How the MCLA and its Conferences are run

[NKlaxguy]

I think, If anything I have gathered from this thread, is that maybe there needs to be a formal grievance policy in the MCLA. That way our friend Dustin can have all his issues acknowledged in a professional manner with MCLA administrators rather then airing his dirty laundry in a public forum.

Maybe deep within all your rhetoric you might have a point or two Dustin, but I would argue that your disdainful and sometimes insulting posts actually work against your cause, whipping people up into an emotional furor and causing them to perhaps miss any logical point you may or may not have. In short, there is a better way to go about this man.

[Timbalaned]

This thread has now becoming boring and exhausted. Everyone understands you aren't happy Drich. AJ kindly said he would help you out with what you wanted to find. Email him and get what you want. I don't see anything positive continuing here.

[CATLAX MAN]

Maybe deep within all your rhetoric you might have a point or two Dustin, but I would argue that your disdainful and sometimes insulting posts actually work against your cause, whipping people up into an emotional furor and causing them to perhaps miss any logical point you may or may not have. In short, there is a better way to go about this man.

Yeah, it's called diplomacy. Obviously never read this book.

[DRich17]

.... i lost more 'cool kids' points....

[Zeuslax]

I think I've read most of the posts here and to be honest I'm not sure that I get the point? I'm seeing veiled statements more than questions. There's definitely a tone of antagonizing in the air as well.

The points that I'm getting from DRich are that he would like to see direct team input on EB proposals/decisions, he would like to have easy and fundamental access to national and league information (primarily finances), he feels there is a lack of transparency at the league and national level, and lastly he feels that high level decision making is not supporting the growth of the game. I'm inferring with this last one, but there also appears to be some thoughts regarding the ability of State to obtain better players to be more competitive. Also, the current structure and rules prevent his team from getting a toe-hold and improving. Accurate?

I don't want to go through each of the items in depth as this would get a lot longer than it already is. I'll attempt very quickly.

1) Not efficient for a volunteer organization and is too time consuming. We have a republic not a direct democracy. We all have a say in our leaders. At least coaches do in the CCLA.
2) EB is working on that. It will take time and improvements are coming to the website. I think this was stated earlier.
3) Seems like you read these forums. I remember calls going out on here to try to get MCLA participants out to the meetings in Baltimore. Input is wanted and recommended. Your league Pres attends (league vote) as well.
4) This is a little bit of a complicated topic. However, I feel that we all have a stake in supporting and growing the game. All I'll say is that I think our league has grown too fast the past few years. We have teams running around with out coaches. The last sentence says it all in my opinion.
5) We could take at least 50 coaches in our league and drop them off in the worst lacrosse town in our league and hook them up with the absolute bottom dweller of bottom dweller teams. Guaranteed that team would start winning ball games in the not so distant future. No doubt talent wins games. However, at our level, there's a very direct and immediate correlation to off the field organization and W's.

I think it was Pinball that alluded to the fact that every so often there's someone that poses similar statements regarding transparency. Finances are typically the big and easy target. "Where's is all of this money going kind of thing". First of all, I think it speaks volumes (regardless if you like the response) that EB board members responded quickly and timely to a private message board forum. They provided answers to what they thought were your questions. They even offered an olive branch with an invitation for further discussion via phone or email. I think we can all agree that's a very positive thing.

With some well placed questions on these forums, or by taking the time to be proactive in seeking information. I would say 99% of the time the answers are found. In addition, those inquiring find that their questions are answered very well, with supporting evidence and with regard for the best interests of the majority. As with most things in life there isn't a "depot" of MCLA information. No doubt there's room for improvement......as there is with anything. Lastly, I feel very confident that once you get up to speed and become more intimate with the league (It's operations, structure, procedures, ETC.) you would agree and support almost everything that it's doing. Instead of a healthy/inquisitive discussion with access to lots of people that can answer your questions (both tangible and philosophical) you created silence!

As a side note, it's not about your questions or even some of your concerns. It's about the tone, approach, and responses.

[GrizLens]

Well said... I'm giving Anthony 'cool kids' points.

[DRich17]

Dustin, what about the excellent responses you've received from Ken and JP? They are two of the top dogs in the MCLA, and they've just offered to answer any questions you may have. Instead of focusing on the negative responses, why don't you try contacting them, and then reporting back here with what you find out?

Thanks To Ben Clark here.

I emailed John Paul and recieved a very timely response with pretty much everything I asked for. His email was absolutely calm and done in a very professional manner. Big thanks To John Paul. I also thank Kevin OBrien and Ken Lovic for their advice and objective help. I was able to get a response from the League president much faster than I was to get one from my own conference treasurer or rep.

I still don't understand how I am being singled out as being lazy and arrogant... It lends itself to wonder how people can figure out whether or not you have done your research based soley on your input here. Once again I encourage anyone else to speak up on these boards, don't let other people's words deter you, or make you think you need to have a qualification to speak. I also do not understand why people are obligated to read the post if they are that upset about it.

I can only have a conversation as long as someone is willing to listen. If you don't agree, no one's forcing you to say anything.

To sum up what has gone on in this thread, or "the point"...
1)everyone is for transparency with the league and conferences
--- This is already in the works at the league level, no word of it at the conf level
2) most people would like more direct input to their conference and league, although it's not probably realistic to have one vote per team on every issue, most people would like more than what goes on now
--- the answer may lie somewhere in the grey area
3)There are a lot of people in the league that do not know about a lot of things that go on, both with money and with decision making, this has been the fastest growing thread EVER
-- I can atest to at least 2 people that have been very helpful and objective in their responses, there are many that have not been, in fact there have been many who absolutely do not like questioning

Many thanks goes out to those who have helped, you know who you are

ps. you shall see me on the front page of the grlc website, thanks "waterboy"

[PigPen]

Let me get this straight. We have teams ranked in the Top 10 of the MCLA that can't fill out a roster form correctly in the national tournament program, yet the MCLA is suppose to poll all 200+ teams nationwide when they want to buy a roll of toilet paper?

could be the funniest thing said on these boards since the big crash a couple of years ago-the LSU guy with the lax ball in the tailpipe will still take the all time cake.

This whole thread reminds me of Bentiss.......ahh the message board memories

[nhoskins]

Dustin, what about the excellent responses you've received from Ken and JP? They are two of the top dogs in the MCLA, and they've just offered to answer any questions you may have. Instead of focusing on the negative responses, why don't you try contacting them, and then reporting back here with what you find out?

Thanks To Ben Clark here.

I emailed John Paul and recieved a very timely response with pretty much everything I asked for. His email was absolutely calm and done in a very professional manner. Big thanks To John Paul. I also thank Kevin OBrien and Ken Lovic for their advice and objective help. I was able to get a response from the League president much faster than I was to get one from my own conference treasurer or rep.

To sum up what has gone on in this thread, or "the point"...
1)everyone is for transparency with the league and conferences
--- This is already in the works at the league level, no word of it at the conf level
2) most people would like more direct input to their conference and league, although it's not probably realistic to have one vote per team on every issue, most people would like more than what goes on now
--- the answer may lie somewhere in the grey area
3)There are a lot of people in the league that do not know about a lot of things that go on, both with money and with decision making, this has been the fastest growing thread EVER
-- I can atest to at least 2 people that have been very helpful and objective in their responses, there are many that have not been, in fact there have been many who absolutely do not like questioning

Many thanks goes out to those who have helped, you know who you are

ps. you shall see me on the front page of the grlc website, thanks "waterboy"

So the take home message is that you could have gotten all the info you wanted by simply emailing the person in charge of the MCLA and the person in charge of your conference? And it took you six pages on the forum to figure this out?

[DRich17]

So the take home message is that you could have gotten all the info you wanted by simply emailing the person in charge of the MCLA and the person in charge of your conference? And it took you six pages on the forum to figure this out?

an example

[wapiti]

As an observer, thanks to all the folks who've been trying, in a professional fashion, to get this gentlemen the answers he is looking for.
I hope he now has them. Anyone can stir things up by throwing out hypothetical situations/information. The class of the organization shows by the efforts made to respond to the hyperbole.

[nhoskins]

So the take home message is that you could have gotten all the info you wanted by simply emailing the person in charge of the MCLA and the person in charge of your conference? And it took you six pages on the forum to figure this out?

an example

An example of what?

It just seems like common sense that if you want to know how something is run, you ask the person in charge. I'm glad you're now doing so.

[Sonny]

I still don't understand how I am being singled out as being lazy and arrogant...

It just seems like common sense that if you want to know how something is run, you ask the person in charge. I'm glad you're now doing so.

Or he could just ask the Missouri State Coaches that attended the GRLC meetings representing his team where the information was distributed & discussed.

[Jana]

The simple solution is to ask the IRS for a copy of the MCLA Form 990. If they are filed as a not for profit, then the IRS will disclose. MCLA may also choose to voluntarily publish said form on GuideStar.org.

Secondly, if many teams dislike the current distribution of funds, they can easily contact each other via telephone or email, and agree to vote in a new slate of conference directors who wish to alter the distribution funds towards services that benefit all teams, and cut back on national championship related expenditures.

Alternatively, teams that are dissatisfied with the services they receive from the MCLA for the money paid, may choose not to renew said services in the 2009 season, and may also choose to start up their own league and offer services that better suit their needs.

[beckner11]

Or he could just ask the Missouri State Coaches that attended the GRLC meetings representing his team where the information was distributed & discussed.

As previously stated Sonny, the information wasn't distributed....I was there, I know.... were you there?? NO! It was discussed very briefly and the sum of it was, if you want more information then we'll talk later.