Tom Jordan named acting prez of World Masters Athletics

A cover letter for the WMA General Assembly handbook notes that Oregon’s Tom Jordan, former executive VP of WMA, has been appointed acting president of World Masters Athletics. This is historic. He’s the first American to be president of WMA. Our own Rex Harvey, however, stands to be the first elected president of WMA at the Lahti General Assembly. His only competition is Stan Perkins of Australia. (And I’m awaiting returned questionnaires from both of them.) Anyway, Tom seems to have time on his hands, since he recently dissolved Northwest Event Management, his Eugene-based company that puts on track meets and served as a tour operator to eight WAVA/WMA world meets (allowing Tom with his WMA connections to scoop up the best lodging, a gross conflict of interest). We’ll see if he can resist influencing the WMA election, since Sandy Pashkin, one of his former employees, is running for WMA office in Lahti.

Tom “TJ” Jordan clowned at Cordner Nelson’s 90th birthday party in Eugene.

Here’s how Tom’s temporary gig was announced by WMA:

Dear Affiliates

Please find enclose the detail of the WMA General Assembly, (in the GA Handbook)

Hard copies will be given to delegates on in Lahti arrival at the GA.

(Should I have all of your delegates details in good time by the 5th JULY it is my intention to publish a list in Lahti, and your delegates may receive the booklet during the championship, but must make sure that the have it with them at the GA.

This gives them and any substitute delegate the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the items in the booklet.

I also enclose below details of the position within WMA of the Interim President and Executive Vice President.

I will again update you all on some procedures for the General Assembly in Lahti, once the interim President familiarized himself with the tasks at hand in Lahti.

Thank you all so far for your corporation on the delegates, I have had around 30%, so the one that have not yet sent please remember.

Yours in sport

Winston Thomas
WMA Secretary

WMA Council fills vacant Executive Positions

Per prior announcement on this website, the resignation of Acting President Monty Hacker, for health reasons, at the end of May 2009 created a void in two pivotal executive positions. Following constitutionally prescribed procedures, council after due nominations voted by majority decision for the appointment of Tom Jordan USA as Acting President for the remaining term to the end of the Stadia Championships which are scheduled to commence on July 28, 2009 in Lahti, and likewise for Friedel Schunk GER, currently Treasurer of WMA, to assume the additional responsibility of Acting Executive Vice President. Both candidates have accepted these interim appointments.

Tom Jordan, organizer of the 8th World Masters Stadia Championships in Eugene, Oregon USA, is a 60 year old resident of Eugene, OR, USA and a former WMA council member who held the Executive Vice President position from 1995 to 2005 when he retired from that position per WMA constitutional requirement.

Tom was elected Honorary Life Member of WMA and is currently Director of the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League Meeting. WMA is very fortunate and appreciative to have the services of this distinguished and experienced Executive available on short notice for the interim duration of completing the preparatory phase and the actual conduct of the Championships.

At the upcoming General Assembly in Lahti FI on August 5, 2009 both positions will be permanently filled again from the roster of announced candidates.

Friedel Schunk
Acting Executive Vice President
June 20, 2009