Benjamin Brin, Los Angeles, CA
Email: bbrin<at>brinlaw<dot>com

If you ask yourself, "What can the UPA do for me? then you're the member whose vote I hope I can count on.  Each candidate obviously has stellar credentials to have reached this echelon.  Each has played, coached, won and feels passionately.  Each wants to support growth, support opportunities for women, support development and exposure.  So the questions are who brings the tools best suited to do the job, and what is their vision.

I believe the job, quite simply is two fold.  One, create opportunities for current members and players and two to create a framework for bringing-in new players, young and old. To support current players and members the biggest issue most players currently face is a dearth of quality facilities and a preference for better managed tournaments.

For new and young players the obstacles are facilities and organizations that provide outreach. Ironically, the solution of both these issues starts with marketing, education and exposure. That is why my platform is broad based, realistic and long-term.  I bring both ideas and logistical business operations know-how.  I'm the guy everyone stops and listens to at board meetings, that gets asked to speak after the meetings and that gets an unceasing flow of emails. Pragmatic yet visionary.

In 1971 50,000 people were at the Rose Bowl for an Ultimate event that was nationally televised by ABC's Wide World of Sports.  Today, national and international tournaments are ignored by the mass media.  The college championships air on tape delay at  2 a.m. and kids leagues can't get funded for coaches, fields or marketing.  How have we gone backwards so far so fast and what can be done to reverse the trend?

One goal, one vision, one team pulling together can make it happen … the Ultimate superbowl.

The base begins by an event or series of events which create marketing opportunities and sex appeal.  Drama, grace and competition.  A string of local events, feeding a regional playoff and national championship weekend.  Rotating from the Rose Bowl to Shea Stadium, etc. all around the country.  Each year growing in sponsors and exposure.

In this way, when grass-roots organizers seek city permits there is "pressure" to support the sport.  Schools can get the sport budgeted.  Leagues can get field access.  And pick-up games will enjoy the support of the next generation of players joining in.

To re-claim our birthright as a great american sport (I believe the greatest American sport) requires a strong team collaborating to marry our natural grass-roots broad support to the corporate marketing machines of Nike, Wham-o, Gatorade, etc.

My creed, 50,000 in the Rose Bowl by 2015 !

As an accomplished attorney, financial planner and 46 year old father of an 11 year old, up-and-coming ultimate superstar, I pledge to simply take the sport to the next level.  Now is the time!

Kathy Broome, Wantagh, NY
Email: kathybroome630<at>gmail<dot>com

My name is Kathy (Keegan) Broome.  I played Ultimate from 1977 – 1979 in bare feet on the front lawn of Queens College and connected with the sport, the people and the excitement of the game then.  Fast forward 25 years and Ultimate returns to my life.  In 2004, my then 17 year old son discovered the thrill of Ultimate at a pick-up game while attending a Summer Program for high school kids at Brown University.  Little did either of us realize then how important the Ultimate family would become to our family.

I have seen how the sport has evolved and how the level of competition has risen.  I’ve been a spectator at summer rec games, college local, sectional, regional and national tournaments.  I’ve followed club teams (both Mixed (Hooray for Coed) and Open (Truck Stop) and learned a little more at each tournament about the game, rules, people and the spirit that has always defined Ultimate.  I’ve cheered (for UDel Sideshow) in pouring rain (Salisbury, MD), damp, cold and windy weather (2007 Metro East Regionals), 100 degree heat index days (2008 Founders Mixed Sectionals).  Sometimes my passion is as intense as the players on the fields.
 
Professionally, my family owns a uniform accessory company in New York.  We are the largest manufacturer of uniform accessories in the United States.  We make the ties and accessories for just about anyone who wears a uniform (law enforcement, hotel workers, fast food restaurants, transit workers, etc.).  We have been=2 0in business for over 90 years and take pride in our “Made in USA” labels.  I handle the corporate side of the company (customer service, office management, personnel, etc.); my husband runs the manufacturing side and my brother-in-law the financial side.  I strongly believe that the employment skills I’ve developed over the last 30 years can transition to the UPA.  We employ over 50 people and have a distributor network of over 1000 customers that I am in constant communication.
 
We have been very active in the NAUMD (North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors – NAUMD.com) a non-profit trade association dedicated to the needs of the Uniform Industry.  My husband is a past-president and I have always been a front-line volunteer for the Association. 
 
My reason for running for the Board is a love for the game.  I think that the athleticism, sportsmanship, values and sense of community is so important, I would like to be able to help perpetuate Ultimate for younger players and see it brought to the forefront in elementary school as a Physical Education section.  I also now am able to dedicate the time necessary to this position and to give back to the Ultimate Community a little of what they have brought to my family’s life. 

Jason Chow, Amherst, MA
Email: jchow23<at>gmail<dot>com

My name is Jason Chow and I am running to serve on the UPA Board of Directors.  I love the sport of ultimate and I want to see it grow and be an integral part of its development. I believe that the Board of Directors should represent the body of the UPA as accurately as possible and I feel that what I have to offer can help bring that belief closer to a reality. Through playing and coaching, I have developed and maintained ties to the club, college, and youth divisions which will allow me to represent the next generation of Ultimate players.
 
Growth of youth programs:
The growth of Ultimate depends on the advancement of local and city leagues, the promotion of competitive and recreational Ultimate through showcases and clinics, and the continual and aggressive promotion of youth programs—the root of Ultimate.  Through coaching I have developed strong connections with the youth and division, which I believe merits more attention and representation as a whole.  I want to see more leagues and programs provide scholarships for players to attend local and national clinics and camps.

If elected, I would push not only for more player clinics but for more coaching clinics.  Local and city leagues have the talent and experience to provide fundamental coaching clinics to motivated individuals who are already putting in their time and efforts into the community.  If more coaches coach coaches, the quality rising out of practices, leagues, games, and tournaments can only go up.  In addition, the strength and integrity of our programs will grow the more interdivisional activity there is and the more time and energy invested into the betterment of the community as whole.

Enhance communication locally and globally:
Another way I have been looking at the future of Ultimate is through Ultispace.com, where I serve as the editor-in-chief.  Our mission at Ultispace is to provide a comprehensive website for the global ultimate community.  Through social networking, tournament information, articles, bulletin board, and a development-focused resource center, we hope to provide the Ultimate community with an informative, accurate, and powerful tool which envelopes all of their Ultimate needs.  Ultimate prides itself on the community, and I believe Ultispace will bring communication to a whole new level.   What excited me even more are the international bridges we will be crossing through the help of Ultispace.  Players from all over the world will now have the opportunity to communicate and congregate online.  

Increase knowledge and awareness:
Two areas where this needs to improve are knowledge of the rules and injury prevention.  Players and coaches need to take their sportsmanship seriously at all levels, which includes actively learning the 11th Edition rules. 

The second area is that of injury awareness and prevention.  This will benefit the overall heath of the physical body of the UPA and keep players playing such a demanding sport longer.  More emphasis on how to respect your body on and off the field is something that should not be overlooked.  Players that are taught this importance early on will have a lasting effect on the future of and longevity of the sport.

Learning from the present and looking to the future is vital for transitioning Ultimate to the next level.  I believe providing clear and concise ways for the ultimate community to give back is key. I would like to see the growth of youth programs and players mirror that of the college and club divisions. Be involved in the changes you want to make through volunteering, clinics, and promotional events.

I believe that the physical growth of Ultimate, the regulation of observers, as well as the overall awareness of where Ultimate stands in our overarching society and where society stands on Ultimate, are essential components to the advancement of our sport.  The more promotion and work done to get Ultimate out into the community the better.

I have coached ultimate camps in Amherst since 2004 and have volunteered as a junior summer league coach for as many years.  I played four years of college ultimate in the Metro East and Syracuse.  I am currently coaching at ARHS, where I run the fall intramural league, winter indoor league, and coach in the spring, where I am actively involved in both the boys and girls programs.   In addition, I coach the BUDA YCC Open team and at the National Ultimate Training Camp.  I have had the privilege of interacting and coaching a wide variety of players and coaches and am ready to put this practice and experience into the greater community.

Thank you very much for this opportunity to run for the board.  I am thrilled about this potential position and am eager to put my efforts toward the promotion, development, and advancement of Ultimate nationally and globally.

Dave Clauson, Atlanta, GA
Email: dave.clauson<at>qivliq<dot>com

It is with deep respect and with some trepidation that I offer my candidacy for election to the Ultimate Players Association Board of Directors. As an Ultimate parent of three high school and college players, a recreational player, tournament organizer (Paideia Cup) and interested spectator, I’ve had the opportunity to become closer to a game that I respect for its spirit, sports ethic, competitiveness and social development. 

While I have not been around the game as long as some and I still struggle with my forehand release, in my seven-year association I have nevertheless watched Ultimate start to evolve from a “game” into a “sport.” My desire to protect and preserve the “spirit of the game,” a commitment to build diversity and access to Ultimate for anyone, as well as a genuine love for the sport and the people who play and support it are the reasons that I seek election to the UPA Board.

In my experience with other sports organizations I have found that growing a game is much easier than managing a sport. Often what starts as an association for organizing a better “game” can quickly turn into a battle for competing interests and control as the game starts to grow. To develop a sustainable sport (one where the competition, development, coaching, organization and access operate at the highest possible levels) requires a clear vision for the future, a solid plan to turn that vision into reality and the strong support of the players, coaches, parents and fans who are all a part of Ultimate. 

I believe the UPA is in the midst of just such a challenge right now. How do we continue to grow Ultimate effectively in the United States? How do we foster high competition and still provide access to the game for anyone who wants to play? How do we evolve from a game into a sport and keep the spirit of Ultimate intact? These are some of the core issues the next UPA Board must face.

Effective sports organizations understand the dynamic nature of growth and work hard to balance the often competing interests of the game, players, spectators, coaches, development and business. My past experience as President of the Northeast Men’s Field Hockey Association and representative to the United States Olympic Committee for the Los Angeles Olympics has given me a unique perspective on what works (and what doesn’t) in managing the development of a game into a sport. That experience could be helpful to the UPA Board and to the membership at large.

The UPA has adopted a strategic plan that covers a wide range of goals, objectives and tactics. However, a good strategy without great execution is the fastest path to standing still. While I do not have a long track record of playing Ultimate at a highly competitive level, what I do have is a sense of how the UPA can effectively turn its vision for Ultimate into a reality that every player, parent, coach, kid and fan can feel a part of. 

By necessity as an association, the UPA must rely on its membership to ultimately adopt, execute and support its strategic plan. To do this will require building effective coalitions and outstanding communication. Implementing strategic plans that reach their intended goals is a skill I’ve developed from over 35 years in business. From organizing and financing start-up’s to running companies with over 3,000 employees, I’ve learned that connecting a good plan to great execution is what separates those that try from those that do. That experience would be helpful to the UPA Board as it seeks to take Ultimate forward.

To grow a sport takes a “village” of players, coaches, parents, schools, sponsors, fans and partners. If everyone feels they have a voice in helping shape where the sport needs to go, the sport grows, gets better and becomes more inclusive. Limiting the UPA to one historical perspective is exactly what will retard the development of Ultimate in the future. Coalition building is something the UPA will need to get better at if the goals set in its mission statement are to be achieved. Building coalitions, the ability to solicit multiple points of view, integrating those views into a cohesive whole and then communicating them effectively are what’s necessary to create a foundation for long term success. Actively listening to what others have to say, asking the hard questions that should be asked, offering a different POV and being unafraid to push for the bigger goal are abilities I can contribute to the UPA Board as a Director.

In closing, I would offer that the UPA faces a unique set of challenges most of which have been derived from the positive growth that Ultimate has seen particularly in the last decade. While the UPA has done well as a player association if you believe that our sport can benefit from soliciting new points of view and from drawing on an expanded set of talents at the Board level, then I offer my commitment to use all of my experience, skills and abilities to help Ultimate reach the next stage in its development as a sport.

Sam Dinning, Natick, MA
Email: samdinning<at>gmail<dot>com

My name is Sam Dinning, and I’m running for the UPA Board of Directors.  This is an important time of development for the UPA, and as ultimate continues to grow and the College Series undergoes tremendous change, I believe that my experiences as a recent captain at Bowdoin College give me a perspective that few current Board members have.  In order to fulfill the high expectations of college ultimate players as the Series changes, the Board of Directors must have representatives with recent experience engaging these issues.
As the UPA develops, we must remain attentive to the needs of all UPA members, from students to elite players to long-time summer leaguers.  I believe that an emphasis on the following five areas will have an immediate positive impact on the experiences of all ultimate players:

• Ease of Use – The UPA has a responsibility to make the sport as accessible and worry-free as possible.  For example, allowing players to fill out waivers online would cut out a great amount of hassle for players, captains, and tournament directors, allowing everyone to appreciate the more important elements of the sport.
• Affordability – All that ultimate requires is a disc and cleats, but with transportation and tournament fees, the costs can add up quickly.  The UPA must make sure that no potential players at any level fail to enjoy the sport because of financial challenges.
• Outreach – The continued growth of ultimate is a process that must occur from the bottom-up as much as it does from the top-down.   The UPA can help encourage this by growing both its financial and administrative support for local ultimate organizations.
• College Series – As the UPA implements its college restructuring, it is crucial that we ensure quality in both Divisions 1 and 2, recognizing the particular challenges and opportunities facing each.  This is going to require an extraordinary effort, and the input of current students and recent graduates is invaluable to the Board.
• Spirit of the Game – As the UPA develops and improves, we must make sure that Spirit of the Game is never sacrificed.  Discussions about rule changes, the use of observers, and other such issues will likely continue for many years, but when thinking about these issues, the Spirit of the Game must always be central to our debates.

The UPA has set up a solid foundation in these areas, but there is still much room to grow.  Having played four years at Bowdoin, several years in summer leagues in Boston and Portland, this summer in South Africa and now in DC, I always enjoy playing the classic tournaments—Wildwood, Clambake, and High Tide, among others—but I have also been on the administrative side of ultimate, understanding organizations and what is required to be successful.  Combining my experience engaging with college ultimate and my desire to address issues facing all ultimate players, I believe that I can be a significant contributor to the UPA Board of Directors.

Alexander Ghesquiere, San Francisco, CA
Email: aghesquiere<at>gmail<dot>com

My name is Alex “Dutchy” Ghesquiere, and I’m running for the UPA board based on a long and diverse ultimate experience and a desire to participate in the continued maturation of our sport.  As an introduction to me, I currently live in San Francisco, I am one of the captains of Revolver, and I’ve played ultimate for 17 years at all levels of the sport.  From my ultimate beginning with one of the few high-school programs of my day to my experiences at club nationals and worlds with various elite teams of club ultimate and as a Women’s and College coach I’ve seen first-hand the growth and evolution of our sport during my career in all our divisions.  I am running for the board because I’d like to enable that evolution to continue.
 
I believe that my qualifications are strong - I have played and coached ultimate for a long time and have a perspective of the game that spans the many changes in the structure and tenor of the ultimate community that have occurred over the last two decades.  I have a background in organizational leadership; professionally I manage a medical device company’s electrical engineering department with a focus on efficiency, methodical problem solving, and consensus building.  In the ultimate community I coach the UC Berkeley men’s team, am a captain of the Open team Revolver, have coached the Women’s team Zeitgeist, and have captained or organized many winter-league and social teams over the years.  People who have played with me would describe me as friendly, organized, thoughtful, and passionate about ultimate – or at least I’d like to think they’d say that :).
 
I’m running for the UPA Board of Directors because I believe I am a strong candidate for the job and I know I can be a productive and effective board member. I am particularly excited to participate in the upcoming decisions the UPA has to make, specifically with the college series restructuring, the future format of the club series, and the role of observers in the competitive game.  I will make sure my viewpoint, and the viewpoints of the many people I’ve shared ultimate experiences with, is represented and I will build consensus with the other participants in the dialog. 
 
I am an excellent candidate for the board.  My professional experience has given me the capacity to work with a team, facilitate communication, and make sure action is taken.  My personal experience with a lifetime playing Ultimate over a very broad range of divisions and levels has given me the conviction and passion to push our sport to be the best it can be.  I believe that if I am elected, I will be able to successfully implement some of the changes that are needed to improve our members’ experiences at the youth, college and club levels while maintaining the spirit of the Ultimate I grew up with.

Bryce Merrill, Dallas, TX
Email: merrillbryce<at>gmail<dot>com

My name is Bryce Merrill, a recent graduate of Brigham Young University, and a current youth sports director at a Metropolitan Dallas YMCA. I’ve enjoyed a diversified ultimate career, playing with the BYU Young Guns, helping coach the BYU women’s team, as well as working with various youth and high school programs in the Dallas area more recently. I look forward to joining the Dallas United club teams in 2010, and getting involved with the UPA as a candidate for the board of directors.

Being on a board of directors requires more than a passion for ultimate or a knowledge of youth and club sports. My professional field has allowed me to familiarize myself with working for a mission-driven, non-profit organization, much like the UPA.  I understand the demands of running a large sports organizations, and the complications that can arise from balancing day-to-day operations with a mission and a strategic plan. Sitting on committees to choose which programs and strategies we elect for my current organization has prepared me for the demands on being a UPA board member.

I’ve had the opportunity, through both presiding over our college ultimate club in Utah, as well as youth programs in Texas, to develop entrepreneurial skills by implementing new community programs and initiatives, ultimate related and not. I’ve worked to partner with municipalities, school districts, and other non-profit member-based organizations to see the growth of these programs, and feel that these collaborative efforts have proved effective in spreading a new sport and provide a tremendous opportunity to realize the long term strategic plan of Ultimate Players Association.

In addition to program implementation, the fiscal management of my portion of the Dallas YMCA, which closely mirrors the UPA in membership base and monetary strength, has played a large part in my career.
     
Finally, I have a huge passion for the growth of the sport of Ultimate—I’ve spent many evenings inviting out church groups, high schools, and boy scout troops to spread the Spirit of the Game in hopes to realize a thriving community.
     
Working with the UPA board of Directors, I’d hope to carry out the exciting direction the current Board and staff have initiated, as well as ensure the strength of the organization with a few key initiatives:

• Strengthening & legitimizing regular season tournaments in the collegiate season to better prepare them for the championship series
• Continue to push initiatives in the youth and women’s sectors of our membership base
• Seek out partnerships and sponsorships from other non-profit entities, municipalities, and school districts to spread the game through their pre-existing infrastructure—collaboration with these groups will allow for a radical growth in awareness of and interest in the game
• Better using the mission of the UPA and the Spirit of the Game as the Ensign of the sport of ultimate

I look forward to taking this next step into the ultimate community, and am excited to serve our members.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION CANDIDATES

Ben Banyas, Pittsburgh, PA
Email: benbanyas<at>gmail<dot>com

Hello! I am Ben Banyas and I am running for the Mid-Atlantic Representative for the UPA Board of Directors. For those of you who haven’t met me I have been playing, coaching, and organizing Ultimate since 2000 (my sophomore year in high school). I played for and captained Edinboro University Haggis, and am currently one of the captains of Pittsburgh Forge. I have coached competitive teams of both genders in high school, college and youth club. This past year, I became the Open Division Commissioner for PHUL (Pittsburgh High School Ultimate League), a league with over 600 players and one of the largest leagues in the nation.

My experience with many facets of an Ultimate team over the years has taught me much that would make me an effective Board member. Helping to create a veteran core for my college team and developing a strong, dedicated youth club program have taught me how to focus on a singular goal with a small group of people. Being on call 24 hours a day at times for PHUL, organizing captains meetings for fifty high school teams, and working with a dozen volunteers who research, debate, and enact events and policy that affect over 600 players has given me the ability to see the big picture and work towards multiple objectives for a larger organization. I keep an open line of communication with players, parents, coaches and teammates so they know how I am working for them but also so they can voice their opinions and ask questions.

Primarily, I am running for the Board so I can help to ensure that the changes that are made in the near future are what the membership wants and are in their best interest. There are different ways to obtain opinions from youth players, college players, parents, etc. My experience as a player and an organizer gives me perspective from both sides of this process. The Board of Directors and UPA staff have been focusing on this with the Ultimate Revolution. I will work to create the changes the membership wants, while continually seeking feedback from members.

Obviously, an issue that has been gaining more attention has been of Observers and referees. We need to draft multiple ideas, test how they work at different levels, and find out what the membership thinks of them. I personally don’t believe full-fledged refs will be the best solution, but we won’t know what the best solution is without experimenting, obtaining feedback, and discussing how each option affects the members, the different levels of play, and the sport itself.

If you live in the Mid-Atlantic Region, I ask for your support. I enjoy working to improve this great sport and its organizations, and I will work hard to have progressive movement forward in the next few years with the UPA. Thanks!

SOUTHWEST REGION CANDIDATES

Audrius Barzdukas, Los Angeles, CA
Email: abarzdukas<at>hw<dot>com

Dear UPA Members:
I would like to be considered for service as a Director on the UPA’s Board of Directors. I’ve spent my professional life working, serving and participating in sport from the grass roots to elite levels. I’m a swimmer, which makes me unfit for most land-based activities, but I played Ultimate as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, on the swim team’s intramural club—some of my best memories of college.

It’s a great game and I believe my experience in sport can help provide a unique and valuable perspective to help UPA better serve its members, administer the game, and provide opportunities for anyone who wants play.

In my current position as Head of Athletics at Harvard-Westlake School, I have come to appreciate the benefits associated with participating in sport. Participation develops many important skills for success in life, including competitiveness, leadership, an appreciation for effort, and a willingness to put team goals ahead of individual ones. Expanding participation in Ultimate can give more people a chance to learn these lessons. Adequate facility time, opportunities to compete, competent coaching and strong club/team administration form the foundation for a good grassroots sport experience. 

Among my experiences as Associate Director of Coaching for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), I served as a staff member of the USOC’s Athlete Performance Group, which was charged with working with all 45 National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to develop programs for sustained competitive excellence. That excellence requires resolute commitment, a plan grounded in the values and philosophy of the NGB, and shared vision among athletes, coaches, volunteers and staff working together to achieve the plan’s short- and long-term objectives. A version of Spirit of the Game!

While working for United States Swimming, I learned that it takes strong leadership to manage the competing interests/resources within an NGB and ensure that a short-term focus on the “urgent” rather than the “important” does not mire the organization in bureaucratic inertia. That leadership consists of a strong staff, empowered by volunteer perspective and support and guidance, creating, implementing and critically evaluating a values-based strategic business plan for the sport, exactly like the strategic plan the UPA family has crafted!

Through my work as a television commercial treatment writer, I have learned much about branding and positioning. I’m eager to bring to the UPA the experience I’ve gained working with directors to craft the vision for commercials for adidas, Nike, Gatorade, VISA, Coke, Chevron, American Express, Mercedes and others.

If there is one thing I’ve learned from these experiences, it’s that being a good leader starts with being a good follower. That means paying attention, being a good listener to the members/players and always keeping the greater and long-term good a priority.  It means putting team and organizational achievement ahead of personal achievement.

It may not be a special skill, but I know I will try my best for UPA.  I will give this position, because I honor the opportunity, my best efforts, energy and thinking.