#WeAreUSATF - It's time to show them you care -Final Editorial on Bob Hersh-Stephanie Hightower

not big on social media, but really hope they change their minds. It would make an important statement about willingness to listen to their representation

Nice article. Thanks, Wejo.

One piece of information that was new to me is that the L&L committee seems to have amended the rules so that the delegates had the opportunity to voice their opinion (vote) on the delegate. Is it correct that they did not have the opportunity to do this previously?

If that's the case, the cynic in me can't help but think there is even more to the story. I suspect:

- Hightower had it all lined up with the Board that she would be nominated

- Hersch and his supporters knew this and tried to get the rules changed so the voice of the members would be heard

- Hightower tried to block this change (via the parliamentarian you referred to)because it would ruin her plans, but the rules were changed and we all know the result....392 to 70

- The Board went ahead with their plan to nominate Hightower anyway. That was the plan all along, so why let the L&L committee or the members get in the way.

This might not be exactly how it played out, but it sure makes the organization look pretty bad.

The rules in place prior to the annual convention called for only the Board to select the IAAF Council nominee.

David Greifinger proposed an amendment to let the delegates vote on the nominee and this could be overturned with a 2/3 vote of the Board. The parliamentarian protested this getting through. There were two issues 1) whether could it be voted on at all by the L&L Committee and 2) whether it was emergency legislation that would have to require 90% of the delegates to approve.

Eventually it got through the L&L Committee and not has emergency legislation. The delegates then approved the measure and that gave them the right to vote Stephanie or Bob and they voted 85% Bob, 15% Stephanie.

What is so wrong with the people having a say I ask the Board unless you have no intent of listenig to them. The smartest man in the room might try and overturn an 85% vote with all sorts of explanations, the wisest man in the room respects it.

Change.org petition could be a way to get real names down as well. Easy to create. Easy to provide a mission. Nothing really legal about it but it's a concrete list.

emails sent to board members

trying to appeal to desire for consensus of membership unless anyone has a better strategy

I found this when I google searched "we are usatf"

http://weareusatf.org/weareustaf/Welcome.html

"We believe that USA Track & Field (USATF), the National Governing Body commissioned by Congress to administer the Olympic sport of Track & Field (Athletics), has violated elements of the Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act, it's own charter and fair practices with the following actions.

- Reversing the unanimous 392-70 membership vote to reselect Bob Hersh as IAAF delegate, and, instead, nominate Stephanie Hightower for the IAAF Council

- Ignoring the recommendation of both Men's and Women's Long Distance Running Committees to select the Houston Marathon as host of the 2015 US Olympic Trials Marathon, instead selecting the Los Angeles Marathon which has never hosted a U.S. championship, unlike Houston, a long time host of the US Half Marathon Championships and the 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trials.

- Administrative wrongdoings including: a) the disqualification of two athletes from the 2014 US Indoor Championships under pressure from Nike coach Alberto Salazar (both DQs being reversed later); b) lack of transparency and lack of communication to coaches and athletes with regards to national team selections; c) attempts to grab power from both the Committees and the membership of USA Track & Field.

As members of USA Track & Field, we are petitioning the United States Olympic Committee and its Ombudsman to perform oversight, to censure, and to force corrective measures to compel both the Board of Directors and the National Office to act in the best interest of USA Track & Field's athletes, coaches, and officials as directed by USATF's charter.

If such resolution cannot be obtained, we petition the USOC to charge a different organization with the responsibility of administering the sport of Track & Field as NGB."

but spread the word on my end.

I will be at the Board Meeting tomorrow. I do not plan on "live tweeting" it, but I will take copious notes and give a thorough report. @polevaultpower on Twitter

Also, I hear that John Chaplin will be giving a presentation on how we should be doing things at USATF Indoors. Good thing I brought a lot of paper!

thanks polevault for continuing to give us the scoop on what's going on.

usatf indoors was pretty good this year, two complaints: a) the schedule was too padded with downtime between track events, b) seats were WAY too pricey, Saturday was $35 to see finals of 4 track events?

USATF board voted 12-1 this morning not to rescind Dec vote on IAAF rep. in written ballot in open meeting (no discussion on merits) at Lowes Santa Monica Beach Hotel.

Sydney Olympic coach John Chaplin, the famously blunt-spoken Men's Committee chair for years, has come out for Hightower, saying: "We need younger people over the long haul." John is 78.

http://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2015/03/16/ex-olympic-coach-backs-hightower-lauds-usatf-boards-long-haul-view/

K E N

nother usa member wrote:

thanks polevault for continuing to give us the scoop on what's going on.

usatf indoors was pretty good this year, two complaints: a) the schedule was too padded with downtime between track events, b) seats were WAY too pricey, Saturday was $35 to see finals of 4 track events?

?? That's the new USATF.

When nobody pays, there will be ample excuses.

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Oooh look!! Nike swoosh!