Competition Congress Special Meeting, Friday, January 30, 2009 6:00-9:00 PM Options

[Dicta]

Good evening,

As many of you folks know, over the last several weeks an increasingly large group of track operators, state commissioners, and folks passionate about BMX have been diligently working behind the scenes to fundamentally alter the direction and composition of the NBL. To that end we have work-grouped and communicated with many others involved and have arrived at several inescapable conclusions all of which have led to the announcements which follow:

A variety of things have happened over the last several weeks which have culminated in a group of track operators, state commissioners, and state associations demanding the resignation of Darol Carr, current NBL Chairman, along with all current officers of the NBL Board and all sitting members on the current NBL Board. We have been informed that a Special Meeting of the NBL Board has been called to address our demands and we look forward to working with the existing Board to ensure a smooth transition of power to the new NBL Board.

We appreciate the service and the perspective that many of the existing Board members have shown in their years of dedication to the sport and for that reason will extend to them personal invitations to address the meeting which is announced below if they wish to continue in their former positions. We are optimistic that the current NBL Board will have a sense of the overwhelming dissatisfaction with the current state of the NBL and willingly embrace these changes and assist us by gracefully embracing our new program.

Competition Congress 2009 is going to be historic for a variety of reasons the most basic being a rededication and new commitment to the membership of the NBL. Competition Congress is the annual corporate meeting for the National Bicycle League, Inc. and as members we control the direction and governance of the entity of which we are members. There'll be ample opportunity to discuss training, programming, and other elements of general concern but this year the primary focus for our group will be on the business of the NBL and making it a leaner, stronger, and more responsive sanction. Collectively, we have too long engaged in embracing the past and failed to look forward...that all changes now.

We have arranged for a seperate conference facility in the host hotel on Friday evening January 30, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m to select a new slate of candidates for all of the NBL Board positions and to engage in a frank and current discussion of the current state of the sanction and to establish appropriate ad hoc committees to advise and assist our new Board in establishing it's direction. We'll also be honoring Dave Miller for his years of dedicated service to our organization and have extended an invitation which we are optimistic he will accept.

We are all tired of the collective hand-wringing and cursing the darkness, it's time to light a candle. We anticipate overwhelming participation and wish to afford a forum to every point of view which makes up the strength of our great organization. It is important that your voice be heard and for that reason it is important that you attend.

At the very basic level we are all in agreement that a comprehensive review of all programs, personnel, and procedures are in order prior to undertaking any meaningful change as it relates to our ability to carry out the NBL's basic mission. There are a plethora of great candidates out there with great ideas and lots of passion for the NBL and BMX racing. It's time for those foks to step forward and lead. It's easy to cast aspersions and any fool can tear down walls. Lot's roll up our sleeves and get to work...we've got a job to do!

Ed Reinhart
Proud Parent of 9 year old BMX'er
Track Director of Derby City BMX
Nibbler

Reason for edit: typo /mc

[hbr]

I would suggest that the members here at Vintage spread the word to all NBL members that do not visit this site. The entire NBL membership needs to have a voice, especially at this Congress.

[bmxmom730]

Is there anything in the By-Laws that supports your intentions?

This post has been edited by bmxmom730: Jan 20 2009, 02:00 PM

[Tom Erickson]

Who should the non-VBMX members contact?

[hbr]

Is there anything in the By-Laws that supports your intentions?

Call the NBL and ask for a copy. Make sure to ask for any recent changes the board has made in their efforts to keep the 'good ole boy' network in place. Meanwhile the membership and local programs suffer the ramifications of a business that has lost +/- $500,000.00 the last three years.

I promise they will not want you to have a copy. The darker the better..........

Is there anything in the By-Laws that supports your intentions?

Any NBL members that do not visit this site (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

This post has been edited by hbr: Jan 20 2009, 02:08 PM

[Dicta]

Interesting that you should mention by-laws...

One of the principle drivers behind this movement was the decision by the NBL Nominating committee, which is composed of two elected members from the General membership and three appointed members from the existing Board of Directors( Mr. Carr makes the appointments), to nominate two NBL employees to Board positions in clear contradiction of their own by-laws. Additionally, in December of 2008 the current Board of Directors gave themselves the authority by amending their by-laws of appointing an additional member without the consent of the membership (Richard Carolan is this member). Essentially, only four members are voted on by the membership at the rate of two per year, while five members are selected by the Baord of Directors. Obviously, there is no way that this group can be removed with the current set-up without their willingness to go voluntarily.

It is our hope that the current Board will honestly review their own effectiveness and make the right decision on behalf of the sport. The NBL cannot continue to include staggering six figure losses year after year without making fundamental change. The current group has been either unwilling or unable to make these changes. There were two large at positions this year. Don Olsen, who doesn't have a scintilla of accounting experince was selected by the Board to be their new Treasurer. Don Wagner, a mechanic, was made an employee of the sanction as was his wife, Judy. The nepotism and croneism involved is debilitating and embarassing. Frankly, I don't expect most of these folks have a clue.

Yep, I guess were familiar with the by-laws and are moving forward appropriately.

Ed Reinhart

This post has been edited by Dicta: Jan 20 2009, 02:18 PM

[bnd]

As a lifetime ABBA racer who is standing on the sidelines watching this go down, can I ask you what "if" these people won't go quietly? What would your group do as a response?

I for one am really rooting for you Ed & your group. Maybe you can get some shirts made up with the slogan, "I'm mad as hell & I ain't gonna take it anymore!"

Good luck & keep us posted!

b.

[workman]

This has been a long time coming. Rest assured you have quite a bit of support from the community.
Shawn Workman

[hbr]

What would your group do as a response?

Take the kids to the McDonough national (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[bmxmom730]

I have been reading the NBL bylaws that are available from the USA Cycling website. I was hoping that perhaps you had more than what is available there. I do see the guidelines for requesting a special meeting and the competition congress is within their rights to call one.
However another line caught my attention and perhaps it can be useful to you:

H.4. Resignation / Removal
Any Trustee may resign or be removed at any time in accordance with USA Cycling regulations.

I found the USA Cycling Regulations here

Accordingly it states that:

A Trustee may be removed by a majority vote of the members of the Association that elected him. A vote shall be held upon petition to the Secretary of that Board of Trustees by eligible voters holding at least 10% of the votes.

I hope this may help.

[Bags1]

This has been a long time coming.

You are correct sir.

[AirportFF]

I forwarded this info to the NYS commisioner and the asst commissioner. Hopefully they will show up. I wish you guys the best of luck. As a parent of a racer, former racer and pro/am series director appreciate it. It's a shame what the NBL is coming to. Wish I could be there, if for nothing else than to sit back and watch the fireworks.

This post has been edited by AirportFF: Jan 20 2009, 03:13 PM

[hbr]

Take the kids to the McDonough national (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I have been told that this post doesn't show any resolve, but make no mistakes.

My post is meant to convey that I love BMX and I will continue to race regardless of any outcome born from these efforts.

A less than satisfactory conclusion to this will cause me to make every effort to change my BMX environment to one that I feel cares as much about the sport as I do, regardless of where I may find the qualities I hope for.

[Plainsbike]

My post is meant to convey that I love BMX and I will continue to race regardless of any outcome born from these efforts.

A less than satisfactory conclusion to this will cause me to make every effort to change my BMX environment to one that I feel cares as much about the sport as I do, regardless of where I may find the qualities I hope for.

That Sir..seems to be the best statement made by anyone concerning this whole sorry episode.

[tommy2x4]

not only has our country seen a new chapter...2009 might be a change for the NBL too!

[DARIN HOUSTON]

+1 todd and ED keep up the good work we need change in order to save the nbl !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[edmack]

I think I speak for a lot of people when I say we do not care what the NBL has to say unless they reinstate Dave miller. He is the heart and soul of the NBL. Look at the big picture!!!! NBL wake up and smell the coffee!!!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Ed Mackenzie

[MaGoo]

Good Luck to those that go.
I'd vote for Ed to be on the board....being he runs the best track in NBL Nation....and has a son that participates.
I'd love to be there....I love to see people own it.

MaGoo/365

*if the customer speaks....isn't the customer always right ?

[Dicta]

I'm smarter than that... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tom Erickson]

I have been reading the NBL bylaws that are available from the USA Cycling website. I was hoping that perhaps you had more than what is available there. I do see the guidelines for requesting a special meeting and the competition congress is within their rights to call one.
However another line caught my attention and perhaps it can be useful to you:

H.4. Resignation / Removal
Any Trustee may resign or be removed at any time in accordance with USA Cycling regulations.

I found the USA Cycling Regulations here

Accordingly it states that:

A Trustee may be removed by a majority vote of the members of the Association that elected him. A vote shall be held upon petition to the Secretary of that Board of Trustees by eligible voters holding at least 10% of the votes.

I hope this may help.

I thought this was the way the bylaws read but the Board changed this. Now it requires a 75% majority from the NBL Board of Directors to remove another director. That is 8 of 10 members of the board. This is one of the actions of the board that is not right. The USAC regs are adaquate.