USAT AAC

As always, thanks to everyone for your feedback on the e-lite beat.

I want to clear up a few things- first, this is a DRAFT of a
resolution that the AAC (your elite athlete reps) wrote and are
CONSIDERING presenting to the Board. We are presenting it to you first
for input before we submit it. And, based on the strong feedback we've
received so far, we may not move forward.

Further, in response to Susie's comment about resolutions being due,
please see the email pasted below from the Board President- sent
Sunday- which states resolutions are due by 9/28.

Please remember that the AAC is the group that presented this. It's
not an outside group trying to push something through. Through our
discussions we had the impression that this was a move elites wanted
us to make. We're actually surprised to hear that elites don't mind
amateur prize purses.

Please keep the feedback coming- we're listening!
Alison & The AAC

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Rob Kasper <robkasper@bellsouth.net>
To: Alison DeWall <AlisonAAC@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 12:47:48 PM
Subject: October Board Meeting

Committee Chairs,

...."Please forward proposed resolutions and agenda items to your
Board Liaisons so that they can send them to me, copied to Sharon no
later than September 28."

Rob Kasper
Email: robkasper@bellsouth.net

--- In e-litebeat@yahoogroups.com, susiequsmc@... wrote:

> Ditto on Judy's comments. Regarding "AAC just found out the
resolution is
> due tomorrow...:" Resolutions are not "due." Whomever is pushing
for this
> appears to want to slam dunk it without input from the
constituency. Just
> another case of board members abusing their position. Leave the
issue alone and
> let the membership provide input before trying to slam this
through. Address
> it now and propose a resolution (if necessary) in the spring board
meeting.
>
> And on the subject matter...if a top amateur who works full time can
make a
> hundred bucks to help offset some of his or her training costs -
great! What
> a great transition to turning pro, if he or she so decides.
>
> Susie Gallucci
>
>
> In a message dated 9/28/2007 9:17:57 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> judymcsweeney@... writes:
>
>
>
>
> i dont agree with the change.
> 1. you are asking professional athletes to make a decision that
directly
> and significantly effects amateurs. they deserve a voice in this
> 2. if an amateur is talented enough to place in the money, they
deserve it.
>
> 3. the pro qual and requal for long distance racing is still
unsatisfactory
> and needs to be revised.
> 4. ref #3-- you have limited many talented athletes who would be
racing
> pro to race amateur--- most likely scenario is that they will be
some of the
> amateurs placing high...
> 5. i think it is wrong that you sent this email across with no
respone
> time.
> 6. i think the race directors should have the freedom to offer a
modest
> purse to all partcipants to attract athletes.
> 7. if someone is racing professional then they should not be
intimidated by
> amateurs. step up and race well..place and it would not be an issue.
> judy
>
>
> ____________________________________
> To: e-litebeat@yahoogro T
> From: alisonaac@...
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:30:00 +0000
> Subject: [e-litebeat] Resolution on prize money for amateurs
>
>
>
> All-
> The AAC just found out that our resolution regarding prize money for
> amateurs is due tomorrow! So, this doesn't leave much time, but please
> let us know ASAP if you have any support to help us add to the
> following resolution draft. Please let us know if you have any other
> reasons why this is important? Do any of you NOT agree with this
change?
> Thanks,
> Alison & the Athletes Advisory Council
>
> ---------
> Resolution for Board Action
> Subject: Prize Purse Limits
>
> Background: At events with $5,000+ in cash prize money, USA
> Triathlon's rules limit the elite division to athletes holding a USAT
> elite license or an elite license from an ITU member federation. Races
> with $5,000+ cash prize purses also require compliance with USAT elite
> competition rules. In races with $4,999 and below, amateur athletes
> are allowed to race along with elites for the prize purse.
>
> Elite athletes compete in triathlon as a means to make a living,
> traveling nationally and internationally to races with prize purses.
> Allotting a portion of a prize money purse to amateurs degrades from
> the growth of elite triathlon and the number of athletes who will
> pursue elite racing in the U.S.
>
> Further, the purpose of amateur sports should not be for financial
> gain. Offering prize money to amateurs sends the wrong message about
> the purpose of amateur sport.
>
> Further, race directors state that offering prize money for amateurs
> helps draw participants to the field. However, the number of amateur
> athletes who will plan and adjust racing schedules according to prize
> money purses below $5,000 is minimal. Race directors have the
> opportunity to offer value-in-kind (VIK) prizes to amateurs, but money
> should not be a driver for amateur competition.
>
> This resolution seeks to change the prize money limit from $4,999 to
> $0 for amateur athletes.
>
> Financial Impact: None.
>
> Relevant & Affected By-Laws and Procedures:
> USAT Competitive Rules: An event with a minimum $5000.00 prize purse
> must limit the Elite division to athletes holding a USAT Elite License
> or an Elite license from an ITU member federation. All prize money is
> reserved for the Elite division.
>
> Whereas, the definition of "amateur" is "one who engages in a pursuit,
> study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession"
>
> Whereas, elite multi-sport athletes rely on their racing careers to
> earn a living;
>
> Whereas, the purpose of amateur racing should not be to earn money. If
> an athletes is in the sport for money, they should race as an elite;
>
> Whereas, taking prize money and awarding it to amateurs degrades from
> the growth of elite triathlon and the number of athletes who will
> pursue elite racing in the U.S.
>
> Whereas, race directors will still have the option to offer VIK prizes
> to amateurs;
>
> Now therefore be it resolved that, USAT triathlon's minimum cash prize
> purse for elites be changed from $5,000 to $0.
>
> This criterion will take effect January 1, 2008.
>
> Submitted by:
> Alison DeWall, Elite Athlete Advocate on behalf of the AAC
> Joe Umphenour, USAT Board of Directors Member
>
http://www.aol.com
>

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