I have 12 pages of notes, more people to talk to and a flight to catch, so please bear with me. I will post a painfully long update hopefully tonight.
I have 12 pages of notes, more people to talk to and a flight to catch, so please bear with me. I will post a painfully long update hopefully tonight.
Any chance we are going to hear from said Board of Directors about why?? ( and I don't mean a form letter in 3 months from now) How about today or tomorrow at the latest. With such a huge consensus it should be very easy for them to explain their decision in detail.
They want to screw the membership, and the sport of athletics.
There are four particularly disappointing aspects to this whole chapter in US track history.
1) the way that race, age, and gender were brought into the debate. I understand and support the notion that organizations must strive for diversity, so it's appropriate that these issues would be factors in comparing these two candidates, but the inflammatory manner in which age, race, and gender were brought into the discourse by both sides was unhelpful and distracting.
2) the fact that disrespectful language and unhelpful ways of talking about race, age, and gender distracted from the PRIMARY element--track record and competence. Competence and track record should have outweighed the issues of personal identity in this debate. Some folks articulated the respective records of the candidates, but by in large these hard facts were buried in the hearsay.
3) that the USATF Board members--particularly the 12 who voted against the wishes of the 85%--devoted no serious energy in explaining their decision. They have been virtually silent, and only making half-hearted responses when approached. It is always incumbent upon those who represent to articulate the reasons for voting as they do, but it is ESSENTIAL when you vote against the popular position. By not doing so they have taken a bad situation and thrown gasoline onto it.
4) the fourth reason I am disappointed is that I will now end my nearly 40 years as a volunteer for this organization and its predecessor. I have had enough. Bye bye.
Seriously, WTH? Is the Board trying to in fact cover Bob's arse because he's been filing bogus expense reports or worse?? When you over ride an 85% majority, you better come up with more than Steph gives us a better representative in these changing times. When the courts over ride a decision, it's accompanied by a gazzilion word arguement as to why they've reversed a decision. I would pay to have a rep from the Board stand in front of a microphone & explain their thinking, that's all. And field a few questions would be nice.
And for those USATF board members who are of the 'Love it or leave it' mentality (yes, all 12 of you), save your breath, like Mr. Keith, I'm outta here.
thanks polevaultpower
Seems Hersh took an undeserved hit because he told the truth. He said that the IAAF was not about to change it's practice of marginalizing women with-in the organization.
The only reason there are women on the council is there is a mandated quota. Given the choice of appointing an outspoken woman who advocates for giving women more power or a woman who will be glad to take what she gets and 'hold her place' who do you think the 'old boys network' is going to chose?
Is there enough support for an organized volunteer boycott?
mar828 wrote:
Is there enough support for an organized volunteer boycott?
LOL, are you kidding? There's not even enough support for this thread. As apathetic a bunch as I've ever seen. Too busy drinking, playing video games, looking at internet porn….
heh heh, well I guess they won't be volunteering for anything then
mar828 wrote:
Is there enough support for an organized volunteer boycott?
No, any boycotts (of joining USATF, volunteering, etc) hurt the wrong people and don't do anything to help.
I canceled my USATF membership a few years ago. This organization is a joke.
sad, sad, sad
The Donger wrote:
I canceled my USATF membership a few years ago. This organization is a joke.
I'm at the NCAA meet so I'll post more later.
I understand that many people have the sentiment to quit. This is so extremely disappointing. The fight is not over. The entire Board and the President serves the membership and can be removed from the membership.
I have not been a USATF member since I quit competing. Why would I need to be and the organization seems to me very dysfunctional? My thought process now is that we should not quit but that we should all join USATF, show up at the annual meeting and make a change.
For now all I can say is THEY DID IT AGAIN. #wearenotusatf
Ken Stone of the San Diego Times has written a piece on the Boards vote
http://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2015/03/14/usatf-board-sticks-to-course-keeps-hightower-as-iaaf-council-nominee/Shame on the Board of USATF. They clearly have forgotten who they serve.
What's extremely disappointing is that USATF still exists. The USOC needs to decertify it. I'm amazed that anyone thinks there's any other answer to this mess. Just shuffling the deck with the same personnel is not going to cut it.
What Extremely wrote:
What's extremely disappointing is that USATF still exists. The USOC needs to decertify it. I'm amazed that anyone thinks there's any other answer to this mess. Just shuffling the deck with the same personnel is not going to cut it.
Totally agree.
So what's new with TFAA? Viable alternative?
adsfdddd wrote:
So what's new with TFAA? Viable alternative?
They have (mostly) new leadership and should be putting out some new info soon. They are not a group that could replace USATF, but they have the potential to serve a really valuable function for the athletes by being an independent voice.
With the age of TV, internet and cable news, would be surprised if this doesn't get picked up. I doubt the TFAA will be effective. The USATF calls them a joke when asked.
I have had serious concerns about the TFAA. It appears that some former athletes and some soon to be former athletes are trying to hold on to some power and press. I saw the names listed then suddenly there was a vote. No results posted only names and one of the most known and deserving names was left off (see Troy James).
This should be TFAA's moment but chirp, chirp, chirp. Remember Stephanie supporter Sanya Richards-Ross was on the TFAA board until recently.
Who are the USATF board of directors?