Executive Director Bill Casto Letter To Membership - Post-Convention

A letter from USCAA Executive Director Bill Casto to membership following the 2010 USCAA Convention.

July 27, 2010

Dear Members,

The USCAA’s National Convention concluded recently in Williamsburg, Virginia. I would like to extend a sincere thanks to all those that were in attendance, for their support and contributions.

This year’s Convention was a milestone in this association’s history, evident by the membership’s overwhelming support to advance the USCAA’s five year action plan forward. In 2008, following the work of a leadership committee (made up of national consultant Rob Miller, USCAA VP of Marketing Matt Richards, Dr. Robert Case of Old Dominion University, Associate Director Matt Simms, and myself), we communicated that the association needed to accomplish several goals to legitimize the association in the eyes and minds of organizations and schools nationwide, to further professionalize the operations of our national office, and to become financially independent of The Apprentice School, who have provided office space for us since 2005.

We have accomplished several of our goals since then, including growing the organization (from 42 in 2005, to over 70 in 2010), gaining additional revenue through sponsorship, and gaining national recognition with organizations like the NAIA, NACDA, NASC, and some coaches organizations. I was proud to announce at the Convention that the NAIA’s National Administrative Council has approved our request, by a unanimous vote, to allow all dual NAIA-USCAA members to participate in USCAA approved postseason competition without counting those contests toward the NAIA frequency of play and scheduling limits. This is a step in the right direction of legitimizing our association in the eyes and minds of national organizations that can influence our future. I found Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO, to be very cooperative, and open to establishing further cooperative efforts in the future.

In opening statements at the Convention Dave Gonyea and I outlined our goals moving forward with our five year action plan. The plan includes raising dues to $3,000.00 for 2010-11, and to be capped there for at least two years, if not longer. This differs slightly from the original plan to raise dues $250 each year. However, the plan now implemented will allow us to do several things including:

Move the USCAA offices this summer to a new location, independent of The Apprentice School.
Improve day to day operations and services to the membership
Gain capital for our membership drive campaign
Improve National Championship events
Provide an escrow account that will support initiatives to add a full-time “Chief Operating Officer” for the 2011-12 year.

I was delighted to see the support of the membership at the Convention to raise dues and sustain our action plan. We continue to place great value into your investment as a member, using our funds to provide the best product possible for small college athletics. The membership sees the vision of the USCAA, where we have come, and where we are heading. It is our belief that the student-athletes at small colleges deserve the same opportunities afforded by any institution in this country. The USCAA has and will continue to serve the mission of placing small colleges on a national platform, and allowing for their student athletes to compete for championships and post-season recognition with institutions of like size and resources.

For those that were not at the Convention, there are several attachments to this letter. They include:

Again, I thank you for your support as a member of the USCAA. If you have any questions regarding actions taken at the 2010 Convention, please feel free to contact Matthew Simms at 757-303-8947. He will be the point of contact throughout the summer, as we move offices.

Regards,

Bill Casto

Executive Director, USCAA