USRowing Board Meets Saturday

[longstrokes]

Do we have to wait until after the Olympics to get the DRAFT minutes for this past weekend's meeting? In government and non-profit organizations and committees and the like, draft minutes are made available for interested parties very soon after the meeting concludes. A few days rather than with USRowing's a few months.

Does anyone else see the ominous disconnect between the USRowing Board's stated positions and the actual implementation or carry through by Coach McLaren?
And I just read the email posted here from Glenn to all the athletes. How can the USRowing CEO show leadership by saying he's confident in him? It's like the engineer of the Titanic saying "the ship will survive! Our Captain and Tillerman are doing a great job" as the bow is at a 65 degree pitch, plunging down, with casualties in every direction.

The growing chorus for "something" to be done... has led to nothing being done. If Mike Teti is reappointed to coach the eight, that still is not the housecleaning that is needed to right the ship.

[2CiiX21]

Do we have to wait until after the Olympics to get the DRAFT minutes for this past weekend's meeting? In government and non-profit organizations and committees and the like, draft minutes are made available for interested parties very soon after the meeting concludes. A few days rather than with USRowing's a few months.

Does anyone else see the ominous disconnect between the USRowing Board's stated positions and the actual implementation or carry through by Coach McLaren?
And I just read the email posted here from Glenn to all the athletes. How can the USRowing CEO show leadership by saying he's confident in him? It's like the engineer of the Titanic saying "the ship will survive! Our Captain and Tillerman are doing a great job" as the bow is at a 65 degree pitch, plunging down, with casualties in every direction.

The growing chorus for "something" to be done... has led to nothing being done. If Mike Teti is reappointed to coach the eight, that still is not the housecleaning that is needed to right the ship.

Hiring Mike is the only housecleaning (if you can call it that) that can be done in enough time to right the ship. Tim has proven he can make a 4- go fast, and the 4x was clearly on the right track but did not have enough time to gel. Everyone agrees that even after the 4- and 4x are boated, we have plenty of talent left - Teti can make the 8+ from that. A full turnover of coaching staff would get us nothing at this stage. Do you really think the athletes would benefit from Glenn Merry coming out and saying he has no confidence in their coach's ability to produce Olympic medals, 10-11 months out from the Olympic Games?

[Slim]

Do you really think the athletes would benefit from Glenn Merry coming out and saying he has no confidence in their coach's ability to produce Olympic medals, 10-11 months out from the Olympic Games?

Do you think the athletes have confidence in their coach's ability to produce Olympic medals? I would certainly have my doubts after failing to win any medals two years in a row...

[crewu]

Perhaps everyone would benefit from Glenn Merry leaving the country for his Study Abroad in France and not returning until after the Olympics.

And if I am reading the USRowing board meeting minutes correctly, Glenn Merry has officially outsourced fundraising for private donations to the National Rowing Foundation and licensed fundraising from corporations to a company that hasn't produced squat. I wonder how long he has tied us to this company for? I've had experiences with companies like this before. They get an exclusive contract to market the non-profit and collect a percentage of whatever comes in. So, what they do is basically just send out a bunch of flyers and do nothing else and just hope that the organization flukes a few sponsorships and then they collect their fee for doing nothing for how ever many years the contract is written for.

[2CiiX21]

Do you really think the athletes would benefit from Glenn Merry coming out and saying he has no confidence in their coach's ability to produce Olympic medals, 10-11 months out from the Olympic Games?

Do you think the athletes have confidence in their coach's ability to produce Olympic medals? I would certainly have my doubts after failing to win any medals two years in a row...

And what's the only piece missing from all of the discussion? Anything that indicates the athletes are lacking confidence in their coach / don't believe they're headed in the right direction.

It has already been said that removing Tim at this stage in the game would only disrupt things further. Regardless of whether or not you agree with that, Tim isn't going anywhere prior to London. So, it really doesn't matter what you think the athletes think about him. The only productive thing to do is support them.

[Slim]

Do you think the athletes have confidence in their coach's ability to produce Olympic medals? I would certainly have my doubts after failing to win any medals two years in a row...

And what's the only piece missing from all of the discussion? Anything that indicates the athletes are lacking confidence in their coach / don't believe they're headed in the right direction.

It has already been said that removing Tim at this stage in the game would only disrupt things further. Regardless of whether or not you agree with that, Tim isn't going anywhere prior to London. So, it really doesn't matter what you think the athletes think about him. The only productive thing to do is support them.

Sounds good. I'll remember to put on my yellow ribbon american flag oar pin before I criticize the management and coaching of our national team.

[crewu]

So, big take sways from this are
1. We think bringing back Teti was an easy and necessary call.
2. We think the USRowing Board of Directors is a weak group of individuals.
3. And wish the Board had fired the CEO.

[gdoyle]

I have no doubt those are your takeaways. I question whether you fully grasp the scope of what the Board and CEO are responsible for.

Hint....when there's a problem in the fat pants department at Walmart, a scorched earth policy of upper level corporate restructuring might not be the optimal path forward. While fat pants are indeed a highly visible product of Walmart, there's a lot more going on across the organization, and an even wider audience (get it? ) to accommodate.

That being said, keep pushing for the reforms or improvements you desire. Just give some thought as to how the flag is carried. Don't be surprised when repeatedly storming the Bastille fails to produce anything long term and sustainable, other than a culture of fear and retrenchment. Revolution usually works once. Evolution is more likely to last.

[crewu]

The takeaways were based on the poll results.

Comparing USRowing to Walmart is ludicrous. USRowing would be better compared to a restauarant. The patrons don't like the food, fire the chef and hire a new one. Patrons still don't like the food, or worse are getting sick, fire the chef and the restaurant manager and hire new ones. Patrons still don't like the food? Guess what, as the owner you're out of business and broke.

Of course, as long as USRowing continues to suckle at the nipple of the USOC it can go on into eternity...but then you need to compare it to a soup kitchen.

[gdoyle]

The takeaways were based on the poll results.

Comparing USRowing to Walmart is ludicrous. USRowing would be better compared to a restauarant. The patrons don't like the food, fire the chef and hire a new one. Patrons still don't like the food, or worse are getting sick, fire the chef and the restaurant manager and hire new ones. Patrons still don't like the food? Guess what, as the owner you're out of business and broke.

Of course, as long as USRowing continues to suckle at the nipple of the USOC it can go on into eternity...but then you need to compare it to a soup kitchen.

Well, if 5% of the patrons don't like the food, you tweak the menu...or you find a way to make the 95% patronage spend more.

I don't think you get the whole picture....mostly because you think this small portion of USRA's responsibility IS the whole picture. I once suffered the same delusion. Come to the recovery group. Don't worry, we don't make you sing if you don't want to.

[crewu]

Haha! Doyle, it sounds like you are finally ready to accept a seat on the Board.

[The Stig]

Merry, you're doing a heck of a job.

- Greg "W" Doyle at a news conference after the 2011 World Championships.

[gdoyle]

Merry, you're doing a heck of a job.

- Greg "W" Doyle at a news conference after the 2011 World Championships.

Tsk, tsk, Clarice....with your good bag and your cheap shoes....you sound like a rube...a well scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste.


But back to reality....I have long advocated SEPARATE organizations to resolve the problems you perceive. SEPARATE directives, SEPARATE executives, SEPARATE funding streams with no possibility of co-mingling or mission creep.

Without that in place, I cannot fault them harshly for any shortcomings in serving the 5% of the membership directly affected by NT issues. While the 95% might enjoy it all as spectators, that doesn't run their regattas, train their refs, etc. This is a fundamental impasse that does not require names and innuendos. Think about the philosophy of governance, not your petty gripes with certain people you don't like.

Because, my brother, what will you do after you have deposed El Presidente?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkYfmRwryQo

[yeahbuddy]

The rumor circulating currently, after the Games Glenn Merry will be dismissed and Bruce Smith will be his replacement.

[gdoyle]

Rumors that heavy and offending don't circulate 7 months in advance. Methinks you heard some ingrate spouting his Grinch list, at worst, or if the better angels should be in force, details of a well-planned transition that may be forthcoming.

In any case, it's not the F.U. bomb some would want it to be. Really starting to get sick of that. I imagine potential sponsors are not without some advance details of the type of characters they might have to deal with if they should throw some change in the kettle. The Sour Bitch Gang is old hat.