Re: Slush Fund: David used the term to describe the fund during the RRTC meeting.
The vast majority were not RRTC people. Most people are supportive of somebody else doing more work.
There are funds in the present RRTC budget to cover the costs of validations and seminars. Money alone does not make work possible. Also required are people to do the actual work.
Olympic Marathon Trials group validations have traditionally been funded by non-RRTC budget procedures. There was nothing new in Gene Newman seeking this additional funding. It happens every four years.
We have existed as a committee, then a council, under other USATF presidents than Bill Roe, and they have also been supportive of our efforts.
Phrases like “being more pro-active” and “reaching out to the associations” are non-specific, resembling motherhood and apple pie. We have one of the most functional web sites of any group within USATF. Also, our members answer their emails, phone calls, and letters promptly. Reaching out is a two-way street. I know of no occasion when anyone approached RRTC for help, within our area of responsibility, and did not get it.
The core of our work is the certification of road courses. This we do excellently, and without USATF funding. When we find a problem in this area, we fix it. Secondary activities include the actual measurement and validation of courses on which potential records have been set. Providing the people to do this is a job we have accepted – funding the expense thereof is the burden of those who want the work done.
Seminars sound like a great idea, but in reality the average seminar has little payoff unless the attendees are really committed to measuring courses. I have conducted 27 seminars over the years, and I have seen fewer than a dozen new measurers result from the effort. I don’t see four days of effort to produce one new measurer as being a productive use of time by anybody. The typical seminar includes mostly people who are curious about measurement, and when they experience the process evidently decide it’s not for them. Remember, we already get about 50 new people measuring courses each year by accessing our certifiers and our web site, becoming encouraged, and going out to measure.
The perception of RRTC being a group apart from USATF is somewhat correct. RRTC existed as an independent body before it was assimilated into USATF, with our chairman appointed by the USATF President. It consisted of a small group of like-minded and capable people whose single objective was to maintain a system of certified courses. This we had the capability to do. When our committee description was written, it included finish line responsibility as well. This area has never been adequately performed by us because we have no people who have the capability in this area. Present finish line technology is known to those who do it, but not to RRTC. We have had several Finish Line chairmen, including David, our present one, but we still underperform in this area.
As most in RRTC see it our principal responsibility is to the course measurers, without regard to any political affiliation they may have. They have one desire – to get their course certified. We do this effectively.
Tom McBrayer, who responded above, is one of our most productive and efficient certifiers. It is tempting to say we should have a rule that requires every certifier to do as Tom does. However, there is a military principle stating “never give an order that will not be obeyed.” The certifiers each bring their own unique approach to the job, as it best fits their individual capabilities. We are grateful for their help, not critical because they don’t wish to do more. In RRTC we ask people to do things – we do not tell them to do it. As we are a small group, we support each other as individuals. It’s not necessary to give orders and make rules.
Do we need more money? We don’t need it to do our present job. We have historically stayed within our allotted budget.
I have found the constant desires by other people and groups that RRTC do more to be wearing, and potentially leading to burnout. We already have one of the most efficient operations within USATF. This is because we have people who get satisfaction from doing what we do. Piling on more work may lead to dissatisfaction, with people leaving RRTC because it just isn’t fun any more. We saw this happen last year, when we lost a valued certifier who simply had had enough of the political arguing.
I hope that others within USATF will get off our backs and let us get on with what we do. We are the single area of USATF that does most to serve the road running community.
The above are my personal feelings and do not reflect any official view of RRTC.
