Organization
Commissions - Officers
Google Form to express interest in being a member of one of the NBTA-USA Commission
Commissions
Chairperson and members for each commission will be announced in June of 2024
Chair - TBD
Liaison - Ann Marie Kennedy
This commission will be responsible for developing programs and materials to assist in the further creation, development, and retention of baton twirling coaches across the country. The Coaches commission will be available to help coaches solve problems, understand rules and ethical procedures, and suggest ways to make the public more aware of baton twirling. It is by developing and supporting coaches that we can help grow this sport.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Joanne Schlueter
This commission will have oversight on all collegiate events as defined in the NBTA-USA solo and team rules. Current events include collegiate solo, downfield, pride and tradition pregame team, and collegiate halftime show twirl team. The commission will also be responsible for coaches and judges training for collegiate events.
Chair - TBDLiaison - MIchael Stoeber
This commission will develop plans for the production, editing, and distribution of NBTA-USA’s digital magazine and will run the organization’s official website. The new website will include, but is not limited to, contest schedule, rules, judges’ directory, professional directory, and regional representatives. This commission will also serve as the initial contact for all comments, complaints, concerns, and suggestions from the twirling community, including athletes, parents, coaches, and judges.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Kathy Harris
This commission will develop a system to sanction and oversee all NBTA-USA events. Among the duties of this commission will be to provide assistance and resources to contest directors as well as promote events through a comprehensive online calendar. One of its main purposes is to standardize and provide consistency of competitions.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Joanne Schlueter
This commission will have oversight of all Corps events. It will be tasked with the development of associated materials, mentoring and encouragement of Corps directors and coaches, suggesting rule changes, and continued education of Corps judges.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Ann Marie Kennedy
This commission will work to increase the racial and socioeconomic diversity of baton twirling athletes in our country as well as diversity within the leadership. In addition, this commission will assist athletes and coaches to promote twirling for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Chair - TBDLiaison - Kathy Harris
This commission will be responsible for all financial matters, including budgeting, expenses, and the yearly audit of all accounts.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Michael Stoeber
This commission will assist in all matters concerning the USA representatives for the International Baton Twirling Federation (IBTF) World Championships as well as foster relations with twirling associations and groups on both the national and international levels. It will disseminate information for international judges training, coaches’ education, clinics, and associated events. It will coordinate with the United States Twirling Association (USTA) for the IBTF qualifying and travel procedures for international competitions.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Christine Radi
This commission will be responsible for the certification, training, and continuing education of our judges. Its role will include, but is not limited to, hosting judge’s workshops, producing informational materials, and maintaining the judges’ manual.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Kathy Harris
This commission will assist in presenting legal questions to NBTA-USA’s attorney. It will also address any issues concerning the safety of twirlers, and suggest rule changes and adjustments accordingly.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Michael Stoeber
This commission will have oversight of the promotion, scheduling, registration, and general management of all national level events.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Christine Radi
The Chair will have oversight of the Regional Representatives. These are twirling advocates who will (1) focus on creating a higher visibility in their area for baton twirling, (2) act as ‘collaborator’ for the NBTA-USA’s communication & social media commissions and digital magazine, and (3) bring unexpected problems that may arise in their area to the chair. This group will be vital to the promotion and growth of the sport of twirling in their region.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Ann Marie Kennedy
This commission will be responsible for any and all official social media accounts. The purpose of social media accounts is to serve as an official communication device to disseminate information and to promote the sport of baton twirling.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Christine Radi
This commission will have oversight on all individual events with the exception of collegiate events. This includes Solo, Two-Baton, Three-Baton, Super X Strut, Rhythmic Twirl, Show Twirl, Flag Twirl, Hoop Twirl, Basic Strut, Military March, Duet, Trio, and Modeling. This commission will be responsible for (1) clarification of existing rules, (2) suggesting rule changes, and (3) oversight of rule verification arising in individual solo events. In addition, this commission will continue to uphold the tradition and history of providing contestants with a quality pageant experience.
Chair - TBDLiaison - Joanne Schlueter
This commission will have oversight of all team events with the exception of collegiate events. It is tasked with the development of associated materials, mentoring and encouragement of team directors and coaches, suggesting rule changes, and continued education of team judges.
NBTA-USA Officers
Beverly Johnson
Executive Director
- Major Beverly Johnson is a former National Champion and coach of champions at every level and discipline. As a NBTA Int’l Board of Governors Member, President of WFNBTA (World Federation of National Baton Twirling Associations) and an USA Organizing Committee member supporting NBTA USA World teams since 1993, she is a passionate advocate of the NBTA baton twirling community, it’s athletes, coaches and judges. Bev is a member of the National Baton Twirling Hall of Fame and was one of the earliest to be granted the title of Major.
Kathy Harris
Board of Directors
- Kathy Harris is a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania and has been a part of NBTA for the last 50 years, during which time she directed the state Miss Majorette Pageant followed by the North Atlantic Regionals. While she recently retired from judging, Kathy is still coaching, currently serving as the chaperone for twirlers participating in the Lions Club Spring Festival in Trujillo, Peru and since 2012 is part of the USA World Championship Organizing Committee. Counted as one of her greatest achievements is to have had the privilege and satisfaction of having coached so many talented athletes and watching them rise to the highest levels in our sport.
Ann Marie Kennedy
Board of Directors
Ann Marie Kennedy started twirling at the age of 3 and took her first lessons in Jack DeVenney’s basement. She grew up in a twirling family and attended her first AYOP at Ole Miss in 1966 and has competed or coached at every consecutive AYOP. She has produced numerous national and world champions across all twirling organizations and traveled with athletes to every NBTA World Championship since 1992. Ann Marie is a registered NBTA judge, assisted with writing the WFNBTA judges manual, serves as a member of the WFNBTA Technical Committee and recently hosted a WFNBTA Rhythmic Twirl webinar. When she is not coaching baton, you can find her on the sidelines of Maryland Terrapins sporting events, as the head coach of the University of Maryland Dance team.
Christine Radi
Board of Directors
- Christine Radi's involvement in baton twirling began at the age of 5 as therapy for a broken elbow and torn ligaments. She found her passion for the sport and continued as a competitor and performer, then as a coach, judge, parent and contest director. She was a NY State Champion, feature twirler at Cornell University and twirled as a Goodwill Ambassador in 17 countries. She founded and directed 4 recreational corps and her competitive teams & private students have won titles from State to World Championship levels. Her daughters were both Miss Majorettes of America. Christine has been honored to judge the WFNBTA World Championships numerous times, conducted judging seminars in Europe and online, been a member of the WFNBTA Judges Commission since 2014, and the USA Organizing Committee since 2015. She was inducted into the National Baton Twirling Hall of Fame in 2006.
Major Joanne Schlueter
Board of Directors
Major Joanne Aughenbaugh Schlueter began twirling lessons in grade school as her mother hoped it would help Joanne cope with her “painful shyness”. She loved the sport and worked hard hoping to perform with the national REA band which her grandfather directed. This introduced her to show twirling and she was a paid performer at many community festivals, banquets, etc. Joanne graduated from SDSU and was feature twirler for the “Pride of the Dakota’s Marching Band”. Joanne taught school and baton twirling in SD, MN, Utah and Illinois. In Utah, she founded and directed the Silver Seagulls of Salt Lake City, the Peach City Strutters of Brigham City and coached the 25- member twirling line for Murray High. In addition to teaching school and baton in Illinois, she directed the Silver Knights Drum and Baton Corps for 18 years winning 14 Grand National Championships. Joanne received the Outstanding Corps Director of the Year, the Distinguished Service to Baton Twirling awards and was inducted into the Twirling Hall of Fame. She has judged 9 WFNBTA world competitions and is director of AYOP’s National Collegiate championship. Joanne received the honor and title of Major Schlueter in 2019.
Michael Stoeber
Board of Directors
- Michael Stoeber's involvement first started in the Marching Band as a performer on several brass instruments as well as director, arranger and drill writer for several high school and collegiate bands. As a professional career, Michael was part of the University of Florida football staff for 17 years and the Jacksonville Jaguars football staff for 11 years and is now employed by ProFootballFocus. Michael's role on the national baton twirling level has included numerous behind the scenes activities. As an associate of Don Sartell, Mike has been responsible for AYOP registration, organization, facility logistics and results, both onsite and online since 2004. His work also includes website design and operation, including rules changes and scoresheet editing. He has also run a successful open NBTA sanctioned contest since 2000. He has been a member of the USA Organizing Committee since 2022.