Posted by Glenn Ribotsky on March 08, 2004 at 17:30:34:
In Reply to: Re: Another NYRR race with a problem... posted by Stephen Kairys on March 08, 2004 at 11:40:55:
The only races that the NYRRC necessarily gets USAT&F certified are those that involve national/international class runners, and which invovle sponsor-generated purses--the marathon, the women's mini 10K, and the championship 8K.
A number of the other races use courses that at one time or another were certified--sometimes, of course (no pun intended), that was many years ago. A majority of the races, though, have undergone course of distance changes at least once in the last five years, and with the ongoing volunteer problem at the Club (I could write a large tome about that situation--the club, which is the richest running organization in the world, still relies upon volunteers for the technical administration for all but these large sponsor-driven races), many are not adequately measured. (But you knew that already.)
I agree with Mr. Kairys that this is largley an attitude problem fostered by the current regime--we're the only game in town, you'll keep running in our races so you can get a NYC Marathon entry, get used to it. It certainly is fodder for the Club Council. That Council, though, chaired by the Secretary and Treasurer of the Club, does not have much of a record of being able to take on the adninistration, through the Board of Directiors, successfully--the administration tends to look at the Council with a smirk on its face, using it as a safety valve where activist members can blow off steam.
I've written in the past that the only way to alter this in the end may be to have enough members interested and able to run for spots on the Board as they become available and win. The Board currently reviews the resumes/qualifications of all peopel who want to run for such spots and decides who will be put on the ballot. I have held for years that is a major conflict of interest, and that any member in good standing who wants to run for such spots should be able to--let the members sort them out. But more members would have to be interested in voting, never mind serving. I have suggested that local clubs select candidates and then back them strongly, perhaps forming alliances with other clubs. This has had limited success--the Flyers elected a member to the Board some years back--but it has to happen more often, with more clubs.
It is a badly-kept secret that Allan Steinfled is not in great health and that Mary Wittenberg is being groomed to succeed him--one wonders if that will result in any substantial change.