Does George Mathews work for National Masters News?
Sometimes it seems that way. George is nominally the chairman of USATF Masters Track & Field. As such, he occasionally informs us of his committee’s activities via a column in National Masters News. It’s called “Track & Field Report” in the current issue, December 2005. This month’s column is of special importance, since it summarizes, point by point, the 2005 Strategic Plan. (That’s the plan he got USATF to pony up extra money for last year.) The opening paragraph says: “The following is a summary of the USATF Masters Track & Field 2005 Strategic Plan. The complete document can be found on-line at www.usatf.org.”
Uh, George. It ain’t online. I checked.
Which makes me curious, George: Who comes first in your priority list — National Masters News, or USATF’s Web site? Contrary to popular belief, not every masters athlete in America subscribes to NMN. And unlike masters publications in other countries, NMN isn’t included in USATF membership.
But Chairman George has a long history of putting NMN first, USATF members second. His columns are archived on USATF.org — but only through June. Where’s September, October, November and the latest column?
Of course, USATF Masters and NMN have always had a cozy relationship — dating back decades. But with NMN publisher Suzy Hess also serving as vice chairman of USATF Masters Track & Field, this relationship raises questions of conflict-of-interest.
Everyone likes Suzy, who has devoted her recent adult life to promoting masters track and making NMN a success after buying the paper back from Rodale a few years ago. But when Chairman George gives first dibs (or exclusive dibs) to NMN for his official, public communications, the gig appears to be unfair favoritism and a shirking of his responsibility to share his thoughts/plans with USATF masters at large.
George’s column this month is no small thing, either.
In it, he proposes to boost masters’ membership fees (among a slew of revenue-raising ideas) and outlines goals in marketing, grass-roots programs, clubs and associations. This stuff should be on USATF’s site.
At the end of the column in NMN, George writes: “Please give us your input.”
Well, George, you can start by putting your columns online.
Here is a quick-and-dirty rendition of George’s column as a PDF file — 4.1 megs in size, so a speedy connection is advised.
3 Responses
pretty ambitious agenda I must say, I am waiting with baited breath for the full report at some time in the distant future in a far off galaxcy called USATF.ORG!
so – my first question – I read lots of “appoint—” George must have lots of friends whom he can appoint to these important new duties since the people he has recently appointed all appear to be his friends and acquaintances. Since most of us do not shell out the big bucks to attend the National USATF convention – I can hardly wait to see 1) how much the dues rise, 2) how much goes to masters, 3) how George is going to find all these “appointees” to fill all these jobs in his new kingdom.
Let’s give George and the other officials from USA masters track a break! They devote their time out of the goodness of their hearts. I have observed their hard work over the years at World and US championships. They spend a lot of time and get little glory and no thanks. Most of us do not have the time or inclination to volunteer for any of these thankless jobs.
Ken likes to be the gadfly of masters track and field. I appreciate his hard work and his passion. I wish he would include meet results on his website like he used to. However, he is doing this out of the goodness of his heart, so I keep my mouth shut. I’m certainly not going to criticize him.
Masters track is at a turning point. The turnout of serious athletes at major competitions has gone down hill during the past 10 years. George is a vigorous guy who will bring positive changes to our sport and hopefully attact new blood. Nothing will get done if he has to ask each of us for an opinion every time he wants to do something. Appointing people to committees is not autocratic- is is an expedient way to accomplish something.
I am thankful for every competition. I am grateful to people who host competitions, staff the organizations, write the newsletter, and keep the records. I wouldn’t mind paying 10 times the dues I pay now if it would improve our sport. I try not to complain when things go poorly because next time there won’t be any competition.
We are not Olympians. Rather, we are a bunch of old men and women who like to compete. Nobody really cares how far we throw, how high we jump or vault or how fast we run. We depend on program administrators, officials, and meet organizers to give us our spring and summer fix. George and the other volunteers need to feel appreciated. Let’s pat them on the back and encourage their efforts.
I have seen lots of emails about this article and comments about nmn. I did not know what all the commotion was about. People were saying all kinds of things about Ken Stone. I did not know who Ken Stone was, or what he was doing. I still do not know what he is trying to do. Does he dislike George and Suzy, or anyone that is not in his group (who ever that might be). From reading this blog for the first time my impression is Ken is a petty, small minded, little man who wants to be important. Not by contributing to masters track, but by running down the people he doesn’t like. I have learned it is better not to dislike people without good cause, and you can never have enough friends. You don’t need to cultivate enemies.
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