2021 USATF Georgia Annual Meeting

We would like to announce that this year’s annual meeting and elections will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon). This year’s meeting will be held virtually via Zoom in accordance with USATF Georgia Association Bylaws Article 6.A.2, as our current health status in Georgia is still at a level where vaccination is less than 40%, and new variants are on the surge.

Registration is required to participate in this meeting.

Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meetin...

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Per Article 7.A.1., the positions subject to election are:

• President
• Executive Vice President
• Vice President of Communications
• Vice President of Sponsorship
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Coaches Advisory Chair (and related committee positions)
• Long Distance Running Committee Chair (and related committee positions)
• Masters Committee Chair (and related committee positions)
• Officials Committee Chair (and related committee positions)
• Race Walk Committee Chair (and related committee positions)
• Track & Field Committee Chair (and related committee positions)
• Youth Committee Chair (and related committee positions)
• Para Athletics Chair (and related committee positions)

Agenda at a Glance

• 11:30 a.m. - Registration (Until 1:00pm)
• 12:00 p.m. - Opening Session
• 12:10 p.m. - Approval of 2020 Georgia Assoc. Annual Meeting Minutes
  • 2020 Annual Meeting Minutes
• 12:30 p.m. - USATF Georgia President’s Report
• 12:50 p.m. - Guest Speakers – Robin Beamon and Dave Shrock
• 1:00 p.m. - Instructions for Voting & Q&A
• 1:15 p.m. - General Election - Association Officers
• 2:00 p.m. - First Group Committee Breakout Sessions
  • Room #1 = Youth & Coaches Advisory Committees
  • Room #2 = Race Walk, Track & Field, Masters, LDR Committees
• 3:30 p.m. - Second Group Committee Breakout Sessions
  • Room #1 = Officials
  • Room #2 = Para Athletics
• 4:30 p.m. - Reconvene for Results of Voting
• 4:45 p.m. - Announcements
• 5:00 p.m. - Adjournment

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES

1. Be a current USATF member
2. Pass the USATF background screen
3. Successfully complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport Training course

SAFESPORT COMPLIANCE

USATF currently requires members of the following groups to be USATF 3-Step SafeSport Compliant: National Office Staff, Board of Directors, registered coaches, certified officials, authorized agents, National Team Staff, National Committee Chairs, Association leadership, Youth Committee members, AAC Members, AAC Event Leaders, all meet volunteers in an official capacity, Youth Camp staff, and vendors with access to athletes. 

In order to be USATF 3-Step SafeSport Compliant, these individuals must:

1. Have a USATF membership,
2. Successfully complete the appropriate annual USATF background screen (which includes acknowledgement of the USATF SafeSport Handbook and an agreement to abide by the respective code of conduct), and
3. Successfully complete SafeSport training before having contact with athletes, and in any event, within sixty (60) days of assuming such position within USATF.

METHOD OF NOMINATIONS

If you intend to run for a Board position, please submit your nomination by email to the Executive Vice-President at evp@georgia.usatf.org.

• At least 90 days prior to the annual meeting, the Executive VP shall act as the chair of the nominating committee and appoint a nominations committee of at least three members. Twenty percent of the nominations committee must be comprised of Active Athletes recommended by the Athletes Advisory Committee chair. At least 75 days prior to the Annual Meeting, the nominating committee shall advise the Board of Directors, in writing, of all positions subject to election and request nominations for each said position.
• Each nomination shall be approved by the nominee.
• All nominations must reach the chair of the nominating committee no later than 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting. The committee shall prepare a nomination report listing all eligible candidates in alphabetical order, without indicating preference. The nomination report must contain a biographical sketch, prepared by the nominee, that includes the nominee’s credentials for the position. No less than 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting, this report shall be circulated to all members of the Board of Directors, all nominees, all nominating parties, and the Membership. The nomination report shall also be circulated to all those present at the Annual Meeting.
• Further nominations may be made and must be allowed from the floor at the Annual Meeting, provided the biographical sketch described above is included with the nomination; the biographical sketch may be presented in verbal or written form. No nomination may be made for an absent person unless that person has notified the nominations committee in writing of his or her willingness to accept that specific nomination.
• Immediately following the close of all nominations, the nominating party and/or the nominee may make a nominating speech for a period not to exceed three minutes. Speeches for each position shall be called alphabetically.
• Each voting member, upon their own request, is allowed to ask questions pertaining to their qualifications and ideas for the position they are nominated for. The maximum Q&A time period will be 10 minutes for each office.

NOMINATION ELIGIBILITY

1. Membership and age criteria: A nominee must be a member who is at least 18 years of age (at the start of the term of office);
2. Nominations and seconds: A nominee needs one nominating party and one party to second the nomination, both of whom must be Members; and
3. Good standing: a nominee must not have engaged in any behavior that would warrant removal from office pursuant to Article 9E (Removal from Office). Examples:
   • Failure to follow these By-laws and associated Operating Procedures;
   • Engaging in conduct that reflects unfavorably on USATF;
   • Members who hold elected or appointed positions must have current year membership by January 31st;
   • Misappropriation of funds;
   • Requesting reimbursement of expenses when said expenses were reimbursed by another party (double-dipping);
   • Failure to comply with any local or national rules or policies (for example, illegal use of logos);
   • Unethical behavior;
   • Conflict of interest.

NOMINATIONs committee Report

No less than 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting, this report shall be circulated to all members of the Board of Directors, all nominees, all nominating parties, and the Membership. The nomination report shall also be circulated to all those present at the Annual Meeting.

VOTER CRITERIA

1. One person-one ballot: One person shall cast only one ballot as an individual, regardless of how many positions within the Association the person occupies;
2. Proxies: There shall be no proxy voting;
3. Minimum age: In order to vote, Members must be at least 18 years of age on the day of election;
4. Voting membership deadline: Except for renewals from the previous year, individuals must be Members at least 30 days prior to the date of election.