To:
"John H. Horine" <jhh@collegemanor.com>
Dear
John:
I thank you for responding to my article about the APTA staff
and policy changes. I too want to be sure that we, as you put
it, "set the record straight".
Marjorie Hodson requested some information from me in several
e-mails and, in the last one, after her name, were the letters
"ED". It was clear indication to me that what I had
heard was correct. Marjorie Hodson is the "Executive Director".
She did not indicate "Interim" or just her name. "ED"
to me means Executive Director. (You also used the term in your
letter)
If you believe that Carolyn Tierney and Hope Kerr "retired"
or "resigned" (you used both terms) someone is misleading
you. They were both clearly told that there was no longer a position
for them at the APTA office.
I will say it again. The principal reason for the $10,000 loss
last year was the cost of Platform Tennis Magazine. I refer you
to page 7 of Volume 5, Issue 1, of the magazine under the headline.
"2002 APTA Finances". It shows total revenues of $200,365
and Expenses of $210,799. Of the Expenses, the amount of $97,838
is listed as "PTM Magazine". That is a major portion
of the total expenses and, with no offsetting revenue from the
magazine, was the reason for the deficit.
Regarding the signing up of leagues to increase membership, you
are correct that it goes back before the magazine to the time
when I served on the Board of Directors. Bill Jones and I suggested
that getting 100% membership from participants in local leagues
or associations would be an important step to increasing the total
APTA membership. Even at that time, we were working to increase
revenues through advertising in the APTA newsletter. However,
when Wayne Dollard made his "pitch" to the Board for
the magazine, his presentation emphasized the signing up of more
leagues including the one in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
I recognize that the office in the home is very possible. My own
web master has such an arrangement but she is a sole proprietor.
When you indicate that a search committee will look for a new,
permanent "ED", does that mean that the candidate must
also provide the office space and equipment for the position?
What happens when that person leaves or retires? Where does the
"office" go? I have worked with the office for 15 years
and cannot imagine that one person can handle all of the services
the membership requires and requests.
Maybe I was not clear in explaining my "whipping boy"
statement. There is no doubt that the reason behind the changes
being made in the staff and in the office is to reduce costs.
But that is not where the major expenses are or the greatest savings
can be achieved. The expenses are in the publishing of the magazine.
In my opinion the office should not be taking the punishment for
the lack of control over the cost of the publication.
I don’t know where you came upon the quote that you attributed
to me regarding the web site. However, even if I did say something
similar, it was eight years ago and the electronic communication
age was just starting. I did not believe that, at that time, the
APTA could afford the expense of a web site for the limited audience
we had. A lot has happened since then. Now it looks like the Board
of Directors might be looking at another expensive experiment.
I have been told that the Board is investigating the possibility
of broadcasting our game on television on the Tennis Channel.
"Just give us $20,000 and we’ll put your Championships
on national television" is the offer they submit. I know
a lot of people watch television but is this where our governing
body should be spending the membership money. I don’t think
so.
You asked me to "do a little research". I suggest
to you that the APTA needs to do some "homework".
Sincerely, |
|
Charles
E. Vasoll |
