RUSA is pleased to announce that John Lee Ellis and Charlie Martin have been elected to serve 3-year terms on the Board of Directors and that Chris Argo has been elected, by acclamation, as RBA Liaison for 2025. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the other candidates who stood for election. A special thanks, also, to Vincent Muoneke, who will be stepping down at the end of the year, and to Rob Hawks, who will be stepping down as RBA Liaison after a number of highly productive years, but will be continuing as Brevet Coordinator chair, on the Membership Committee and as RBA of CA: San Francisco, our largest region. The election results are as follows:

For Regular Board Positions:

Many thanks to Don Hamilton for managing this election.

2025 RUSA Board Candidates

The RUSA board election is almost upon us.  At 9am Eastern on Nov 1, assuming no glitches, members will receive an email from the election tool that we're using this year to cast their vote for up to two of the five candidates for two open 3-year-term board positions. 

The candidates are here:  2025 RUSA Board Candidates

The RBA Liaison position is also open but Chris Argo was the only nominee so he's in by acclamation.  Please join me in welcoming Chris to the RUSA Board. The RBAL term is one year.  Rob Hawks is already starting to get Chris up to speed.

The RUSA Bylaws never stipulated that there would be an election for the RBAL, only that the RBAs would appoint one of their number.  We've traditionally handled that through a vote, even when there was only one candidate.  We made some changes to that section of the bylaws to clarify how vacant positions are handled and, in particular, acclamation for the RBAL position.

Don Hamilton will be handling questions that are directed to election@rusa.org.  That's the role that Johnny Bertrand has played for a number of years.  Like Johnny, Don will triage the questions as appropriate.

Nominations are open from 10/1 through 10/20 for the 2025 RUSA Board. Two regular seats are open, plus RBA Liaison, which is a one-year term. (Only RBAs may nominate for RBA Liaison). Nominations must be received by October 20th, 2024. To nominate a fellow member and/or yourself, email election@rusa.org listing the member(s) you're nominating with their RUSA member number and your contact information.

► Candidates who have accepted nomination

We encourage individuals of all identities (racial, ethnic, gender, sexuality, ability, size, age, etc.) to apply. Randonneurs USA is seeking members whose experience, expertise, perspective and passion will help us fulfill our mission. We are looking for individuals with experience in the following:

• Passion and commitment to Randonneurs USA
• Strategic thinking and visioning
• Organization and management
• Cultivating inclusive, diverse, and equitable community
• Connections in the cycling community
• Public relations, marketing and communications
• Development and fiscal oversight

Members of the Board act as representatives of Randonneurs USA (RUSA) and are responsible for ensuring we are executing our mission, being accountable to our membership, and keeping our organization healthy.

• Board member responsibilities here. 
• Mission, values, organizational objectives, strategic goals here. 

Your Board of Directors meets once per month, via Zoom. The monthly/weekly time commitment is variable, based on position and responsibility on special projects/committees. As a guideline, you can expect at least 10-20 hours per month on Board business, including various Board-related projects and tasks, phone calls, a high volume of email discussions, and the scheduled two-hour monthly zoom meeting. A number of Board members also devote substantially more time volunteering for RUSA.

Two positions on the RUSA Board of Directors will become available at the end of 2024. The terms of Charlie Martin and Vincent Muoneke are expiring. Both are eligible for re-election, Charlie is running for an additional term, Vincent will not be running again. Members may nominate up to two current members to run for these two positions. The term limit is three years.

The Regional Brevet Administrator Liaison (RBA-L) position is open. This position is a one year term. Rob Hawks currently holds the position and is not seeking re-election. NOTE: Only Regional Brevet Administrators (RBA's) are eligible to nominate and vote for the RBA Liaison. 

All candidates who accept their nomination must submit a statement of qualifications and a photo, which will be posted on our website. Candidates will have the option of conducting a recorded interview facilitated by Randonneurs USA.

If you're interested in running and would like to inquire more, please reach out to any current and/or past board member.  

Marketing

Set up a Marketing Committee engaging internally with RBAs and members using surveys and interviews, externally with cycling clubs and organizations, with a broad goal of increasing market awareness, RUSA membership and ridership.

Committee set up, RBA Survey completed, summary results forthcoming

Rules and Procedures

Review and update all rules, procedures and other documentation for organizers and riders, for all types of rides e.g. Brevets and Populaires, Team Events, UAF Audax and Permanents

ACP and RUSA Brevets:

Rules for Riders – brevets and populaires – Complete

Rules for Organizers – brevets and populaires – Nearly Complete

Rules for LRM Riders (1200 km and longer US events) – In Progress

Rules for LRM Organizers (1200 km and longer US events) – In Progress

Team Events:

24-Hr Fleches-USA (ACP sanction) - In Progress

24-Hr Arrow (RUSA sanction) - In Progress

13.5-Hr Dart (RUSA sanction) - In Progress

8-Hr Dart populaire (RUSA sanction) - In Progress

Permanents:

Permanents (200 km and longer) - Not Started Yet

Permanents populaires (100 km -199 km) - Not Started Yet

UAF Audax: fixed-pace group rides regulations - Not Started Yet

Internal Organization

1. Review and update charter and staffing for all Committees - rationalized committees, reviewed staffing.  Charter not started
2. Calendar all operational activities - calendaring mostly complete and ongoing
3. Set up a Nominating Committee for Succession Planning - outstanding, no progress

Event Registration Support and Insurance

1. Share tools and approaches across regions - some discussions, no progress
2. Develop a plan to provide a common toolset and centrally house all waivers - some discussions with RBAs

Awards

1. Physical Gravel Award – no progress
2. Volunteer Recognition - plan in place to provide patches to RBAs and Committees
3. Climbing - web work underway

Website

1. Facilitate the rollout of gravel Permanents - complete
2. Facilitate the development and tracking of cumulative climbing - underway
3. Increase website account adoption for priority functions - under review
4. Improve membership signup, renewal and data change overhead - outstanding
5. Develop election tool for RUSA elections - 3rd party software being used
6. Revisit gender data collection and reporting – plan being discussed
7. Explore and potentially overhaul RUSA's privacy practices - review outstanding
8. Historical total membership reporting - complete

Audax Club Parisien (ACP) has changed the Super Randonneur Award so that it is achieved by riding an ACP 200k, 300k, 400k, and 600k brevet in a given calendar year (January 1 - December 31). Formerly the ACP used their fiscal year (11/1 - 10/31).

A note about ACP brevets calendared for November and December: the ACP adds these to their calendar in the fall of that year. So you may not see them on your region's calendar until that time of year. But once added, you can use them towards your SR award for that year.

Our new Chicago-based region will be known as IL: Chicagoland (formerly IL: Central Chicago). You can find out more about them and their ride schedule, plus register for their upcoming events on the Chicago Rando website.

In mid January, in order to better serve the US's 3rd largest metropolitan region, the RUSA Board approved an additional region and RBA, based in Central Chicago. Sarah Rice will serve as RBA for the IL: Chicago Central region, which will be hosted by a new club, Chicago Randonneurs.

On February 5th, Michele Brougher, the RBA for IL:Chicago and president of Great Lakes Ultra Cycling (Great Lakes Randonneurs), which largely served Eastern Wisconsin, informed the RUSA Board that Great Lakes Ultra Cycling will no longer affiliate with Randonneurs USA or the Audax Club Parisien. Michele also resigned as RBA for that region.  At this time, without a host club, the IL:Chicago region has been deactivated.

RBAs from the new IL: Chicago Central region as well as surrounding regions will be reviewing their calendars in the next few days to ensure coverage for our ridership.  Many of our members ride with local clubs as well as with RUSA.  We welcome GLUC members on RUSA events in the midwest and elsewhere in the US.

The RUSA Board thanks Michele Brougher for years of dedication and service to RUSA and randonneuring.

Please direct all questions to chicago-questions@rusa.org.