All-Star Usasf Independence

[SharkDad]

USA Cheer is the closest equivalent we have to USAG or USA Football.

It is the closest equivalent only because cheer in the US does not have ANY real governing body overseeing all forms of cheer. USA Cheer is the self-proclaimed governing body of cheer but really they just created a board organization with members from various organizations in cheer. Similar to the USASF-look at how many of those have Varsity ties.

According to Jeff Webb's own testimony in the Quinnipiac trial he stated that he created USA Cheer so that if college cheer ever became a legitimate sport he wanted Varsity to have control over it.




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[yojaehs]

It is the closest equivalent only because cheer in the US does not have ANY real governing body overseeing all forms of cheer. USA Cheer is the self-proclaimed governing body of cheer but really they just created a board organization with members from various organizations in cheer. Similar to the USASF-look at how many of those have Varsity ties.

According to Jeff Webb's own testimony in the Quinnipiac trial he stated that he created USA Cheer so that if college cheer ever became a legitimate sport he wanted Varsity to have control over it.




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Is this the reason STUNT is positioning itself to NOT be recognized as a sport? Via conversations I've had the "paperwork" STUNT has provided to the NCAA does not meet their standards to even be considered. Reason #1 I was told a merging of NCATA & STUNT wont happen.


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[SharkDad]

STUNT is trying to position itself to be a sport, but no school administration or athletic administrators have officially backed it at all.

That was one of conditions from both the Quinnipiac trial and the NCAA.

There are many more reasons that NCATA won't merge with USA Cheer, although they tried at first. I can't speak to any more specifics than that.

But them why should they? NCATA meets all the conditions the NCAA has layed out already.

I can only imagine how USA Cheer convinced the FL State School system to try STUNT. Little do they know it is no safer than current HS cheer rules and coaching, just a different format. I suspect it has to do with the fact that a NFHS rep is on the USA Cheer board.

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[Future]

This is all so complicated….however, the original question of this thread…..Will the USASF get to an independent and unbiased state?….ever? BTY, what happened to the rest of the questions….the original ones that were sent….what is the tax structure of USASF, not the state rendered certificate, but the structure that is filed with the IRS at the end of the year? Bylaws for USASF? Are we at a crossroads here?

 

[BlueCat]

Just released by the USASF Board:


An Open Letter to Our Members

The purpose of this letter is to inform our members about some questions which have been raised recently relating to our structure and operating procedures. We will address those questions below, but more importantly, we would also like to share with you our view for the future.

When the USASF was founded in 2004 the All Star community was much different than it is today. There were no rules, no safety guidelines and no competition standards. There was also no true recognized national championship. If we had had a crystal ball at that time and had been able to see how All Star would develop in the following 10 years, there is no question many things would have been set up differently. However, since we did not have the luxury of what is now hindsight, it is important to understand the history of the organization in order to better appreciate why USASF made some of the decisions that are now being questioned.

We accept some of the questions that have been raised as a legitimate attempt to strengthen the organization, and we welcome that dialogue. Like all organizations, ours is not perfect, but we remain committed to doing what is right for the athletes, coaches and organizations that make up All Star Cheer and Dance.

History of USASF

USASF was founded in 2004 by Varsity and CHEERSPORT. At that time, both companies believed that there needed to be an organization that could bring stability to the sport and serve the athletes and coaches by standardizing rules, promoting safety and providing sanctioning standards.

In evaluating how to legally establish this new organization, Varsity and CHEERSPORT determined that a non-profit entity was the preferred structure. Therefore, USASF was chartered as a non-profit corporation in Tennessee as this was viewed to be a cost effective ($100 fee) and a quick and efficient way to start the organization. There was never any serious discussion about setting it up as a 501c corporation because this would have added unnecessary complexity and delay. A 501c status is used primarily for organizations that receive charitable donations, which the USASF does not. The corporate charter for USASF is posted on our website. To be clear, USASF is a separate legal entity from, files taxes independently of, and is not a corporation owned by Varsity. The corporate structure is controlled by the USASF Board of Directors and could be changed if the board decided it was in the best interest of the members.

As the USASF was being formed, it wrote its bylaws and appointed its first Board of Directors. Viewed today, it is obvious those bylaws could be improved upon. But remember, when written there was no reason for a formal set of complete statutes. The bylaws made all of the original board seats permanent in order to assure the organization stayed true to its mission. They also required a unanimous vote to change the bylaws. This stipulation is probably not ideal today, but frankly it was originally proposed by CHEERSPORT as protection to insure that it could not be voted out at some point in the future. JAMfest was also granted a permanent seat when they joined based on similar concerns. The bylaws have been amended several times over the years to broaden membership and representation to include coaches, gym owners and other event producers. The bylaws and amendments can be seen on our website.

After USASF was formed, Varsity provided an interest free line of credit to the USASF. At its peak, the loan balance was $1.8M. As of December 31, 2012, the balance on the loan was $565K.Varsity has allowed the USASF to have complete flexibility with our repayment schedule. The loan has been completely interest free to the USASF. This has been an incredible benefit to our organization and members, and it would have been impossible for the USASF to survive without it. Varsity has also continued to guarantee a substantial "rainy day" fund to insure USASF could withstand any type of unforeseen natural or financial disaster such as having to cancel Worlds one year. There has been no "co-mingling of funds" or any other impropriety. Just as any lending institution would do, Varsity secures the loan by retaining certain rights to the USASF trademark and intellectual property.

Moving Forward

As previously stated, the USASF and its board recognize that change is needed within the organization. The board met via conference call on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 and agreed to initiate a process to systematically manage this change. We want to move promptly but do not want to make the mistake, which has occurred in the past, of making significant changes without taking the time to solicit input from all members and stakeholders.

The issues we have identified to address are as follows:

• Board Make Up: This will include, but will not be limited to, structure of the board, balance of representation and accountability within the USASF.
• Bylaw Revisions: Revise the bylaws to accurately reflect the current environment and govern USASF properly.
• Worlds: A comprehensive analysis of everything relating to Worlds including the pros and cons of utilizing Walt Disney World as a venue.
• Location of USASF Office.

As this process unfolds, there may be other areas we examine based on feedback from our membership. We will utilize our existing committees, the NACCC and our USASF Regional Meetings to insure our entire membership is heard and considered as we address these issues.

One area the board felt needed to be improved now was that of financial reporting. Though we have nothing to hide, we believe a more detailed financial report would eliminate some of the inaccurate statements from our critics. As always, an independent certified public accounting firm will review the books and records. In addition, moving forward into 2013, a report by that public accounting firm will be included in a calendar year annual report that will be provided to our members and available to the public. This new annual report will also address a general update of the status of the USASF, as well as its future plans. In about three weeks we will post the 2012 financial report for the USASF on the website, along with more detailed information than has been presented in the past.

The board also agreed to move forward aggressively on several programs that we feel are critical to serving our athletes and coaches. We will consider and investigate options for an enhanced athlete membership program with an outstanding and affordable individual insurance option component and provide information in the upcoming weeks. Our professional membership program will also be improved, including reviewing the option for background checks for everyone working with our athletes. Also, we have already asked Les Stella to develop a more dynamic and comprehensive FAQ section on our website to provide a betterway to field and answer the most common questions. These are types of initiatives that only USASF is in a position to accomplish and we are committed to getting them done expeditiously.

In closing, we would like to thank all of the hundreds, if not thousands of people who have volunteered their time and efforts to create and build the USASF. The organization would not have accomplished what we have without their dedication to make our sport better. We look forward to working with our entire community to insure we continue to build an even stronger and more effective USASF.

Sincerely,
USASF Board of Directors

Morton Bergue
Mike Burgess, Vice President
Justin Carrier
Jim Chadwick, President
Brian Elza
Jeff Fowlkes
Tara Patton Harris
Happy Hooper, Secretary/Treasurer
Mack Hirshberg
Dan Kessler
Colleen Little
Catherine Morris
John Newby
Elaine Pascale
Kathy Penree
Steve Peterson
Kristen Rosario

 

[BlueCat]

I would like to credit the USASF for the information it has provided. While it by no means addresses every concern or answers every question, it at least appears that they are willing to listen and work towards becoming more transparent. That is much better than the "how dare you question us" attitude that some have gotten before.

Transparency is the first step. We the members of the all star community need to know as much about the organization that wishes to govern & control the event producers, gym owners, coaches, and athletes in our sport. With a deeper understanding of the USASF setup, we can make much more informed decisions about how to proceed from here.

It will take a bit more study and research to comment on their letter in depth, however.

 

[ACEDAD]

I agree. It's not everything, but it's something. Many of us have been preaching transparency from the beginning.

This isn't an end but a beginning to a revised structure that will support the all star cheer world.


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[5-6-7-8]

I agree the reply in itself is a step in the right direction.

I do like the fact they will hire an independent accountant / auditor, with a timeline. Good actionable item.

As for the rest, I realize no one wants to rush things, but hopefully in the short term this is followed up with a more specific plan with timeframes / deadlines (and perhaps brief process updates for us not in the loop.)


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[L5cheermom]

I would like to credit the USASF for the information it has provided. While it by no means addresses every concern or answers every question, it at least appears that they are willing to listen and work towards becoming more transparent. That is much better than the "how dare you question us" attitude that some have gotten before.

Transparency is the first step. We the members of the all star community need to know as much about the organization that wishes to govern & control the event producers, gym owners, coaches, and athletes in our sport. With a deeper understanding of the USASF setup, we can make much more informed decisions about how to proceed from here.

It will take a bit more study and research to comment on their letter in depth, however.

I would like to say Bravo to you and the members of CheerGrow.org for standing up and demanding this response from the USASF. Without that pressure from industry leaders I doubt that this would have happened. As previously stated, it is just a start and we will all need to keep the pressure on to get where we need to be. Although it seems minor, I think a relocation of the USASF offices would have significant impact on the mindset of the members. Perhaps that small proposal could happen quickly.

 

[5-6-7-8]

I would like to say Bravo to you and the members of CheerGrow.org for standing up and demanding this response from the USASF. Without that pressure from industry leaders I doubt that this would have happened. As previously stated, it is just a start and we will all need to keep the pressure on to get where we need to be. Although it seems minor, I think a relocation of the USASF offices would have significant impact on the mindset of the members. Perhaps that small proposal could happen quickly.

Yes!! Definitely more than one shimmy for standing up for those of us without a "voice."

 

[kristenthegreat]

I want to start throwing out high fives, but I'm gonna hold off until one of those things ACTUALLY gets done :D

 

[Future]

I agree the reply in itself is a step in the right direction.

I do like the fact they will hire an independent accountant / auditor, with a timeline. Good actionable item.

As for the rest, I realize no one wants to rush things, but hopefully in the short term this is followed up with a more specific plan with timeframes / deadlines (and perhaps brief process updates for us not in the loop.)


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Tough to present comments without repercussions….not bashing those that are working so hard to march forward… Using an independent auditor for the financials…would rather just see the IRS tax return…it will give much more information, INCLUDING the tax structure at the federal level…and who has 'ownership' of USASF. And now discovering the initial 'loan' was really a line of credit…need to make transparent the original paperwork….having a hard time thinking that Lenard Green and now Herff Jones would advance that much money to, in their words, "USASF a loosing proposition"….if USASF could not pay back or look like they couldn't pay back the funds, what company would allow this flow of money….still clear as mud. At a loss why the books, the FEDERAL tax structure, etc. is still so secretive and there are no documents. What do they stand to loose if they are 100% transparent…what do they have to gain? Interesting questions...

 

[Matt Faherty]

Wow, I just stumbled upon this thread today. Usually I stick to the responding/following up on thread in skills forum. But it tends to get lonely/boring in there. :(

I started the weekend knowing nothing about STUNT and NCATA -- and even less about the behind the scenes politics going on at USASF/Varsity. (I have enough politics to deal with in the gym!) Then, I stumbled upon STUNT. Interested, I dug up videos and information on it. That lead me to hearing about the NCATA, which when Googled, lead me here. It took me nearly 2 hours of reading to catch up on it all, but I'm glad I did!

I knew some big name people posted on fierceboard, but I never would have guessed that the boards, and the people on it, are responsible for the USASF press releases I get from time-to-time in my inbox! Mind blown.

In my area, it's hard to find people who are interested in the growth of the cheer industry as a whole. I see so many who are just content in doing what they have been doing for years, even if it's not conducive of the betterment of the sport as a whole. So it's really refreshing to see others preaching how things like athlete safety, universal score systems, coach education, and professional standards need to be addressed by our governing body.

So now I know that I might still feel like i'm on a soap box preaching to other local coaches. But, at least there are others like me, doing the same!

 

[catlady]

And now discovering the initial 'loan' was really a line of credit…need to make transparent the original paperwork….having a hard time thinking that Lenard Green and now Herff Jones would advance that much money to, in their words, "USASF a loosing proposition"….if USASF could not pay back or look like they couldn't pay back the funds, what company would allow this flow of money….still clear as mud.

The water is actually much clearer on this than you think, take it from a different perspective. Think of which would be a greater loss, the line of credit to a non-profit or the risk to a very profitable corporation if they do not have a governing body to enforce safety and creating a more positive and stable public/business perception. I'm all for transparency but, in this case, it makes sense that a profitable corporation would want to protect itself and the public/businesses they profit from. Cheer still has an uphill battle in public perception, and insurance companies and facilities for competitions need that reassurance that safety and ethics are a priority, otherwise, everyone in this business stands to lose. I'm not saying they're saints, however, that was actually a very smart business move on their part.

 

[Future]

The water is actually much clearer on this than you think, take it from a different perspective. Think of which would be a greater loss, the line of credit to a non-profit or the risk to a very profitable corporation if they do not have a governing body to enforce safety and creating a more positive and stable public/business perception. I'm all for transparency but, in this case, it makes sense that a profitable corporation would want to protect itself and the public/businesses they profit from. Cheer still has an uphill battle in public perception, and insurance companies and facilities for competitions need that reassurance that safety and ethics are a priority, otherwise, everyone in this business stands to lose. I'm not saying they're saints, however, that was actually a very smart business move on their part.

Respectfully disagree that they are protecting the industry they profit from. This is totally about controlling the industry….for the wrong reasons. Protecting the USASF….who signs the contracts with Disney et al? USASF or Varsity…it is not USASF. Your point is acknowledged….however, safety and ethics will never be a higher priority over profit as long as the industry is controlled by profit companies. Totally agree that everyone stands to lose…especially the safety of our child-athletes.