The USA Cycling board of directors approved the revised bylaws and final governance structure during its 13 July 2011 meeting, with the changes being effective immediately. The USA Cycling board approved a revised organisational governance structure with the goal of ensuring the bylaws and operating principles of the organisation accurately reflect the current business models of the sport today and for the foreseeable future.
The new governance structure is designed to clarify roles and responsibilities and eliminate ambiguity in the original documents when USA Cycling Inc was originally established in 1995.
“We started down this path nearly four years ago,” said Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling. “During that time we have engaged in countless hours of dialogue that, quite frankly, has produced some of the most interesting and productive discussions of my tenure with USA Cycling.
“I think the board of directors and the trustees have done an absolutely remarkable job of reshaping the company to be more reflective of the current business trends in our sport as well as one that will be much more responsive to the needs of our various membership categories.”
Under the revised governance structure, which was developed by the USA Cycling board and staff over the past 16 months, the current five associations (USCF, NORBA, USPRO, BMXA and NCCA) will be replaced by seven sport specific committees: BMX, Pro, Collegiate, Cyclocross, Mountain Bike, Road, and Track.
“Giving each stakeholder group, including team managers and masters, a dedicated position should increase the interest in governance participation for all these groups,” explained Wayne Stetina, USCF representative and Vice President of the USA Cycling board of directors.
“The further decision to split USCF into separate Road, Track and Cyclocross Sport Committees charged to work directly with USA Cycling staff to develop programs and rules for their specific disciplines provides greater opportunity than ever for future event and membership growth.”
“The new structure will allow each discipline’s stakeholders to have a stronger voice in how things are structured and regulated within the governing body of cycling in our country,” stated John Bucksbaum, USA Cycling Development Foundation representative to the Board of Directors. “These positive changes in governance will well serve the membership of USA Cycling for years to come.”
USA Cycling’s 2011 election cycle, which had been delayed pending board approval of the bylaws, will open for nominations on 1 August – with elections beginning on 15 August. Members of their respective electorate groups will then be able to nominate and vote for qualified candidates under the revised governance structure.
In all, up to 30 seats on seven different sport committees will be up for election with voting ending on 31 August. As has been USA Cycling’s practice, voting will be conducted online through members’ My USA Cycling account.
More information, including a complete list of committees and vacant positions, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of USA Cycling Inc and the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, can be found on USA Cycling’s Governance webpage.
