If you care about Colorado racing, please read and think about signing the following petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/acawatchdog
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Unhappy with the ACA???
If you are questioning why so many dedicated individuals are leaving ACA, take some action!
Since resigning from the EC last week I've received around 20 supportive e-mails asking what can be done to rectify the developing situation with the ACA Staff and Executive Committee. While I slowly get back to these individuals and clubs below is a list of items for you to consider.
1. Go to an Executive Committee meeting and see what it's like. Ask some hard questions of the committee and staff. Ask a Committee member for more information:
http://www.americancycling.org/info/who/07-ACA-Executive-Committee-and-Staff.pdf
2. Get involved. Join the Executive Committee and try to change things from the inside. If you try this I wish you the best of luck as I was completely unsuccessful after 3 years of unwavering dedication to the cause.
3. Communicate. If your mind is made up that the current Executive Director is no longer the right person for that position, tell your teamates and club leaders. Have them all thank the Executive Director for years of stellar service and encourage her to consider that the organization has outgrown her capabilities and a resignation is in order.
4. Race, it's why we all care about this and it's a great way to show support for the local racing community.
See you on the road.
Since resigning from the EC last week I've received around 20 supportive e-mails asking what can be done to rectify the developing situation with the ACA Staff and Executive Committee. While I slowly get back to these individuals and clubs below is a list of items for you to consider.
1. Go to an Executive Committee meeting and see what it's like. Ask some hard questions of the committee and staff. Ask a Committee member for more information:
http://www.americancycling.org/info/who/07-ACA-Executive-Committee-and-Staff.pdf
2. Get involved. Join the Executive Committee and try to change things from the inside. If you try this I wish you the best of luck as I was completely unsuccessful after 3 years of unwavering dedication to the cause.
3. Communicate. If your mind is made up that the current Executive Director is no longer the right person for that position, tell your teamates and club leaders. Have them all thank the Executive Director for years of stellar service and encourage her to consider that the organization has outgrown her capabilities and a resignation is in order.
4. Race, it's why we all care about this and it's a great way to show support for the local racing community.
See you on the road.
Reinforcement
From the ACA Website:
"...we need to be very, very careful that by "stirring the pot" with questions of and challenges to our staff that we don't rock the boat so much that we lose the very people who's love of and passion for the sport has brought the ACA to the point it is at today."
I find it strange that the Executive Committee is reinforcing one of the reasons I resigned. For 3 years I learned never to question the Executive Director. It's pretty twisted how the Director manages the Committee versus the Committee managing the Director. If you don't believe me go to an EC meeting and see for yourself. They are open to ACA members.
"...we need to be very, very careful that by "stirring the pot" with questions of and challenges to our staff that we don't rock the boat so much that we lose the very people who's love of and passion for the sport has brought the ACA to the point it is at today."
I find it strange that the Executive Committee is reinforcing one of the reasons I resigned. For 3 years I learned never to question the Executive Director. It's pretty twisted how the Director manages the Committee versus the Committee managing the Director. If you don't believe me go to an EC meeting and see for yourself. They are open to ACA members.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Jon Tarkington
July12th, 2007
Attn: All Members of the American Cycling Association
RE: Resignation from ACA Executive Committee
Members of the ACA,
As many of you know the driving force behind the ACA’s development programs is the Executive Director, Beth Wrenn-Estes. Through the years she has done a tremendous job building the ACA into what it is today. There are over 3000 individual members and many development programs aimed at continuing this growth. Unfortunately, the Association has now outgrown the capabilities of the current Executive Director. Seeing as Mrs. Wrenn-Estes is no longer the correct person to serve as the Association’s day-to-day leader, perhaps she could fill a new position fit to her specialties, such as grassroots development program coordinator.
Over the past month the ACA lost a longtime supporter and official, Andy Rosen. Because of this incident a large number officials decided to no longer work races with or for Beth Wrenn-Estes. Two members of the Executive Committee have also resigned in the past weeks.
As a member of the Executive Committee for the past 3 years I have developed a deeply rooted passion for the continued success of the ACA. This year nearly the entire Executive Committee clearly shared that passion. The only obstacle prohibiting that passion for success from being put into action was the Executive Director. Meetings have had a feeling of hostility and fear of heavy-handed anger from our primary staff person. Many, if not most, ideas are swiftly and firmly put down if they are not in line with her personal views of the association. This type of aggressive behavior clearly contributed to Mr. Rosen’s resignation as well as many official’s unwillingness to work with Mrs. Wrenn-Estes.
The behavior of the Executive Director has made it difficult for the Executive Committee to achieve their goal of ensuring the ACA continues to prosper well into the future. The Committee has a fiduciary duty to the members to ensure financial prosperity. This is complicated, if not impossible, to do with Executive Director also acting as Treasurer. Many non-profit organizations would consider this dual role to be completely un-ethical. Again, any questioning of this conflict of interest results in great anger and accusations of mistrust by the Executive Committee. Accusations of mistrust by Mrs. Wrenn-Estes have usually been accompanied by threats of resignation (refer to e-mail attached below). This is clearly not the leadership needed for a burgeoning organization.
It is with great regret that I must resign from the Executive Committee, effective immediately. I cannot proceed on the committee without being able to function to the best of my abilities, something that is clearly not possible with the current Executive Director. I feel that such a drastic measure is in order to alert you, the membership, to the current situation. It is only a matter of time before more committee members depart and the ACA suffers irreconcilable damages. It is my sincere hope that you will care enough about the racing you enjoy to encourage the remaining Committee members and your club representatives to intervene in order to rectify this downward spiral.
Respectfully Yours,
Jon Tarkington
July12th, 2007
Attn: All Members of the American Cycling Association
RE: Resignation from ACA Executive Committee
Members of the ACA,
As many of you know the driving force behind the ACA’s development programs is the Executive Director, Beth Wrenn-Estes. Through the years she has done a tremendous job building the ACA into what it is today. There are over 3000 individual members and many development programs aimed at continuing this growth. Unfortunately, the Association has now outgrown the capabilities of the current Executive Director. Seeing as Mrs. Wrenn-Estes is no longer the correct person to serve as the Association’s day-to-day leader, perhaps she could fill a new position fit to her specialties, such as grassroots development program coordinator.
Over the past month the ACA lost a longtime supporter and official, Andy Rosen. Because of this incident a large number officials decided to no longer work races with or for Beth Wrenn-Estes. Two members of the Executive Committee have also resigned in the past weeks.
As a member of the Executive Committee for the past 3 years I have developed a deeply rooted passion for the continued success of the ACA. This year nearly the entire Executive Committee clearly shared that passion. The only obstacle prohibiting that passion for success from being put into action was the Executive Director. Meetings have had a feeling of hostility and fear of heavy-handed anger from our primary staff person. Many, if not most, ideas are swiftly and firmly put down if they are not in line with her personal views of the association. This type of aggressive behavior clearly contributed to Mr. Rosen’s resignation as well as many official’s unwillingness to work with Mrs. Wrenn-Estes.
The behavior of the Executive Director has made it difficult for the Executive Committee to achieve their goal of ensuring the ACA continues to prosper well into the future. The Committee has a fiduciary duty to the members to ensure financial prosperity. This is complicated, if not impossible, to do with Executive Director also acting as Treasurer. Many non-profit organizations would consider this dual role to be completely un-ethical. Again, any questioning of this conflict of interest results in great anger and accusations of mistrust by the Executive Committee. Accusations of mistrust by Mrs. Wrenn-Estes have usually been accompanied by threats of resignation (refer to e-mail attached below). This is clearly not the leadership needed for a burgeoning organization.
It is with great regret that I must resign from the Executive Committee, effective immediately. I cannot proceed on the committee without being able to function to the best of my abilities, something that is clearly not possible with the current Executive Director. I feel that such a drastic measure is in order to alert you, the membership, to the current situation. It is only a matter of time before more committee members depart and the ACA suffers irreconcilable damages. It is my sincere hope that you will care enough about the racing you enjoy to encourage the remaining Committee members and your club representatives to intervene in order to rectify this downward spiral.
Respectfully Yours,
Jon Tarkington
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