He won't come here and answer any questions, so I wouldn't vote for him. Most of these board candidates are hiding their true agenda.

This whole thing has really turned me off to triathlon, and the USAT in particular.

Race directors are fighting like school children to get a piece of the "board" pie. It's all about money and power, not the good of the sport.

-Robert

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"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank

I wouldn't let this board thing turn you off to triathlon. . .I was at a Fred Sommers (current sitting board member) Tri-America event last weekend and didn't hear or witness a single thing relating to it. Would you let your dislike for the President or a member of Congress make you dislike the United States? Chances are fairly good that you've disliked one or the other of the last two Presidents, and there's always a Congressman/Senator or two that are making Jackasses of themselves.

Triathlon is alive and strong. . .But you are 100% correct about one thing. . .This BOD election and petition vote are producing behavior out of those involved that is not in keeping with "the good of the sport."

What was that race? Wasn't there one in, what, Richmond?

I hope it was small. Fred's races here have been the victim of his success. Way too many people in too short a time on the course. Fred's a great guy but something has to be done about the sheer numbers of racers allowed on a course. The bike and swim courses are like free fire zones. :) I've been out of the Marines for almost 40 years and have no plans to re-enlist. :)

The United States is a lot more stable and older than USAT. I've never given up hope for the U.S., but USAT has been run into the ground by race directors and the pettiness of those who want power at any cost. Also, this election is already screwed up. We know a court battle is just 30 days away, if that. And, look at all the race directors trying to grab a piece of the pie. It's sickening to watch.

Dan is the only one running I can support and I can't vote for him. :( If I don't get my ballot in the mail I won't be voting for anyone.... Sheezh...what a mess.

-Robert

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"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank

It was the Hampton, VA race, and yes, it was smaller than the other CFT/Sommersports races I've done, including the GFT.

Oh, and be careful about proclaiming your support for Dan. Those that agree with him, in whole or part, are being smeared elsewhere on this forum as Slowman-lemmings. . .

Just kidding about being careful. I just though it was funny that someone assumes that if we are part of this forum and we happen to agree with Dan at all, that we are then not mature enough to make up our own minds about this situation. Rather, that we are all under his Kaa-like hypnotic prose and voting the USAT into some sort of "good ol' boys" grave. I think the whole business stinks to high-heaven. Its a bit disconcerting to watch folks quite a bit older than my 35 years acting like first graders on the playground fighting over the last open swing.

How was the bike course? Hilly? My two sons live near there and so I've thought about doing the race next year.

-Robert

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"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank

Its a pancake flat, 2 lap bike course, except for a short little rise over some water. The swim tends to be a bit difficult due to either current (last year) or chop (this year), but nothing unmanageable. The top swim times this year were still in the 18s. The run is a great course, if not a bit exposed. My only "complaint" is the mile or so around the turnaround point where you don't double back. . .preventing me from getting a good look at the leader(s) in my age group. Had I seen how close I was, I could certainly have picked up my pace and knocked off another few of them. Instead I stayed on my race plan and cruised the run, really just enjoying the day. All in all. . .great race. Its a typical Sommers production, but minus the crowded race course. Assuming you are in the over 50 crowd (referencing a previous post), you would have been wave 2 this year, meaning even fewer folks crowding your course, at least for the first bike lap.

I decided to run for the Board of Directors, because I didn't like what was happening. And when I made that decision I hadn't seen all of the information that's currently available.

I am not a race director, I do not make money based on USAT decisions and directions, other than coaching triathletes and runners and swimmers and cyclists. I started my coaching career in 1965 as a swim coach - right out of college.

My agenda is to return the organization to the members, to give the members a voice in the organization.

I have never been involved with the organization, except as a member, before. My hope is that a new person, a member without special interests and ties to the business of triathlon will stir some interest and I'll be able to make your voice heard.

nlc

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nlc

http://www.SLB-Coaching.com

For me Frailty is a lot harder to bear than dying.

"I mean if he's going to resign that seems a little bit shady."

i don't see that his resignation is worrisome. the chair of our federation's legal committee, david backer, also resigned. i'd rather be concerned about how many more resignations are coming down the pike if girand and gattis are reelected. not to mention the fact that the USOC appears to me to be totally disgusted with those two, and were they to be reelected i'd be very worried about any more USOC money if i was an elite athlete.

however, i'm not answering the question you asked. the race for at-large is between steve locke and val gattis. this one is a no brainer. steve locke is your choice.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

   

Amen, brother, and good luck! I can't vote for you, unfortunately.

-Robert

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"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank

Here is my take. It really doesn't matter for whom you vote in the at-large election as long as you do not vote for the regional representative aligned with that individual,"the ticket." If two of the three of the Gattis-Girand-Burke get in, they have two allies in Becker-Sommer. If Weiss-Locke get in they have two allies, Davison-Plotecia. Either of these alliances combined with the elites, gives their slate the same majority and voting power of the previos group and if the petition doesn't pass, woe be USAT.
BTW, the elites are aligned with anything that keeps the duathlon thingy funded. They do not want to see Empfield on the board because of this. In a power struggle with the scenarios listed Empfield and USAT are the losers.

Bob Sigerson

Thanks, sig. Now I'm really confused. Just what in the heck is wrong with the "duathlon thingy" What have I missed somewhere along the way?

Your post sounds very cynical. Alliances? Voting Power? Alignment? Power Struggles? You make it sound like none of these folks are capable of thinking and acting according to their own conscience. Where-oh-where, then are the folks who can deliver us from this parochial childishness?

I think the duathlon reference is the director position that Dan has referenced. Some board members want to keep that post distince, even though tri members far outnumber du members. Or it could be something else of which I am not aware.

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I think you are saying what I am thinking. :) This election probably will ultimately not make a big difference to the age group athletes unless Dan is elected, in which case his one measley vote, plus his advantage of having a very large audience, might make a small difference to age groupers. The race directors win, and the duathletes win (probably) even IF Dan is elected.

Am I translating correctly? (I actually am as confused as most of the rest of the age groupers.)

-Robert

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"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank

Thanks - for some reason I thought there were more than those two candidates.

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_______________________________________________

If you are in the Eastern Region, you can add a second board member that is committed to the age group athlete and is not a race director or some tri business owner (although I am a tri coach) - ME! for more info on my platform see the ballot or the USAT website (or my website).

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nlc

http://www.SLB-Coaching.com

For me Frailty is a lot harder to bear than dying.

Bob,

I believe you are in "la-la" land here. First of all the Elites have no love for me or the Plotecia/Davison" Team. So irrespective if I win or not there will be no set alliance. Let's also set the record straight here regarding your 2 Louisiana buddies: JJ & "no-show" Burke. Burke was elected twice to the Regional Board and was removed both times for failure to make ANY meetings, I know, I was on that Board. He also sat on the Duathlon Commission for 3 years and never made any of those meetings. I have heard from sources on the Regional Board how you cry and moan that Texas is over represented in the Region. Ever figure it's because folks like your buddy "no show' is just that. I wonder which USAT Board meetings he'll make if elected. My guess it will be the one's that continues to give him championships and lines his pockets, otherwise he'll be a ghost. As for JJ, he's a lackey for "no show" Burke and his mouth piece at best. His latest antic of spamming everyone is now back firing and may have got him in some serious trouble.

You need to grow up and quit your whinning. Be a big boy and take some responsibility. I noticed you were conspicuously absent from the last BOD meeting in Dallas. Solid display of leadership as an elected member. Keep up the fine work!



Jack Weiss

Robert, I understand your argument about the RD's having a conflict of interest but take a look at the non RD's on the board who had a bigger financial stake in USAT. Valerie Gattis is on record as wanting to be ED, a 6 figure job. If she were in power for 6 years, she would have put enough pressure on Locke to resign an she would have the bloc to vote her into the ED job. Another non RD, Jim Girand, has a website for his consulting business where he puts fledgling companies together with Japanese companies. Don't you think it was a business coup for him to put Amino Vital together with USAT.
What I'm saying is that the blocs have got to be split up. You have to vote with a regional rep not aligned with an at-large rep. There are already two distinct voting blocs with another year on the board and then there are the three elites. Since they benefit from the duathlon commission and especially the link to duathlon.com, they don't appreciate Dan's call to kill that commission as overspending our money. I have believed that way for aome time now, and in deference to Desert Dude and Mike Plum, duathlon is waning in popularity and triathlon is gaining.
Hope I explained myself a little better.

Bob Sigerson

Is there an attendence record for BOD members? If not, there should be and it should be made public as part of this campaign. I'd sure like to know if the guy I voted for is a SLACKER.

Jack is obviously trying not to air out ALL of the dirtly laundry, but some people seem to be "asking" for it.

Good post Jack.

"they don't appreciate Dan's call to kill that commission as overspending our money."

i'd like to amplify on this. i have no problem with the duathlon commission. i also like duathlon, having been to almost every desert princess duathlon in the old days, many coors series races, the du worlds in germany in the early 90s, and several zofingen duathlons in the same time frame. du is cool. it is much cooler than people realize. i hope to help make du big once again, as it threatened to be once before but didn't quite get over the hump.

that said, my interest, fiscally, is in the position of the duathlon coordinator. my question is, is this pork, simply created to appease and get the alliance of elites, and because girand and gattis and others were primarily duathletes? this question may get the hair up on the backs of some, but i believe it's a fair question.

the reason it's fair is this: what does a duathlon coordinator do? this job either functions or it doesn't. if it does, let's have a few of these people to do the same thing for triathlon. if it doesn't, let's just get rid of it.

programs work or they don't. if they work, let's have more of the same. if they don't, let's replace these things with things that work, or maybe just cut the membership dues and allow the members to keep that money. we're not running a food stamp program, and we don't need pork just to help board members forge an alliance. but maybe i'm wrong. maybe the duathlon coordinator is a good idea. but if it is, then it ought to be MULTISPORT COORDINATOR and we ought to leverage whatever this program is to everything that is multisport. duathlon is part of the family. it deserves the BEST we can do as a federation, just like triathlon does. not more, not less.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

Jack, I will not now nor ever vote for you nor will I vote for my Louisiana buddy, Bill Burke and I like him. I guess you know whose box I will mark if I ever get a ballot.

Bob Sigerson

Bob,

Good answer but your response tells me that I hit gold since you have failed to address any of the issues I raise. How does it feel now to be on the defensive. It's no fun but in this case you are reaping what you sowed. You are but one more poor example of someone that has no clue and is a detriment to the region just by showing up. Next time you want to take me on bring the truth not the fantasies you seem to live in.

Jack Weiss

TxDude,

There is a record at the national level of Board attendence but I cannot speak to the individual regions. They should since they are required to maintain minutes of the meeting. My info was first hand on the scene knowledge.

Jack Weiss

Jack, did I miss the meeting where you came into the room and used the f word when the Ramada pushed you out of the atrium because they were painting it. Did Russell pay me $50 for being a ghost.
I am not whining about being in "your" region. I am just being true to my constituents who, if they wish to participate in regional championships, typicall have to travel five or more hours to said championships. Conversely, I do not think it fair for someone in Dallas or Austin to consistantly have to travel to New Orleans for ever championship race. It cost me almost $200 in gas to travel to the two(2) board meetings I have attended and that should not be the case for volunteer board members or the athletes.
I am not supporting Bill nor do I approve of JJ's inuendo at the beginning of his attack on Locke. I don't know how he got your e-mails but I hope they cost you a couple of votes.
Nor do I approve of your using "the only honest candidate" knowing what I know.
Did this whine answer your substantive questions?

Bob Sigerson

sig, i notice you didn't have a lot to say in your last post. i just want to tell you that there is one place where your attendance record is exceptional, and is much appreciated, and that is here on this forum.

what happens in texas is a mystery to me, and i'd as soon keep it that way (except when my official capacity as board member causes me to look over my fellow board member jack's shoulder -- though, it's still academic whether i'll have to be looking over his shoulder, or the shoulder of my fellow board member in louisiana or michigan).

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman