Topic: Why I Love The USAW

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

#1) One can compete on a level playing field within the USAW. I don't think anyone that competes within the organization truly believes that there is any level of cheating that is going on which will not be caught pretty quickly. Compare that to the IWF's massive number of positives and doping scandals which occur regularly. Anyone that thinks the IWF really wants to clean up the sport is welcome to look at the bridge I have for sale. Clearly, they want to avoid scandals when possible since it makes them look nearly as bad as they are, but they have no desire to level the playing field. They simply want to stay in power and feed off their fines collected to tolerate cheating.

#2) The USAW is quick to adopt new ideas, technology, and plans to try and improve, despite an extreme lack of funding. They are investing in their website to create a state of the art tool to aid the sport in this country. What other weightlifting NGB in the world has online member registration and renewal? What other NGB in the world has online competition registration? Sure, its advanced stuff that is being done on the cheap so there are bugs to be ironed out and its taking longer than if they simply paid more money. But, I think its awesome not to have to go to the post office to send a certified, receipt requested competition entry form! I think its awesome that I and all members can simply log on and change my address, phone number, or whatever without a long distance phone call! Meanwhile, they are not only ironing out the bugs in the rather complex site, but are building even more capability in to it! The potential to free up the office's time by automating such mundane, repetitive tasks is immense. It is a tremendous investment which will be of massive help to the USAW office for many, many years to come allowing them to focus their time on other things which could then pay off even more. The website is but one example of many I could list from my experiences with the USAW over my career. They are on the leading edge of technology and always have been since I started this sport.

Lets compare that to the IWF website which has had their multimedia section, photo gallery section, two links pages, their newsletter section, their "champion's portrait, "pools" section,  and other sections of their site "under construction" for, what?, over a year now? Their results archive is pathetic. Their world records lists are incomplete. Their doping news section is way out of date, their news section is weak. They have no automation. They have no searchable database. They have tons of money, obviously, so whats up? Too busy kissing up to the countries that cheat?

Meanwhile, the USAW plugs along competing in a doped sport cleanly, and thus with no money. When I wanted to record the video of the 2006 National Juniors and Pan Am Qualifiers, burn and deliver DVDs on site and provide instant replays with various other amenities like bar trajectories, I called our executive director, got him on the phone within two minutes, pitched it to him, and he was all for it. The USAW helped me get it done. When I have other ideas, and I have them, I call them up, ask for Wes, get him on the phone within seconds usually, and pitch it. He is supportive and interested. How can you not love an organization in which as a member you can call up the office and speak to the head dude so easily and get so much from them?

By no means am I saying the USAW is perfect. Communication could be better. I disagree with some/many decisions. The weekly report that came out the time before the latest said the Nationals reward money was in the mail, but I haven't got it and that cost me money as I was counting on it, to say the least. I could go on and on about both the good and the bad, but I just thought it was time to say thanks. Thanks to the USAW for taking drug testing seriously and providing a fair and level playing field to compete in the sport I love for over 20 years. Thanks to all who have played a part in accomplishing this extremely difficult feat (judging by the IWF's success), and thanks to Wes Barnett and the USAW for being forward thinking and embracing new technology to push the sport forward in the USA. The USAW is what the membership makes it, and I truly believe it can and will get even better.

Thanks for reading my post.

[Nick Albert]

you say you havent got your check yet? garcia has.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

The check was sent to an incorrect address due to a typo and the fact that the member info entered online isn't flowing (yet) into other aspects of the operations, as it should. The office informed me that the new check is in the mail. This did cause me some problems, but thats life I guess.

[Jake Harrison]

interesting