USAPL President
Micheal W. Overdeer |
President's Report to the NGB Annual Meeting
Chicago, July 2002
Fellow NGB Members,
I regret that I am unable to attend this year's meeting. I changed jobs on June 17th, and am still within the probationary period for new employees at Steel Dynamics, Inc. The company was kind enough to allow me to finish the physical testing processes after June 3rd so that I could help coach the Women's World Team in Germany. Please note that I also successfully tested for the IPF Referee Category I level while there.
The first part of this message will address financial issues. The second part will address our need for planning/developing the organization for the future. This is a challenge which must be faced, and it is the responsibility of the National Governing Body to consider the direction of the organization, and to make decisions implementing plans and/or actions to get us there.
First, there have been some issues raised with respect to an accounting error, through which the President and Secretary/Treasurer were overpaid. This mistake has been corrected. and the money has been returned to the organization. The most troublesome part of this episode has been the questioning of personal ethics. which I find distasteful to the extreme. To have championed, and led this organization, whose mission it is to promote an ethic in sport, bringing it to new levels of greatness, then suffer disrespect for an accounting glitch is unacceptable. If you don't trust your leaders, get rid of them, NOW.
A comment has been made regarding how we could not notice that the monthly stipend check did not change as it should have with the decline in membership. This begs an answer, primarily because of the unrealistic view on how the organization is run on a day-to day basis. First of all, USA Powerlifting does not pay it's own way. Michael and Angie Overdeer pay personally for the lion's share of the expenses incurred in maintaining a full-time business office for USA Powerlifting. It's an extremely thankless personal sacrifice. Whether you look at the 11-15 dollars per square foot/year that the going lease rate is for commercial space (650 sq. ft.) in downtown Columbia City, Indiana, or you look at actual expenses, USA Powerlifting is paying only a fraction of the cost of it's day-to day existence. So, what you have is a reliance upon the goodwill of the President and his family to pony up the rest of the money for keeping the doors open.
The By-laws state that the National Office shall be where the President is located, but they make no provision for it's existence. So, when checks are received from the Sec/Treas. Office for officer stipend, UPS Shipping, 300/mo. facility fee, etc., they are immediately funneled through the Overdeer Press business account, which pays the physical expenses generated by the USA Powerlifting National Office. (An important historical note of reference, is that the National Office has been piggy-backed/carried by
nearly all of our past Presidents' private businesses.) Since the obligations are already carried by the private business, and any money coming from USA Powerlifting is applied against a deficit, a couple of hundred dollars a month is not remarkable. For a simple view, let's look at $13.00 X 650 sq. ft/yr = 704.00/mo. Now let's add the average monthly costs of utilities, fire & liability insurance for that 650 sq. ft. (No, USA Powerlifting does not pay for any of these - with the single exception of phone lines), and you're well in excess of $1,000.00 per month. The President gets a $300.00 per mo. facility fee, and for 2002, a monthly stipend of approx. $700.00, after taxes - so it's a losing scenario from the gate no matter how you slice it. The presidency would be money ahead if USA Powerlifting actually paid the "real world" bills for the physical existence of it's office, and axed the officer stipend completely. How long does USA Powerlifting expect to continue doing business like this?
There are still more financial issues which go untouched. For example, Why is there no funding for travel to National and International Championships, except the IPF Congress? How much mileage is the organization getting from the fact that Angie & I often travel to coach, referee and represent USA Powerlifting on our own? We can't afford to do it all, and it has been embarrassing to explain to fellow IPF delegates that we couldn't attend the first USA venued IPF World Championships in over 15 years, because there was no funding for the President. This was especially poignant, considering your current president was substantially responsible for garnering the IPF affiliation. Also, Angie remains at $7.50/hr. - the same wage she was hired at 7 years ago. What's up with that? She manages and supervises your National Office. I will not belabor the point further, but, the presidential goodwill factor is not an inexhaustible asset. Take serious note of this statement.
The personal agendas foisted, and attacks on our leaders which have occupied so much of the past three NGB meetings must cease. The hacking and slashing must come to an end. This is a brokenness which must be fixed. USA Powerlifting has real issues that must be addressed. We cannot and will not grow into the future until this happens. Look at analogy that we've all coped with. You suffer an injury, and must wait for it to heal. Then you discover that unless you aggressively attack with therapy and healing processes, you can't get beyond the scar tissue and into new growth. The brokenness wants to limit you. Only with courage, discipline and a vision focused ahead will you overcome it. It's a faith and strength of will thing - not to mention a high pain threshold. The point is - it's not easy. It never is: The same thing applies to this organization. If we don't get beyond the brokenness, we will be limited by it's scars. Think about the times when we were really successful, and willing to sacrifice to get where we were going. We believed that we should stand up and be accountable for a drug free sport -and we were willing to pay the price of drug testing and relative anonymity to get it done. Look what happened. We believed that we should be the IPF affiliate for the United States, that we were the best, and we were tired of the black cloud of positive drug tests by US Lifters in IPF competition. We focused on it, paid the price, sent out best people to represent us - and got it done. This is the kind of vision that I'm referring to. If we're not deliberately focusing, planning, sacrificing (well, some of us are-) to get on to the next level - then we're simply stagnating where we're at, caught up in the infighting.
Let's get a clue, people. We know the prescription for success - we've already done it in the past. Let's not get complacent and forget how unique and powerful we are when we apply ourselves to the mission.
Too many times in recent memory, I have considered that I apparently must sound like the voice of everyone's father. "Yeah, he's preaching the right stuff- we just don't want to listen right now." Well, it's time to listen. I will now remind you on no uncertain terms, that I have led this organization well, when we focused on our ideals and our mission, to name a few - IPF Affiliation, more and better drug testing (IOC full screens, dropping the polygraph, OMT's), expanding our presence in the 'PU (along with other dedicated USAPL Leaders), electronic communications, logo & merchandise development, International diplomacy, refereeing and world teams coaching, helping to produce some of USAPL's finest drug-free athletes even from the small gym attached to the National Office. I believe in our future, and I know very well the dedication and sacrifice it takes to get there. We give lip service to the goal of Olympic recognition - Is there enough passion left unstirred in the hearts of our leaders, and our members for this to become a reality? Will the organizational support be there when it's needed? Right now, it's hard to conceive considering the nickel and diming going on while we're relying on goodwill to keep USAPL lights on and service going, for little thanks and much criticism. The choice is yours. Just how precious is the freedom, responsibility, and moral cause to advance drug-free Powerlifting?
The mission is not to sell cheap membership cards. The mission is also not to beat up leaders for enforcing the rules of the organization, no matter how popular the member who runs afoul of them, is. The mission is also not to expect that you will have full time business offices without providing financially, or otherwise for their existence. There must be a means to justify an end. USA Powerlifting is a business, whether it is called nor-for-profit or something else. A business must spend money to make money. Ask a trusted business person whose integrity is without question. In our case, we must spend money to provide services, to attract members and pursue our mission. That is our "profit" scenario. How and when the NGB decides to deliberately "charge", or "infuse" this process will unquestionably determine our future rate of success.
I have attached a list of growth ideas for the organization. While I may think they're good, someone else may have a better idea. The point is that the time has come to determine our future. I don't claim to have all the answers. It takes all of us - with our combined talents and abilities to make this ship go. Whether Powerlifting becomes a comic book action adventure for print media, or a pro-wrestling style drama unfolded on pay-per-view, or a legitimate Olympic sport as the World's pinnacle test of strength - the course will be undeniably affected by what USA Powerlifting/The A.D.F.P.A will, or will not do. It has always been so.
Yours in Strength,
Michael W. Overdeer
USA Powerlifting President
Reference:
Whitley County Economic Development Corporation: (260) 244-5506 Director: Dorinda Heiden
Columbia City Area Chamber of Commerce: (260) 248-8131 Director: Pat Hatcher
USAPL Organization Growth Ideas
1. Dispense with H.S. Seasonal Membership. Raise Regular H.S. Membership to
$50.00, and all other Memberships to $60.00. Underwrite 1 State Powerlifting Championship in each State per year as follows: Issue Sanction at no cost to the Meet Director chosen by the State Chair and/or Designated State Chair Committee to host the USAPL State Powerlifting Championships that year. Cover the cost of Drug Testing up to 10 tests ($590.00) and issue no cost annual membership to Referees in good standing nominated by the Meet Director and State Chair cooperatively, to work the State Meet up to a maximum of 6 Annual Referee Memberships. In no case will the value of subsidy including ONLY Sanction Fees, Drug Testing Fees and Referee Memberships exceed. $1,000.00. There will be no reimbursements applied to this Meet for the Meet Director.
2. Increase the Drug Testing Reimbursement to 50% to Meet Directors hosting more than one sanctioned event per year, beginning with the 2nd sanctioned event. The Nationally subsidized State Championships referenced above will not count as the first meet of the year for any given meet director. Dispense with Meet Director card sales reimbursements and develop a points system in it's place which would allow Meet Directors to bank points toward hard goods, such as a Pin, Medal, Tee Shirt, Polo Shirt, Athletic Jacket or Warm-up Uniform.
3. Re-establish the Finance Committee and task the Committee to developing plans and guidance to establish each State Organization as a not-for profit organization under the National By-Laws and Regulations of The ADUPA d/b/a/ USA Powerlifting. Task the Committee further to develop initiative/knowledge of state grant-writing skills/programs in those states that have accomplished not-for-profit status.
4. Initiate 3,5, 10, 20 yr. and Lifetime Membership Sales Programs. Benefits could include rewards of hard merchandise on a scale relevant to the yrs. of membership purchased, as well as honorable listings on Website, Newsletter, annual Reports, or other media. These multi-year memberships to be non-refundable - e.g. if one is suspended for failing a drug test, membership fees paid in advance will not be refunded. In the case that the purchased membership period exceeds any suspension, the membership would resume, less the time spent on suspension. The rules & regulations of the organization will always take precedence over any advance membership agreement/purchase. Part of the revenues received under these membership sales could be directed toward a pro-active membership sales program, including items such as membership renewal notices, flyers, individual electronic mail advertisements, etc.
5. Establish a 'benefactor" type Committee comprised of financial and legal people to develop a gifts, trust, wills, or estate programs to garner financial support by establishing trust(s) gifted for the purpose of maintaining the ongoing mission of drug-free sport. A goal could be to establish a permanent, trust-funded corporate office, and salary for full-time director.
6. Explore the possibility of running our own National Championships rather than awarding them to private individuals. The bulk of corporate sponsorship monies in the sport goes to these events. It's difficult to estimate, but there is no doubt that tens of thousands of dollars are currently being spent by corporate advertisers at our National Championships. Programs could be developed to engender the continuity of sponsors through particular divisions of preference - i.e. Teen/Junior. Nationals - Collegiates - Sub Jr. Worlds - Junior Worlds, etc. - More bang for their corporate buck rather than dealing with each individual Meet Director for a one-time meet event. We would also benefit further from admission sales, participation fees and merchandise sales. No doubt that the quality of the presentation of each National Championships would improve and gain prestige under the stasis of continuous National direction. Legal and financial issues would need to be explored and resolved prior to taking on this program.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael W. Overdeer
President, USA Powerlifting
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