On Thursday, August 1, USA Wrestling notified the wrestling community that it was requesting its Founding Partners to renew their membership. The release was posted on TheMat.com, and the response was almost immediate.    In just a few hours, six Founding Partners had already sent in their dues and became Partner members for the second straight year.    Mary Beth Powers of Colorado, who works for USA Wrestling as its Manager of Finance, immediately wrote a check and renewed as a Partner. Powers has worked for USA Wrestling longer than any other employee, joining the company in April 1988.    Wrestling legend Dan Gable's Partner membership was also quickly renewed. Gable, who lives in Iowa, was a World and Olympic Champion wrestler and record-setting coach for the Univ. of Iowa. He was the first Partner member in history when the program was initiated just over a year ago.    Also notifying USA Wrestling with payment for a renewal Partner membership was Mike Clair of Pennsylvania. Clair currently works with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, managing its State Chapter program. He is also a former employee with the National Wrestling Coaches Association, and a wrestling leader in his state.    The ability to sign up online was also utilized by two past champion wrestlers, Frank Famiano of Florida and Adam Derengowski of New Jersey.    Famiano, who competed on the 1984 U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman team, quickly went to the online form and sent in his dues payment. Famiano was a college star at SUNY-Brockport and competed on a number of major U.S. Greco-Roman teams.    Derengowski, who was a member of USA Wrestling's Freestyle Team USA, also made sure to get his renewal in right away. Derengowski was a college star at Rider Univ.    USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender of Colorado also submitted his payment for a Partner member renewal on the first day that the renewal drive was in place.    How many more Partner member renewals will be sent in today and in the coming days?    The USA Wrestling Partner program is now a year old, and USA Wrestling is inviting Founding Partners to renew their membership with the organization.    A total of 425 individuals were recognized as Founding Partners, by signing up for the new Partner program prior to January 1, 2002. This special group of wrestling supporters helped USA Wrestling to initiate the new membership category, which is designed for those who enjoy wrestling to stay involved and active in the sport, year after year.     Renewal letters for the Partner program have been sent to Founding Partners who have been members for a full year. An article encouraging Founding Partners to renew their membership was also included in the July/August issue of USA Wrestler.    All Founding Partners will forever retain their membership number, based upon their order of sign up during the 2001 membership drive.     The new USA Wrestling gift for Partner members who sign up for a second year will be a handsome medal USA Wrestling key chain.    Every year, each Partner receives a membership card, a year subscription to USA Wrestler, a Partner gift, access to the USA Wrestling Member-only web site, and a decal and more. Annual dues are just $30.    Those who have never been Partners are encouraged to join today. Any new Partner will receive the special personalized USA Wrestling bag tag. In addition, anyone who signs up for the first time during the 2002 calendar year will still be recognized as Charter members of the Partner program.    If you are a Founding Partner, please renew your membership today. If you have never been a Partner, please join us.    You can become a Partner by filling out a membership form (either in USA Wrestler or in printed flyers) or by going to the membership form on USAWrestling.org or TheMat.com