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QUALIFICATION, T&F RELATED:
Long term experience, forty years as an athlete, coach and administrator,
including, twenty years in design, manufacturing and construction
of athletic facilities.
Consulting experience on an International level: Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.
Consultant for the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Track and Field venues.
Certified USA Track and Field Official.
Active Master Athlete, Pacific Northwest Association.
Noted for expertise in organization and meet management for all levels of competition.
Noted for expertise in design, materials and construction of athletic facilities.
Reputation for competence, expertise and integrity within professional and athletic communities.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
B.S., M.S., Studies: Engineering, Physiology, Administration, Marketing.
PERTINENT PROFESSIONAL BIG., T & F RELATED:
Dir. of Physical Education, Track and Field Coach, Colby College, Maine.
Head Track and Field Coach, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire.
Director of Marketing, Rubaturf Sports, Seattle, Washington.
President, Rekortan Sports Corporation, Seattle, Washington.
Vice President, Martin Surfacing, Inc., Hunt Valley, Maryland.
President, Master Connection Incorporated, Seattle, Washington.
NOTEWORTHY APPOINTMENTS, T & F RELATED:
Former member, N.C.A.A. Track and Field Committee.
Former Director, U.S.A. Olympic Training Camp.
Former President, Heptagonal Coaches Association (Ivy League).
Former President, I.C.A.A.A.A. Track Coaches Association.
Chairman, Pacific Northwest Masters Track and Field.
National Weight Coordinator, U.S.A. Masters Track and Field.
NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, T & F RELATED:
Personally involved in consultation, construction and/or installation of
approximately two hundred track and field facilities.
Consultant for Monsanto Corporation, 1976 Montreal Olympics Track and Field venues.
Contractor for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics Track and Field venues.
Technical advisor for the renovation of the L.A. Coliseum. Provided and
installed the track and field surfacing for the Olympic venues.
Contractor for the 1990 Goodwill Games Track and Field venue, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Technical advisor to the architect of record.
Contractor for the 1994 Commonwealth Games, Victoria, B.C. Track and
Field venues. Technical advisor to the architect of record.
As member of the NCAA Track and Field Committee was responsible
for the conduct of the championship meets and editing the official
NCAA Track and Field Guide.
Founder and Meet Director of the Dartmouth Relays.
Founder and Secretary of Seattle Masters Athletic Club.
Meet Director for Masters Weight Pentathlon and Weight Throws
Championships.
Meet Director for annual Key Bank Classic and Northwest Regional
Championships. Master Athlete, National Championships.
VISION
Reaffirming Fundamental Commitments.
Promoting Visibility and Image.
COMMITMENT
Elevate Masters Track & Field to Prominent Recognition Within the Athletic and Public
Dedicate the Time and Energy to "Get the Job Done ".
Maintain and Execute an Active Agenda.
AGENDA
Identify Future Challenges. Find Ways to Deliver Positive Results.
Improve Lines of Communication Between National, Regional and Association Levels.
Recognize and Reward Efforts and Accomplishments of Individuals on
All Levels of Organization.
Involve the Membership. Listen, Learn and Respond to the Interest of the Individual.
Actively Pursue National Corporate Sponsorship for USA Masters Track & Field.
Be an Active Chair. Become Involved in All Areas of Masters Track & Field.
Establish Committees:
To study the structure of our National Championship programs, as pertaining to:
site selection, schedule of events, qualifying, eligibility and administrative
responsibility for the conduct of the meet.
To study consideration of electing Regional Coordinators and
administrative support officers.
To study consideration of term limits for National Masters Committee officers.
Here's what Florida's Bob Fine wrote me in reply to my critical appraisal of Ken Weinbel as USATF Masters Committee chairman:
Having been a member of the Masters' Committee since its inception and having served as the first National Chair, I submit that I have some "expertise" in evaluating the performances of those national chairs that followed me.
I don't know your involvment in the adminstration of the program. I now serve as both the Florida Chair and the Southeastern regional Chair. I have found Ken to be very accessible; open to suggestions; and an effective, creative leader.
The problem with Disney arose with the prior leadership in not having a definitive contract. As the prior Masters T&F Law Chair I submitted a proposed contract to Barbara Kousky which was never acted upon.
As of this moment, there is still no contract with Disney!
A contract has been submitted by USATF (an excellent one composed by Jill Pilgrim of the national office). Disney in turn submitted their own contract - which would give them total control over the championships. I don't know what the result will be.
The schedule in Orono will be followed by Disney. The problem is that the weather may necessitate a split schedule due to possible thunder storms. If there are the same number of race walkers in Disney as there were in Orono it could take up to ten hours to complete the event. The event is supposed to start between 7:00 and 7:30 AM. I suggested that the women's 5k walk on the track be held the night before. That causes another problem in that Disney does not have lights and would have to expend $4,000 to rent same.
I note all of this because this is not Ken's fault.
He has done more than his predicessor in seeking sponsorship. We will now have a rights fee. Our relationship with the Senior Games can be of great benefit. I have had many competitors in Florida join the USATF program because of their involvement with the Senior Games. In short, as one very involved with the adminsitration of the program for almost thirty years, I would give Ken high marks.
Because Ken Weinbel is too much of a gentleman to address some of the recent questions blasted all over the Internet, I will attempt to set the record straight on a few of the issues.
Without placing blame on anyone, we all must understand that Orlando was the only place to bid for this meet and the bid was accepted in the previous administration, Barbara Kousky's.
The contract is in the hands of the legal authorities from both USATF and Disney. We will have a meet. We all know the difficulty of competing in the Disney environment; heat, big corporative atmosphere, timing of events, etc.
The masters political structure is composed of a number of officers who are assigned specific tasks. The coordinator for the Disney meet has been, and is, Scott Thornsley, Championships Coordinator. Feel free to contact Scott with questions.
It is a difficult job for Scott, to say the least. All of the officers in USATF masters track and field are given tasks, and to assume that one individual is responsible for everything shows naivete of the process. All of these tasks are performed by the officers on a voluntary basis with no pay and only expenses to cover necessary transportation to and from the national meets and to the convention.
I am appalled that Ken Stone would use his Web site for hanging out our internal laundry internationally. Most individuals from other countries know nothing of our internal workings, and, I'm sure, have their own set of problems to deal with.
Also, it certainly does no good for prospective newcomers to see a petty attack on the Internet on one individual when there are many on our committee that work for the betterment of masters track and field, including Ken Weinbel.
I'm not really sure why Stone thinks he is an authority on the job performance on Weinbel since to my knowledge he has only been to one convention and knows little of the hard work involved in being chair of a committee that is up against the major problems of USATF, budget cuts, officers spread around the country, etc.
We must recognize that we are volunteers working toward the goal of improving masters track and field and to damage our program by irresponsible attacks not only does not help in a positive way but turns potential newcomers away in disgust. If we want our program to grow, the best way is to keep a positive attitude and work toward solutions to our problems in a constructive manner.
Suzy Hess, Secretary, Masters Track & Field
The following column by Ken Weinbel, USATF Masters Committee chairman, appeared as Track and Field Report on Page 18 of the July 1999 issue of National Masters News. Your comments are welcomed.
If you are one to spend time on the Internet, you probably noticed on a private Web site that I recently received a "report card" for my work as chairman. I think the last time I got such poor grades, I was in the fifth grade of elementary school. I don't think the teacher liked me.
I apologize to those of you who are actively involved with the committee and attend committee meetings -- you may not find the following paragraphs very interesting reading. The information printed here is primarily for the uninformed. I sense from the grading criteria used that the webmaster has no clue as to how our committee operates and who is responsible for what. When the webmaster is critical of the chair, he is in reality taking the entire committee to task. Perhaps the following synopsis of our bylaws will help him understand better.
We are a dedicated volunteer (noncompensated) group that conducts business as a committee, composed of association members, amateur sports organization members, official representatives, members at large, elected officers and active athlete members.
Most masters track and field business is conducted and acted on at the annual meeting of USATF. Other general meetings of the committee may be held in conjunction with the masters indoor and outdoor national championships.
Special meetings may be called when deemed necessary by the Masters Executive Committee, which is composed of the chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer, board of directors representative, championship subcommittee chair, regional coordinators and one active athlete, with an additional member appointed by the chair. The executive committee is empowered to conduct the business of the committee between meetings of the committee
Within the committee there are standing subcommittees or special subcommittees which are appointed by the chair and who are responsible for specific tasks as sports subcommittees and administrative subcommittees. The bylaws identify the various committees and their tasks and responsibilities.
Officers of the committee are chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer. They are elected during even-numbered years at the annual meeting of the committee. Each officer has specific duties and responsibilities outlined in the bylaws.
The chair's duties include: (a) presiding at all meetings of the committee and executive committee, (b) ensuring that all duties of the committee are properly carried out, (c) appointing subcommittees with the authorization of the committee, as may be necessary, (d) keeping committee members informed of events concerning the committee, (e) keeping the president and CEO (USATF) informed on committee actions and recommendations, (f) preparing and submitting appropriate documentation with proposed budget to USATF's budget and finance committee, (g) causing to be kept and forwarded to all committee members the minutes of all committee meetings, (h) submitting reports to masters athletes via appropriate publications (National Masters News), (i) responding to inquiries concerning masters athletics, and (j) serving on the USATF executive committee and board of directors.
It would behoove the "webmaster grader" to study our bylaws, which clearly define the purpose of our committee to act as the masters arm of USATF for the sports of track and field and racewalking as approved by USATF and described in the USATF bylaws.
With such purpose, the committee shall: (a) promote and develop activities related to its sport, (b) provide a full schedule of national championships for the masters athlete, (c) provide a forum for discussion of USATF and WAVA rules as they relate to masters athletics and submit recommendations for changes, (d) provide liaison to USATF through elected officers and appointed members of the committee, (e) provide representation on appropriate USATF national committees, and (f) communicate with other organizations which conduct masters athletic events, including those conducting events for disabled masters athletes, to facilitate scheduling and adherence to USATF rules of competition.
The committee shall act pursuant to and in accordance with the authority granted by USATF and shall exercise the following powers: (a) serve as the coordinating body for masters athletics in the United States, (b) establish national goals and facilitate the attainment of these goals, and (c) supervise development and competition in masters regional and national championships in the United States and establish procedures for the determination of eligibility for participation.
Among other duties, the committee has jurisdiction over national and regional championships and and shall locate, conduct and manage such championships. The committee shall award championship events for masters athletics and administer all matters involving foreign countries in relation to masters athletics by working in close cooperation with the USATF board.
This chair loves masters track and field. My tenure as committee chair has been taxing at times, but thanks to a devoted group of people who serve as members of the executive committee and all those who give their personal time and finances to attend our committee meetings, I feel rewarded. With their dedication and efforts, we have made great strides toward some lofty goals.
Our Hall of Fame Committee is up and running. We persevered through a difficult process during USATF restructuring and successfully maintained an equal representative position in the national structure. I advocated term limits for elective offices. Beginning with the year 2000, we will move to singular four-year terms to coincide with the national committee. Cooperation and assistance from the national office have improved.
We have taken a giant step toward breaking down the historical barrier that existed between the National Senior Games Association and USATF masters. All regional coordinators are now members of the executive committee. We have created a championship meet committee to guarantee proper conduct of the championship meets.
Media coverage has improved. Several masters athletes have been featured in television segments, and articles concerning masters athletics have appeared in national publications. Elite masters athletes are competing in special events at large open meets. This chair is proud of the committee's accomplishments.
I suggest that those who feel they need to criticize the efforts of others join the program and become supporters of efforts or, better yet, volunteer for a contributing role. If you really want to be involved and appreciated, learn where you can be most effective. Attend association and regional meetings and start becoming an active participant at national committee meetings. I guarantee you will find this course of action gratifying. I have.
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