Notice of Club Advisory Council (AAC) Election – Ring Sport

When: Saturday, August 10, 2019, at 9:00 am

Where: 11320 Kiley Dr. Huntley, IL 60142, USA

Who can vote: every registered WAKO USA athlete member

Who are the candidates?  – WAKO USA athletes who have submitted their application to the WAKO USA administration to email ashley@wakousa.org no later than 24 hours before the election.

How can you apply to be a candidate? – Applicants must submit an application request with attached resume to WAKO USA administration ashley@wakousa.org no later than 24 hours before the election

Who is eligible to be a candidate? – Any registered WAKO USA member who meets the qualification criteria of the By-Laws section 3.7 and 6.1.4

How many  AAC members will be voted for? – For this election 3 from ring sport – tatami sport will vote for 4 during a tatami event

Is it important for me to participate in the voting process? – YES!!

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WAKO USA BYLAW:

Section 6.1 – Athletes’ Advisory Council – AAC and Athlete Representation

Section 6.1.1 Composition. There shall be an AAC composed of, and elected by, amateur athletes to ensure communication between the corporation and currently active athletes, and to serve as a source of opinion and advice to the Board with regard to both current and contemplated policies of the corporation.

The AAC shall consist of three athletes from Ring Sport and three athletes from Tatami Sport elected by athletes having competed at a WAKO international tournament within ten (10) years preceding election.

Plus one athlete altering every 2 years from Ring and Tatami Sport

One AAC member will be appointed to be the chair of this council by the ‘chair of the board” and will serve in the board as a member.

Section 6.1.2 Term. Election to membership in the AAC shall be made in accordance with provisions of the AAC Bylaws. Elected athletes shall serve until their successors are elected unless removed for cause or not for cause pursuant to the AAC Bylaws, except as otherwise set forth in the corporation’s Bylaws.

Section 6.1.3 Operations, Duties and Responsibilities:

The Athletes’ Committee shall meet before the National Championships, World Cups and International open tournaments when held in the USA. If necessary, the members initiate other meetings but are requested to meet during said events/tournaments. Otherwise, they communicate by e-mail, mail, and conference call or by telephone/Skype.

Responsibility of the AAC is to address issues and concerns from athletes and provide advice to the Board of Directors.

Athletes Advisory Council shall:

1. Represent the rights and interests of athletes and to make necessary recommendations.
2. Inquire required information and resources as approved by the Board
3. Assist in developing educational seminars and learning tools to educate athletes and coaches
4. Maintain as a contact to other athletes of WAKO IF and the IOC commission when needed
5. Propose initiatives for youth development programs in alliance with the Coaching and Education Task Force.

Section 6.1.4 Athlete Representation on Board and Committees. Athlete representatives shall equal 100 percent of the AAC, at least 20 percent of the voting power of the Board of the corporation and at least 20 percent of the membership and voting power of all corporation committees, and other such groups operating under the authority of the Board or CEO. For purposes of this Section 6.1.4, athlete representatives must have represented the United States in the Olympic, Pan American or Paralympic Games or World Championships within the ten (10) years preceding election.

Section 6.1.5 Qualifications. Athlete representatives to the AAC must be directly elected by WAKO USA Member athletes. Athlete representatives to the Board shall be recommended to the Nominating and Governance Committee by members of the AAC from among the athletes who meet the standard set forth in Section 6.1.4 of these Bylaws at the time they would take office, and the Nominating and Governance Committee may also consider other athletes who meet the definition of independence set forth in Section 3.2 of these Bylaws to serve as independent directors on the Board, as provided in these Bylaws. Athlete representatives on corporation committees, task forces and other such groups shall be appointed after consultation with the AAC from among the athletes who meet the standard set forth in these ByLaws.

Section 6.1.6 of these Bylaws. The AAC may elect or appoint individual members to AAC leadership positions under the terms of the AAC Bylaws; all such leaders are subject to the qualifications criteria and resolution process set out in Section 3.7

Section 3.7 Qualifications for candidates. Candidate must be at least eighteen years old and shall have the highest personal values, judgment, and integrity. Candidate must be an active WAKO member in good standing.

An individual is ineligible for a leadership role if she/he has:

1. A felony conviction involving harm to a member of a vulnerable population such as children, elderly or individuals with a disability;
2. A felony conviction for sexual abuse or assault of any kind;
3. A felony conviction for a hate crime;
4. Served a period of ineligibility for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) as determined by the World Anti-Doping Code; or
5. Served a period of ineligibility for a SafeSport Code violation as defined by the U.S. Center for SafeSport or WAKO USA