The USA Dance 2024 National Elections will have electronic voting from November 15-24, 2024.
On August 1, the Chair of the Nominations & Elections Committee, Mike Lynch, announced the Presidential Candidates for this year’s race. Listed alphabetically, they are:
- Chuck Garrett
- Aleh Kulyba
- Ken Richards – incumbent
The candidates were asked to submit their National Candidate Confirmation Form, Nomination by Petition Form(s) with signatures, photo, resume, and Statement of Reasons for Running for Election.
Below, you will find the unedited Statements of Reasons for Running for Election for each of the three Presidential Candidates. To access their resumes go to the USA Dance National Elections Landing Page.
Chuck Garrett’s Statement
Running for President of USA Dance: A Passionate Commitment
As a devoted dancer and advocate for the art of ballroom dance, I am excited to express my intention to run for the office of President of USA Dance. Allow me to share my rationale for seeking this esteemed position.
Guiding Principles
My core belief is simple yet profound: treat everyone equally. USA Dance, with its vibrant community of dancers, embodies the spirit of inclusivity. I am committed to ensuring that every member, from beginners to seasoned competitors, experiences the full richness that USA Dance has to offer.
A Selfless Journey
Let me be clear: I have no financial interest in any dance entity. My sole motivation is to see USA Dance thrive. Here’s why:
1. Late Bloomer, Lifelong Passion: I discovered ballroom dance at the ripe age of 60. Participating as a “celebrity” in a local “Dancing With the Stars” fundraiser ignited my love for this art form. Our efforts raised over $250,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi, marking the beginning of my dance journey.
2. USA Dance: My Home: In 2016, I joined USA Dance. Despite not scoring particularly well at the Kansas City Dance Classic, I relished the camaraderie and the thrill of competition. Talented dancers reached out, making me feel welcomed. Within USA Dance, I found a home.
3. Giving Back: Currently, I serve on the Board of USA Dance Chapter 2012 in Memphis, TN. Alongside my partner, Lee Oswalt, we teach free dance lessons before our monthly dances. Giving back to the community is our way of nurturing the dance spirit. With your help, we will develop a comprehensive plan to support the growth of our chapters.
Championing Change
In 2022, the USA Dance Board of Directors entrusted me with a critical role: Senior Athlete Committee Chairman. Why did I seek this position?
Declining Numbers: Chapters, social members, and competitive participants were dwindling. A sense of malaise had settled among many of our members.
- A Talented Team: I assembled a dedicated committee: Lee Oswalt, Ken Wellens, Kathy Linn, Christine Newman, Stuart Lucas, Barbara Greenwood, and Matt Wedin. Together, we have given the seniors a voice. I am committed to giving all of our members a voice, revitalizing USA Dance.
Our Charge
Our mission is clear: advocate for change. We aim to make USA Dance more responsive, dynamic, and engaging for all members. By fostering collaboration, celebrating diversity, and promoting excellence, we will elevate the dance experience.
I have experience managing and balancing multimillion dollar budgets. For the last three years, USA Dance has experienced a deficit. I will reverse that.
My leadership style is one of collaboration, empowerment, and transparency. Everyone is important! Everyone will have a voice in our success!
In conclusion, my candidacy for President of USA Dance is fueled by passion, integrity, and a deep love for dance. Let us waltz into a brighter future together!
Sincerely,
Chuck Garrett
Aleh Kulyba’s Statement
As an avid enthusiast of ballroom dance and a dedicated member of the USA Dance community, I am excited to express my interest in contributing to the organization’s growth and success in the coming years. With a passion for dance and a vision for progress, I believe that my experience, ideas, and commitment can help elevate USA Dance to new heights.
Over the past years, I have witnessed the incredible impact that USA Dance has had on individuals and communities through its promotion of dance as an art form, a social activity, and a competitive sport. However, I also recognize that there is always room for improvement and innovation. In the next four years, I envision several key areas of improvement for USA Dance:
1. Social Dancing and Community Engagement:
Encouraging Inclusivity: Implement initiatives to make social dancing events more inclusive and welcoming to dancers of all backgrounds and skill levels.
Community Outreach: Strengthen community outreach programs to promote the benefits of dance and expand USA Dance’s reach to underserved communities.
2. Professional Sport and Competition:
Supporting Athletes: Provide increased support and resources for competitive dancers, including training programs, financial assistance, and mentorship opportunities.
Expanding Competition Opportunities: Partner with international organizations to host world-class competitions and showcase the talent and dedication of USA Dance athletes on a global stage.
3. Organizational Health and Governance:
Transparency and Accountability: Implement transparent governance practices and mechanisms for accountability to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the organization.
Member Engagement: Foster a culture of member engagement and participation through regular communication, feedback mechanisms, and opportunities for involvement in decision-making processes.
4. Financial Stability and Sustainability:
Diversifying Revenue Streams: Explore and develop new revenue streams, such as sponsorships, partnerships, and fundraising initiatives, to enhance financial stability and support organizational growth.
Efficient Resource Allocation: Develop strategic plans for resource allocation, budgeting, and financial management to maximize the impact of available resources and ensure long-term sustainability.
In addition to these specific areas of improvement, I am committed to promoting a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence within USA Dance. I believe that by working together, leveraging our collective strengths, and embracing new ideas and perspectives, we can overcome challenges and achieve remarkable success.
My background in Computer Science, Finance, Management and of course Ballroom Dance has equipped me with the skills, knowledge, and determination to contribute effectively to USA Dance’s mission and objectives. I am eager to bring my unique perspective, passion for dance, and dedication to continuous improvement to the organization.
In closing, I am excited about the opportunity to serve USA Dance and its members. Together, we can create a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving dance community that enriches the lives of individuals and contributes positively to the cultural landscape.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to USA Dance’s journey of growth and excellence.
Warm regards,
Aleh Kulyba
Ken Richards’ Statement
Dear Voting Members:
I am Ken Richards, the current President of USA Dance, and I am submitting myself for election for another term or service to the members of this organization.
I Have served in a number of positions over the past 34+ years with an extensive amount of institutional knowledge accumulated. Key to the position of the President is the ability to understand from experience, all aspects of our multifaceted organization. From Chapter officer, social dancer, studio operator, bookkeeping and audits, tax returns, insurance, bylaws, policies, fundraising, the national and international DanceSport scene for both athletes and officials – for Ballroom and Breaking. Further, the biggest role of the President is utilizing these skills to recruit, manage, and inspire volunteers in the correct roles and help them do their jobs of interest.
I was honored to be elected for the term beginning in 2020. I faced the immense challenge of rebuilding our organization from a pandemic and an already falling membership. In addition, USA Dance was challenged to develop a Breaking Division which required Bylaw compliance updates to fully integrate the one true Olympic Dance discipline into our organization, without taking anything away from the ballroom community.
On the DanceSport side, my vision to reintegrate the split of the Ballroom Professional and Amateur Councils into one cohesive group (again) has improved the focus and effectiveness of those dedicated volunteers.
While this was occurring, we also moved USA Dance’s administration away from the costly and inefficient association management organization and back toward an internally managed process, returning power to our Treasurer to better integrate chapter accounting systems.
The fundamental successes of what the Board of Directors has achieved under my leadership, can be specifically tied to my competence, experience, and ability to recruit a number of dedicated persons that were driven to see USA Dance come back and be a better organization. I can’t thank them enough.
I am most proud how I accomplished these things and a number of the goals from my previous candidate’s statement; but especially the reestablishing of transparency in our communication and providing understandable minutes and financial reporting documenting our work.
We are not done yet!
Here is a cursory list of the items identified last year that need more attention to be addressed by the Board of Directors over the next 4 years:
- Fundraising
- Support of Chapter officers with more of the dedicated zoom trainings that I started in 2024 with an emphasis on growing the member base.
- Update the entire list of 56 policies and operating procedures by identifying what is outdated and how we need to conduct our business going forward.
- Improve Education from our social dancers to our highest-level athletes.
Thank you for considering me as your President for an additional term. I welcome your questions and look forward to your support.
The 2024 National Elections Ballot also includes the following positions and candidates:
- Secretary
- Lee Oswalt
- Vice President for Social Dance
- Ken Pandozzi
- Vice President for DanceSport Ballroom Division
- Daphna Locker
- DanceSport Ballroom Athlete Delegate 1
- Daniel O’Connell
Once again, the USA Dance 2024 National Elections will have electronic voting from November 15-24, 2024. Before the electronic voting commences, voting instructions will be provided to all USA Dance members.
The Nominations & Elections Committee will announce the Election Results to the membership by November 20, 2024, and those elected will begin their four-year term of office on January 1, 2025.
Thank you to all the candidates for their time, interest, and willingness to serve USA Dance.
Members, please watch for voting instructions and…
