Hello Region 7!

In light of the most recent events impacting USA Gymnastics, on behalf of the Region 7 Committee I wanted to provide you all with an update on the status of Region 7.  

Your elected Region 7 Committee of volunteers is united in our message of strength.  Region 7 is STRONG!  We are functioning (and able to function) under the assumption that all events scheduled or to be scheduled for the 2018/2019 season will run as planned (see message Annie Heffernon highlighted below).  

Now is the time to continue to show our strength and function with a business as usual approach.  As your elected representatives of Region 7 – your Committee will continue to put the athletes, coaches, club owners, parents, and all associated with Region 7 as the top priority as we move forward!   We will also continue to update you with any new information we receive in a timely manner.

Please feel free to pass along my contact information on to anyone with any questions.  I will be happy to address any concerns, to the best of my ability, that they might have.  

We look forward to incredible season of gymnastics and are excited to see it all come together at the invitational, State and Regional meets this year.

Region 7 Strong,

Jennifer Bundy-Bortz

JBortz7rac@gmail.com

814-380-1195

Letter from Annie Heffernon to National, Regional and State Chairman:

I understand many of you are concerned about your state and regional funds. I spoke with Scott Shollenbarger, our CFO, this morning. He assured me that your funds are there and that you should continue to run your state and regional camps/clinics/events/competitions as you normally would.  Any decision eventually made by the USOC will not impact state and regional funds.

Also, the Junior Olympic National and East/West Championships and any other championship events will take place, as scheduled.

The following is the letter to the USA Gymnastics membership:

Nov. 6, 2018

To the USA Gymnastics membership:

Yesterday’s news from the United States Olympic Committee is both unsettling and upsetting, especially for athletes, coaches and club owners.  We know you have questions and concerns about what this means for you, your athletes, your gym, your invitationals, your club members.

Although we don’t yet have answers to all of the questions, here’s what we do know:

• USA Gymnastics is, and will continue, providing services and opportunities for our members.
• All sanctions, member benefits, policies and services are still in place.
• Existing event sanctions are still valid and new ones are being issued. The thousands of young gymnasts who are entered in invitationals this weekend, and in the coming weeks and months, will still have the opportunity to compete.
• All athlete and professional memberships and educational, judging and background check certifications are still valid, and member requirements and benefits in place.
• Member club memberships are still valid.
• Educational courses and programs are available online and as scheduled.
• Individual and club memberships are being processed and open to interested individuals and clubs.
• Each discipline will continue to plan and host its events and championships.

USA Gymnastics and its staff continue to be here to assist and serve you, our members. We will continue to carry on the day-to-day operations and business of the organization.  Our commitment to the gymnastics community and this sport is unwavering.

To be clear, USA Gymnastics remains the recognized national governing body, including by the International Gymnastics Federation, unless or until the USOC process is concluded and a decision is made whether or not a change is necessary.   We have athletes competing at the World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships this week, trampoline and tumbling’s World Age Group Competition next week, and the World Cup in Cottbus, Germany, later this month.

We will keep you informed as we learn more information and details going forward.  Please send us any questions you may have, and we will respond to those we can and work on getting answers for the rest.

USA Gymnastics is the sum of all of its parts. Along with athletes, we are comprised of thousands of coaches, gym clubs and professional members who work every day to help athletes follow their dreams, whether it is learning to do a handstand or competing.  The safety and interests of our athletes remain at the heart of our mission.

While the athletes are the heart and soul, and our coaches, judges, administrators, meet directors and gym clubs the backbone of our organization and sport, the grassroots level is the bedrock and foundation for gymnastics.  We are here for you and committed to serving our members.

USA Gymnastics

Region 7 Committee:

Regional Administrative Committee Chair – Jennifer Bundy Bortz

Regional JO Committee Chair – Linda Johnson

Regional Technical Committee Chair – Myra Elfenbein

Regional XCel Committee Chair – Jane Caruso

Regional Judging Director – Bonnie Synol  

DE State Chair – Cleo Washington  

MD State Chair – Beth Renwich

NJ State Chair – Brant Lutska

PA State Chair – Donna Guenther

VA State Chair – Steve Garman

WV State Chair – Adam Bowman

Toby Stark, the USA Gymnastics director of Safe Sport, did an informative presentation in the fall of 2017.  Click here to view his presentation.

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 1, 2017 – USA Gymnastics supports the Gymnastics Association of Texas (GAT) Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, which GAT established to help gym owners hit hard by Hurricane Harvey with their efforts to rebuild, refurbish, clean and recover. Many clubs are at or near a total loss. The fund will provide assistance not only for clubs in South and Southeast Texas, but also in Louisiana and other areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

“Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people and communities who have been and continue to be impacted by Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath,” said Ron Galimore, chief operating officer of USA Gymnastics.  “USA Gymnastics is proud to support GAT’s relief initiative, and having one central point for channeling the gymnastics community’s effort to help its beleaguered brethren is an ideal approach.  We appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity of those who can contribute to the relief fund, whether it is large or small.”

“It is with great appreciation that we receive the notes and prayers the community has sent to us directly and through USA Gymnastics,” said James Jeffers, chairman of Gymnastics Association of Texas. “It is truly inspirational to those of us who are on the ground and dealing with the realities of the situation.  We realized the importance of an effort to assist our clubs in moving forward, and we thank USA Gymnastics for its immediate and steadfast ongoing support of our gyms and people in need here in Texas and the other areas impacted by the storm.”

Donations to the GAT Hurricane Relief Fund may be made via the association’s website and/orFacebook page.  GAT is a 501(c)(3) corporation.

Information for gym clubs about how and where to apply and the process and the criteria for awarding assistance will be posted on the GAT website.

“Experience has shown just how much our gymnastics community can do when working together for the benefit of our sport, athletes and clubs,” said Jeffers. “Thanks to everyone for whatever support you can provide to help us through the difficult days, weeks and months to come.”

The Gymnastics Association of Texas (GAT) exists to serve the gymnastics club owners, coaches and judges by providing the most up-to-date training, teaching, business and early childhood development practices available. Through an annual convention, GAT serves not only the great State of Texas, but also the entire United States by being a go-to source for everything gymnastics, both recreational and competitive.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and Gymnastics for All (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, log on to usagym.org.

USAGym has published the updated Women’s Rules and Policies for 2017-2018.  You can also view the current directory.    Please remember that USA Gymnastics no longer sends out printed copies.  Please download the PDF file to your tablet or computer, for easy reference.

The Meet Director’s Exam has also become available online.

USAGym has changed the mobility scores for the J.O. Program effective August 1st. 2017.  If a gymnast has met their necessary score previous to this date they will be grandfathered in.  The new mobility scores are:

To help streamline the regional entry and payment process, Region 7 will be using Meet Maker this year. Instead of going through a State Committee Member, each club will be responsible for registering and making payment on their regional qualifiers.

If you have any issues or questions about the process, please contact your appropriate State Committee Representative.

Meet Maker Information Sheet for Entering into the Region 7 Level 8 Regional Meet

Meet Maker Information Sheet for Entering into the Region 7 Level 9 and 10 Regional Meet

As we are trying to clean up judging in WV, it has come to our attention that we are supposed to be collecting judge request forms as well as assigning fees for meets. This is detailed on page 28 of R&P.