Funky usatfmasters.org off to the races, redesigned by Jeff Brower

Our official portal is up and running. As noted two weeks ago, usatfmasters.org is live and online. But it now sports a new (but quirky) look, with fresh content. Jeff Brower, taking over from resigned webmaster Dave Clingan, has redesigned the site. Gone is the logo that featured miler Tony Young. Now the logo incorporates a trio of ghostly geezers. But the home page has a nice touch: It cycles through action shots. (To grok this, do Control-R or Command-R to refresh your browser.) And a news item solicits news!

Only one thing missing from the home page frame: an explicit link to USATF

But Jeff has retained key subsections, including a news page (with links to this blog) and a blogs page, which links to Jeff’s own blog and Chairman Gary Snyder’s blog (which he has officially abandoned). Does this mean Gary will resume blogging? We’ll see.

As originally conceived by Dave Clingan, usatfmasters.org would host a bunch of blogs — allowing masters from every region and events niche to communicate directly with their reps.

Here’s what Dave wrote last year:

The MastersUSA website will contain a posting area (blog) for every MTF officer, sub-committee chair, and regional coordinator. This easy to use feature will allow our officers and program administrators to post any information they wish to share with masters athletes, and allow athletes to post responses to that information. The purpose of the blogs is to facilitate the interactive flow of information between athletes and their elected or appointed representatives within the organization.

In his latest chair report, Gary Snyder writes about the new USATF masters site: “Check it out as it will become the place to get ‘factual’ information on National issues but more importantly it will also have Region info.” Cool! USATF can handle the factual information, and I’ll be responsible for the rest!

Interesting revelation: USATF Masters T&F Committee still has no 2010 budget! Our enchiladas assume we’ll get the same overall amount this year. Nice way to run a railroad.

Another scoop: “In 2005, the Master Track and Field Committee developed a STRATEGIC PLAN in order to develop goals and methods to improve the masters program. The Strategic Plan is in the process of implementation, with some aspects contingent on funding that has not yet been available.” So I guess it’s dead in the water. Sorry about all that work for nothing, George Mathews!

I should applaud Jeff, though, since usatfmasters.org links to this site about a zillion times — ignoring my history of nitpicking masters governance and policies. Jeff’s site links to our photo gallery (among others) and training Forum. (But this page should host its own photos, really.)

He even links to several polls I’ve posted in recent years, bravely saying: “On-line surveys, polls, surveys and petitions enable athletes to express their views and opinions about a variety of issues. Some are purely informal whereas others are conducted by USATF officers or administrators. Participation in these questionnaires are useful in assessing grass roots opinions about the sport.”

Again, I’d rather see USATF create its own online polls and surveys, but what the heck. This is progress.

It’s all good.