Subject: President's Message - USAPL MISSION
Reading recent comments regarding the perceptions/roles of USA Powerlifting leads me to comment on the purpose for our (ADFPA/USA Powerlifting) existence.
Depending on who you talk to, you'll find wide ranging ideas on what the focus of the organization should be. Some staunch veterans will say Drug Testing and holding the bottom line. Others may say member services, reimbursements, and newsletter. Some of our Meet Directors will say that the organization should be focused on subsidizing and supporting them, as they're on the front line, selling the cards and running the meets. Some top athletes will say it should be world team funding & financial support, as they represent the best & brightest. Many Referees want us to ante up for them, as they've given of themselves to become credentialed, and continue to give so that the sport is properly adjudicated. Coaches, at different levels will say that we should support their programs, as they are working on the future and the excellence of the sport. The list is as long as both arms. Then still, there is the oft-quoted statement that the organization should be, above all else, "for the lifter ".
While all of these are worthy sentiments - The Truth is - none of the above.
I think people get confused that somehow we're like a church and should preach & enforce accountability, or that we're like the Elks, Eagles or Moose lodges who develop their own fraternities, or even like a union who champions the rights of the rank & file.
The Truth is - written in Article I of our Bylaws.
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"USA Powerlifting is organized and operated exclusively to foster national and international drug free powerlifting competition. ..... to develop, promote, and regulate the sport; .....to encourage the growth of the sport of amateur drug free powerlifting."
Our purpose for existence is actually a very narrow mission, described with lofty verbs like "foster, develop, promote, & encourage".
Our mission is not to define what our members want, it is to develop the sport that they participate in. Our job is to keep the sport strong, healthy, growing & moving forward.
The challenge really is to build & support the programs that accomplish this mission, this purpose. The questions we have to answer are not about what is important to internal factions, but how we will most successfully accomplish our mission.
There are many pieces to the puzzle, and much fertile ground for debate and decision-making; and we will not all perceive things the same way, or place priority on the same issues.
The important thing is that we all do our best together to grow drug free powerlifting through the vehicle that is organized as USA Powerlifting.
With this in mind, you should know that some exciting developments are under way, and they need everyone's support. A tandem effort is being mounted to get powerlifting recognized as an Olympic sport. We (USA Powerlifting) have recently established an Olympic Recognition Committee, staffed by some of our highly motivated members who are very deep in professional marketing skills. Their task is to gain recognition from the USOC. You may, or may not be aware, that Powerlifting is recognized by the National Olympic Committees (such as our USOC) in countries including Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Ecuador, Russia and most recently South Africa.
Simultaneously, The IPF is mounting a campaign to get powerlifting recognized by the IOC, which governs all of the National Olympic Committees. Our meeting with Vladimir Bogatchev, President of the Russian Powerlifting Federation in Texas last month at the Women's Nationals resulted in our commitment to fulfill part of the application to the IOC. We have been providing information on powerlifting in the USA to meet the application requirements. We have also been asked to provide videotape of our sport to submit with the application. One of our national team coaches works in the film industry, and is undertaking the project of film editing from PL footage submitted to produce a more polished product. Although he is donating much of this effort, it is still a very expensive process, and we are trying to raise $1,000.00 to offset the film's "nuts & bolts" expenses. If you can help out with this worthy project, please do so, through the National, or Secretary-Treasurer's Office.
Even though many of us may never ascend to competition on an Olympic Platform, I think we all know that our sport is worthy to be contested in the Olympic Games. We will all benefit by such recognition, and be deservedly proud of the strength athletes carrying the torch for us at the pinnacle of sporting events. Let's pledge our vision and commitment to make this thing happen.
Sincerely Yours,
Mike Overdeer
USA Powerlifting President
