Francis Usher Elected President of Belize Volleyball Association

Francis Usher is the new president of the Belize Volleyball Association, succeeding Allan Sharp, who served in the post for eighteen years. Usher secured two hundred and three votes at the association’s General Congress yesterday, defeating Elton Anderson, who received ninety-nine votes. More than three hundred members participated in the election of a new president and Board of Administration.  Usher spoke with Love News about his election and taking on the leadership of volleyball in Belize.

CEO Francis Usher, Belize Volleyball Association President: “This particular election had two past national team setters, well one still a national team setter actually, I’m the retired one, who ran for presidency and volleyball would have been in good hands with any of us if I’m being completely honest. So I want to first of all congratulate my friend, my brother Elton Anderson on a well-run campaign, on a well-run, he really rooted himself on his desire to continue serving. I think ultimately, I laid out a plan and the plan for me at least I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel. We need to keep what’s working and try to improve on it. So I’ve been a member of the Belize Volleyball Association executive for more than a decade now. Most recently, I served as the vice president of the association. So I am the manager of a club. I also play on my club. I’ve played on the national team. Then I transitioned to being on the association. So I see what it takes to properly run all of the tournaments countrywide, properly organize all of the district associations, ensure that the national teams have the resources they need to properly train and equip themselves to go out and represent Belize and I’ve also seen what it takes to host tournaments locally. Knowledge, the work put in by those that came before me. First of all, Alan Sharp was the president of the BVA for 18 years. He took the BVA, the BVA was already on an upward trajectory but he really took it to another level.”

Eight executives were also elected to the Board of Administration. They are Sherylee Young-Thurton, Nicole Solano, Gillian Smith, Yemeri Reyes, Derrick Morgan, Leon Leslie, Emma Hoare and Myrna Fernandez.  The new leadership will be responsible for supporting athletes, strengthening the association and expanding opportunities for participation in volleyball.