None of you posting to this thread can appreciate just how close USMS came to being a virtual organization at the beginning of 2013, with no insurance to cover any of our operations, sanctions or members. It would have been very easy to cut OW loose and save USMS $135,000. But USMS has had a very keen interest in building OW for the last 4 years, and did not ever consider shutting down that branch of the business. The gratitude shown for this hard work and dedication are an exodus of sanctioned events.
That's probably true. Based on what I've read in the USMS statements, the communications painted a pretty clear picture of an unexpected cost increase, and a scramble to make the best of what was available in such a short amount of time. While disappointing, I understand why certain sanctions were pulled, and why certain race directors made the decisions that they made. While my emotions swing my opinion one way, I really don't think that either race directors or USMS have acted in the wrong.
I think that a lot of the reason for the contention is that there's been no indication that, with a longer timeframe to research the best alternatives for everyone, USMS is going to reconsider any of the new requirements for 2014. While not all of the new requirements are all bad, for some events, they won't work. That's why, for example, Tampa and Kingdom Swim are no longer going to be USMS sanctioned events.
With the new requirements, it seems to me like there will need to be a lot of change. If USMS is interested in supporting the growth of open water swimming, will there be any means by which to at least recognize events such as these, even if USMS cannot put itself in a position to insure these events? Perhaps something like event recognition, like Ron Collins suggested? Perhaps an option where the swimming rules of USMS are abided by, even if the insurance isn't (like 8 bridges is doing this year)?
I don't think it should be too hard, now that there is ample time to come to a measured and reasonable solution, to find a solution that is more amenable to everyone. While I don't know if the Open Water Taskforce is still around and working, but I hope that they are, and I hope that they take their time, reach out for more input, and come up with a more thorough solution.
None of you posting to this thread can appreciate just how close USMS came to being a virtual organization at the beginning of 2013, with no insurance to cover any of our operations, sanctions or members. It would have been very easy to cut OW loose and save USMS $135,000. But USMS has had a very keen interest in building OW for the last 4 years, and did not ever consider shutting down that branch of the business. The gratitude shown for this hard work and dedication are an exodus of sanctioned events.
That's probably true. Based on what I've read in the USMS statements, the communications painted a pretty clear picture of an unexpected cost increase, and a scramble to make the best of what was available in such a short amount of time. While disappointing, I understand why certain sanctions were pulled, and why certain race directors made the decisions that they made. While my emotions swing my opinion one way, I really don't think that either race directors or USMS have acted in the wrong.
I think that a lot of the reason for the contention is that there's been no indication that, with a longer timeframe to research the best alternatives for everyone, USMS is going to reconsider any of the new requirements for 2014. While not all of the new requirements are all bad, for some events, they won't work. That's why, for example, Tampa and Kingdom Swim are no longer going to be USMS sanctioned events.
With the new requirements, it seems to me like there will need to be a lot of change. If USMS is interested in supporting the growth of open water swimming, will there be any means by which to at least recognize events such as these, even if USMS cannot put itself in a position to insure these events? Perhaps something like event recognition, like Ron Collins suggested? Perhaps an option where the swimming rules of USMS are abided by, even if the insurance isn't (like 8 bridges is doing this year)?
I don't think it should be too hard, now that there is ample time to come to a measured and reasonable solution, to find a solution that is more amenable to everyone. While I don't know if the Open Water Taskforce is still around and working, but I hope that they are, and I hope that they take their time, reach out for more input, and come up with a more thorough solution.
