Voting opens today for the AUDA Board. There are 10 nominees for the 7 board positions, and statements from each of the nominees are posted below so that you can get to know the candidates before you vote. Each member (participant in an AUDA event in the past 2 years) will receive an email with details on how to cast your vote. If you do not receive an email but feel you should be eligible to vote, please send an email to

Peter Amorosa

I am seeking re-election to a third term on the AUDA Board.  Over the past two years I have enjoyed serving on the Board and helping to grow our organization and foster Ultimate in the Albany area.  I have been playing, coaching, and organizing Ultimate for over a decade now and find a lot of inspiration in the growth AUDA has achieved over the past several years.  Along with the addition of a women's league, winter league and other developments I hope to continue to serve on the Board and further our Ultimate community with more events like tournaments and leagues and to increase the communication between AUDA organizers and players by starting an e-newsletter.  Thank you for your support!

Katie Derickson

Hello!  My name is Katie and you may have heard me cheering loudly during summer or winter league games.  There's a good reason for the noise: I love ultimate.  I'm really excited to be nominated to the AUDA board and think my blend of raw enthusiasm and professional experience with marketing and PR will be really good for the league’s leadership (leaguership? Leaguership).  I’ve played ultimate for ten years -- in college, for women’s and coed club teams, at silly tournaments, competitive tournaments, beach tournaments – and even wrote the chapter on cheers in “Ultimate: The Greatest Sport Ever Invented By Man.”  Yes, my passion for ultimate is well-documented.  But beyond that, I really think the sport is something special and my tenure on the AUDA board would be marked by getting the word out and strengthening sponsorship for and membership in our leagues.  I also love fun.

Ryan Dubowsky

Hello, my name is Ryan Dubowsky ("Doobs") and I am running for a position on the AUDA Board of Directors.  I am interested in the position because I have a true passion for the game of Ultimate. Additionally, I will be attending school in the area, so I have a vested interest in the well-being of AUDA.  I bring a unique skillset and perspective to the Board of Directors:  I have reached the rank of Eagle Scout and have attended a national leadership training course, which provided me with strong public speaking, group management, and problem solving skills. I have been playing Ultimate for 4 years and captained a team for two of those years -- SUNY New Paltz GUNX (2010/2011), Hasbrouk Heroes/Hudson Valley Club Ultimate (2010/2011), and 2011 AUDA Champion Brown Chicken Brown Cow.  I feel that my qualifications and love for the game make me an excellent candidate for the Board of Directors.

Deb Lee

I, Deborah Lee, am running for the AUDA Board for 2012.  Playing ultimate since 1998, in Albany since 2005, I feel a responsibility to a sport that has introduced me to so many great people.  I started Women’s Wednesdays in Albany in 2006, and I want to continue to grow the sport through organized play around Albany.  I am very happy with AUDA's development over the past couple years with the creation of the 3 Summer Leagues on a Monday through Thursday schedule and the new Winter League, and I would not suggest any major changes.  As a member of the AUDA board, my most important goals would be to secure field space and grow our leagues across all demographics, creating a safe, competitive, and enjoyable environment for everyone. 

Cara Martin

I have been playing competitive Ultimate for over a decade and been involved with AUDA since the summer of 2008.  For the past two years I have served as the AUDA treasurer and would like to continue in this capacity.  Serving as an organizer in the Ultimate community is not new to me.  From 2008 through 2010 I served as the Women's Coordinator for the College Metro East Region (prior to restructuring under USA Ultimate).  As such, I'm very familiar with the needs of Ultimate players, for leagues, clinics, and tournaments. 

Albany Ultimate has seen tremendous growth in the past three years.  With the right team of board members, I believe we can to continue to expand by focusing on youth clinics, women's league, and developing additional opportunities for members outside of the summer months.

Matt Martin

I have been playing Ultimate since 2001 and more specifically in the Albany area since 2008.  I am also currently coaching the area youth club team.  I have served AUDA in the past as a board member and President.  While I was not elected to serve on the board this past year, I am still interested in doing what I can to move the organization in a positive direction. 

With the growth in numbers of members in AUDA, I think it is important to ensure an enjoyable playing experience for everyone.  I am a firm believer in the inclusion of women in our leagues and doing everything possible to make their experience as much fun as it is for the men.

Jeremy McNamara

Most of you already know me so I'll keep it simple.  I've been around for a while and for the past 3 or 4 years I've been in charge of AUDA we've been improving greatly.  If you like the end of the year tourney, the awards, the Capitol Q barbecue, the social league special events, the womens league, or any of the other number of things I've brought to the league then vote for me.

Will Sloane

My name is Will Sloane I have played alongside many of you in summer and winter leagues over the past six years and I have served on the Board for the past four. During these past four years the Board has successfully transformed the organization, growing from one coed summer league into four leagues, substantially increasing the number of people playing ultimate in the area. Behind the scenes during this time, the Board has branded and incorporated the organization, overseen the creation of a website, transformed the bylaws and ensured a stable financial environment for the organization to continue its growth. I hope to be able to remain on the Board to continue to evolve the organization to meet the needs of our members and to expose others in the Capital Region to our great sport.

Carol Smith

I have been an AUDA board member for the past year.  I worked principally on publicity and I would like to focus on that again if elected to a second term.  I feel that I can contribute more effectively this year given what I have learned over the past year as a board member.

I am a latecomer to the sport of Ultimate.  I have played in women’s league for several years and for the past two years ago I have been playing in social league as well.  I enjoy both leagues very much and would like to help to increase participation in the sport. Thank you.

Paul Travers

I began playing ultimate 2 summers ago in the AUDA summer league and then began to start and co-captain the Skying Dutchmen ultimate club at Guilderland High School.  That same year I helped founded and co-captain Cap City Bang-Bang, the Albany youth club team, to a 7th place finish at their first appearance at the NYS high school championships.  I am currently a freshman at Umass Amherst and I am also an Eagle Scout and have been involved in and staffed national youth leadership training camps.  I will bring new ideas in the front of expanding the youth ultimate in Albany as well as working to make this year's summer league the best one yet.