Your USATF $$ at work!

I bet USATF will take credit for this:

http://www.runnersultimatenet.com/

Another great example of Private business doing what USATF is not smart enough to do.

But they are in Hawaii THINKING about doing it!!!

They just congratulated themselves on setting up the 2008 VISA indoor series! It will be on a TV station near you!

This just in:

USATF On-The-Road" Tour Operator

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to tour the country, traveling to local, regional and national-caliber track & field and running events? Well, here’s your chance! USA Track & Field, the National Governing Body for track & field, long distance running, and race walking, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is seeking two qualified candidates to do just that and more.

USA Track & Field’s “On-The-Road” program will have an extensive tour schedule, which will include stops at various track & field meets, road races, and other events. Two Tour Operators will work as a team, driving from event to event and executing the core aspects of the tour. The Tour Operators will be the “face” of the tour.

The goal of the tour is to promote USA Track & Field (USATF). To achieve this goal, the tour will promote USATF membership, support anti-doping campaign efforts, visit member club practices and clinics, support the Visa Championship Series and National Championship events, sell USATF/Nike merchandise, promote the USA Track & Field Foundation, visit various running specialty group stores and major road race expos, and utilize

www.usatf.org

to promote the tour itself.

What lacky is going to get this plum job??

Once again the Hansons start something and then USATF jumps aboard and acts like it is their idea. This sounds exactly like the Saturn Bus that the Hansons have been taking around the country and talking to running communities all over the United States while spreading the message of the advantages of running to the public.

The Hansen's started reality TV?

Seoul Man wrote:

The Hansen's started reality TV?

Duh? Of course....

Five guys living in one house. Can't date the girls in the other house and have a one beer limit per week.

See what happens when horny dry guys running 150 miles per week get real.

See what happens when Brian Sell sucker punches a recent college grad and a strange rash makes it way through the team.

Listen to Kevin Hanson's intimate confessions in the "privacy booth"....

"I really like Trent Briney, but he is so damn skinny. Crap, I hate him! I hate him, I hate him, I hate him! I'm going to cry. Either he leaves Rochester or I do! boo hoo, boo hoo, sob"

On the next episode of Saturn Bus Rules, unwitting Kevin steps on the Saturn bus glancing up at the ceiling mirror only to see the naked sinewed flesh of two, maybe three, persons (male? female? we don't know) either writhing in passion or self massaging themselves on a foam roller!

Wait! Wait! Who's that new guy in the group?

Why it's Flava Flave, the first black Brooks-Hansons member fit and ready to win the Disney Half Marathon!

OK, I'll bite on this troller...The position USATF is advertising has been around for several years before the Saturn bus.These guys & gals who drive around to various meets drive in rental trucks that has besides the USATF merchandise sold at meets, all the signage and banners you see on USATF's televised meets (Nike, Visa, etc.). These folks are generally kids just out of college looking for a break into the sports marketing field, and are willing to drive around the country doing grunt work.Before you open your piehole, you might want to do your research, PAL!

Lotsa luv wrote:

Once again the Hansons start something and then USATF jumps aboard and acts like it is their idea. This sounds exactly like the Saturn Bus that the Hansons have been taking around the country and talking to running communities all over the United States while spreading the message of the advantages of running to the public.

Yea, this idea of a bus tour for USATF has been around for a while. Give me a break! What meets are they going to go to?

Ask 99% of high school coaches what USATF is and they will give you a blank stare....heck, ask 70% of college coaches about USATF and you'd get the same laugh. It is very typical of USATF always shifting the blame for something and taking credit for something that is not their idea.

Some associations don't pay at all, and some pay only a small amount, enough to cover registration. A few lucky people might get everything paid. The only advantage is that the trip expenses are tax deductible as a charitable contribution, so its a good way to fly out to Hawaii, tack on a vacation, and get a bit of a discount (35% or so in my bracket, plus group-rate hotel). Its sad though that I'll have to waste several days with the convention, but I guess the 35% discount comes with a cost. Indianapolis, not so great a vacation spot, but still fun and a relatively cheap vacation after the tax deduction. Same with Jacksonville the year before.

Anyhow, no one is there on the gravy train. People that get their trip paid for are rare and probably doing a huge amount of work, or are athletes that deserve a reward now and then (i think 25% of the attendees are required to be elite or sub-elite athletes, or something like that). Many people there don't do much, more educational for them and fun, but they're out-of-pocket quite a bit, and probably paid their dues at the local level. How many hours have they volunteered, and at what personal cost? (work, family). Probably a lot. Races take a lot of work.

I think the general sentiment here is that the USATF sucks. There are many valid criticisms of the organizations, but calling convention as a junket isn't one of them.

Anyhow, no one is there on the gravy train. People that get their trip paid for are rare and probably doing a huge amount of work, or are athletes that deserve a reward now and then (i think 25% of the attendees are required to be elite or sub-elite athletes, or something like that). Many people there don't do much, more educational for them and fun, but they're out-of-pocket quite a bit, and probably paid their dues at the local level. How many hours have they volunteered, and at what personal cost? (work, family). Probably a lot. Races take a lot of work.

I think the general sentiment here is that the USATF sucks. There are many valid criticisms of the organizations, but calling convention as a junket isn't one of them.

______________________________________________________________

Ask Frank Rodenbaugh of USATF Three Rivers what he is doing there in Hawaiiand if USATF Three Rivers had an open/masters CC meet this past fall. Perhaps he is getting ideas of how to better run his little "kingdom" Ask him if they have an open/masters indoor meet in the winter. Both answers are no! Ask him why!

By the way, USATF has set minimum standards as to what Associations are supposed to be doing for their members. This was the reason for the increase of dues to USATF. Ask Andy Martin why probably 75% of the 57 Associations do not meet these minimum standards and why they are allowed to keep operating! Frank Rodenbaugh should save his money because he is just wasting time time there in Hawaii! It would be better spent trying to find an indoor facility to host an Association indoor meet!

USATF does not suck, it is the individual Association Presidents and Officers at the local level who do nothing to promote the sport, but rather keep hanging on to their titles to go on these junkets. I have never heard of one of them who has turned the convention down (they will give the excuse that they have to attend), to save member dues to support local meets that they put on!

It doesn't help that we are in the Lake Erie Association... by far the worst, most unsupportive, and unorganized USATF association in the entire United States!

I'll second that about Lake Erie USATF as being terrible!

Not being familiar w/ 3 Rivers, i'll take you on your word. BUT, do not blame any Association President for something not getting done if you have not gone with an organized plan for addressing the issue and been denied (not that it would happen). Basically, unless you are willing to fill the gap in programs in 3 Rivers, stop bitching that it isn't being done, because you just sound like a whiny bitch.

THE reason that 75% of the Associations (in your words) don't meet the minimum Article 15 standards is people whine instead of solving problems. Get off your ass and do it, if its so damn important to you. Otherwise, go watch some hentai and relieve your frustrations.

Having been to quite a few Ann Mtgs, most people there bust their asses, on mostly their own money, to put back into the sport they love. Some bigwigs get expenses paid. Some scumbags (Chaplin, Brooks, Hightower) screw anyone w/ an orifice to stay in power. Most everyone unwinds after 16 hour days of meetings with a drink or two every night and occasionally there is a party or two.

Generally, it is a worthwhile event that involves a lot of work and includes some fun. Hawaii was a dumb choice, but the people there always travel to the mainland and its nice to save them some time and money once every 20+ years.

I have no sympathy for those who bitch and whine on the message board! If you feel so strongly about 3 rivers assn.., then get the officers' asses voted out of office! Get some club leaders & active card carrying members together and show up at their meetings! You have the power to make the change! Bitching like a little girl on letsrun.com only maintains the status quo!

BTW, all I get from my association is $160 total and that's after I show up. I am gonna bust my ass at the meetings then go to a luau tonight. Hell, don't know if I will ever be back to Hawaii again!

call em ou wrote:

I have no sympathy for those who bitch and whine on the message board! If you feel so strongly about 3 rivers assn.., then get the officers' asses voted out of office! Get some club leaders & active card carrying members together and show up at their meetings! You have the power to make the change! Bitching like a little girl on letsrun.com only maintains the status quo!

BTW, all I get from my association is $160 total and that's after I show up. I am gonna bust my ass at the meetings then go to a luau tonight. Hell, don't know if I will ever be back to Hawaii again!

OK, so tell us what meetings you're going to. How much do you actually put out of pocket? Did you have to take vacation days to get there? Where in the country did you fly from? Do you get reimbursed from any groups that you work with either at home or at the annual meeting?

I've been there. If you're doing it right these things are no picnic. I think the complaint is rather why we (the members ) are paying the entire office staff and executive committee of USATF to fly from Indianapolis to Hawaii? Is there a more expensive place in the US to get to?

Well I guess there's no reply there.

Let's move on. So Craig is announcing that we're in the black for the first time since he took over. Can anyone imagine how well off we'd be without the dead wood and constant waste?

Does anybody else shudder at the thought of a Hightower/Johnson tandem running this organization soon?

call em ou

RE: Your USATF $$ at work! 11/29/2007 1:52PM - in reply to mjr Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

I have no sympathy for those who bitch and whine on the message board! If you feel so strongly about 3 rivers assn.., then get the officers' asses voted out of office! Get some club leaders & active card carrying members together and show up at their meetings! You have the power to make the change! Bitching like a little girl on letsrun.com only maintains the status quo!

BTW, all I get from my association is $160 total and that's after I show up. I am gonna bust my ass at the meetings then go to a luau tonight. Hell, don't know if I will ever be back to Hawaii again!

______________________________________________________________

YOU HAVE THE POWER- yea right.....It is kind of hard to vote out an incestuous group of power mongers out of office when they hold a majority of the votes. I'm sure you only get $160.00, you must not know the right people in your Association. What meeting did you attend and what big decisions were made to move the sport forward?

Nah, sounds like you're a moaner and not willing to step up. I'm not very impressed with my local USATF but am encouraged by some of the stories from around the country. If your group isn't performing, make sure the silent majority knows.