Please make sure that personal e-mails are not addressed to the entire
obra list...You are filling all our mailboxes and if not the entire
list, please remove our name. Thank you.
How about we stop bashing on each other over an email list meant to inform
about Oregon racing and cycling related events? Thank you.
Damian
Gosh Scott,
I'm sorry if I screwed up in terms of not meeting a commitment to you that I
don't remember making but is very definitely something that I would have
done. However, please let me set the record straight regarding my
inactivity with regard to Northwest cycling in the past year:
In 1999, once I gave up on the prospect of having my own project fly, I
turned my energies toward getting the disagreeing parties talking face to
face, which eventually did happen, as you will recall both Evan and Warren
come to Oregon to see if issues could be worked out with Mike. Although
there may not have been the results we were all hoping for, I can show you
the documentation that would prove that my consistent "badgering" (for lack
of a better word) played a significant roll in making such a meeting come
about.
Secondly, I also focused on expanding the State Games of Oregon to include
BMX racing as well as a "LAJORS" track event (there were not enough free
days to have a Marti Nothstein 3-day series).
Thirdly, (which actually came before the first two). I personally went to
last year's "Kids on Bikes" conference, paying out of my own pocket so that
I could confront the "powers that be" personally with my disappointment in
the fact the region's Junior participation had increased by 64% in 1998 and
that although their agent Clark Natwick had decided not to hold a camp it
was the USCF's responsibility to have followed through on their promises.
Following that meeting I made a commitment to make arrangements for said
camp for the summer of 1999, however since there were still some talented
juniors who contacted me last spring because they had not "earned" an
invitation to the camp, I did make a concise effort to get more races
involved in putting on Junior events last year, which is most likely when
you received your call, as I was trying to arrange more opportunities for
those individuals who hadn't made it in 1998. (I spent about a week working
on that project then focused my energy on getting the USAC to provide
ribbons to the LAJORS promoters as I had paid quite a bit the year before
purchasing two complete sets of ribbons and saw that as one contribution
that would cut the cost of putting on a Junior bike race. The ribbons did
happen, as you should know if yours was a LAJORS race last year.)
Fourth, I followed through with my commitment to arranging the Northwest
Selection Camp and after finding a site and initiating contracts, David
Mayer-Oaks, Phil Sanders, and I spent about a week driving course. (And, no
my son didn't attend the camp, so please don't infer that I was setting
things up for my kid.)
And, finally, I set about educating myself with regard to other Junior
programs and coaching needs, by thoroughly reviewing the Canadian Sprockids,
LA's "BLAST", the Florida PAL's (Police Activities League) track programs
(which I had hoped to fund here in Oregon through a similar ATF settlement
grant however there was a freeze put on the Oregon monies), while also
completing the coursework required for my USCF Sport and Expert Coaching
licenses. I have quite a library if anyone is interested.
I understand your frustration Scott, but please, before you too make blanket
accusations (which is what got me into trouble in the first place), take at
least a small part of the responsibility for my not showing up or following
through with regard to your event, as I am sure that if someone had given me
a reminder call, David and I would have both been more than willing to help.
I'm sorry if you were put in a bind, but, I'm glad that John was able to
come through in a pinch,
Bonnie Rider-Martin
If you have a problem, call me 503/292-5990
-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Goldstein [mailto:sgold-@mail.bit-by-bit.com]
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2000 11:32 AM
To: ob-@topica.com
Subject: Beating a dead horse
Hello All:
At the risk of beating a dead horse, I have an anecdote to share that is
relevent to the Bonnie Martin/OBRA bashing issue.
Last year, when planning an Oregon race, my partner and I were telephoned
by a certain Bonnie Martin and asked why we didn't have a junior field for
our race. We explained that we insist on full support for each field (lead
and follow vehicles) and thus, it simply was prohibitably expensive to have
a seperate (and small) Junior field. We offered to include (and fund a
prize list for) a junior race if Bonnie would provide two support vehicles
and drivers for the day. We were willing to take a financial loss (sure
bet) to "do our part" and help develop junior cycling in Oregon. Bonnie
agreed and away we went.
Well....the day of the race arrived and guess who DIDN'T SHOW UP to the
race. If you guessed Bonnie, you guessed correctly. We were scrambling
around at the last minute to find two extra support vehicles for the Junior
field. (thanks to J. Benenate for pitching in)
What is the point? It doesn't really do much good to whine, point fingers
and complain about how things don't work. What really matters are actions.
There are many people involved with the Oregon racing scene that are DOING
things to make it as good as it can be. The Murrays certainly top the list
of these people.
OBRA isn't perfect, there is always room for improvement. But, before you
attack the efforts of others, ask yourself this question: "Am I going to
SAY something about improving Oregon Cycling or am I going to DO something
about improving Oregon Cycling?
We need more "Doers" and fewer "Sayers"
Scott
***************************************************
USC: 24 - Notre Dame: 25 Luck of the Irish!
***************************************************
_____________________________________________________________
Who will win the Oscars? Spout off on our Entertainment list!
http://www.topica.com/lists/showbiztalk
Hello All:
At the risk of beating a dead horse, I have an anecdote to share that is
relevent to the Bonnie Martin/OBRA bashing issue.
Last year, when planning an Oregon race, my partner and I were telephoned
by a certain Bonnie Martin and asked why we didn't have a junior field for
our race. We explained that we insist on full support for each field (lead
and follow vehicles) and thus, it simply was prohibitably expensive to have
a seperate (and small) Junior field. We offered to include (and fund a
prize list for) a junior race if Bonnie would provide two support vehicles
and drivers for the day. We were willing to take a financial loss (sure
bet) to "do our part" and help develop junior cycling in Oregon. Bonnie
agreed and away we went.
Well....the day of the race arrived and guess who DIDN'T SHOW UP to the
race. If you guessed Bonnie, you guessed correctly. We were scrambling
around at the last minute to find two extra support vehicles for the Junior
field. (thanks to J. Benenate for pitching in)
What is the point? It doesn't really do much good to whine, point fingers
and complain about how things don't work. What really matters are actions.
There are many people involved with the Oregon racing scene that are DOING
things to make it as good as it can be. The Murrays certainly top the list
of these people.
OBRA isn't perfect, there is always room for improvement. But, before you
attack the efforts of others, ask yourself this question: "Am I going to
SAY something about improving Oregon Cycling or am I going to DO something
about improving Oregon Cycling?
We need more "Doers" and fewer "Sayers"
Scott
***************************************************
USC: 24 - Notre Dame: 25 Luck of the Irish!
***************************************************
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