Election '01

Traditonally, only a few hundred of USA Triathlon's 20,000 or so annual members actually vote. Why? These elections tend to slip under the radar of the collective consciousness of USAT's membership. We'll try our best to make sure that doesn't happen this year. All you'll need to know will be found on Slowtwitch's pages. Below you'll find:

WHAT MAKES YOU ELIGIBLE TO VOTE? CLICK HERE
WHEN IS THE ELECTION DEADLINE? CLICK HERE
WHERE IS THE BALLOT, AND WHO AM I VOTING FOR? CLICK HERE
WHO IS RUNNING? CLICK HERE
WILL SLOWTWITCH.COM BE ASKING QUESTIONS AND POSTING ANSWERS OF THE CANDIDATES? CLICK HERE
WILL SLOWTWITCH BE ENDORSING A PLATORM AND/OR CANDIDATES? CLICK HERE
WILL CONTRARY VIEWS BE ALLOWED TO WEIGH IN ON THIS SITE? CLICK HERE

Many of our readers are from Canada and abroad, and for those of you who may feel left out, we at Slowtwitch simply do not (yet) know enough about what goes on in other countries to give informed commentary on elections outside the U.S. (There are certainly those who'll say we can't give informed commentary for this country, either, but we're doing it anyway.)

We do not feel it is your duty to vote, or to keep yourself informed. Our goal is simply to provide the information for those who feel they would like to keep abreast of, and feel equipped to participate in, the governing body that oversees triathlon in the U.S.

WHAT MAKES YOU ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?

You must be an annual member of USAT. You can sign up on Active.com, and that clickable link will take you right to the USAT membership form. It is often asked, "What does my $25 per year get me?" We're not going to make the case for membership on that basis. We're simply going to say that if you DON'T think the annual membership is worth $25, and therefore don't become an annual member, then you're ineligible to vote for the folks who WILL make it worth your $25 investment in the future.

You MUST be an annual member in good standing by and on October 30, 2001. Realize that your membership is for a 12-month time span. So if you signed up in, say, September of last year, your vote will not count toward this election until and unless you rejoin prior to October 30. In other words, MAKE SURE YOUR MEMBERSHIP DOES NOT EXPIRE PRIOR TO THE ELECTION'S CLOSING DATE!

You do NOT need to have been an annual member throughout the year to vote! You can sign up any time between now and October 29, in which case your membership will be good throughout the next racing season.

WHEN IS THE ELECTION DEADLINE?

October 30. Your vote must be cast by then.

WHERE IS THE BALLOT, AND WHO AM I VOTING FOR?

Here is the BALLOT, and you'll need Acrobat Reader to open it. You are voting twice––once for a member in your region, and once for an at-large member. Print out the ballot and mail it in––all the instructions are on the ballot. Ballots must be RECEIVED by November 1, 2001.

WHO IS RUNNING?

USAT's board of directors has 11 members. Each serves a two-year term. Each of four regions––Western, Central, Eastern, and At-Large––has two members. Your representatives are the two in your geographical region plus the two At-Large board members. One seat from each region comes up for election each year; each member serves a two-year term. Y0U WILL VOTE FOR ONE CANDIDATE IN YOUR REGION, plus you'll vote for one At-Large candidate.

Next year, the other board member in each of these regions comes up for election—i.e., the elections are staggered annually. Members may serve for a maximum of six years.

The three remaining board members are pro athletes, and you need a pro card to vote in that election. The U.S. Olympic Committee requires national federations to have high-level pro athletes on their boards in a ratio of at least 1 in 4. The pros have voting rights equivalent to those on the rest of the board.

Below are the candidates up for election, and none are incumbents this year. A link on a name means the candidate has a website.

WESTERN REGION

Celeste Callahan (WEBSITE)
Jim Girand (WEBSITE)
Perry Toles

CENTRAL REGION

Valerie Ellsworth-Gattis
Dave Rainey

EASTERN REGION

Jon Adamson
Ed Morris
Alisa Wright Colopy
Diane Travis

AT LARGE

Karen Buxton
Jose Valdes

WILL SLOWTWITCH.COM BE ASKING QUESTIONS AND POSTING ANSWERS OF THE CANDIDATES?

Here are the questions, and the candidates' answers:

1. What does the USAT sanctioning emblem mean? If you compete in a USAT-sanctioned race is the experience demonstrably different than competing in a non-sanctioned race? If so, what, specifically, are your expectations for a USAT race versus a non-sanctioned race? Which of those expectations are currently met? Which are not? How do you intend to meet those which are not met?

JAMES GIRAND (WESTERN): The USAT sanction means an athlete can enter a sanctioned race and be assured the race director (RD) has met certain standards regarding safety and infrastructure. The truth is there are a number of RDs who have been staging triathlons for a number of years and are not sanctioned. Today, athletes may not be able to tell the difference for these better-known races. I would like to have a more cooperative relationship between these non-sanctioned races and USAT that would result in more races being sanctioned. This year, four triathletes died tragically in triathlons. I understand three of the races were sanctioned and one was not. No conclusive cause has been determined but there are sufficient tragic experiences to warrant reviewing the safety criteria for sanctioned races and determining if the standards should be raised. It is difficult to expand on this question because every race has its own pattern of well-executed and poorly executed activities.

Looking to the future I would like for USAT to work with the race directors and do the following:

Provide financial incentives to RDs who have well-run races. I would like to see athletes have the opportunity to evaluate the quality of race management with an online evaluation. High ratings would be rewarded while poor ratings should be followed by USAT working with the RD to correct the deficiencies.
Welcome first-time triathletes in such a way they [they will] want to do more triathlons by having 1) a dedicated area in transition devoted to "first-timers"; 2) mentors there who will give encouragement and assistance with racking bikes and laying out their gear; 3) dedicated waves for first-timers and also increased vigilance in the water; and 4) separate awards for first-timers...and not at the end of the awards ceremony after everyone has gone home.

DAVE RAINEY (CENTRAL): I have first-hand knowledge of the difference between USAT sanctioned events and non-sanctioned events here in Houston. Although the race director of the non-sanctioned event plans for a safe course with the athletes in mind, there are a lot of ingredients missing that you would find at a USAT sanctioned event. A few examples are: there are no bike racks, no barrier between athletes and spectators, no rules or officials, results aren't useable for the rankings, and bike drafting is not uncommon.

The other seven events in Houston are USAT sanctioned, meaning that these items are provided for by the race director for the atheletes. A sanctioned event means certain standards have to be met by the race director and his committee. Those basic standards provide for a safe, fair event for the athelete. As a member of the USAT Race Director's Commission, I've written along with Jim Donaldson a "star review" for USAT-sanctioned events that would cover the basic ingredients. Events would then be able to advertise their rating on their entry for athletes to screen. The ultimate objective is that every USAT event be a five-star event; that means we're doing our best to provide quality events for the membership. I'm not sure actually when this review will be presented to the board.

I must admit that I'm in a situation where the vast majority of Texas events are USAT-sanctioned. We worked hard over the years to encourage race directors to accept the USAT standards for their events, and think the athlete has prospered because of that work.

CELESTE CALLAHAN (WESTERN): The USAT sanctioning emblem is triathlon’s Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. It means that our governing body has assured that the race in question is safe, fair, organized, and representative of our sport. Most of the time the race matches the emblem. But sometimes there are glitches. I hear that a heart attack in Palm Springs would not have been fatal, perhaps, had an ambulance been on site. The swim course at nationals this year was all-time rookie. This question combines with your fifth question. I wonder if we are spending too much time and effort developing new talent and aiming for the Olympics at the expense of races already in progress. The qualifying race held in August 2001 for a world’s in November 2002 is perhaps illustrative of what the Chinese called "scattered qi." Our first order of business should be high quality races. High quality racers will evolve.

JOSE VALDES (AT-LARGE): "What does the USAT sanctioning emblem mean?" The emblem must represent an organization that strives to equitably represent the membership and stakeholders in USAT. Specifically in reference to event sanctioning: Sanctioning must denote that events, services, promotions and/or activity displaying the emblem meet recognizable standards set by USAT.

"If you compete in a USAT-sanctioned race is the experience demonstrably different than competing in a non-sanctioned race?" I have competed in sanctioned and unsanctioned events and have experienced excellence in either case. However, a key differentiator is the presence of certified USAT officials. Granted, I have been a certified USAT official for over a decade, but it is because of my experiences as an official that I am convinced that officials are a key differentiator. Additionally, a USAT-sanctioned event is consistently better in terms of course and transition area layout and organization. The sanctioning process is intended to ensures that all major facets of an event are evaluated to produce a well-organized and fair event.

"If so, what, specifically, are your expectations for a USAT race versus a non-sanctioned race?" My expectations are certified USAT officials and a well-organized event that delivers what it "advertised."

"Which of those expectations are currently met? Which are not?" I have been to few events, in nearly 20 years of competing, that met all my personal expectations. I find that those that do overwhelmingly have competent organizers that understand the sport and care for the athletes. However, a sanctioned event must have its sanction application reviewed and approved by USAT. That act suggests that the race organizers have committed to a level of service not required of non-sanctioned events. Further, a sanctioned event can be held accountable for not meeting the sanctioning requirements. Obviously, the key to enforcement is in having qualified individuals monitor the actual event. In that regard, a USAT official is chartered to observe whether the sanctioning requirements are met and enforce them, within the limits of their authority, or report deviations to USAT. Clearly, a sanctioning has less "value" if the sanction requirements are not observed and suitable punitive action applied was warranted.

"How do you intend to meet those which are not met?" Again, first establish clear, observable sanctioning requirements and initially evaluate the sanction application against them at USAT. Caveats to the basic sanction requirements may be required to deal with unique conditions. Then, an observer must determine whether the sanction requirements were met. Lastly, enforce positive and punitive actions based on the adherence of an event to the sanctioning requirements.

The USAT Board of Directors must be intimately involved and ultimately responsible for the development of the sanctioning process and enforcement of its policies.

Bottom line, this is a complex and relevant issue that warrants diligent analysis. The USAT emblem and sanction will be meaningless unless it stands for consistency of product and quality of service. The membership will ultimately determine whether the value is observable by voting with their "wallets".

PERRY TOLES (WESTERN REGION): Ahh, the seven-dollar question. USAT sanctioned events guarantee that certain minimum standards are met. Sometimes you are officiated by the striped shirts and the race results help you get a national ranking. Other than that, I don't think I've noticed a big difference between sanctioned and unsanctioned races. However, from the perspective of the triathlete who is not an annual member of USAT, sanctioned events mean that they have to pay an additional $7. I'm from a state where three of our most popular sprint-distance events dropped their USAT sanctions because 70 to 80 percent of their participants are not annual members of USAT. I think it is fair to say that these events represent the grassroots efforts in our sport, and the one-day license fee of $7 is seen as a hindrance to attracting new people to triathlons. This needs to be examined. And the fact that 70 to 80 percent of our sprint-distance participants are not becoming annual USAT members needs to be examined also.

JON ADAMSON (EASTERN REGION): The USAT sanctioning emblem should mean that 100 percent of all the race requirements are being met. Generally, non-sanctioned races are not meeting all of the USAT requirements.

I find that non-sanctioned races are inconsistent. They will be OK in some areas but lax in others. Most decisions are based on the race director’s positions, which end up being economically based, or personal feelings.

I feel that most of the USAT requirements are being met in sanctioned races. The one area that needs emphasis is getting more qualified bike marshals. The sport is growing so fast that it is hard to get certified marshals in the right quantity. I will be working to get more clinics and more incentives for people to be a marshal.

My expectations for USAT sanctioned races are:

Use of wetsuits will be determined by water temperature in an objective manner.
The course will be accurately measured and laid out for a safe race.
The bike marshals will be certified and available in a quantity that will cover the race.
The timing system will yield accurate results in a timely basis, with splits.

KAREN BUXTON (AT LARGE): The USAT sanctioning label on a race registration form means that the race director has successfully completed USAT’s application process, set up to ensure "that each event that gets (USAT’s) stamp of approval, is safe, fair, legal and well-organized." Beyond that it means that the event has been reviewed in terms of risk-management and compliance with the USAT competitive rules, is insured ($1 million of event liability insurance), has access to free USAT sponsorship products, has access to the planning support of USAT’s Events Services Director, and will have its results tabulated in the national-ranking system. That said, the quality of any race, sanctioned or non-sanctioned, ultimately rests on the ability of the race director and his staff and volunteers. I find that non-sanctioned races do not have draft-marshals, which can often result in an unfair and, more importantly, unsafe race. They also have no avenue for appeal by athletes, because there are no set guidelines (USAT Rule Book) to follow. The vast majority of USAT-sanctioned races in which I compete are well run, safe, fair and competitive. Sometimes there are fewer officials and marshals than needed; and that is a crucial issue that needs to be addressed throughout multi-sport racing. To remedy this, I would establish more training clinics for officials (funded by USAT) and provide better incentives for people to become officials (uniforms, larger stipends, ongoing support and training).

VALERIE ELLSWORTH GATTIS (CENTRAL): My experience with races that are USAT sanctioned is that they stand out from those that are not by providing a racing opportunity that promises to be organized, safe, marshaled and offer rankings/results in a timely manner. USAT, with the direction of it RDC (Race Director’s Commission) strives to design and implement guidelines for Race Directors that offer a standardized benchmark for race management. Non-sanctioned races do not, as a whole. A point of interest here is that sanctioned races’ responsibilities are multi leveled if they are to succeed. The race director needs to comply with the standards set forth in the sanctioning package; the athlete needs to advise the race director and, more importantly, USAT, of races that do not live up to the sanctioning requirements so these races can bee attended to; USAT needs to review each sanctioning renewal request annually to ensure proper compliance. A safe, fun environment will be remembered and revisited by athletes over and over again.

DIANE TRAVIS (EASTERN): The USAT sanctioning emblem means a race director is willing and able to put on a race that fits the guidelines of the USAT's standards requirements for safety, fairness and benefits(National Rankings, insurance,etc) for the athletes. The many standards requirements to sanctioning should make it a quality race. The race director that applies and receives this stamp of approval should have credibility with the athletes.

( Would you hire an electrician without a license and insurance?) Lets just say hypothetically there was no difference in a USAT sanctioned race and a non-sanctioned race. I still want to go with the Race Director that was willing to commit in writing to the guidelines set up by USAT. Yes, my expectations are very high for a sanctioned race. I expect fairness with respect to drafting, racking of bikes, safety on the course, timely accurate results, and informative friendly fun volunteers.

Most of these expectations are being met, some need work. We all know we need more officials at the races. USAT /Regions need to recruit more people and fund this objective so more people will be willing to officiate. USAT staff has started to really pay attention to the races that have not met the safety and other requirements resulting in probations. This is a real step forward in keeping up the standards and I applaud them. Now we need to promote the Races and Race Directors that continuously have held these high standards/great races and work with the ones that need help. The Regional Boards can help in this effort.

2. Do you think USAT is adequately funded to execute both its current mission and the parts of its mission you think it ought to undertake? If not, how do you propose to make up the difference between current funding and needed funding?

JAMES GIRAND (WESTERN): I do not yet have access to USAT budgeting information. From a distance one can observe membership in USAT has increased strongly since the Olympics. Sponsorships like AARP and others have also been obtained. Whatever the level of funding I believe we can be more aggressive in the following ways to increase funding for USAT. First, have a USAT rep at every sanctioned race explaining the benefits of an annual membership ($25) versus a daily fee ($7). I know this will work because when I was canvassing ballots recently at the Dannon Duathlon in Seattle, I got ten people to sign up for annual memberships by merely explaining the benefits. Second, target the ten largest nonsanctioned triathlons and convince the RDs to sanction with USAT utilizing some of the benefits described in the previous paragraph. Whatever happened in the past is history, cannot be changed and we ought to start looking forward and institute race conditions that will benefit the athletes.

DAVE RAINEY (CENTRAL): Money...money...money! A subject very seldom approached by the athelete. Most of us accept the fact that we've paid our annual membership dues and Steve and the gang should be running things smoothly just as long as my membership card arrives on time and I'm included in the rankings. But the fact is very few of the membership are aware of budget considerations and funded programs, or how we obtain the funding to underwrite the organization. It's [so] far removed from the membership's daily agenda that it's not an issue to be dealt with.

I reviewed USAT's budget, and at first blush it appears that they are able to fund their programs and provide for salaries. However, I know that there are things in the fold that I'm not aware of by not being a member of the board.

In this regard I'm in favor of mandatory annual memberships for USAT event participants. I would eliminate the one-day permit except for relay team members. If anyone has done the math they can see that annual membership are income productive for USAT. Also, as a race director I would welcome the annual membership concept in order to reduce the paperwork and athelete's time at packet pickup.

CELESTE CALLAHAN (WESTERN): I have this idea. I showed up at the Denver Danskin registration this August to hawk votes. One out of 30 women standing in the two-hour line to get into the building was an annual USAT member. Danskin typically draws a field of well over 2,000 women for eight national races. I understand that the average wait to get into registration for most of the cities is well over an hour and a half. If Danskin announced on its early season information that an express line would be formed for annual USAT members—with an application form attached—well, we could make some big bucks.

JOSE VALDES (AT-LARGE): Based on my cursory review of last years budget report, USAT was funded sufficient to conduct its priorities. What funding may be required for the future will depend upon the magnitude of the ongoing and new priorities versus non-fluctuating funds.

My intention is to evaluate every line item on the budget for accountability and applicability to the priorities set by the USAT Board of Directors. My biased are toward activities that will broaden the base of participation, particularly for youth, coaching and officiating programs, and a competitive elite program. Certainly, the requisite operational and human resources must be available to execute the priorities.

I expect to promote membership by providing value, seek to secure long-term sponsorship and funding, and diligently monitor income and expenses.

PERRY TOLES (WESTERN REGION): Currently, USAT is like a college graduate who gets his/her first high-paying job. USAT is now on the Olympic program, and several hundred thousands of dollars are flowing our way from the U.S. Olympic Committee. On the one hand, USAT has more money than it ever had. On the other hand its responsibilities have also increased. If USAT is to fulfill all its obligations as the national governing body for the sport of triathlon, it will have to succeed in raising support in addition to what it receives from the USOC. Give me a chance to get on the board first, examine the books and look at the programs, then I'll let you know what I think USAT needs to be doing, if they are not already doing it.

JON ADAMSON (EASTERN REGION): Based on the information that I have, funding is sufficient for the current mission. I think that they will need more funding in the future to develop more additional support programs to help the young athletes who will comprise our 2004 Olympic team. Programs are also needed to help motivate and develop young potential triathletes. This would include additional programs at the high school level. I would go after the following areas for additional funds:

More sponsors,
Increased membership,and
Raise the one-day fees to motivate the athletes to purchase annual memberships.

KAREN BUXTON (AT LARGE): USAT’s mission – "to provide leadership and structure for the growth and development of excellence in multi-sports"-- is general enough to allow for a huge variance in what might be considered adequate funding. I believe, with the redistribution of allotments (away from the junior-elite programs to the development of collegiate-aged athletes), the present level of funding generated through membership dues, USOC grants, and corporate support is sufficient. However, I certainly see the need for attracting more corporate and private funding of age-groupers: to develop and support clubs, race directors and teams.

VALERIE ELLSWORTH GATTIS (CENTRAL): Yes. USAT is solvent and prosperous. But this is an ever-evolving thing, this budget. As long as membership grows, USAT sponsorship contracts renewed, new relationships built and USAT’s financial management stays as targeted and focused as it is now, all is well.

DIANE TRAVIS (EASTERN): I feel USAT is adequately funded to execute its current mission. That is not to say we should not continue to look for revenue sources, i.e.: AARP like races and Corporate Funding.

3. What brand-new––never before attempted––initiative do you intend to implement, or try to have implemented, once you're on USAT's board?

JAMES GIRAND (WESTERN): After travelling all over the Western region and meeting hundreds of athletes at races and tri clubs, I know the number one burning issue on the minds of the experienced triathletes is the subject of transfers! This subject is an accident waiting to happen. The approach now is wrong: denial and punitive action for anyone getting caught. An athlete competing under an assumed name forfeits his insurance. The problem will only get worse as more races fill up earlier and earlier....and people's plans change. I will ask the USAT board to convene a committee of experienced RDs and age-group athletes and recommend a procedure that will recognize the extra administrative effort required of the RD as well as a timeline cut-off for transfers before the race, as well as a simplified procedure for the athlete to arrange for a transfer.

DAVE RAINEY (CENTRAL): For a new concept I would promote an annual convention where committees meet, rules are discussed and developed, the board meets, annual awards are presented to our top atheletes, national championships are announced, regional federations meet, elections are conducted, and the membership is invovled.

This would bring the committees into direct contact with the board as they present their agendas and recommendations. The board would also have an open forum for the membership who chose to attend and speak to the board regarding issues of concern.

CELESTE CALLAHAN (WESTERN): My bailiwick is the new triathlete. I volunteer over 20 hours a week on the cause. See my website: www.cww-triathlon.org.

JOSE VALDES (AT-LARGE): My intention is to first evaluate, improve and/or eliminate the existing initiatives. Innovation comes from sound analysis of the current initiatives and future priorities.

PERRY TOLES (WESTERN REGION): First, let me say that while I bring my own individual background and expertise to the USAT board, I'm a team player. I'm not going to pursue a personal agenda, I will pursue the goals established by the board. Having said that, I would like the board to consider re-establishing the Triathlon Junior Olympics ("TJO") that operated during the 1990s. The TJO, together with the IronKids series, provided an important entry into the triathlete pipeline. To some extent, I think USAT is not doing as well as it could in recruiting and developing America's youth in the sport of triathlon.

JON ADAMSON (EASTERN REGION): I would like to introduce a new initiative that at all sanctioned USAT races every participating athlete has to be an annual member of USAT. This would eliminate the one-day memberships.

While although controversial, I feel that it should be our goal to have 100 percent of all athletes that participate in sanctioned events be annual members. This will generate more funds but that is not my main reason. The one-day fee athletes do not feel that they belong to USA Triathlon. They do not get any of the monthly news or updates, and therefore they are not informed when it comes to understanding what USAT stands for and is moving our sport forward. I have talked to a lot of athletes as a result of this election and know that a lot of education needs to done. It is very difficult to do this if the participating athletes are not annual members.

KAREN BUXTON (AT LARGE): The new initiative I would pursue, if elected to USAT’s Board, is the establishment of an "Age-Group Fund" which would be large enough to endow training camps and clinics for all USAT members; broad-based support for national team members; and grant money that would be available for the development of individuals and groups within multi-sport. This initiative translates into aggressive fundraising that is specifically linked to the age-group athlete and the multi-sport lifestyle.

VALERIE ELLSWORTH GATTIS (CENTRAL): An Educational Resources Program offered through clinics nationwide that will target the novice age group athlete. This will offer a standardization program of "How To Do Your First Triathlon/Duathlon" to the masses. Optimally, this will attract more athletes to the sport, thus increasing membership; this will provide and opportunity for the USAT coach provide education in his/her locality and receive an additional income stream; this could be used in the school systems to make multisport part of the curriculum.

DIANE TRAVIS (EASTERN): One big initiative I would like to work on is promoting increased TV and media coverage on the races and not at 2:00am! The general public needs to see this sport and in turn will look forward to watching it and possibly participating. TV coverage to get us in the main stream like Australia did.

4. What is the single most important volunteer project you can see yourself taking on as a USAT board member?

JAMES GIRAND (WESTERN): With my marketing background I would like to work with the USAT people in charge of getting races sanctioned, and focus on those ten non-sanctioned races as well as help seek corporate sponsorships.

DAVE RAINEY (CENTRAL): All my platform items are important to me. I would be working to bring them all to the membership and the board for consideration and development. I see them as equal issues and that's why they're listed in my platform. I want to work at bringing them to the front.

JOSE VALDES (AT-LARGE): Any activity related to the youth program, clubs, and long-term funding sources.

PERRY TOLES (WESTERN REGION): Serving on the USAT board is a pretty important volunteer project in and of itself. But in addition to that, I intend to keep my constituents informed and represent their views to the USAT board. This means establishing a communication link with the triathletes, most likely utilizing the Internet and the race directors and clubs in my region. So email me and let me know how I might be able to serve you.

JON ADAMSON (EASTERN REGION): I want to help promote triathlon for young adults (13-18) as part of school sports activities. There are a lot of good single-sport athletes that are getting burned out in this age group (swimming/ track-cross country, etc.). Multisport may be a way of keeping these kids involved in sports and recruit some good triathletes at the same time.

KAREN BUXTON (AT LARGE): In terms of my single most important volunteer project, it is being an effective and respected board member who can contribute to the mission statement of USAT, while aggressively promoting my passionate cause. I want to be open minded, collaborative and generous with my time to the board and bring a fresh, and exciting voice to represent the age-group athlete. Having said that, if I can achieve the above initiative (endowing the Age Group Fund), it will be a crowning moment for multi-sport.

VALERIE ELLSWORTH GATTIS (CENTRAL): Since 1999, I have been involved in USAT as Chair of various Commissions. I have spearheaded the creation of the following Commissions: Youth, Clubs, and Duathlon. I have been tasked with helping design new guidelines for TEAM USA Travel and Race Uniforms. I plan to continue my efforts on behalf of the age group athlete if I am voted on the Board.

DIANE TRAVIS (EASTERN): Raising money for TEAM USA ,better Age Group recognition and benefits, and a dynamite marketing plan to promote our Race directors to prospective sponsors.

5. Do you think USAT has a role in finding and developing America's new talents in Olympic-style racing? What sort of recruiting and development plan would you back?

JAMES GIRAND (WESTERN): I am tired of going to multisport World Championships and seeing Europeans kick our butts in the younger age groups. We need to proactively identify young cross-country runners, swimmers and cyclists in high school who are outstanding performers in one or two of the disciplines. Offer athletic advice and encouragement. Keep in touch with them while they're in college. And, when they graduate from college and cannot excel in one of the three disciplines at the world level,encourage them to become serious triathletes....identify those with excellent potential and make our new training facility and coaches available to them. There are no quick fixes so let's try a new approach, a long-term athlete development strategy...and measure our progress each year to insure we are on the right track!!

DAVE RAINEY (CENTRAL): For USA Track and Field, American colleges and universities provide the training grounds for their Olympic team members. They conduct a national championship to determine the team and leave it to our coaches across the country to develop the talent.

Our colleges and universities don't provide that same opportunity. Scholarships are readily available to aspiring triathletes, and, therefore, USAT should have a process in which they can recognize young talent and provide opportunities for them to develop.

Americans want to win when it comes to the Olympics. We're competitive and driven and want the best athletes to represent us. For the millions of Americans watching on TV as Shelia came out of the water in Sydney in first place, each and every one was pulling for her to keep the fire buring all the way to the finish line. And that's because we were all Americans and one of ours was out front setting the pace.

JOSE VALDES (AT-LARGE): Yes, one of the important priorities for USAT must be to promote and nurture Olympic-style racing. Personally, draft-legal events changed the individual, attractive nature of the sport. However, it is the most internationally marketable and visible form of the sport. My concern is aggressively developing and promoting Olympic-style racing while not diluting the importance of non-drafting events for elites and age-groupers.

"What sort of recruiting and development plan would you back?" I am a strong proponent of youth programs and clubs. The next generation of multisports athletes must be nurtured as mutlisport athletes rather than "converts" from other sports. In order to successfully produce the next generation of Olympic athletes, youth programs, coaches, and clubs must be accessible and well-organized. There are certainly numerous models in youth sports today that can be adapted to multisport. However, the concept of a cross-generational and gender club system is highly appealing to me. We cannot count on school and collegiate systems to fund and promote yet another low-revenue sport. Thus, a club system may be the best initial source for the development of future talent.

PERRY TOLES (WESTERN REGION): No matter what your beliefs are about drafting, USAT most definitely has an obligation to prepare America's Olympic hopefuls for draft-legal Olympic-style racing. Whatever the recruiting and development plans are, they must include draft-legal races around the country for our up-and-coming athletes. Having said that, how would you like to see USAT take a leadership role among the ITU member countries and lead a uprising at ITU and change all triathlons back to no-drafting events?

JON ADAMSON (EASTERN REGION): I feel that USAT has a major role to play. I am working with a young female triathlete that wants to make the 2004 Olympic team. As a result of this, I have reviewed the process in depth and know how complex and how expensive it is to make it to the USA trials. Currently USAT does a good job in supporting athletes that are proven or that can join the residence team. To insure that the USA gets the best athletes for the Olympic team, I would like to see financial support given to all athletes that prove they have potential at the development camps, even if they can’t join the residence team in Colorado Springs. ITU racing requires a lot of international racing, and this is very costly. We need more regional development, which can be accomplished with more funds.

KAREN BUXTON (AT LARGE): I believe that USAT, being the governing body of multi-sport, has a huge role in finding and developing America’s hopefuls in Olympic-style racing. I am in favor of targeting our resources to the development of our collegiate-aged athletes for this program.

VALERIE ELLSWORTH GATTIS (CENTRAL): USAT’s decision to hire Libby Burrell (South Africa’s Team Manager) to develop our elite athlete recruiting and development efforts was brilliant. In concert with the National Coaching Commission’s design to target and nurture athletes through the regional federations, through the state and local levels, and the Resident Team’s coach (Blessing), I believe we will see a positive change in the performance of our athletes in the future Olympic games.

DIANE TRAVIS (EASTERN): If USAT will keep following Libby Burrell's suggestions and guidelines for finding and developing new talents we will have the best. She has already put together quite an extensive and impressive plan of action. In fact if I am not mistaken the comment was "this is the best plan the USOC has ever seen".

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