This Week in NACAC: Freddie Evans now heads BNAA

Freddie Evans now heads BNAA

Dr Freddie Evans is the new president of the Bermuda National Athletics Association (BNAA) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association on 30 September 2021.

Evans, a longstanding technical official of the BNAA and NACAC, was the lone candidate for the position of President. His accession to the top post came in the wake of the decision by outgoing president, Donna Raynor, to step down following her completion of 12 years as head of the organization.

Dr Evans’ Board includes Mia Bean, Jarrita Vickers, Terry Lynn Paynter, Allison Outerbridge and Vanessa Turner.

Members at the AGM approved an amendment to the organisation’s Bye-Laws to ensure a practice that prevents all of the Board of Directors from being up for election at the same time. The Bye-Laws now allow for the principal officers, President, General Secretary and Treasurer, to serve four-year terms while the Directors will serve two-year terms.

The membership also approved a Bye-Law that insists that the Board of Directors must include at least two (2) members that are female.

NACAC extends its most sincere gratitude to Dona Raynor, who has long served the sport of athletics in her country as well as the broader NACAC Area during her tenure.

We also congratulate Dr Freddie Evans and his new Board of Directors, wishing them the very best going forward.

NACAC – Miramar alliance for New Life Invitational

During the past week, NACAC met with City of Miramar officials to advance discussions in respect of making the Ansin Sports Complex the home of the annual NACAC New Life Invitational. This will allow for athletes of the Americas to plan to come to Miramar in June of each year for what promises to be among the very best prize-money competition in the NACAC area.

The discussions focused on the range of matters emanating from this year’s event and the slew of recommendations that came from the monitoring and evaluation exercise.

The meeting received a draft organizational structure and proposed accommodation strategy. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 14 October at 11.00 am Miami time.

NACAC Development Commission advances

The chair of the NACAC Development Commission, John-Paul Clarke, had a busy week, with meetings aimed at advancing the work of the organization and NACAC, more generally.

The first meeting was that of the Commission on the evening of 27 October 2021, where members updated where they were in respect of the different educational pathways being planned.

The Commission expects to have the first set of webinars ready for roll-out by November 2021. Two days later, 29 September, the Chair joined NACAC General Secretary and the Director of Coaches and Camps, in a meeting with World Athletics Development Department and Member Federation Relations, to advance discussions on the New Development Model of the international body.

NACAC Coaches Working Group established

The following constitute the membership of the NACAC Coaches Working Group:

John LoFranco (CAN) – Chair, Peter John Thompson (UK/USA), Ishmael Mastrapas Lopez (CUB/TTO), Kelsey Toussaint-Reid (TTO), Carlos Guzman (PUR), Francisco Javier Blanco Alonzo  (MEX), and, Kathleen Raske – USA. Chester Morgan – NACAC Dir. of Coaches and Camps, is ex officio.

The role of the Commissions and established Working Groups is to provide expertise and advise Council, but if requested, they may also advise the President, Secretary-General/Chief Executive Officer, other Commissions and established Working Groups. They have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the Council or NACAC. The Working Group is ultimately accountable to the NACAC Council.

The role of the NACAC Coaches’ Working Group is to advise the NACAC Council (and where necessary, NACAC Commissions and other established Working Groups) on matters related to all aspects of coaches’ development to better serve the mandate of NACAC to consistently produce leading athletes in global athletics by providing the coaches’ perspective and voice to the decision-making processes within NACAC; promoting and advocating for the rights and interests of coaches within the sport of athletics globally; promoting and advancing an even playing field for athletes; one which is clean, inclusive, safe for all and upholds the highest ethical standards; advising and educating athletes on matters related to Athletics; acting as the link between the coaches and NACAC on research, new initiatives, and new events; and, promoting and supporting the establishment of a Coaches’ Commissions/Working Group in each of our Member Federations to assist in their respective policies, development strategies and programmes.

The Working Group held its first meeting on Tuesday 28 September and will convene again on Thursday 14 October 2021.

NACAC Competitions Commission

The NACAC Competitions Commission convened on Tuesday 28 September.

Critical to the organisation’s programming going forward is its crucial analysis of ways in which NACAC’s competitions can become marketable and generate revenue for the Area Association. Additionally, the Commission is evaluating the pros and cons of the scheduling of the NACAC competitions, including the annual Carifta Games, within the context of careful cost/benefit analyses.

Around NACAC

Aruba

NACAC welcomes news from Aruba.

The latest development has to do with the fact that the Aruba Athletic Federation has accepted five (5) new member clubs into its federation. This now extends the membership of the AAF to 13. This latest achievement is part fulfilment of the AAF’s goal of growing athletics across all its disciplines.