Several items of business requiring Board action were brought before the Board in this special meeting on Monday, April 4, 2022.

USITT/TSDCA Sound Documentation Recommended Practice

This recommended practice document has been in progress for several years and has been brought before the Board several times. The Board had previously reviewed this comprehensive recommended practice document in March and felt that the document needed some revision before the Board could endorse it and so send it back to the Sound Documentation Working Group for review. Having addressed the issues raised at the March Board Meeting, the Board approved the recommended practice in hopes that the information contained in the document will provide sound designers and engineers with a more effective way to communicate using this more standardized practice.  The recommended practice document is available on the USITT website.

USITT Policy on Honors and Awards

This policy focuses on ethics and awareness of conduct issues for any award nominees, anyone seeking elected office, or seeking a committee chair position by requesting a Professional Conduct Disclosure form submitted with the initial submission required for the position.  In addition, the policy outlines the way that the Institute will consider a person eligible to receive a USITT award or honor and notes ways in which USITT may suspend or revoke an honor previously conferred. The policy also delineates the position of Ethics Officer, who serves as the organization's internal control point for ethics and improprieties, allegations, complaints, and conflicts of interest, should they arise. The Awards & Resolutions Committee vetted the policy through the Institute’s legal representatives before bringing it to the Board. This very important policy was approved.

Executive Director Search

I have asked the Compensation Committee to develop a Request For Proposal for a search firm to select appropriate candidates for the position of Executive Director of USITT. This RFP will be presented to the Board for comments by April 11.

I asked the Board to instruct me with appointing a Search Committee, chaired by past USITT president Carl Lefko, that will engage a qualified search firm to investigate and present appropriate candidates for the position of Executive Director. The committee will also engage with the selected firm to review and evaluate the candidates and present a final candidate to the Board for approval. 

Believing that varied voices are extremely important in the search process, I have asked for the Search Committee to be comprised of the following:

• Two members of the Board of Directors
• Two USITT members from Commissions
• A Past President
• Two representatives from Exhibiting companies
• Two Early Career Professionals
• Two members of the National Office staff

Creation of a New USITT Fund

The USITT Development Committee proposed the establishment of the Grindle Leadership Fund as a new segment within the Tayneisha Jefferson Fund for Inclusion, to provide additional resources that support diverse and newly represented voices to participate as leaders in USITT.  In addition, this fund will provide an opportunity for Institute leaders and members along with corporate members to recognize the outstanding impact that David Grindle has etched in the Institute during the last 12 years.  The Board approved this concept and directed the Finance and Development Committees to work out the details of building and launching the fund.

Interim Executive Director

Lastly, I am proud to announce that the Board approved past president Lea Asbell-Swanger as the Interim Executive Director, effective June 14, 2022. 

Thank you for your volunteer and or financial support of USITT.  YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

Carolyn Satter, president