Since its inception and for decades, USAWNJ would allow any card carrying member to vote from the general membership for all board positions. Around 2005-2006, a coup was launched and a sitting chair was ousted at the annual meeting. The bylaws were quickly rewritten by the new chair to protect the power hungry and corrupt regimes that have ruled over the organization since. For years, General Members dwindled in attendance of these annual meetings because they no longer had a vote. On September 19th, 2022 there was a new atmosphere at the annual election. USAWNJ's former chair had resigned recently. A record number of nominations and the General Membership were in attendance and they wanted answers. What they received was anything but that. The meetings were bumped up on the schedule the night before without public or written notice. Bylaws were violated. When hard questions were asked about the unfiled tax returns for 4 years, the loss of 501c3 tax exempt status, who was in charge and how could this happen, those responsible had no answers, but to point fingers elsewhere. Then the election was held. Or should I say, the play that had been well rehearsed, was acted out on stage. People in the back of the room could not believe their eyes. What unfolded was anything but a fair and just election. They operated as if a curtain had been drawn to conceal their actions, but everything was on full display. Requests for recounts were ignored. Two sitting members were each rewarded with one additional position. The Treasurer and the Head of the Finance Committee, both responsible for the financial fiasco currently in play, were both voted back into power. The highlight quote of the evening was "Excuse me, I have a question. Is it true that the board members who were responsible for the mess that we are in right now are those same board members voting themselves back into office to fix these problems?" And there you have it folks. The merry-go-round of serving the self interests of a few outweighs the main purpose of the organization, which is to provide opportunities for the kids, not just the board members. Line G of our Purpose as listed on Page 1 of our bylaws states the following: To ensure that everyone who has an interest in wrestling in New Jersey has an opportunity to become a member of USAW/NJ where they can have a voice, a vote, and a vehicle through which to be heard.  USAWNJ does not operate by this purpose. I ask you all to now join me in this petition to the sitting board at USAWNJ.org. They need to reinstate this right so that fair and just elections can be held and this organization can be restored to its former status as being legal, ethical, transparent, and with integrity and by serving its true purpose. Please sign this petition and email the USAWNJ Board at board@usawnj.org and let them hear you. They need to be reminded that they serve the kids and our wrestling community first and only, not themselves.