Friday, September 05, 2008
AGM
Several weeks ago this blog became a forum centering around the current state of the MCA, dwindling race participants and the website. It would be a shame if the dicussion ended in that post. I spoke with Rob N today at work, recalling the overall postive exchange of idea's and concerns expressed. After speaking with Rob, I understand that the AGM would not really be an opportunity to formally express the concerns and potential ideas which came out of Hal's post (see "Hurting" posted in August). A passion for the sport is clearly evident by the responces generated. To the MCA board members who do read this and others who care... is there an opportunity and would there be any value in a "townhall" type of discussion or open forum hosted by the MCA prior to the AGM.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
the MCA is asking more questions on their site about getting feedback and direction.
another option would be to gather concerns and attend the MTB Committee meeting on Sept 16. (you may want to ask Rob to add it to the agenda for that meeting.) each club is allowed one vote at those meetings, but I don't think they are opposed to a few more bodies showing up from the FGBC.
i think a townhall would be a great idea, obviously there are a lot of concerns right now.
KevinB
PS - there was a townhall meeting about 3 years back. very poorly attended & not much will to change at that time.
I agree with Kevin, each committee of the MCA has regualr meetings. Bring your agenda item(s) to the chair of the committee (Rob N - MTB, Olli H - RD, Prov. Program, Moni - KOM) and those items will be discussed at a meeting and if required it will go to the board. I know in the past not all clubs have had a representative at the meetings either.....
The board also has meetings on a regualr basis, contact Ron for an agneda item to be discussed. There are ways and I am confused as to why people believe there is not a way to bring issues/concerns up.
All should take note that the MCA is having a Strategic planning session this fall and Mike C is asking for the cycing community to provide feedback. Contact Mike at: mikejess@mts.net.
Moni
Sure there's lots of energy, etc. But it needs to be pointed out that all those comments and ideas were offered by the same 8-10 people showing up at the races.
At the risk of being interpreted as divisive yet again, I wonder if part of the problem is that the MCA does (or is expected to do) too much--in the sense that all the races we have (with the exception of Reach the Beach, Red Ass, and maybe one or two others) are run as MCA events. Given the way the whole licensing thing plays out, I think this severely limits participation. The Morden race this year and last years cx race in Altona demonstrate that there are people out there who will do a race or two but who are not interested, for whatever reason, in getting a license and doing a whole series of races. What if, for example, the Wednesday night races were run independently of the MCA? What if the BAFE and the Fall Classic were too? No licenses necessary. Anyone can race. What if the MCA races consisted of the Cup races and everything else was run independently, whether as another series or as one-off events. That, at least, is how things are run in North Carolina. There are a variety of series, but only one in which a USA Cycling license is necessary (for mtb at least; road and cx are more closely aligned with USA Cycling). All of which is to say that if we are looking to the MCA and its committees as the place to raise these discussions, maybe we're already a long way down a road which may end up limiting the range of alternatives.
Please don't interpret this as an anti-MCA rant, because that is not at all how it is intended. I am not suggesting that the MCA, any of its committees and anyone associated with them is the problem. On the contrary, I wonder if we have become accustomed to expecting it to do everything, such that it has become the only template for what a race might look like. I just think this severly limits the range of alternatives, and hence the pool of participants.
That is all.
i agree, that day permits are needed. at the morden race we had over 30 people take us up on the one day permit. i agree that there are alot of people who only have time or interest or finances to do one or two races.
real good points Chris.
i get what you are saying about the MCA doing too much. i know others have suggested that the doesn't do enough, that the MCA should be running the races, not the clubs. all I know is most of the organizing clubs are down to about 3 active members who have to do all the work, when really, they would rather be racing. (like Tomek).
KevinB
Post a Comment