USOC and USFencing - Discussion

[nahouw]

Notice that they both are still there. Massik continues to draw his pay. One wonders if they get a free trip to the Olympics to boot.

Actually, it is my understanding that Mike Massik isn't going to resign until after the Bejing Olympics -- with all the problems previously known, and now the USOC coming in to intervene, I don't understand the reasoning for the timeline of waiting to resign until after the Olympics.

[Phrogger]

I don't understand the reasoning for the timeline of waiting to resign until after the Olympics.

I'm guessing so he can take credit for any medals won.

[nahouw]

Yes, some of the candidates have served as National Coaches, committee members, FOC members, etc. I just don't see how that makes any of these people somehow culpable for the current mismanagement. I think that it's unfair even to imply that without a lot more information. It's not like some random member of the Tournament Committee had much power over the USFA's budget or financial controls.

The candidates for election are running for the control/oversight of the organization, The day-to-day management and the finances falls on the Executive Director (Mike Massik). It is true that the Executive Director reports to the board (who are the oversight of the Executive Director), but the current financial problems of the USFA falls squarely on the Executive Director (paid position).

[nahouw]

I'm guessing so he can take credit for any medals won.

Oh, so for his next interview he can take credit for medals won but neglect to mention the severe financial problems that occurred on his watch.

[misha]

I'm guessing so he can take credit for any medals won.

I would think it is even more simple:
He wants to go to Olympics on USFA dime ($30K-$50K) and to be an officially accredited to visit Opening/Closing ceremonies and such (priceless).


.

[Phrogger]

Oh, so for his next interview he can take credit for medals won but neglect to mention the severe financial problems that occurred on his watch.

Pretty much.

[nahouw]

I would think it is even more simple:
He wants to go to Olympics on USFA dime ($30K-$50K) and to be an officially accredited to visit Opening/Closing ceremonies and such (priceless).

.

The executive director doesn't go to the Olympics.

[jjefferies]

That may be true but the motives of the people behind the recall were just as bad.

I'm not sure what motives you are referring to. The people I knew were just outraged at the behavior of Nancy Anderson. I personally was upset by the lack of communications with the USFA and the disrespect shown the Divisions.

I don't pretend to understand all of the ins and outs of how the USFA is run, but I'll just mention that so far, the article only touches on the President and the Executive Director. Just because the nominating committee chose a specific set of candidates does not imply that those candidates are any more inside or outside the USFA than you or I are.

Yes, some of the candidates have served as National Coaches, committee members, FOC members, etc. I just don't see how that makes any of these people somehow culpable for the current mismanagement. I think that it's unfair even to imply that without a lot more information. It's not like some random member of the Tournament Committee had much power over the USFA's budget or financial controls.

Did you read the section:: "Many were strikingly concerned about speaking up directly, for fear that their standing within the fencing community would be jeopardized. For years the complicity of silence allowed leadership that was increasingly overburdened with responsibilities that went over their heads to remain idle. "When people are afraid to put themselves out there and rock the boat," says one member, "the boat just keeps sinking. That's what happened with us."" My point about the election was that the same complicity of silence was directed at those trying to seek change through the election. Again take a look at the threads regarding the election. Some were quite hostile even vitriolic. Why? Should I be concerned if KD5MK should direct a bout I'm in?

I thought the same thing as you did about the timing of this announcement. But I agree that the USFA had little power to change the timing of the USOC's announcement or (especially) the SI article.

I'm a conspiracy theorist, Coincidences do happen. I'm just not comfortable with them.

[nahouw]

Pretty much.

Except resigning gracefully at the appropriate time would have limited the discussions going on on the internet, and not doing so has created more discussions, an article by SI, probably a nice NBC clip about this during the Olympic coverage and plenty to search on the internet for potential future employers to find...

[fencerbill]

Actually, it is my understanding that Mike Massik isn't going to resign until after the Bejing Olympics -- with all the problems previously known, and now the USOC coming in to intervene, I don't understand the reasoning for the timeline of waiting to resign until after the Olympics.

Awfully short notice for someone to get up to speed at this critical time. I am in favor of his staying. I confess I have not kept track of all of these discussions but my understanding is that the financial problems are due to uncontrolled spending by people over whom Massik had no control and nonexistent oversight by our current president. Sure Massik should have done something but who tells these spenders no?

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Except if the USOC is stepping in to take over financial disbursement of the funds though the Olympics, and freezing Massik out of the loop...then there's probably no compelling reason for him to still be in the office.

Jim Page has been brought back out of retirement for a second time to be the official liason between the USOC and the USFA between now and Beijing...so in essence, he could be seen as taking over the most pressing of Michael's duties: getting the Olympic business taken care of and finishing out the last bit of the 2004-2008 quadrennial.

[nahouw]

I'm not sure what motives you are referring to. The people I knew were just outraged at the behavior of Nancy Anderson. I personally was upset by the lack of communications with the USFA and the disrespect shown the Divisions.

I agree with jjeffries -- I don't know of any "motives" of the people responsible for starting the recall, and in fact, if you do a search on fencing.net in regards to the recall you will find within the discussion threads, a comparision of Nancy's agenda of what she wanted to accomplish and what in fact she did accomplish under her watch, which showed that in the first two years of her administration that she did not accomplish her benchmarks, which is why people were outraged.

After the recall, the incident at Summer Nationals in which Nancy rescinded a black card given to a coach (who happened to be a National Coach) who physically threatened a referee was also another incident which showed her lack of judgement.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

my understanding is that the financial problems are due to uncontrolled spending by people over whom Massik had no control and nonexistent oversight by our current president.

Then your understanding is flawed.

[nahouw]

my understanding is that the financial problems are due to uncontrolled spending by people over whom Massik had no control and nonexistent oversight by our current president. Sure Massik should have done something but who tells these spenders no?

Mike Massik is the Executive Director of the USFA
Mike Massik is responsible for controlling the staff in the National Office
The staff of the National Office is responsible for expenditures
Mike Massik is responsible for the USFA budget and is accountable to the Board of Directors

If Mike Massik is in charge of the staff of the National Office, and the staff of the National Office is responsible for all expenditures, how can Mike Massik claim that these expenses were beyond his control? Where does the buck stop??

[nahouw]

Jim Page has been brought back out of retirement for a second time to be the official liason between the USOC and the USFA between now and Beijing...so in essence, he could be seen as taking over the most pressing of Michael's duties: getting the Olympic business taken care of and finishing out the last bit of the 2004-2008 quadrennial.

Great news. But, then again, then begs the question as to why Mike Massik will not resign until some undetermined time after Bejing.

[KD5MDK]

After the recall, the incident at Summer Nationals in which Nancy rescinded a black card given to a coach (who happened to be a National Coach) who physically threatened a referee was also another incident which showed her lack of judgement.

Nancy has a majority vote on the Executive Committee? That would be the first sign of effectiveness people have reported in a long time.

[fencerX]

.so in essence, he could be seen as taking over the most pressing of Michael's duties:

Massik's most pressing duty right now should be cleaning out his desk.

[nahouw]

Then your understanding is flawed.

I agree with Capt. Slo-mo -- the Executive Director -- the buck stops here.

[nahouw]

but my understanding is that the financial problems are due to uncontrolled spending by people over whom Massik had no control and nonexistent oversight by our current president.

Be careful -- a statement like this sounds alot like collusion.

[KD5MDK]

Mike Massik is the Executive Director of the USFA
Mike Massik is responsible for controlling the staff in the National Office
The staff of the National Office is responsible for expenditures
Mike Massik is responsible for the USFA budget and is accountable to the Board of Directors

If Mike Massik is in charge of the staff of the National Office, and the staff of the National Office is responsible for all expenditures, how can Mike Massik claim that these expenses were beyond his control? Where does the buck stop??

I agree with all these statements.

Great news. But, then again, then begs the question as to why Mike Massik will not resign until some undetermined time after Bejing.

The intention at the time this was announced was to give time for the new administration, whoever that is, to select a new executive director and arrange an orderly transfer of authority.