All-Star Usasf Independence

SMDH

If I shook my head any harder, it's like to snap off my neck.

USASF, Please remember: We're not doing this out of spite, it's out of WANTING to like you and support what you stand for. If you're this insecure about a couple of questions, many of which aren't harmful if transparent, how can you ever hope to support this industry? How can you expect us to keep backing you if we can't even see WHAT we're backing?

Response is very much what I expected. Not very informative in the attempt all will be forgotten

For a 'non profit' to post the opinion of "we let others in the sandbox to play"…"look how nice we are" is wrong on so many levels. Bottom line should first and foremost be what is best for the athletes. The all star industry's engine are the gyms, the coaches and gym owners…seems there is an upside down pyramid in place. The sheer volume of money that changes hands for Worlds is staggering. Is this about money? Thank you Varsity for the original $1.7 million…but with the available records displayed, it looks like it should have been paid off with almost 1/4 of a million dollars each year… this is about money and control, it is not what is best for the cheer industry and the athletes that are, and should be, our main concern. Adding more questions on the FAQ page or adding more opportunities to 'voice' one's opinion…does not change the control at the top and lack of transparency.
Sorry, the letter did not address the main concerns….my 'good faith belt' just dropped a notch. The industry should be guided by a totally unaffiliated governing body.

This email response is like a presidential debate...
all fluff, no substance.

Cheer Dad said:

Response is very much what I expected. Not very informative in the attempt all will be forgotten

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Reminds me of "Shawshank Redemption" where Andy writes a letter a week for a year to get funds for a library for the prison.

Maybe we need to send the letter once a week.


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5-6-7-8 said:

Reminds me of "Shawshank Redemption" where Andy writes a letter a week for a year to get funds for a library for the prison.

Maybe we need to send the letter once a week.


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That is actually not a bad idea. Although I would send the letter from a new person every week.

Not surprised at all.... They probably feel that they don't need to respond or justify actions at this pt.

It's very concerning.

King said:

That is actually not a bad idea. Although I would send the letter from a new person every week.

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He does mention in the letter that they are working on a "Frequently Asked Questions" section on their website. Perhaps the trick is to ask the questions VERY frequently.

NOTE: I have tried multiple times to find a way to express my disappointment with this and other responses, but nothing I type seems to cover it well. I'll keep working on it.

King said:

That is actually not a bad idea. Although I would send the letter from a new person every week.

Click to expand...

Ill send the letter one week.


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I will bet if anyone with out major name recognition sends a letter you will receive NO response. I know allstarcheerman came on here and somewhat chastised everyone for even thinking how a lowly message board deserved any response from the ivory towers of Varsity/USASF. Now we see how a well thought out respectful letter from industry leaders was answered! Whats the excuse now?

5-6-7-8 said:

Ill send the letter one week.


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I as well don't mind sending.

I think the key is persistence and to be professional. I rarely respond to overly aggressive and rude emails, and why should they? Be honest, be nice, and be persistent.

I'm a huge fan of the Roadhouse mentality: Be nice. Be nice. Be nice. Until it's no longer time to be nice.

I'm also a fan of Bill Murray and roadhouse... But that's a whole other topic.



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I'm getting a little frustrated with people assuming I have some hidden agenda or that I have joined a "side". My only "side" is the coaches and athletes in the industry. If we are going to continue to allow our careers to depend on - and our industry to be governed by - the USASF, we need to know more about it. Why is that offensive to anyone? The whole "how dare you even THINK about questioning us" vibe that I have gotten from some isn't particularly reassuring. (I do appreciate those who have taken the time to actually talk to me rather than just making assumptions.)

That really is it. Perhaps it would be better strategy to let the powers-that-be think there was some huge scheme brewing in the background to overtake the industry, but I'm not a skilled enough politician to pull that off, even if I wanted to.

Perhaps some of our fears and concerns are unfounded, perhaps they aren't. When more of the way the USASF operates is (hopefully) made public, we (the coaches) may have some suggested improvements. We are getting close to the 10 year mark for USASF and I think it is fair to take a look and see if anything needs tweaking.

The ICU, USA Cheer, AACCA, and STUNT don't affect me much and I don't really have a dog in that fight. I'm curious about some things - mostly how those groups interact with and affect all star, but perhaps some of the folks that are governed directly by them should do some answer-seeking there, too.

I am going to have to mostly tune out for a week or so. I'll let you know if anything interesting has happened at that point.

In an effort to "walk the walk":

Cheer Athletics, Inc. is a completely private, for-profit company. (Texas S-Corp to be exact.) We have 3 equal partners that co-own everything. (Jody Melton, Brad Habermel, Angela Rogers) You can ask us quite literally ANY question you want and I will try to answer as honestly as possible. If you ask a question that I don't think is any of your business, then I will just tell you that it isn't any of your business and explain why. It doesn't matter if you are our customers or not.

Cheer - Cheer Athletics Rumors | Fierce Board - The Voice Of Cheer

BlueCat said:

I'm getting a little frustrated with people assuming I have some hidden agenda or that I have joined a "side". My only "side" is the coaches and athletes in the industry. If we are going to continue to allow our careers to depend on - and our industry to be governed by - the USASF, we need to know more about it. Why is that offensive to anyone? The whole "how dare you even THINK about questioning us" vibe that I have gotten from some isn't particularly reassuring. (I do appreciate those who have taken the time to actually talk to me rather than just making assumptions.)

That really is it. Perhaps it would be better strategy to let the powers-that-be think there was some huge scheme brewing in the background to overtake the industry, but I'm not a skilled enough politician to pull that off, even if I wanted to.

Perhaps some of our fears and concerns are unfounded, perhaps they aren't. When more of the way the USASF operates is (hopefully) made public, we (the coaches) may have some suggested improvements. We are getting close to the 10 year mark for USASF and I think it is fair to take a look and see if anything needs tweaking.

The ICU, USA Cheer, AACCA, and STUNT don't affect me much and I don't really have a dog in that fight. I'm curious about some things - mostly how those groups interact with and affect all star, but perhaps some of the folks that are governed directly by them should do some answer-seeking there, too.

I am going to have to mostly tune out for a week or so. I'll let you know if anything interesting has happened at that point.

Click to expand...

I guess I'm used to other sports, where the transparency of the governing body is not nearly as big an issue. I expect a level of secrecy from a large corporation, but maybe that's the point - the governing body for all-star cheer shouldn't be behaving like one.