Training Log Archive: iansmithIn the 1 days ending Nov 16, 2016:
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Wednesday Nov 16, 2016 #
Note
OUSA Board Updates
I've been deep in the quagmire of OUSA internal business for a few weeks now. It is stark and surprising to realize that I was elected two months ago, and I'm disappointed with how little complete progress I have made. We have been spending a lot of time and energy quantifying where we are. Barb has led a survey of the various committees to figure out which are functional, improve communication between the leadership and the committees, and simplify the task of getting things done. I think organizations like OUSA (and NEOC, in my experience) get into the trap of thinking that appointing a committee to address an issue is equivalent to solving that issue.
My biggest focus has been on the Finance Committee with Pat Meehan (chair), Greg Lennon, Gary Kraght, and Barb. About half of our efforts have been spent on sifting through the accounting system and finding ways to improve it, and the other half has been spent on budgeting for 2017 and getting a sense of where we are financially. I think that picture is emerging - and hopefully we have better tools in the future for gauging our status, but as expected, OUSA has rapidly been running out of unrestricted funds. We've been deficit spending for at least the last five years, and our current budget profile is unsustainable. The Finance Committee has solvency as one of its primary goals - getting back to a balanced budget and keeping a reserve of cash, and we're looking to find ways to cut expenses. I have been working on several budgets, and hopefully we will have a draft budget to present publicly very soon. I think it's very important for those entities - in particular the teams, but more generally anyone seeking funds from the OUSA board - to contact the leadership and express why OUSA support is important to them. In my judgment, this is especially important for the teams, as my sense is that some leadership have the impression that unrestricted spending on teams isn't important.
I've been deep in the quagmire of OUSA internal business for a few weeks now. It is stark and surprising to realize that I was elected two months ago, and I'm disappointed with how little complete progress I have made. We have been spending a lot of time and energy quantifying where we are. Barb has led a survey of the various committees to figure out which are functional, improve communication between the leadership and the committees, and simplify the task of getting things done. I think organizations like OUSA (and NEOC, in my experience) get into the trap of thinking that appointing a committee to address an issue is equivalent to solving that issue.
My biggest focus has been on the Finance Committee with Pat Meehan (chair), Greg Lennon, Gary Kraght, and Barb. About half of our efforts have been spent on sifting through the accounting system and finding ways to improve it, and the other half has been spent on budgeting for 2017 and getting a sense of where we are financially. I think that picture is emerging - and hopefully we have better tools in the future for gauging our status, but as expected, OUSA has rapidly been running out of unrestricted funds. We've been deficit spending for at least the last five years, and our current budget profile is unsustainable. The Finance Committee has solvency as one of its primary goals - getting back to a balanced budget and keeping a reserve of cash, and we're looking to find ways to cut expenses. I have been working on several budgets, and hopefully we will have a draft budget to present publicly very soon. I think it's very important for those entities - in particular the teams, but more generally anyone seeking funds from the OUSA board - to contact the leadership and express why OUSA support is important to them. In my judgment, this is especially important for the teams, as my sense is that some leadership have the impression that unrestricted spending on teams isn't important.
11 PM
Running 53:37 [1] 10.9 km (4:55 / km) +5m 4:54 / km
shoes: 201607 Asics GT1000
20 minute tempo run. A bit slow; I ran 5.6 km at 4:15/km pace. My target tempo pace is usually 4:00-4:05, but it was still a good effort. I think I'm a bit tired.