From the Desk: The End of a Term
For this edition of From the Front Desk, we’re giving space to outgoing USQ Board Chair Bernie Berges. Berges has been an integral part to righting this organization and was one of the driving forces behind our new strategic plan. Though he has completed his time on the board, he will continue to officiate and work to push the sport forward.
My time serving on the USQ Board of Directors has officially come to a close. This marks the end of an important chapter in my life and career in quadball. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have worked with such a fantastic board, staff, volunteers, and of course Dallas (who some of you may know as Amanda), our terrific CEO.
When I started playing quadball at the University of Miami in 2013, I never would have imagined my life ending up where it is today. I knew nothing about the Harry Potter books or movies. I just wanted a new sport to play and heard the Hurricanes were the defending regional champions and one of the best teams in the world at the time. Since then, I’ve had so many amazing on field experiences from playing with the US National Team at the 2016 IQA World Cup to competing in Major League Quadball and playing quadball around the world including Australia, Spain, France, the UK, and Canada. Off the field, serving on the USQ Board and as the board chair has been an incredible honor and highlight of my career.
Over the past three years, I’ve learned so much about leadership, team building, operations, and organization. Most of the board’s work is the boring behind the scenes things that never see the light of day–although you can review meeting minutes! Here’s just a few highlights of our accomplishments: We’ve opened a high-yield savings account to earn a little bit of interest on our funds when they aren’t actively being used. We’ve registered “USQ” with the US Patent and Trademark Office, allowing us to protect our brand and host more USQ sporting events. Most excitingly, we’ve successfully stayed within our budget for three years in a row–a first time in our organization's history, and an achievement that could not have been reached without the tireless dedication of our treasurer, Clay Dockery.
I’m proud to say that I believe I’m leaving the board in a better place than I found it, and I have complete confidence that we will continue our upward trajectory. The 2026-36 Strategic Plan was recently completed and is truly a massive achievement. It is an example of what we can produce when we work together as a community. The plan was created thanks to not only USQ staff and volunteers but you, our members, who gave us honest feedback and direction for the continued growth of quadball. With this new plan in place, I’m confident we will make quadball a legitimate mid-sized niche sport over the next 10 years.
Leading an organization like USQ requires dedication, patience, and a willingness to have difficult conversations; all skills I’ve developed thanks to my time with USQ. I cannot emphasize enough how this professional development has already proven beneficial for my career.
The Future Is Bright
Moving forward, Annika Kim will be leading the USQ Board of Directors, and I could not think of anyone more deserving of the position. When she first joined as a Junior Board Member, I was assigned to be her “Board Buddy” for onboarding and mentorship. Since then, the board has seen her grow into an exceptionally valuable contributor who is never afraid to speak her mind and move us all in the right direction. Alongside her is a fantastic group of dedicated board members who stop at nothing to push us forward. If you have ever considered volunteering or serving on the board, I encourage you to apply. If you believe a parent, family member, or friend could be a good fit, encourage them to apply as well! USQ can’t survive without people like you chipping in. Send an email to board@usquadball.org if you’re interested or would like to learn more.
All this being said, I’ll still be around! My new focus will be restarting quadball at the University of Maryland, one of USQ’s most prestigious programs (second to the University of Miami, of course).
You don’t need to be a board member or anyone special to do this. Whether you’re a retired player, moving to a new place, or just looking for a new challenge, we need people on the ground to revive programs or start new ones. Throughout my time in USQ I’ve seen firsthand just how generous and dedicated the quadball community can be. One person can start a movement and you’ll be amazed at just how much support you can find.
If you’d like help starting a college or club team, reach out to me or the Collegiate Growth Department, together we can learn from each other, share resources, and build our beautiful game. Here’s to our next 20 years of US Quadball!
Sincerely,
Bernie Berges
