USA Swimming Officer, Board of Directors Selection Process Explained

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 8. MANY of our readers are taking issue with USA Swimming's handling of the recent sexual abuse controversy, and they have asked us for ways they can implement change in the process.

The best way of taking hands-on control of any situation of this magnitude is becoming part of the administrative structure that has been invested with the power to make those changes. In this case, that means being a USA Swimming Officer or a part of the Board of Directors.

Officers are up for election every two years, while Zone Director positions are staggered with half of the spots up for election every year. This year's elections will take place at the United States Aquatic Sports Convention in Dallas, Texas on Sept.12-19.

Here's an educational look at how someone can become one of these representatives:

According to USA Swimming bylaws found in Part 5 here, this year is an election year for the bulk of these positions.

OFFICERS
"All USA Swimming officers, except the Secretary, shall be elected by the House of Delegates at annual meetings held in even-numbered years." The Secretary is appointed by the Board of Directors, and is a non-voting position.

The positions that are up for re-election this year, and every two years, are the President, Treasurer, Vice Presidents (Administration, Program Development, Program Operations) and Technical Vice President as well as the Athletes Vice President.

The only caveats are that the Athletes' Vice President is voted on by the Athletes' Committee members, while the Technical Vice President must be a coach member of USA Swimming and shall have been credentialed and served as a coach at a Junior, Sectional or Nationals Championship. Additionally, a term limit of two consecutive terms is in place. However, a person can sit out a term and return to office if elected at that point.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
On top of the elected officers previously explained, "Two Directors shall be elected from each zone by members of the House of Delegates, representing LSCs within each of the four zones. The Chairman of the Olympic International Operations Committee shall also be a member."

These two directors from each zone are made up of one coach and one non-coach member with each zone representative being elected annually in staggered years. The bylaws stipulate the following representatives are voted on as follows:

Eastern Zone: Coach (Even Years), Non Coach (Odd Years)
Southern Zone: Coach (Odd Years), Non Coach (Even Years)
Central Zone: Coach (Odd Years), Non Coach (Even Years)
Western Zone: Coach (Even Years), Non Coach (Odd Years)

These zone representative directors are selected at the zone meeting with each LSC within a zone being entitled to three votes. The same term limits apply for zone representatives as with officers ,whereas no person can serve more than two consecutive terms, but can return after a two-year hiatus.

Additionally, due to regulations regarding amateur athletics in the country, the Athletes Committee must choose enough athlete representatives to "assure that not less than twenty percent of the Directors are athletes."

HOW TO RUN FOR OFFICE
Running for office is as simple as filling out a nomination form and attending the United States Aquatics Sports convention in Dallas, Texas in September (details found below). Additionally, nominations can be made from the floor of the each voting organization (the zone meeting for zone directors and the house of delegates for the executive officers).

DATES, LOCATIONS OF ELECTIONS, FORMS
United States Aquatic Sports Convention
Sept. 12-19
Dallas, Texas
http://www.usaquaticsports.org/pages/convention-2010.htm

Nomination Form

Nominations so far for Officer positions

Nominations so far for Zone Directors

MORNING SWIM SHOW INVITE TO CANDIDATES
Swimming World, via the Morning Swim Show on SwimmingWorld.TV, invites any and all candidates that are nominated prior to the convention to appear on our show to discuss their candidacy. If you are such a candidate, please contact us at mail@morningswimshow.com.

Swimming World is an independent media outlet that does not have a political agenda, never have and never will. We are simply providing this information to the masses since many people have requested this information.

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