[ Post a Response | American Powerlifting Committee ]
Posted by L B Baker on 5/3/2008, 8:42 am
74.237.4.250
There has been a lot of discussion recently about the actions of the APC. I want to respond and try to clear the air. Some of the California lifters feel slighted because we had to move the Nationals this year. At this date we still have not found the supposedly meet promoter for Las Vegas. For most of the board members the decision to leave the GPC was an easy one. For me it was more difficult because of my involvement in the formation of the GPC. The fact is, all the decisions made recently were discussed by all 10 board of director members and all the decisions were made by unanimous vote. The APC is a democratic organization and we try to stick as close as we can to the by-laws and mission statement of the APC. When we first organized we gave a lot of thought to the wording of these documents.
The GPC has become an organization devoted to the benefit of the very small board of directors. There are five. England has two and Belgian has two, the US has one. I have been at odds with them since the beginning because of the closed door secret meetings. The same board of directors serves the European GPC with the exception of the US. Each European country pays 200 euros to be a member of the EGPC and 200 euros to be a member of the world GPC. That is 400 euros per year. A lot of these small countries only have a few powerlifters and can’t afford the dues. The board of directors squanders most of the dues for their own entertainment. For example, 2,000 euros for unneeded referee shirts for Calgary, 1,000 for a computer for the secretary, banners, etc. A meet promoter is required to pay their hotel bill for the world championships, a luxury that I have never accepted. The GPC dictates the amount a meet promoter can charge for an entry fee.
First and foremost we are Americans and we will look out for the interests of the American Powerlifting Committee and our members. In the GPC, as other international organizations, each nation gets one vote on international matters. Which means a country like Belgium, which will fit inside the city limits of some major cities in the US, gets an equal vote on international matters. Which means the Europeans are going to control all international organizations. The European Union, which is not as large as the US in area or lifters will get a vote for each member nation while the US gets only one vote. A more realistic method would be for the European Union to get one vote, as the US gets. I have traveled extensively throughout Europe in the past three years and I have met a lot of the meet promoters and lifters. They are mostly just like us. Most meet promoters there are like the meet promoters here, they want to provide a format for the lifters and make a contribution to powerlifting. The powerlifters are mostly like American powerlifters, they want to go to a meet with integrity and ply their sport. There a few showmen there, as here, but most are hard working powerlifters. There are also a few who want to be despots, as here.
We hope to find more creditable meet promoters and state chairmen and they will eventually come along. But we will not sacrifice our principles for them. When we go to an international event we will go as a team. At all international events we have an agenda and our officials must support our agenda. All APC meet promoters must follow APC rules and guidelines when promoting APC events. In the APC no one is paid a salary, but a lot of contributions of time and money are made. All the card sales and sanction fees and other income is deposited into the APC Athlete’s Fund and used to help fund the travel expenses to the World Championships. It is all reported on the APC web site. This year the Athletes Fund will have more card sales and sponsors contributions than ever, and we are very thankful for their support. All decisions of the board are discussed and voted on by the entire board before a decision is made.
Most important for the APC member. Your voice is important and your vote is important. Any APC member is welcome to come to the APC AGM and have his say. If you don’t like the rules make a proposal to change them and it will get a fair vote. Your next opportunity will be in Norfolk, Virginia.
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