Connell Foley’s Michael Rolek Spearheads Newly Passed Diversity Bill for USATF

On December 5, 2021, USA Track and Field (USATF) passed 10 amendments, collectively referred to as the “Diversity Bill,” that were prepared and submitted by Connell Foley associate
Michael Rolek, together with his pro bono client The Garden State Track Club (GSTC) and Chuck Schneekloth, president and founder of GSTC. Passage of the Diversity Bill was a multi-year
endeavor involving the support of USATF leadership, Olympians and various long-term USATF members and volunteers.

The purpose of the Diversity Bill is to promote diversity and increase engagement and accessibility to USATF’s local governing bodies. The premise behind the initiative is that if more USATF members with diverse backgrounds become involved with the sport at a local level, then the USATF will become stronger, new ideas will germinate and the sport will grow.

Rolek and Schneekloth originally submitted the amendments in July 2019. Prior to the Bill’s passage, Rolek was appointed to the 10-person USATF Associations Task Force on Inclusion and Engagement to further investigate issues of diversity/engagement/inclusion at a local level and develop the language in the proposed amendments. In December 2021, the proposed amendments were approved by the USATF Law & Legislation Committee and accepted by the USATF membership, officially making the amendments part of the USATF Bylaws and Operating Regulations.