Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

USA Team Handball Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Date: July 27, 2009

Board Members Present:
Dieter Esch, Dan Wollman (proxy for Kerry Moller) (in person)
Brad Krassner, Tomuke Ebuwei, Ralf Uhding, Heins Kart Pedersen (via phone)

Board Members Absent:
John West, David Thompson. One seat vacant (but since filled)

Also Present:
Steve Pastorino (Secretary)

Location:
SnapSports Conference Room, 2330 California Ave., Salt Lake City, UT

The second meeting of the USA Team Handball Board of Directors (“BOD”) was called to order at 10 a.m. With six members present, a quorum was achieved.

Discussion commenced with review of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. Although final statements were not available, USA Team Handball operated at break-even level based upon approximately $450,000 in expenses and revenues. USOC-required financial forms will be posted at www.usateamhandball.org when they are signed off by USATH CPAs.

Steve Pastorino presented discussion points for 2009-10 High Performance plan (presented in person to USOC on Aug. 7). USATH is requesting nearly $1,000,000 in funding, based upon the stability of the sport in USA (compared to past two years), success in filling the pipeline with prospective athletes, establishment of Senior/Junior/Youth National teams, etc. Funding decision is not expected prior to October 2009.

Dieter Esch introduced the concept of North & Central American Handball Federation. Modeled after soccer’s CONCACAF or volleyball’s NORCECA, USA Team Handball will present motion at 2010 IHF Extraordinary Congress to add a fifth continental congress after Europe, Africa, Asia and PATHF (Oceania was not replaced after its demise). A NAHF would align with PATHF on many international issues, but also include an automatic berth(s) for NAHF to Olympics and World Championships, a seat on IHF Council and a share of globally distributed IHF revenues including television. As part of this process, USATH is orienting national teams towards Europe for competitions, friendly tours, etc. until the continental question is resolved. The Board unanimously voted to support this direction.

Steve Pastorino introduced the idea of Germany vs. Poland international game in Chicago in July 2010. Brad Krassner expressed that he wanted to see a detailed budget, including costs/revenues for television, hospitality, advertising, ticket sales. Board agreed to pursue this game, with Steve/Dieter following up with German and Polish federations, plus a Polish media company with significant ties to both Warsaw and Chicago.

The USA-Germany partnership was discussed at length. Dieter’s presentation was very well received at the Annual Bundesliga Meetings in late June. Clubs interested in working with USATH (and certain USA cities) include Hamburg (Chicago), Rhein Neckar Lowen (New England), Berlin (Los Angeles), Dormagen (U.S. Army), Lembo (tbd), Grosswallstadt, Gummersback, Minden, Wetzlar and others. Areas for cooperation include sponsorship, player exchange, coach exchange, training camps in USA.

Update on staff / board: Steve reported that Patrick Coggin’s Air Force Reserve unit will be deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 (for about two months) but that we expect him to continue to work for USATH prior to and after the deployment. Angie Webb is joining the office in SLC as a full-time intern from University of Utah with an emphasis on youth development in Utah and Women’s Working Group programs nationwide. (Just after the meeting, Marilyn Gauthier, principal of the Marilyn Agency in New York/Paris was brought on board as the ninth board member. Ms. Gauthier is an independent board member.)

USATH office space expires August 31, 2009, but Steve suggested a short-term lease be negotiated until after the outcome of 2016 Olympic Bid process (Note to all: IOC announcement of 2016 host is due at approx. 10 a.m. MT on Oct. 2.)

There was no further comment from the BOD so the meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next BOD meeting will take place after after the IOC decision regarding the 2016 Olympics and the USOC announcement of 2010 high performance funding.