The next generation needs change

[rainbowgirl28]

This thread is kind of making me feel guilty for not going to the Annual Meeting this year, maybe I will consider it after all. :-/ If only the hotel and registration fee weren't so expensive ... and the closest airports 2.5-4 hours away ... and if only it didn't mean missing a weekend with my husband who I only get to see on weekends at the moment... but then again I am not complaining about USATF either.

[Branko720]

Thank you for your post Joe.

A couple things.

One I do not want USATF to give me a facility. I apologize if I made it seem that way. ADTF, you said it would cost $125,000 for the facility you describe, make it even $250,000 to make it a little larger and USATF could build one or two a year around the country for all track and field athletes. I am not just talking about pole vault. Long jumpers, triple jumpers, high jumpers, throwers all could use an indoor facility. If they started building these facilities in ten years they could have up to 20 facilities around the country. They have the funds to do this.

Becca you or anyone else should not have to feel guilty about not going to the meeting. You tell me if I went to the meeting and mentioned these ideas what would happen? The other thing is USATF knows are needs. They must be willing to do something. If we really wanted to see change we could boycott USATF until they did something, however I do see this happening. Actually to be honest I don't think any serious changes will happen until USATF has to change. Most people, or organizations do not change until they have to to survive.

Again thanks for letting me see how everyone else feels. And remeber, "I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize." "A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority" Thoreau

[rainbowgirl28]

Becca you or anyone else should not have to feel guilty about not going to the meeting. You tell me if I went to the meeting and mentioned these ideas what would happen? The other thing is USATF knows are needs. They must be willing to do something. If we really wanted to see change we could boycott USATF until they did something, however I do see this happening. Actually to be honest I don't think any serious changes will happen until USATF has to change. Most people, or organizations do not change until they have to to survive.

I think if you went to the meeting, you would begin to understand how things work, and you would see which road you need to go down to get what you want. Maybe it's possible and maybe it's not, but you're just flailing blindly at this point. You want change, but you don't even understand what you are trying to change. Before you can change something, you have to understand what it currently is.

[AVC Coach]

Wouldn't it be pretty darn cool if each state had it's own professional track and field team. All athletes would be drafted and traded just like in the NFL. Each team having their own indoor and outdoor facilities to train and host meets.

The teams could be divided into conferences (4 or 5 states close together) with weekly duals and win/loss records just like football (fewer competitors means shorter meets which = better attention spans and ultimately, more fans that are willing to sit in the stands).

Have two divisions, north and south or east and west. No qualifying marks for nationals, just the winning teams from each division through a "play-off" format. I believe the fan base would build and would be much more supportive if they new their whole team was competing for a national championship instead of just the few that reached a qualifying standard.

Obviously, this is just a pipe dream but these are my realistic thoughts on how our sport can thrive and maybe even avoid extinction.

All of the ideas I've read so far on this thread are OK, but I don't think anything outside of a complete overhaul in the way things are run is going to help our athletes or their cause. The USATF is the governing body of our sport. Although I appreciate what they've done, I don't expect USATF to be our salvation. We shouldn't expect them to bail us out of everything. Some incentives could help, but in the end it's going to come down to the private investors willing to take this sport to a level the majority of Americans have never seen.

The bottom line is that everyone seems to want track and field to be like the NFL, NBA or MLB but we don't even resemble them in the way we're doing business. Everyone that has something invested wants to be successful in that investment. If we start small with bare minimums and show promise of success, those investors will pony up enough money to get the coaches and athletes it takes to be a success in hopes of becoming a powerhouse or a dynasty. It's human nature.

The title of this thread was "The next generation needs change". If we keep drinking the same contaminated water from the well, we're just going to remain sick individuals. I think its time to think about digging a new well.

[dj]

hye

I have been “brainstorming” (again) and have thrown out an Idea recently with a couple of pole vault/business friends to start a LLC for the purpose of generating money (trying to think outside the box) for pole vaulting. Tentively named it “Pole Vault Advantage” and wanted it to be run by a CEO independent of me and create a board from pole vault people at large.. the mission statement would be simple: generate funding for USA pole vault athletes and coaches that would allow each (training centers included, like Baggetts and Bell's) an environment to reach there greatest potential…. sounds like this could/should be the Pole Vault Professional Association you suggest ADTF.

Hye

this is a follow up on the post above.....

Anyone/everyone near one of these locations should go to one of these meetings…

Then you will have a better understanding of “how” I think we can take our PV network and make it financially independent for coaches, athletes and PV supporters in less than two years, and in 4 to five years there will be enough money to fund pole vaulting at every level, in every state, have a summit that is paid for by the LLC, and have meets and training centers that are not “scrambling” for dollars..

All we have to do is “commit” and build with like minded individuals. Everyone that is willing to change their thinking from fund raising to fund building.. will become financially independent and can coach for the enjoyment of coaching and the passion for the event.

Think “outside” the box. right time, right place and right people….(pole vaulters)

Robert Kiyosaki said, in the book he and Trump wrote, on page 324 that “you have to choose between the death of the old and the birth of the new you.”

In 1974 I “designed”, with Guy Kochel at Arkansas State a running flat. Better than the Nike/Blueribbon sport first model of crape sole and blue nylon upper. We did that because we knew then that coaching track was not going to give us enough money to support our families and coach and travel the way we wanted to do.

My job at the university was cut because of the oil/gas crisis and I had to move away and didn’t get a chance to follow up with the shoe.. Nike did…

Then I sat up a new business in Gainesville so I could coach with Jimmy Carnes at Florida. That worked well until 1979 when some coaching changes took place at the university and I took a coaching job that took me out of Gainesville. I lost the business because I wasn’t here to run it.

My point is this… coaching our sport is only going to “make a living” for a very small percentage of us…

I have tried several times to be an entrepreneur for a living and coach for fun… which has been my goal since my first college job at Arkansas State. Each time I have let “coaching” get in the way. I have stopped that “cycle” and hope you will give this thought a fair shot to do the same.

The only way we are going to not be having this conversation 30 years from now is to become Entrepreneurs.. that’s a stretch for a huge majority of track coaches and track athletes.. Football, Basketball and baseball has been considered businesses for a long time because of “professional” sports, but track!! We are still in the “employee” mode.

Gives some thought to this idea.. If you are going to one of the following meetings, and I promise you the information will be educational and you will meet some pretty integrity conscience people, not just “used car salesman”…Let me know by PM on PVP… I’ll call or email the sponsors that you are my “guest.” Or give them this name and number…

David F. Johnston # 134115

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 - CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
Host: David Dudics
Guest Speakers: Master IBO, Marshall Douglas
Corporate Guest: Justin Banner, Qivana Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Star Credit Union
Address: 5262 South Staples (intersection of South Staples and SPID)
Phone: 361-877-1093
Cost: $5 for IBOs, Guests are Free

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 - DALLAS, TEXAS
Host: Rick Maxwell
Guest Speakers: Master IBO, Marshall Douglas
Corporate Guest: Justin Banner, Qivana Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Marriott DFW
Address: 8440 Freeport Parkway, Irving, TX

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28 - TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN
Host: Bill Wolfington
Guest Speakers: Master IBO, Joe Land
Corporate Guest: Derek Hall, Qivana Founder and CEO
Time: 6:00 p.m. - Meet & Greet; 7:00 p.m. - Meeting
Location: Great Wolf Lodge
Address: 3575 N US Highway 31 S, Traverse City, MI
Cost: $5 for IBOs, Guests are Free

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 - SAULT ST. MARIE, ONTARIO
Host: Bill Wolfington
Guest Speakers: Master IBO, Joe Land
Corporate Guest: Derek Hall, Qivana Founder and CEO
Time: 6:00 p.m. - Meet & Greet; 7:00 p.m. - Meeting
Location: Water Tower Inn
Address: 360 Great Northern Road, Sault Ste Marie, ON
Phone: 705-945-7604
Cost: $5 for IBOs, Guests are Free

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 - RIDGELAND, MISSISSIPPI
Host: Matt Cardin and AJ Monte
Guest Speakers: Industry Consultant, Jerry Campisi
Corporate Guest: Devin Glazier, Qivana Founder and CFO
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Pan Asia Restaurant and Meeting Center
Address: 862 Avery Boulevard North

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 - OMAHA, NEBRASKA
Host: Ernie Lechner
Corporate Guest: Rodney James, Qivana Founder and Chief Sales Officer
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Holiday Inn Express
Address: 17677 Wright Street, Omaha, NE
Phone: 402-333-5566

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 - SEEKONK, MASSACHUSETTS (NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL)
Host: Chris Cavedon
Guest Speakers: Master IBO, Angel Lee
Corporate Guest: Justin Banner, Qivana Founder and Chief Strategy Officer; Devin Glazier, Qivana Founder and CFO
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (10:00 a.m. - Business Overview; 11:00 a.m. - Training; 12:30 - Lunch; 1:30 - Training)
Location: Johnson and Whales Inn
Address: 213 Taunton Ave, Seekonk, MA
Cost: $10 for IBOs (per couple), Guests are Free

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 - ATLANTA, GEORGIA (ATLANTA REGIONAL)
Host: Master IBO, Joe Land
Guest Speakers: Master IBO, Marshall Douglas
Corporate Guest: Craig Johanson, Qivana Founder and CMO
Time: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Sheraton Suites Galleria Mall
Address: 2844 Cobb Pkwy SE, Atlanta, GA (285 & Hwy 41)
Cost: $10 for IBOs, Guests are Free

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 - OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
Host: Jim Brollier
Guest Speakers: Master IBO, Marshall Douglas
Corporate Guest: Justin Banner, Qivana Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hilton Garden Inn
Address: 801 South Meridian Ave.
Phone: 405-942-1400
Cost: $5 for IBOs, Guests are Free

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Host: Charmaine Hornick and John Lombardo
Guest Speakers: Master IBO, Angel Lee; Industry Consultant, Jerry Campisi
Corporate Guest: Qivana Founders: CEO, Derek Hall; CMO, Craig Johanson; CFO, Devin Glazier; Chief Sales Officer, Rodney James
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: BOAMS Event Center
Address: 8880 W Sunset Road, Suite 290, Las Vegas, NV
Cost: $10 for IBOs, Guests are Free (no children please)

[SlickVT]

This topic boggles my brain.

The USATF provides no training facilities, no coaches, no equipment, and no service for its members in general. However, they regulate how our teams are formed (at meets where first place makes less money than the 12th place finisher at an average women's PBA (bowling) event), and strictly enforce drug testing on those athletes. They also charge dues. DUES.

It is one thing to get upset about how things are run, but when we get backlash for not attending this organization's meetings to make the change ourselves... I have a huge problem with that.

It is not the responsibility of the customer to make changes in the company that is to be providing a service. We have no responsibility (as due-paying members) to take administrative actions into our own hands. That is bad business. I guess that is to be expected, however since the USATF's idea of a business (AKA money-making organization) is to provide NO service and expect those who need the service to do the jobs of the people getting paid to do so. How long would Amazon last with this corporate structure?

With all due respect, don't lecture us for not attending a meeting to change a pitiful organization's workings... especially with the amount of money that they take in from dues, not to mention Visa, etc. I understand some people on here attend those meetings, but how far has it, and will it get us?

If we could get USATF's bonds with the USOC and IAAF broken, would we even need the USATF? Think about that.

That is where my mind is going.

[PV Official]

http://theviewfromthefinishline.blogspo ... rging.html

This article is about an Elite Coaches Association. Sounds similar to dj's idea.

[Barto]

Brian is not too far off from reality. USATF came within a haresbreath of getting their status as the NGB pulled by the USOC in 2007. Right now it looks as if USOC has it's hands full with it's own problems, but if they ever get their house in order I feel fairly confident that they will be looking very closely at USATF's performance as a NGB.

[VTechVaulter]

wrong VT poster.. i haven't said anything

~brian

[Barto]

Sorry Brian. I didn't catch my error. I didn't mean to misattribute someone else's remarks.

[VTechVaulter]

haha no worries. just clarifying

[dj]

Hey

I am ready to follow up with the pole vault “network” and make this “professional pole vault organization” functional and financially free in two years.

Lets “network” with a common cause…. Everyone of us obviously has a “passion” for pole vaulting.

For those of you that know where I’m going with this, I will just say.. “what if!”

Any one of you that is successful or wants to be successful in network marketing or knows anyone great in network marketing needs to PM me right away. I have started the process and the only way you will benefit as a coach or athletes is to find out what and how. Your “WHY” has already been aired on here.. you want pole vaulting to open the door to thousands of new pole vaulters. You want pole vault coaches to eat, sleep and pay their bills on time where the ‘stress” and fun is on the track. You want our emerging elite to simply get a chance. You want our elite to prepare without chasing a dollar or sponsor and I want to buy air time on a cable network in every state to show the next summit, beach vault or mall vault that takes place..

PM me please…

dj