Team Canada Captain Information - World Championships

[Mr. Espey]

Not a thing... if I receive one I will post it here.

[John Milne]

So the suggested action is to bury one's head in the sand.

That's a wonderful proposition coming from one of our elected "leaders".

[chrisgobby]

It is in the cowards nature to chose the path of least resistance.

[jerrymilne]

So Fred and Lise left after the first day right? They were representing WAF and not CAWF?

If CAWF funds were used for flight , hotel , etc. then should CAWF be reimbursed for breach of contract?

[joey costello]

Sorry Ryan I was out of town with no pc.
All the answers cannot be given because to much happened.
The new president made his congress vote against the constitution.
By doing this he let the world know that he is the boss and no one else matters.
He then tried to throw out most of his executive and create appointed positions to replace them.
If you have a more specific question go ahead and ask.
Joey

[chrisgobby]

d**n that sucks. Nothing's more pathetic than a man who appoints himself too much power in order to glorify his ego.

[Mr. Espey]

The specific question is, what exactly was the vote for that was against the constitution?

[blanchard]

Hello everyone

I get that people are pissed and that questions need to be answered. I am putting together a reply and ask for a little patience from all of you. I will post an explanation to everything by Saturday night.

Lise

[blanchard]

I hear and understand the frustration felt by people on the message board and I guess where in the past people would pickup the phone and call us directly for answers is also long gone. Using the message is great and people are entitled to their opinion but they should also understand that if people acted out of character their must have been a good reason.

First, Will you are right things were lacking at worlds this year but what you don't know is the work that was done before and during the event for the team and why Fred, Debbie and I left on the Friday.  Without going into all the political bull nuts that happens I will try as best I can to explain.  I am also asking that instead of tearing this post apart if anyone has questions that they ask them, if comments are to be made that they be respectful.  We have always been available to answe your questions and have always been respectful we are that we be treated the same.

All the arrangements for team transportation to an from airport and hotel were made.  All hotel reservations were made.  The team was directed to come to my room for uniform pickup, payment of arms and for me to answer any questions.  Ashley Maher stood in line for two hours to register the team in my place, so team registration was taken care of.  I was at the first weigh-in with the team and helped process the pullers through the new system.  I was not at the second weigh-in which was on the Thursday.  I did go to the venue to get the team to pick a team captain but was told that Gord and Clayton has already point appointed by the team. I assumed the team had gotten together to do this.  Fred, Debbie and I where at the venue wednesday and thursday and did speak to the competitors there.  So Team Canada was looked after and not completely ignored.

What you don't know is that I spent a long time trying to convince the new weigh-in people that having two weigh-in days might of been voted but having them so late on the second day and at a different venue then were the competitors needed to loose their weight was un fair and that not all competitor were being treated the same.  I fought to try and get team Canada weighed-in either earlier in the day or that they be allowed to get weighed in at the hotel.  All of it for not as they would not change their process.  I was working for the team.  Also,  the weigh-in had alot to do with the team atmosphere, some pullers were at the venue pulling while others were at the hotel still making weight.  Many things contributed to the non team atmosphere.

The work that we do at WAF has always been for the betterment of the sport and the armwrestlers first and foremost which then returns to benefit the CAWF and the Canadian pullers.  For years we have been fighting against people that want to use WAF for their own personal gain and make decisions that are detrimental to the armwrestlers, in other words they don't care if it's not not for the pullers as long as they can benefit in the end.  Our worst fears came through and the WAF as we know it no longer exist.  We will need to fight every step of the way to have the constitution followed and keep the World Championships still attainable to all.  I don't want to go into the politics of it, quite frankly I have had enough of it myself, but just be assured that every meeting we have gone to and every decision made was always for the best of the pullers.

Their goal for the last year has been to get rid of the people who oppose their new way of doing business.  So, they have been making unfounded accusations, and trying to make sure they eliminated us from the WAF working group.  Debbie and I amongst others were voted in last year to continue with our position for treasurer and registrar.  We travelled to Poland to do our work.  We were told on the morning of the registration that we were not required and that the European Armwrestling Federation has voted to replace us.  When they were told that did not have the right to do that, their reply was simply, Europe has all the votes so we can do what we want.  That was just the beginning of their treatment of Fred, Debbie and I.  Things got worst as the days progressed.  It was a toxic environment and we just had to leave.  We took the time to let the team know that we were leaving and why.

This was the first time team Canada was not treated with kit gloves and I would have hoped for a little more understanding of the situation at this years worlds.  I apologize sincerely to those who felt Abandoned and can assure you that this is not the a trend and that the CAWF will always be behind each and every puller who attends a world event.

Feel free to call me if you want to discuss further

Lise
So, please understand 

[Will Sarty]

I appreciate the response Lise. I want you to know that it was not my intention to say you 3 did nothing and explain yourself.

I wanted to put a Team Captain package together for people who take that position , know what there responsibilities are.

Neither Team Captain new I won bronze until I was on the podium. I am glad Joey was there to help.

This is a tough position and I feel a standardized packet be done up with the information I provided at the top and it should be given to each team captain for reference.

We can't expect everyone to know/remember all the things that should be done

That was the purpose of this post