RSPA Members,

Thank you to everyone who reached out after our last communication! Improving how we connect with the membership remains one of our top priorities, and it’s something the RSPA Board of Directors is committed to holding ourselves accountable to.

Much of the conversation over the past few months—and even before that—has centered on our governance and overall procedures. In this communication, we’re excited to share insight on both.

Governance, as Outlined in Our RSPA Bylaws

It’s a common misconception that the National Board of Directors holds the highest level of authority in the association. Per our bylaws, that’s not the case. The true governing power sits with the Executive Committee, the group that represents each of your divisions. The members of the Executive Committee will consist of the members of the Board of Directors and the president and regional vice president, or the divisional equivalent, of each of the divisions, and the last three immediate past presidents. When a vote is needed on key issues, the Executive Committee reviews all sides, discusses them thoroughly with their division boards (who represent you), and casts their votes at the appropriate time.

How Division and National Boards are Selected

This process happens every two years and kicks off with each level forming its own nominating committee. At the National level, the committee chair carries over from the previous cycle, and a past president also serves as a member. All other members are discussed and approved by the Executive Committee.

In the year before an election year, a call for nominations for the Nominating Committee goes out by the end of June—any member is welcome to apply, following the guidelines outlined at that time. The vote to approve the final members (usually three) of the Nominating Committee will be done during our September Executive Committee meeting at our WRC.

At the start of the election year, both national and division levels open applications for the Board of Directors. At the National level, the Nominating Committee reviews every application and conducts multiple rounds of interviews until they’ve identified the seven strongest candidates to represent our association at the highest level. That slate is then shared with the membership at the start of the summer, along with instructions for anyone who wishes to challenge it. If a challenge is submitted, a clear process leads to a membership vote later in the year after the WRC, if not, the slate is approved and moves forward. Divisions follow this same process, with timing that may vary slightly from division to division.

Stay Engaged. We Want to Hear from You!

The best way to strengthen our association is to stay connected, both at the division and national level. We encourage every member to reach out to their division board—they’re here to represent you! To find your division’s executive director, visit:

https://rspa.net/administration/#RSPA%20Divisions

Two Quick Reminders:

  • Mark your calendars for the World Racquet Conference in Dallas, Texas, September 20–23!
  • Watch for details on our next Town Hall Webinar with Interim CEO John Embree and President Mark Faber, coming the week of August 17th.

Thank you all for your continued support of the association. We’re genuinely excited about what the future holds for our current and future members! As always, my phone is on and my email is open—mfaber@twosathleticclub.com. Our Board wants to hear from you, because we know we can only get better together!

Respectfully,

The RSPA National Board