Dear Midas and BLU,

The voting for UPA Board of Directors (BOD) opened today and will run through Nov. 3rd. Hopefully you've already heard that our very own Jamie Nuwer is running for one of two at-large spots this year, but even with increased election coverage, it's very likely you still have no idea what the Board does and why it's important you vote.

Here's the official UPA shpeal:

The UPA Board of Directors oversees the UPA by setting policy and defining strategy.  The board is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the organization achieves its mission. The board is responsible for ensuring that the organization is working in the best interests of all our members.  The most effective tool the board has to protect the interests of the members is our ability to set policy on issues facing the organization.  The board's other tool for protecting members' interests is the long-term strategy for organization.

Okay. Boring. Here are a few examples of things the Board could make decisions on, which may pertain to you:

- passing a rule to be able to "red shirt" a season of eligibility due to an injury
- drafting rules for team roster limits
- deciding whether ultimate should have referees or giving observers more power (active travel and foul calls, for example)
- creating more "non-elite" level tournament opportunities or a division II series
- keeping canadian teams out of the upa championships
- expanding media coverage
- continuing the growth in youth ultimate
- allowing college teams to set up intramural programs at their schools as fundraising

*Please note, these are not decisions that have already been made or are necessarily on the table, but all are ideas that have been brought up in candidates' campaign statements.

So why is it important that you vote? In the past, candidates have been elected to the Board with fewer than 150 votes. This is unacceptable. Each candidate has unique (some you may find to be, ahem, crazy) views. Between youth, college, club and league ultimate there are thousands upon thousands of UPA members and since this is OUR governing body, OUR stance must be represented. Understandably, some of you aren't quite ready to update your membership so early in the fall, but for those of you who are sure you will play the 2009 college season (or even beach/winter/spring/summer league), I strongly urge you to do it before the voting closes and make your voice heard.

Here are some things you can do to get yourself educated about this years' candidates:

1) Read the platforms:  http://upa.org/bod/candidate/2009

2) Listen to the audio interviews:  http://upa.org/bod/candidate/2009/interviews (this is supposed to be the link... maybe it'll come back up again)

3) Read follow up questions by The Huddle: http://the-huddle.org/

4*) Here's a plug for Jamie while I'm at.... http://www.injurytimeout.org/jamie_upa.html

5) Update your membership online ($30 for collegiate players) and save your captains the hassle of hunting you down later:  http://www.upa.org/membership

6) LOGIN AND VOTE!  https://www.upa.org/members/login.php

That is all. Thanks for reading. See you all at Sean Ryan!!!

Love,

maddog