April 2006 issue of Sailing World. In the Sailors' Forum,
which is "letters to the editor" type area of the magazine.

Let me start by sending Kudos' to Sailing World for
publishing his letter and making the facts know to us.

The letter is from a sailor from Maine. He complains that
two (2) letters he sent to US Sailing were not answered.
He too had to resort to writing elsewhere, in this case
Sailing World to get his voice heard by other members.
This in unacceptable behavior on the part of US Sailing.

His topic was the subject of inadequate spectator seating
at the Olympics. I agree with his view completely. More
spectator seating should be provided. According to him
sailing events were the only events in which spectator
seating was not available for purchase at the Olympic
Games. That places Sailing at the bottom of all Olympic
sports. Who feels it should be given such a low status?

He also makes a great suggestion that a large screen video
could have been made available shoreside. That would
have partly solved the logistical side of the problem.

While the topic may seem minor. The fact that US Sailing
is non responsive is a very major issue.

How many other US Sailing members have found they
have no voice with US Sailing?

Can it be more clear that the management of US Sailing
is not doing it's job? The root problem is US Sailing is
unwilling or unable to document problems. This is called
"management by ignoring problem away". This occurs
through ignorance or through policy.

You have already heard my personal complaints about
how US Sailing is being run. I too have been ignored
away.

This letter to the editor is more proof that US Sailing does
not listen to it's members and treats them like "white whale
**** on the bottom of the ocean under a spring tide"
( WWSOTBOTOUAST).

Today, I want to suggest a solution to fix such problems
and give members the voice and recognition they deserve.

It doesn't require hiring an expensive consultant. The
solution only requires one thing--leadership on the part
of the President of US Sailing.

My solution for the President needs to develop an Action
Item tracking system. One that cannot be closed out
without the consent of the member filing a complaint.

Every incoming letter should be opened by one person
who first determines if it should be an Action Item. An
Action Item is a letter that requires an answer to a
complaint or question posed by a member. It may be
that one letter to US Sailing generates more than one
Action Item.

Every Action Item should have a single Point of Contact
(POC) within US Sailing responsible and accountable
for all correspondence and reporting on the subject to
the President.

Each POC should provide an estimated closeout date
with justification for choosing such a date, a step by step
plan, listing all dependencies, and projected dates for
accomplishing the steps needed. POC's performance
in meeting the dates they set for themselves should be
part of their annual job performance evaluation.

Every Action Item should have a file with a schedule for
tracking and status. The file should fully document and
date the planned steps taken as the were taken. That
folder should be available for viewing by the general
membership at any time. Nothing should be secret.
Nothing should be off the cuff.

Every Action Item should receive a formal response--a
formal letter that first acknowledges receipt of the issue
from the member, informs the member of the Action Item
number assigned, and clearly defines who the Point of
Contact for resolving the Action Item. Subsequent
contacts can be by documented telephone call or
correspondence.

Every open Action Item should be discussed at every
executive meeting with the status and progress of each
item. Pressure should be exerted to close these out
promptly and properly addressing each issue. Action
Items should not be swept under the table as is their
current management policy.

Every Action Item should have a close out letter written
to the member summarizing the cooperatively agreed
resolution of the Action Item. A signed acknowledgement
from the originator is necessary to close the item out. This
prevents management from arbitrarily closing items
arbitrarily without resolving the core issues.

Each Action Item should, at the option of the initiator, be
posted on the US Sailing web site.

Any Point of Contact that cannot resolve the issue needs
to elevate it until it can be resolved and document this fact
to ensure accountability can be traced at every step. Action
Item resolution should be a specific part of the POC's job
descriptions. Staff that do not take steps to close an
Action Item should be fired and replaced with more
effective personnel. POC abilities to write letters are
key attributes in serving at such roles. No one shall be
hired by US Sailing that does not demonstrate competency
in writing effective letters.

It is reasonable that the general body of membership should
address any issues the management of US Sailing cannot
resolve to the members satisfaction. The member should
have the option that his or her proposal is addressed, and
time scheduled for this, at the beginning of the annual meeting.
This will prevent management from pushing Action Items,
to the end of such meetings where time constraints would
hide issued that should be resolved. Provision should be
made to discuss management issues and generate separate
Action Items if such weaknesses are revealed.

Finally the President of US Sailing should report on the
metrics of the system: number of items opened, closed,
and highlight satisfactory resolutions. The President should
be held fully accountable for the success of the system. This
should be the most important part of the Presidents job
description.

This is all basic management. It is not difficult to do
once the system is implemented.

Why doesn't US Sailing have this sort of management?

Either US Sailing does not presently have such systems in
place because their managers do not have strong management
backgrounds, or else they have an agenda, in which members
don't count except as revenue sources, and managers
prefer to reduce their own workload out of laziness.

Which is it?

The main point:

US Sailing needs to treat members like valuable customers.
Their management system needs to reflect this philosophy.

Management systems should be emplaced to see that
members are treated like valuable customers.

Bart Senior wrote:


His topic was the subject of inadequate spectator seating
at the Olympics. I agree with his view completely. More
spectator seating should be provided. According to him
sailing events were the only events in which spectator
seating was not available for purchase at the Olympic
Games. That places Sailing at the bottom of all Olympic
sports. Who feels it should be given such a low status?

Spectator seating for sailing events? You've got to be kidding! My city
(Kingston On.) hosted the '76 Olympic Sailing events as Montreal simply
doesn't have a venue, there is very little to be seen from shore. Even
with binoculars all you can see is a sea of sails apparently aimlessly
milling about. If you want to see something you have to get out on the
water. The fact that there are no seats for sale in no way reflects on
the status of the sport. It's a bit like the body of the Marathon, if
you want to watch a bit of it, feel free to stand on the street, if you
want to see the whole thing watch it on TV. If you want to see sailing
well, rent a helicopter.

This still doesn't excuse US Sailing's apparent rudeness.

Cheers
Marty

I prefer seats like this...

http://sailnow.photosite.com/October16/?page=3

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message ...
Solutions can be found. In San Francisco, the St
Francis Yacht Club routes race courses along the
city front, where currents favor hugging the shore
on either the upwind or downwind legs. It make
for spectacular viewing of short tacking and spinnaker
sets, some of the more fun portions of a race. I'd
liken it to end zone seating at a football game where
spectators get to see some of the best portions of the
event.

As the writer commented, using big screen televisions,
common in many sports, an option that was not used,
would have been welcome to those interested on shore.
It would certainly have increased interest among non-
sailors in the sport, and lifted sailing as a sport deserving
more coverage, recognition, and support.

If it were up to me, I'd press a ferry into service for
a floating spectator platform.

Regarding the lack of response by US Sailing; was it
rudeness? I'm sure that if US Sailing extended an apology
in "writing" on letterhead from a suitably high official, to
those treated like WWSOTBOTOUAST, the apology
would in most cases be accepted. It most certainly would
be accepted if they promised to fix the both the original
problem and the revealed management problem. It would
not if the issue was simply dismissed without consideration
by themselves. Some things need to be presented to the
entire membership body.

I am sure of this. There lack of systems in place to respond
to US Sailing member inquiries is a very serious flaw in
both the management and leadership of US Sailing.

I urge everyone to write US Sailing and demand to know what
they are going to do about the problem. Report back here
with the outcomes of your efforts.

"Martin Baxter" wrote
Bart Senior wrote:

His topic was the subject of inadequate spectator seating
at the Olympics. I agree with his view completely. More
spectator seating should be provided. According to him
sailing events were the only events in which spectator
seating was not available for purchase at the Olympic
Games. That places Sailing at the bottom of all Olympic
sports. Who feels it should be given such a low status?

Spectator seating for sailing events? You've got to be kidding! My city
(Kingston On.) hosted the '76 Olympic Sailing events as Montreal simply
doesn't have a venue, there is very little to be seen from shore. Even
with binoculars all you can see is a sea of sails apparently aimlessly
milling about. If you want to see something you have to get out on the
water. The fact that there are no seats for sale in no way reflects on
the status of the sport. It's a bit like the body of the Marathon, if
you want to watch a bit of it, feel free to stand on the street, if you
want to see the whole thing watch it on TV. If you want to see sailing
well, rent a helicopter.

This still doesn't excuse US Sailing's apparent rudeness.

Cheers
Marty

There's sailing at the Olympics?

SV

"Martin Baxter" wrote in message
...
Bart Senior wrote:


His topic was the subject of inadequate spectator
seating
at the Olympics. I agree with his view completely.
More
spectator seating should be provided. According to him
sailing events were the only events in which spectator
seating was not available for purchase at the Olympic
Games. That places Sailing at the bottom of all Olympic
sports. Who feels it should be given such a low status?

Spectator seating for sailing events? You've got to be
kidding! My city
(Kingston On.) hosted the '76 Olympic Sailing events as
Montreal simply
doesn't have a venue, there is very little to be seen from
shore. Even
with binoculars all you can see is a sea of sails
apparently aimlessly
milling about. If you want to see something you have to
get out on the
water. The fact that there are no seats for sale in no
way reflects on
the status of the sport. It's a bit like the body of the
Marathon, if
you want to watch a bit of it, feel free to stand on the
street, if you
want to see the whole thing watch it on TV. If you want
to see sailing
well, rent a helicopter.

This still doesn't excuse US Sailing's apparent rudeness.

Cheers
Marty

Scotty wrote:
There's sailing at the Olympics?

SV

"Martin Baxter" wrote in message
...
Bart Senior wrote:

His topic was the subject of inadequate spectator
seating
at the Olympics. I agree with his view completely.
More
spectator seating should be provided. According to him
sailing events were the only events in which spectator
seating was not available for purchase at the Olympic
Games. That places Sailing at the bottom of all Olympic
sports. Who feels it should be given such a low status?
Spectator seating for sailing events? You've got to be
kidding! My city
(Kingston On.) hosted the '76 Olympic Sailing events as
Montreal simply
doesn't have a venue, there is very little to be seen from
shore. Even
with binoculars all you can see is a sea of sails
apparently aimlessly
milling about. If you want to see something you have to
get out on the
water. The fact that there are no seats for sale in no
way reflects on
the status of the sport. It's a bit like the body of the
Marathon, if
you want to watch a bit of it, feel free to stand on the
street, if you
want to see the whole thing watch it on TV. If you want
to see sailing
well, rent a helicopter.

This still doesn't excuse US Sailing's apparent rudeness.

Cheers
Marty


Sometimes, Scotty, I wonder what world you live on...it certainly
ain't here...

They sail T-shirts, and refreshments.

Joe

Do you have to be a member to make demands of
them?
S.

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message
...
: I urge everyone to write US Sailing and demand
to know what
: they are going to do about the problem. Report
back here
: with the outcomes of your efforts.
:
:

I believe both member & non-member complaints are filed to the same
location..... carefully stored with the rest of the paper in the shredder!

CM

"NotPony" wrote in message
news:itWUf.359$Od7.166@trnddc06...
Do you have to be a member to make demands of
them?
S.

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message
...
: I urge everyone to write US Sailing and demand
to know what
: they are going to do about the problem. Report
back here
: with the outcomes of your efforts.
:
:

Too funny. I can't stop laughing.

Heinlein said, never argue with an idiot, onlookers
may not be able to tell you apart.

Basically it is true. I've written a few letters that I
haven't sent because I'm convinced it won't do any
good.

I am not a member, I have no right to demand
anything of them except maybe an apology. I made
my choice some years ago. I voted with my feet. I
wouldn't go back unless they offered me a paid
position. I that feel they owe me, not vice versa.

Perhaps I'll send them one letter on a narrow specific
subject so I won't overwhelm their feeble cognitive
powers. I called on one topic and got two different
answers from two different people about a $60
insurance fee they tacked on to the instructor
recertification.

First, this is, as far as I am concerned extortion. I was
told that only 1st Aid and CPR were needed for
recertification. The beneficiaries for these fees are the
commercial sailing schools--not the instructors. Frankly
I feel they should pay for insurance not me. Why should
I have to pay for something that is no value to me.

Regarding the fee, they told me it was for insurance and
this was a higher liability coverage for special events. I
asked what special events? Instruction is instruction. I
have my own health insurance, I have plenty of liability
insurance, I declined to pay it. They told me it was
for insurance, then they told me it wasn't, the they told me
is wasn't but that is what they spent the money on?????
Such doubletalk is unbelievable. I'd like to see them give
me an answer to that question in writing because it is
clear they haven't figured out how to cover their asses
and make it seem like it is an appropriate fee. A written
response from them on the subject would be amusing
because I could carve up anything they say. The fee is
simply not justified.

If my certification is not valid because I won't accept this
sort of extortion, I would plain and simply like my
certification fees back. This is why I say they owe me. I
paid for something, had in effect a contract with them, and
they are withholding it from me because I refuse to pay this
new fee.

It is all about money with US Sailing. Nothing to do
with promoting the sport.


"Capt.Mooron" wrote
I believe both member & non-member complaints are filed to the same
location..... carefully stored with the rest of the paper in the shredder!

CM

"NotPony" wrote
Do you have to be a member to make demands of
them?

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote I urge everyone to write US Sailing and demand
to know what: they are going to do about the problem.