parents of current or recent youth players
• Ultimate 'alumni' (players who have played a good deal of UPA Series Ultimate in the past but are playing much less frequently, or not at all currently)
• People who have no connection with Ultimate, but do have significant experience in organizational management and/or administration of other sports (we are very interested in having perspectives from outside Ultimate on the Board)

Links:
• Article by UPA President Peri Kurshan outlining the new strategy for appointments to the Board of Directors
• Nomination Form

Article from the Summer 2009 issue of USA Ultimate Magazine
Authors: Mike Payne, John Terry and Josh Seamon (2009 UPA Nominating Committee)

If you want to play an important part in shaping Ultimate in the United States – now and in the future – you might be a great candidate for the UPA Board of Directors.

The Board is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the organization achieves its mission – “To advance the sport of Ultimate in the United States by enhancing and promoting Character, Community and Competition.” Joining the Board is the best way to ensure that areas of Ultimate you are passionate about (e.g., city leagues, or collegiate women’s Ultimate) are represented when important decisions are made. We also have a fun time doing it!

This October, the UPA will hold elections for THREE members of its Board of Directors - one representative each from the Mid-Atlantic and Southwest, as well as ONE At-Large representative.

As mentioned in Peri Kurshan’s President’s Letter (in this issue), starting in 2009 one Board member each year will be appointed rather than elected. This is why one At-Large representative will be seated through the election process this year, as opposed to past years when two At-Large seats per year were elected. For more details on the UPA’s refined approach to Board seat selection, please refer to Peri’s letter.

What type of commitment and responsibilities are we talking about here?

The focus of the Board is to set policy, determine rules, ensure that the UPA’s Strategic Plan is put into effect, review and approve the annual budget, and represent the membership’s wants and needs.

You will be responsible for attending two in-person weekend meetings per year – one in January and one in July. These meetings focus on a mix of short-term policy decisions and long-term planning activities. The remainder of the communication is done via email and phone (including conference calls).

You will also be responsible for doing some work outside the meetings as part of task forces designed to address specific issues/projects (e.g., working with other Board members and headquarters to revise the UPA Communications policies). On the whole, you should expect to spend at least 1-2 hours per week, and maybe more (depending on your ambition!).

What type of people are we looking for?

It is desired that a prospective Board member have some of the following qualifications:

• Professional Skills – The UPA is a large, complex, organization that requires skillful oversight to ensure resources are used responsibly on behalf of our members. Because of this, it is helpful for Board members to have some sort of professional experience. Any experience with finance, management (especially meeting facilitation or project management), or long-range planning is a plus.

• Good Organization and Communication Skills – Not only will you have to communicate with other Board members, but it is important that you also communicate with membership. Good writing and speaking skills are a must for the job.

• A Passion for the Sport – Whether you are a player, coach, or spectator, knowledge of the sport makes it easier to communicate about the organization. You must be dedicated, and be able to represent both your own ideas as well as the ideas of the membership you are representing.

• Familiarity with non-profit organizations – Because the management of non-profit organizations differs from for-profit corporations, any experience with non-profit organizations would be useful, especially in the area of policy reading & writing.

Beyond the qualifications listed above, there are select ‘types’ of members that we feel could be better-represented on the Board. If you fall into the following categories of membership, we are especially hopeful that you will consider running:

• Current or recent college players or coaches (or college club sports administrators)

• Parents of current or recent youth players

• Ultimate 'alumni' (players who have played a good deal of UPA Series Ultimate in the past but are playing much less frequently or not at all currently)

If all of this sounds like something you will be interested in and you would have time to commit over the next three years, we encourage you to check out the Guide for Prospective Board Members on the UPA website for more information or email us at upa_nom_com@upa.org.

Furthermore, if you know of someone who would make a good candidate, please let us know! We will be sure to contact them about it.