USATF in Indy playing Scrooge with masters track?
Remember the hoo-hah about the USATF membership fee increase and how masters would benefit? Well, yeah, we’re getting more money. But we had to beg for it (again), and we have to jump through hoops to guarantee the loot. Three masters delegates to this past weekend’s USATF convention report that Indy will cough up $20,000 to $25,000 exta for masters track as part of the fee-increase windfall. But that’s a pittance compared with the $300,000 additional revenue USATF nets from the fee hike. One source reports: “Andy Martin (of the Indy HQ) informed our Executive Committee on Saturday that the masters committee share of the membership increase revenues would amount to about $20K-$25K in program-specific . . . grants.”
My source continues:
“He explaned where this money came from. Over $300,000 in new funding was
derived from the membership increase and the money will go to four different areas. Only one of those areas allocates money directly to the sports committees– a total of $100,000 to be divied among all the sports committees.
“The rest will be spent by the national office. Out of that $100K, MTF will get $20-$25K, but not without strings attached. We will be required to explain to
Martin what we want to spend the money on, and will be granted funds only for
activities that do not duplicate efforts of the National office.
“Bottom line: Our allotment is meager compared to the amount raised by the $10
per member increase (times an estimated 8,500 MTF members) and our ability to spend our share of the money as we see fit is limited.”
Among the areas we can’t use the extra cash for: rankings.
“Apply that same logic to other areas that are potentially ‘duplicated’ by national office staff: media, regional entry form mailings, website, marketing, sponsorship solicitation, etc. and we may be denied use of the money for many purposes that we have identified as important in our strategic plan. I can only say I hope I am wrong about this and USATF will give us much lattitude in spending these funds.”
My source concluded: “It feels like this little carrot we have been offered is being dangled in front of us on a stick, beyond our reach. The obvious solution is to
let the sports committees who are entitled to these funds do what they think is
best with the money. But no.”
Me again:
I’ve written to new Masters T&F Chair Gary Snyder a note that urges he survey the membership — via email or an online poll or whatever — on where the extra money should go. Besides being a wise thing to do (since not all wisdom resides in the Masters T&F Executive Committee), this would clearly demonstrate Gary’s commitment to democracy in masters track.
Just ask our advice! You might be amazed on what we could come up with.
Maybe some of the ideas might pass muster with Andy Martin (the grass-roots czar of USATF) and his bosses.
5 Responses
Is it possible to have the option of adding a small fee ($5 or 10) when we sign up for USATF that goes directly to master’s track and field?
Or, how about a small surcharge at the national championships?
I like that idea, the same way you can designate a portion of you income taxes to a political campaign
Ken,
This information, and that from your source, are incomplete. For the first year of the membership, some money from each new membership will go toward creation of the infrastructure and support for the membership program, money which for the most part will only have to be spent once. After the first year, the committee portion of the fees will increase year-to-year.
Rankings are part of what the increased fees will support, in that extra web help will be hired to create and manage the program of gathering results and creating web rankings.
BTW, any member may contribute to masters programs when they join, and that amount is only restricted to their pocketbook.
Bill Roe (not Andy’s boss, but Craig’s boss)
Ken-
First, let me identify myself as the source of the budget related comments you quoted in your blog. I would rather not be quoted anonymously and I prefer to be held accountable if I am misrepresenting any facts.
I stand by my words about the budget, but would like to add a comment I made to you that you did not include in your blog: specifically, that I do not want my comments about this to interfere with the negotiations that will occur between the masters committee and Andy Martin regarding our portion of the fee increase, because $20K-$25K is an improvement over what we have now.
To Bill-
Thanks for informing us about the increased share of membership fees that masters track and field will receive in 2008 (I don’t believe Andy Martin mentioned that to us). This is good news. But how much will our share increase? What percentage of the $10 membership increase will go directly to the masters committee in 2008 and beyond?
Another comment: it is not necessary for USATF to spend money on developing a system for masters rankings. We have already done that. We developed first generation masters software about 20 years ago, and have been improving that system ourselves ever since. The 2007 version of the system will be the product of many, many, many years of masters rankings experience.
-Dave Clingan
Tom we ALREADY pay a surcharge at the National Championships (indoor and out!!!) do you propose a second one? If someone wants to make a DONATION directly to the Masters program fine… thats is THEIR business…with one “surcharge” currently in place GIVE US A BREAK!!!I also say give the money to the people who are actively working for us>> Dave Clingan/Larry Patz/Ken Stone…encourage and HELP these guys who ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE DONE..
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