Serge Beckers

Spurning a chance at some free publicity, WMA candidate Serge Beckers has turned down my request for an interview. He writes: “I want to thank you for your interest in my candidacy for Vice-president Stadia in WMA. However, I only want to make my program and my ideas public to the delegates of the National Affiliated Member Federations of the WMA during the General Assembly in Lahti. I hope you can understand that I do not want to make statements before the Athletics tournament in Lahti. I really admire your website and blog which is a connexion point for all masters in the world. Keep up the good work.” Well, thanks for the compliment! But if this site stands for anything, it’s for shining a light on all aspects of our sport. You, sir, aim to steal the batteries. So I’m PO’d. Serge’s note was CC’d to VP-stadia rival Sandy Pashkin, who likely will take this as a signal to blow off the interview as well. Fine. Be that way.

Here’s how I replied to Serge:

Thanks for your note, but I am deeply disappointed in your decision not to reply to my questionnaire.

This shows disrespect to thousands of masters athletes who would be interested in your answers — and deserve to know more about their prospective leaders.

I realize you have no obligation to answer, but WMA already is perceived as a closed society by many. This action merely confirms that perception.

Good luck in Lahti.

In case you think I was asking Serge “boxers or briefs?” here is the questionnaire I sent him (and Sandy) on May 26, 2009:

Greetings, Sandy and Serge

With the WMA General Assembly and elections looming at Lahti, I am hoping to post interviews with candidates for vice president-stadia of World Masters Athletics.

If anyone else is a candidate for VP-stadia, I would appreciate this request be forwarded to them as well.

I would like to post these interviews by July 1. Toward that end, I hope you can return this questionnaire by June 26 — a month from now. I would post both interviews on the same day, if they are received by June 26.

Please feel free to attach a digital photo of yourself, which I would use with the posted interview on my Web site. Or I would use a photo I already have.

Here are my questions:

1. Why are you the best candidate for WMA vice president-stadia? Please detail your skills and experience.

2. What changes would you seek in the conduct of WMA stadia championships?

3. In recent years, lap-counting and other errors have occurred in WMA stadia championships. How would you prevent this from happening again?

4. If you are elected WMA vice president-stadia, will you give up any other responsibility within World Masters Athletics?

5. In recent years, WMA indoor and outdoor championships have grown to be huge operations. Some have suggested imposing a qualifying standard to reduce the size and complexity of these meets. Do you support qualifying standards for WMA stadia events? If so, how would these standards be drawn up?

6. In the past 10 years, most outdoor championships and all indoor championships have been held in Europe. Is this good for WMA? Would you support efforts to recruit meet hosts outside of Europe?

7. Who do you support for president of World Masters Athletics, and why?

8. Some WMA executives have called for new, younger blood in WMA leadership circles. Do you support these initiatives?

9. If elected, how would you use the WMA Web site to advance the organization’s goals and satisfy the global hunger for news and information about stadia championships?

10. Do you support the current $150,000 sanction fee for stadia candidates? Explain why or why not.

11. Anything else you’d like to add on your behalf?

Thank you very much for your kind attention and cooperation.

See you in Lahti!

Ken Stone
http://www.masterstrack.com

You be the judge. Should candidates be expected to reveal their stands before an election?

In the WMA’s alternate-reality universe, I guess not.
I still hope to hear from Rex Harvey and Stan Perkins, candidates for WMA president. I sent them a different set of questions.

Just FYI. Serge is the first candidate to decline an interview with me since I began doing these years ago. This is a terrible precedent.