To the R.I. Lacrosse Community: The future of lacrosse in Rhode Island is at stake. The “Friends of R.I. Lacrosse” are asking for your support to ensure that free and open elections are held for a new Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Lacrosse Association (“RILAX”), the R.I. Chapter of US Lacrosse, the national governing body for lacrosse. (A) As a result of recent changes in the organization, a substantial number of the RILAX Board members have either resigned or their positions have been removed from the Board, leaving control of RILAX and its financial resources in the hands of only a few individuals who do not fairly represent the entire lacrosse constituency in Rhode Island. (B) The current Board has approximately 15 vacant board positions, and unless action is taken now, those positions will either remain vacant or be filled exclusively in secret by the hand-full of individuals who remain on the Board. (C) The Friends of R.I. Lacrosse believe that all individuals who have worked so hard for the last 10 years in building the game of lacrosse in Rhode Island should have an equal vote in selecting a new Board of Directors. (D) If you agree with that proposal, then please sign your name to the attached petition. In doing so, you will lend your support to one of the most cherished and important hallmarks of our society which are free and open elections. The ballot box is what brings us together and allows us to put our differences behind us and move forward. (E) The Friends of R.I. Lacrosse wants all R.I. citizens to come to together and agree to open and general elections for a new RILAX Board of Directors and new Executive Committee, and that all current and former members of the RILAX Board of Directors and Executive Committee be allowed to vote for the new RILAX Board of Directors and Executive Committee based upon the ten (10) point proposal outlined below: 1. Elections for all positions on the Board of Directors for RILAX, including the Executive Committee and current members of the Board, shall be held no later than June 30, 2009. 2. Notice to all adult members of US Lacrosse who are residents of Rhode Island will be sent through the e-mail services offered by US Lacrosse advising them of the election and opportunity to run for a position on the Board. 3. Any adult member of US Lacrosse who is a resident of Rhode Island shall be eligible to run for a position on the Board of Directors. 4. All former and current members of the RILAX Board of Directors shall be eligible to vote for candidates to sit on the Board of Directors. 5. By June 1, 2009 a list of former and current members of the RILAX Board of Directors will be compiled and verified by the minutes from prior Board meetings to confirm the individual’s status as a prior or current member of the Board of Directors. 6. By June 8, 2009, a slate of candidates for Board positions will be finalized which list shall constitute the final list of eligible candidates for Board positions. 7. The notice of the election, slate of candidates and ballot form shall be mutually agreed to by the parties. 8. Elections will be held on June 18, 2009 and votes may be submitted either by written ballots postmarked no later than June 15, 2009 or at a meeting held on June 18, 2009. 9. The ballots and tabulation of votes shall be open to inspection and examination by any interested party. 10. All current and former members of the RILAX Board of Directors and Executive Committee agree to fully support and work with that new Board and Executive Committee regardless of whether they voted for the winners or not. ** If we allow individuals to actually campaign and put forth their platform and vision for the future, the voting members can make an informed choice as to who they want to run RILAX and direct the future growth of lacrosse in Rhode Island. ** With the knowledge that the RILAX community has voted fairly and consistent with our democratic principles, everyone should and must support that final decision and pledge their honor and word to support the new Board and Executive Committee regardless of disagreements in the past and work together to promote the new mission of RILAX. ** Knowing that the future management of RILAX will be vested in the hands of those individuals fairly elected by the former and current members of the RILAX Board and Executive Committee is essential for a positive rebirth of RILAX and creation of cooperative working relationships among all parties interested in growing the game of lacrosse in Rhode Island Thank you for your time and support. To discuss the matter further in a blog format click here: http://rilaxelections.blogspot.com/2009/04/petition-for-free-and-open-elections.html Friends of R.I. Lacrosse