April 24, 2012
USATT Minutes of Committee & Task Force Meetings
From the USATT Bylaws, Section 9.10, Minutes of Meetings:
"Each committee and task force shall take minutes of its meetings. The approved minutes must be published within thirty (30) days of completion of the meeting."
I've pointed this out to the USATT board multiple times over the past few years, via email to the board, at the 2009 Strategic Meeting, at board meetings, and I blogged about this on October 11 last year. [See segment"2009 USATT Strategic Meeting (and Task Force Minutes)."]
Either none of the USATT committees or task forces have met even once over the past five years or so, or they simply aren't following the bylaws, even after the problem was pointed out. (I happen to know that a number of these committees and task forces have met.) Alas, the very board that crowed so much about creating these new bylaws (circa roughly 2007, with updates since) has not followed them. Don't believe me?
Then here's a challenge. FIND ME THE MINUTES OF THESE MEETINGS. First person who can find them by 4:30 PM this afternoon when I leave to coach (and no cheating by someone putting them online today) gets a free copy of any one of my books (see below) and public acknowledgement here. (One exception - I'm fairly certain I remember seeing minutes online of an Officials meeting, but am not sure. But if anyone can find those minutes, no book, but I'll acknowledge your finding in my blog tomorrow.) Here are the USATT minutes for USATT board meetings, and the USATT committee listing. (The committee listing includes task forces, some of which have met over the past few years and since been dissolved, such as the "Grow Membership Through Added Value" task force.) Other than board meetings, there are minutes for a Hall of Fame Committee meeting listed on "December 20, 2011" (they mean 2010) - and they are not actually a USATT committee.
Note that not all committees meet, especially "advisory" committees. I'm on the USATT Coaching, Club, and Editorial Advisory Committees, but none of them have had a formal meeting since I was appointed. However, others have met to formulate various policy, such as the High Performance Committee, which meets to set policy and schedule for the National Teams, and of course the various Task Forces meet to accomplish their various tasks. (At least I hope they do!)
Books by Larry Hodges
Hey, that's me! Since I mentioned my books above (and it's been a while since I listed them here), here's a listing. Note that Professional Table Tennis Coaches Handbook and Instructor's Guide to Table Tennis (which are really handbooks) are online (free). And this fall I hope to have my new book out, "Table Tennis Tactics: A Thinker's Guide." (I'm doing the final rewriting right now, but other table tennis issues keep intervening.)
- Table Tennis: Steps to Success - Originally published in 1993, revised in 2006, with 28,000 copies sold in six languages.
- Professional Table Tennis Coaches Handbook - Coaches should read this!
- Instructor's Guide to Table Tennis - This is a shortened version of the original, which was about twice as long.
- Table Tennis Tales & Techniques - Stories and essays on table tennis technique, published in 2009.
- Pings and Pongs: The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of Larry Hodges - A collection of my 30 best published science fiction & fantasy stories! Includes "Ping Pong Ambition," a fantasy table tennis story.
2012 North American Olympic Table Tennis Trials Press Conference
Here's the video of the press conference with all the players from North America who made the Olympics (19:53). Unfortunately, I can barely hear them even at full volume. Maybe others have louder speakers.
Ariel Hsing slideshow
Here are eight photos with captions of U.S. Women's Champ and Olympian teenager Ariel Hsing at the Olympic Trials.
Michael Landers and the Kelloggs Corn Flakes Box
Here's more on Michael Landers on the Kelloggs Corn Flakes box, including a picture of both the front and back.
"As One" movie
Here's a preview of "As One" (1:48), with English subtitles, the story of the joint Korean 1991 World Women's Team Champions
Nashville Predators vs. Detroit Red Wings
Here's another article on hockey's Predators vs. Red Wings table tennis "feud."
Adam Bobrow Highlights
Here's two minutes of Adam Bobrow, mostly from movie and TV roles, including three table tennis scenes. (He's not just a comedian and actor - he's rated 2115, and was recently up to 2172.)
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