today. . .and dutifully read through all the recommended reading. I’ve read most of the pertinent discussions here and elsewhere on the web. And I’ve got to say. . .at this point I don’t feel prepared to make any decision, whether for director(s) or on the petition. The documentation at all sources hasn’t really clarified anything for me, except that there is a lot of stuff going on here. I’m a fairly smart and educated guy (well, some here might debate that, but its a generally held opinion among those that know me. . .). What in the hell am I missing here? I’m having a far easier time deciding who I’m going to vote for U.S. president than make these decisions. That’s scary.
Is this vote the end of the world? No. Is it going to seriously affect my participation in multisport? No. But something appears seriously amiss here, and we seem to have an opportunity to take a step in getting back on track. I’d like to make an informed decision, but at the moment I feel like I’m less than fully informed. . .anyone else feel that way?
(This isn’t a thread about “who should we vote for.” That’s a personal decision and shouldn’t be put forth in a public forum.)
went to the mailbox and nothing but junk mail and no usat ballot. not that it’s junk mail but…
I’m w/you tribriguy after rereading all the posts it’s like a big CF.
I got mine today - and like other I got no idea who to vote for. More like who do I not want to vote for and then what is left. Seems like making the lesser of many evils decision.
PS - evil in this sentance is not mean to depict any one person on an individual, personal sense.
I read the BRP docs and know who I’m not voting for, if I get a ballot (none yet). I’d like to make an informed decision but having a hard time knowing who’s in it for the good of the sport. I think the trouble is truth telling/plain speaking is more novelty than the rule.
I truly believe some, if not most of these folks have the good of the sport in mind. But wanting the good of the sport and being capable of bringing it about in ways tangeable to the members. . .well. . .that’s easier said than done. First and foremost, I think we need folks who don’t already think they’ve got all the answers. That isn’t to say that they shouldn’t have some ideas in mind already. . .just check the ego at the boardroom door. There isn’t one of us alive who has the 100% solution for USAT. This right and wrong, black and white world that some of these people seem to live in is a fallacy. Different isn’t right or wrong. . .just different. I want someone willing to step outside their own box once in a while. . .
Received mine too. Got to admitted that I haven’t followed this ‘election drama’ very close. Hope you guys can help me here…
I’ll have to choose one among B Burke, L Kidder and J Weiss. I can find a large amount of posts by LK and JW. Can I find the info about Burke on this forum too?
Where can I find the petition on this site (I can’t find it on the homage.) ?Can anyone point out the link for me?
Bill Burke is the successful and capable manager of Premier Events. His company produces New York ITU, Dannon Duathlon championships, Both the Olympic trials and possibly the World Age Group championships in 2005?. By far and away one of the best RD’s in the business. However, more telling is his style. VIP dinner for Bellingham Olympic Trials. Is he there? Rubbing elbows with triathlons best, NBC, or the sponsors? No. Unusual in this ego driven sport, he’s at the race site, sleeves rolled up to make this a great race. Setting up transition, getting the signage straight. Let the sponsors have the limelight. Throughout the weekend he is paying attention to every detail…and always smiling even when there’s a challenge put in front of him. No “I’m the commander” ego …instead just making sure the job gets done well. IMHO Bill is one of the good guys as the good guy field dwindles. Disclaimer: None. I don’t work for him, just a volunteer for the race and doing what I can to help USAT in the Pacific Northwest. But I appreciate talent when I see it
I don’t think burke has posted on this forum. He is an RD, put on the bellingham tri this past weekend and has done the dannon duathlons/triathlons, including duathlon worlds 2002 in GA. I don’t know more than that really.
You can find the full language of the petition by going to USAT’s website (www.usatriathlon.org) and hitting the link in the middle of the homepage. NOTE: Only the petition language is posted there; the balance of the material, including position statements by the proponents (Dan and I) and the acting Executive Director (primarily an opponent), is available only on the ballot.
Aren’t all three race directors? Or, have been. Select none of the above.
The reason USAT doesn’t have a rule against race directors sitting on the board is because USAT has been controlled by the race directors. IMHO, an active race director should NOT be allowed to sit on the board as he/she has an obvious conflict of interest.
I wouldn’t put a lot of faith in that BRP decision. Go to www.duathlon.com and read about it. That thing appears more conflicted than anything alleged here. Best I can say is the BRP’s composition and conflicts corrupted the decision to the point where I would almost vote the exact opposite. Remember - that was the USOC with conflicts so bad it led to Salt Lake City, the USOC president and 11 other officers fleeing, and as of yesterday a house-cleaning from 125 officials down to 11 with a new USOC board and head (Peter Uberroth). As I said before, with Steve Locke’s buddies hand-picked by another buddy to hear this dispute, it was like the lions judging the fate of the Christians.
My envelope arrived yesterday. Not very impressed. I think the way the amendment explanations were offered was unclear. Candidate stuff carried over onto separate pages and none were numbered. And no mention of whether write-in candidates are allowed for the at-large position(s). The last one is important to me since I’m cool towards the two named at-large candidates.
I messaged Tim Yount about the at-large question and received an auto response that he is out through next Thursday. Anyone else help me on the write-in question?
Record10ti said "tell me what to do (I am a dogmatic little fool) "
Chip, we noticed this a year and a half ago with all that france bashing coming from you. Since you’re open to suggestions, I suggest you eat your ballot…would you like freedom fries with it?
Robert: If race directors should be ineligible for board positions because of conflict of interest, who WOULD be able to serve? Pro athletes? But might they not push for USAT supplements to prize purses? Age group athletes? Wouldn’t they be tempted to reduce membership fees to a point that bankrupted the federation? Product manufacturers? What if they changed the rules of competition to promote products they were selling? Retail owners? Ditto. Media moguls? You mean to say John Duke and Dan Empfield have no potential conflicts of interest?
If we followed your logic to its ultimate conclusion, the only people eligible for the board would be those who have no connection at all to the sport . . . and I suspect we’d have a whole lot more to complain about than we do now. The problem is not conflicts of interest - anyone worth having will have these in spades. The issue is always DISCLOSURE of the conflict, and RECUSAL on issues where the conflict affects the individual as opposed to the class.
What is the last distinction? Example: A senator could vote in good conscience on a bill to lower taxes on the population at large, but would have to recuse himself/herself from voting on a bill to lower just his income tax rate. Example: On the USAT board, a director not up for election and not involved in the campaign for a director that was up for election could ethically vote on a protest to that election. In other words, when Fred Sommer voted to disallow the election protest, he breached no code of ethics. But when two members of Team Girand (Eric Bean and Tim Becker) did the same, the situation was different. They should have disclosed the conflict, and they should have recused themselves from that vote.
I think that if I ate it it would be about the same vaule as if I vote…however in eating it there would be some fiber and caloric intake that I may benifit from…pass the sale would ya?
Oh…France STILL bothers me though. Why is it that they dont wear deoderant?
Lew: You should give age groupers more credit…especially since a majority of them according to stats are degreed professionals in their mid-thirties. Age-groupers are capable of thinking beyond self-interest contrary to your prediction. Dissing them does not help your case. Example: In the late seventies there was a very succesful model of health care planning that emphasized educated consumers weighing the priorities of the system – a check on the industry. Through that process hospitals were required to justify any major capital expansion in regional market place. 40% of individual hospitals requests for capital and facility expansion were denied as untenable by these educated consumers. Patient occupancy in the PNW region hovered aroun 85-90%. Once the whole consumer planning system was eliminated under Reagan, the industry went nuts. One of the biggest drivers in explosive health care costs (along with insurance costs) was the massive expansion and commitments to huge capital expenditures. Specialty care beds have expanded way beyond need. CAT scanners which were denied (at 00,000) were purchased by the dozens. Hospitals which were deinied under the planning process were built anyway. Many suffered under 60% or lower occupancy and were closed. We are all bearing the finanical burden for the lack of consumer oversight.
Sorry, but I strongly disagree with your reasoning. Race directors don’t have to disclose because we already know they have a conflict. I’m particularly concerned with issues of race size and race safety. Race directors would have an inherent and obvious conflict if these issues were ever to be properly addressed by USAT. Those issues haven’t been properly addressed because the USAT has been held hostage by the race directors.
Since you have the cujones to respond (kudos) what would you do to address the overcrowding at races and the many safety issues faced by USAT?
Age group athletes are the largest single group of members yet they have the LEAST amount to say about the direction of USAT. Yes, age groupers do have interests, but its absurd to think that any responsible board member, even RDs, would bankrupt the organization. That’s a bad case of reductio.
Pro triathletes should be elected just like everyone else. The organization should not be run by the them either.
All these voices can be heard and balanced fairly. That hasn’t happened in the past. For the future, given the growth of our sport, I would hope that safety would get front and center attention, NOT the work of lawyers, and not the narrow pecuniary interests of race directors.
Yes, age groupers. We are triathlon. We don’t profit from it. There needs to be a balance. Maybe have one or two slots available for “non-active” RD’s.
