NERunner053 wrote: I also feel like NYRR could have been hitting the virtual scene a lot harder.
As someone who works in the industry, the industry perception of NYRR is that they were already ahead of the curve in the virtual space. They may not be doing tons of new virtual stuff, but that’s likely because they were already dedicating substantial resources to an established virtual program and also because they’re spending substantial resources on figuring out and then executing on plans to make their various groups (existing registrants, folks in 9+1 and 4 of 6 programs, fundraising charities, etc) as close to whole as they can. Those existing commitments have to take priority, although I wouldn’t be shocked now that they’ve canceled the marathon if we see some new virtual programming from them in relatively short order.
And while I’m very much a “burn down the system“ kind of guy, another industry impression is that the higher ups at NYRR (Michael, Jim, Ted, etc) are very good at their jobs. If I were an NYRR board member, I would want to make sure I both retain them and keep their focus on how to successfully revamp their business model, rather than being worried about whether they need to be downsizing their apartment/townhome, or looking for outside consulting work (which they could all easily have, even now). Folks who say that there are numerous folks who could and would do the job for less money at the end of a successful career underestimate both how big those jobs are (it’s not a coast into retirement job—there are elements that are rewarding, for sure, but it’s hard work and long hours) and the specific skills, relationships, and personality traits that are needed to do them successfully in a non-profit environment in a market like New York.
That being said, much of the non-profit sector is a sham that’s used to entrench the elite’s priorities. And there is maybe a case to be made that a larger pay cut would be appropriate. But that seems a little like quibbling with specifics when the larger issue is that we’re looking for corporations (including non-profits who of course aren’t structured to weather a pandemic and are figuring this stuff out on the fly like the rest of us) to be a social safety net for their employees when that is supposed to be the government’s job—one that is has proven increasingly, tragically, and unacceptably unwilling to do since the Reagan era. I can see being angry at businesses that have lobbied for tax cuts that undermine funding for the social safety net while at the same time grinding their workers into acceptance of lower and lower pay and worse and worse benefits (and now are claiming that they can’t even support that and are either reducing pay or eliminating positions)—I’m furious about that!—but I don’t think it’s fair to paint NYRR with that brush.
Basically, tax the hell out of the rich (and corporations!), but don’t fault a non-profit for doing what it needs to do to keep the near-uniquely talented and experienced staff that is has and needs to weather this unprecedented storm.
Flame away...