Thank you for the opportunity to represent each of you in USA Dance. During these uncertain times, when we are working our hardest to maintain some sense of normalcy, proper leadership makes all the difference. It is vitally important that the next president of USA Dance gives their complete and undivided attention to increasing the organization’s member body, returning and improving benefits to social dancers, and refocusing efforts to improve resources available to our Dancesport athletes. USA Dance must bring about sweeping changes to the organization’s image and practices in order to fully realize the original mission, which is “to improve the quality and quantity of dance in the United States.”

Creating a strong, financial backbone is the basis for turning USA Dance back into the successful, globally recognized, DanceSport organization it once was. The first step in making that happen is to increase the size of the member body within our organization. As an active member of the Greater NY Chapter for over three decades, I have a unique perspective and insight into the remaining member body, as well as the vast number of members who have chosen not to renew their memberships over the past several years. We have to focus our attention on the future of USA Dance and work on bringing in the next generation of USA Dance social and DanceSport members.

Perhaps the most overlooked and underappreciated portion of our member body are the social dancers and the local chapters they belong to. Due to dwindling benefits and an apparent lack of priority in the organization, our social members have all but disappeared. Reinstating some of the important benefits that these members once received, as well as adding new ones is a crucial next step in ensuring the longevity of USA Dance.

Long considered the pinnacle of the organization’s success, our Dancesport athletes have also been largely ignored. These are the members whom we call upon to represent the country in events across the globe, and to represent to the sport, as a whole, at the upcoming World Games in Birmingham, AL. We must work together to provide these athletes the resources that they need to be successful in order to earn them as members. These athletes give everything they have to dance and are the ones who continue to inspire the next generation of dancers around the United States.

Despite some of the recent misfortunes of the organization, I truly believe that USA Dance is worth fighting to save. Through communication and transparency, we will revitalize USA Dance and to realign it with its mission. I currently serve on both the National Collegiate Committee and the Para DanceSport Committee. My tenure on these committees, and many others, grants me a breadth of experience that will allow me to successfully execute the additional responsibilities of this position. For more information regarding my campaign and my plans for the USA Dance organization, please visit www.pattiforpresident.com and don’t forget to vote #PattiForPresident at the 2020 general election.