Recently Kevin Lucas wrote to David Reik, who shared with me:
I have been asked by Fred Finke, LDR Chair USATF, to set up 12 USATF Associations willing to take on the course certification program. Bob (ed: Letson) has agreed to work with the San Diego Association, myself in Niagara, and currently 6 others.
The first step is to ask if you would be interested to work with the Connecticut Association to review new course certification applications. Currently this is done by Jane Parks of NJ and not connected to the association. The one year test program is to determine if associations can manage the course certification program in house outside of the control of the RRTC, which allows for greater local determination over USATF programs.
Several of us in RRTC are wondering what Fred may have in mind, assuming Kevin’s statement is correct. Kevin has been doing whatever he is doing without our direct knowledge, so we are somewhat in the dark. We only recently learned of this situation, and several of us have written to Fred for clarification
RRTC already has a place in the USATF organization and is doing a good job, and we’re curious why Fred feels a one year trial of a different system is needed. The Lucas Amendment seems destined for defeat if present indicators are correct, and we in RRTC hoped the matter had been settled. Now it seems it has not.
There is no harm in a trial so long as it does not disrupt the ongoing work of course certification, but the potential for confusion exists. If the twelve Associations, with their in-house certifiers, begin to certify courses, how will this integrate with the present operation of RRTC? Will a different certificate be created and used? Will a new Associations Course Registrar be appointed or elected? Will two different lists of certified courses come into existence?
I do not understand the motivation for this, aside from the desire on the part of some for power. It is difficult to see how an Association-run certification system can serve the course measurers more efficiently than is presently being done.
I hope Fred will ask around. Check with some runners and race directors, and some measurers. They will have information he may find helpful. They are the people who we serve.
Also, it would be helpful if RRTC was to be kept in the loop.
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