After much soul-searching, I sent in my annual membership renewal today. I’m likely to do only two USAT races this year as I have a brand new son at home where I’d rather be spending my time, but ultimately feel that continuing my membership is the right thing to do. However, in my best Slowman impression, I included a letter with my $30. Thought I’d post it for anyone who cares. I dont’ expect any response from USAT. That is, I don’t expect a return letter, but I damn sure expect them to clean up their act in the next 12 months.
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Dear Sir/Madam:
Please find enclosed my one year membership renewal application and $30 check. I have been a yearly member of USAT since 1998, yet renewing for ‘04-‘05, was not an automatic decision. For the first time, I paused long and hard before signing the check and enclosing it.
Although the birth of my first child has me training and racing less this year, triathlon is still central to my personal identity in too many ways to mention in detail. Suffice it to say that I enjoy the training itself, as well as the health benefits of being a triathlete. I’m now 36 and plan to continue training and racing ‘till the only thing showing underneath my shroud are my cycling shoes.
*I imagine I am like the vast majority of your age group members in that I realize that the training is the true benefit and joy of triathlon. It is from the training that the health benefits arise. It is through the training that I spend time with people of a like mind. It is in the training that I get to use the cool equipment the most. It is the training that keeps me in touch with my aging body, and my expanding mind. *
The racing is what we used to call in Louisiana the lagniappe. Racing is often the goal, but just as often it is like the icing on the cake. Racing allows my training to progress by allowing me to set goals and measure my attempts to reach them. But racing is only one way to do this. I can get everything I need from racing through more structured training. Or, even better, through club competition, or a race simulation with a few close friends. In short, I can do without the racing, but not without the training.
I am probably similar to other age groupers when I say I think about the monetary costs of this sport. I ride a 6 year old bike, but replace my running shoes every 6 months. I don’t fly, but do travel to races by racing only in my region. I try to do it on the cheap, but still do it. I try to keep the costs as low as possible, because I am primarily spending money on myself.
This brings me to the reason for this note. I am sickened beyond words by the unethical, inefficient and disrespectful behavior of the current USAT board. I am referring to the recent election, and all the nasty business associated with it. The slimy rules regarding the manner in which the election would be run, the warnings about the potential problems, the ignoring of those warnings, the predicted litigation which now follows, and the failure of the board to follow the bylaws and let the membership vote on the pending petition, properly filed, which would at the very least prevent this type of nonsense from happening again.
My $30 will be paying for this type of behavior, and that is the cause of my hesitancy. If you came to me directly, and asked me to finance the doing of these things, I’d laugh and put a padlock on my wallet. But you don’t ask that directly, and that really upsets me. In past years, when I’ve sent in my membership fee, I assumed that the money would be used ultimately to allow me and others like me to participate in the unfettered joy of racing a USAT sanctioned triathlon. You solicited my yearly membership, and in doing so, asked me to place my trust in you. I did so, and in every way possible, your actions regarding this election have violated my trust. By definition, all other services provided by USAT which have a cost will be diminished by the cost of this litigation. This doesn’t even address the loss of respect of the membership.
As my pen poised above my checkbook this time, I considered not renewing in protest. This seems to be the most direct and effective form of letting you know how pissed I am. No money = no USAT = no jobs for you. I can still race, as where there is a demand there will be someone to fill that demand. Eventually another membership organization would arise and I’d be able to consider joining and racing under their banner.
However, triathlon is a positive thing in my life, and I prefer to think positively about all things triathlon. So, I am sending in my $30, and in doing so, giving you a second chance. However, you do not get this second chance without forewarning. This letter, should you read it, is hopefully clear. I am granting you this second chance with my trust out of my love for this sport. You will earn that second chance by how you handle yourselves over the coming year. I am ashamed that my money has been financing your behavior, and embarrassed that I trusted you blindly. Those days are gone, and I dare say I am not alone in that opinion. The spotlight is on, and the board will not be operating in obscurity any longer. Now is your chance to win my trust back. If you care about me, or any of us, you’ll take care with how you proceed.
If you don’t, and this type of behavior continues, well, then I guess I’m to blame for seeing this glass as half full. I sincerely hope my optimism is well placed, and that you give a damn about me or what I think. You ought to.
Sincerely,
Timothy R. Saviello
USAT#151069
Member since 1998