All,
I'm thinking about attending convention in three weeks. My reasons are several but most important is that I want to become more involved in USMS and I figure the best way to find out how/what/when/where is to attend convention.
Does this make sense? Would it be worthwhile?
Paul
A) ...the system is the problem and lots of people have tried to change it in the past...and if you talk to anyone who has been involved at the convention/committee level and left you'd probably hear them say the same things I am.
I will echo Paul's comments, Convention is good to attend so one can learn what is going on at a National level. As far as getting things done though...temper your expectations. One can get a lot more done on the local/LMSC level IMHO, which is where the focus and energy should be on. There is a lot to learn at Convention, especially from successful LMSCs/Teams/Clubs, that can be applied locally.
I have chosen not to participate on any USMS committees despite repeated requests. Until my LMSC gets better, I will focus my efforts on Arizona whilst observing USMS from afar.
B) I've never not been involved, however I have to interest in being on the inside anymore (I was on both the championship and marketing committee's for a period of time). My (selfish) contribution and something I'm proud of is in working with small groups of friends to rally/blackmail/bribe/drag people to meets...both during my time in Colorado and now in Arizona (which we had some pretty good results in Austin and Portland).
Paul has led by example here in AZ when it comes to getting people more involved in meets. Greater involvement in meets creates a virtuous circle of increased participation, more fun, greater social opportunities, and so forth. This was done locally without the direction of anybody, Paul took the initiative on this one. I wish more of my Board members had the same drive and determination as him!
From where I stand, the local level is where the action is and where a big difference can be made. Small actions over time by a few individuals will yield noticable results here. On the National level, you might get frustrated though...
I will admit that was an unfair pot shot on my part, apolgies.
I have no excuse, working on giving a beatdown to Fort at present.
Don't start getting all mushy on me...
And Fort is always (along with Perry & Commings) in need of a beatdown.
If only you two were capable of providing said beatdown(s). :rofl:
And who says I can be beat down, eh? You wish!
I'm with Smith, I'd rather badger people into coming to meets. Or do something at the local level. Committees and inertia and handwringing = :bed:
I will say I pretty much agree with Chris Stevenson's points a couple pages back. Although he probably deserves a beat down too.
This statement makes me wonder how you arrived at your conclusion? And what kind of advances do you think have been restrained?
Attending convention, being on two different committee's, talking with the dozens of high profile coaches who have stopped going in frustration at how things have been run...seeing more teams pulling out of USMS (such as DAM & Sun Devil) because they don't see the value and they are self insuring.
As for what has been restrained I would suggest a better description as being "immobilized" by endless discussion/debate and point to the enter wish list that the Executive Director has created...case in point team scoring...this has been a point of contention since the rules were changed after Tempe years ago.
Michael....trolling? Me? So tell me what if any "real" power the new Director has? I may be wrong but don't all of these proposals have to go into committee and then voted on in general assembly? Or are the committee's tasked with creating proposed solutions which are then presented to the executive committee and voted on by them....with the Director having final say?
.seeing more teams pulling out of USMS (such as DAM & Sun Devil) because they don't see the value and they are self insuring.
Unless you know something I do not know, I think you meant DAMM not DAM
So tell me what if any "real" power the new Director has?
What do you define as "real' power.
michael
Unless you know something I do not know, I think you meant DAMM not DAM
What do you define as "real' power.
michael
Since were talking about Bobby I'll stick with Dam!
Thought that I had sort of described what I meant by real power in the question I asked about committee's...Do committee's and/or the general assembly decide what is passed as far as legislation? Does the ED have the ability to make any decisions without committee approval? Does he have veto power? Or does he mostly try and set an agenda and then work behind the scenes to try and get things passed?
By the way...glad to see you haning out around here more!
Paul, I think you are trolling again.
The HOD made a change in governance a three year ago. We now have an very active Board of Directors and an expanded executive committee. We have recently hired a dynamic executive director.
As a result of that change there have been challenges for all of us. The Board of Directors has to learn to give strategic direction and not micromanage. The Executive Committee has to learn to communicate and to give direction and management.
We have had an organization that has done extremely well with its volunteer base. All of the committee chairs have years of experience and we have prospered.
One challenge over the next few years will be how to get everyone working on the same page. This, of course, is the challenge of leadership and communication. I expect the executive committee, Board of Directors, the executive director, staff and committee chairs to work together.
While we have done very well in the past, but I believe that better days are ahead of us.
michael
It's one thing to be a great teammate and encouraging but that is vastly different from going on the inside and doing the unpleasant work of cmte's and the minutiae of service. The way to make change is to get involved, get on the cmtes. It's hard work and often thankless but that is where you can make the biggest difference.
