Mike Murray
This simplified version ignores the major criticisms of the initial
proposal. Namely:
-Time constraints.
For example, weekly track events can practically only run 4 categories. If
we are to follow the proposal #1 then we will have 2 women's categories and
2 men's categories rather than the current 3 men's categories and 1 women's
category. Currently we rarely have ANY women interested in riding the
women's category on Thursdays. They all opt to ride with the men. (It is a
separate point that this option is open only to women.) All events have a
similar constraints. There is ALWAYS a limited amount of available time.
-OBRA competes for the race organizer's participation.
If OBRA has a rule that race organizers feel is onerous then the race
organizer will either not put on his race or will sanction his race through
another organization. As a race organizer I would see this proposal as
unworkable at my venues and I would consider alternative sanctioning. The
race organizer needs to be able to choose the categories that meet his needs
in putting on the race.
-Women already have wider competition opportunities than men.
A 31 year old Category 3 women may ride in all of the following fields:
Women
Women Masters
Men Cat 3
Men Cat 4
Men masters
A 25 year old man Category 3 rider may ride in only Category 3.
Currently women represent about 10% of OBRA's membership. At my events 25%
of the categories are women's categories. Certainly there are never 9 men's
categories for a single women's category as would be suggested by the
available market of riders.
-OBRA governance.
OBRA rules or policies are not changed by petition. Changes may be made by
presenting them to the Board of Directors or to the membership where they
are voted on by the club representatives. Proposals to the membership are
usually done at the annual meeting but could be done at any time.
Candice you need to take a much wider view. Consider the impact that your
proposal will have on ALL events. Certainly it would be easy to follow the
proposed guidelines at a time trial. For a track event or a criterium it
would be nearly impossible. For road events it would be at very least
difficult. You have yet to organize a single bike race. If you feel that
there needs to be more events that give women racing opportunities then go
ahead and hold them. Feel free to have a women's only race or even a series
of women's races. This is available to you. You can take the financial
risk, do the footwork, etc. After you have done this then come back with
your suggestions and they may be taken more seriously.
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: Candace Bonner, M.D. 67 3158 [mailto:candace-@kp.org]
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 1:06 PM
To: OBRA
Subject: [OBRA Chat] OBRA petition new version
Below is a new and much simplified version of the OBRA petition to
promote greater equality in bicycle racing opportunities for women and
men. Since the last version, I have spoken to as many people as I could
in other post collegiate competitive sports, to learn whether this
male/female dichotomy is a problem other than in bicycle racing. So
far, from this non-systematic informal survey, it appears bicycle racing
is the only hold out. Anyway, the intention of this simplified version
is to be cost neutral. I hope our promoters will give specific feedback
as to whether, and if so, exactly how this will increase the expenses of
race promotion given it does not require additional cash prizes and
would allow for categories to be combined for road race starts when low
numbers make that appropriate. If it is not cost neutral, then we
should continue to work on a version that is, and still promotes equal
opportunity. Printed copies of this version will be at the STT this
weekend. Thank you to all the supportive women racers who keep asking me
to please keep this issue alive!
We the undersigned would like to encourage OBRA to continue to work
towards equal opportunity for both men and women, both older and
younger, in cycle racing in Oregon, by adopting the following
guidelines:
1) Equivalent racing categories should be offered to men and women for
all OBRA sanctioned events.
2) It will be at the discretion of the promoter whether cash prizes are
offered in each category, or whether categories with low numbers are
combined, with cash prizes offered to only to those who place in the
combined category.
3) Equivalent categories for men and women will be maintained for
determination of ribbon awards and BAR points.
All feedback welcome!
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