USATF prez hopeful Dee Jensen adds masters pledges
Expanding on some ideas and promises in our interview here, USATF president candidate Dee Jensen of North Dakota says on her campaign Web site that USATF should consider “mirroring the elite program of inviting, selecting and fielding masters’ elite athletes for the World Masters Championships.” Very interesting. This wouldn’t preclude shlubs like me from entering and paying our own way to worlds, but USA would be a lot more competitive in WMA if our top masters got help getting there.
Here’s what Dee says on her site:
Masters athletes likely represent the largest potential for growth in USATF. As an athlete, you serve as coaches, role models, meet administrators, and officials, I am committed to helping forge a stronger partnership with USATF. You deserve no less!
Some thoughts for your consideration…
1. Work with and aid Associations in strengthening the grassroots program through competition, clinics and workshops. Share best practices.
2. Survey Association’s zonal representatives to establish models for zonal activity and enhancement.
3. Establish member benefits for the Masters Track & Field. Commit the increased revenue from membership growth to help build your budget and programs.
4. Consider mirroring the elite program of inviting, selecting and fielding masters’ elite athletes for the World Masters Championships.
5. Establish a timeline for USATF to supply uniforms, shipment of all implements to the event, and payment of entry fees for the World Masters Championships. One priority at a time.
As a competition official, I have worked for you at the local and national level. As Masters Athletes you embrace “a sport for life.”
I haven’t seen Web sites by rival candidates Stephanie Hightower or Bob Bowman, so this may be a USATF first! Good use of the Net, Dee.
2 Responses
Sounds promising but, if recent history has proved, nothing will get accomplished as far as benefiting Masters and improving the website. Our own usatf-oregon website calendar still has the ’07 XC Nationals site as Ohio vs. Spokane. No reply to my emails on this…pretty sad considering my usatf membership fee.
Masters are important for the long-term success of the sport. Most serious masters athletes that I know are professional or volunteer coaches at some level. At the very least, they inspire others to enter or continue with the sport.
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