what are your thoughts???

[Nicole Cisco]

This is just a thought... And I am not sure who could actually pull this off - but this is something that I have not seen mentioned as of late as far as reaching our goal of "Olympic Acceptance".

I have heard the thoughts of creating a UNION -- in which the armwrestlers say what they want and the orgaizations do what "we" say.. That is a novel concept - but is that just for the US or Worldwide?

I believe that the push last year to bring the two world organizations was an AWSOME move and one that should be commended. The only problem that I see is that we have one person going here and then delivering there and then this person has to go again to the other organization and report back .. and so on.. My hat is off to Karen for doing this -- you have opened a door that has been closed for a very long time.

Now -- it seems to me (and I may be well off mark here) -- so let me know your thoughts -- We need to have an "Armsort World Summit...." As previoulsy stated -- not sure how this would work - where it would happen (Poland in November is a suggestion)..hummm...
At the Summit each member of both World Congress' come together for the sport to engage in talks to move forward. I picture an impartial person being elected to act as a medeator so that the talks stay on coarse and do not deveate from the program. With the agreement that each will have to concede some things and establish ONE Governing body.. Those who oppose the merge should know that they will risk being voted out by the body as a whole as their opposition will be seen as hindering the sport from moving forward. This will show the WORLD of Armsports that history is being made -- and our sport will be moving forward.

This will not be a feat that is an easy one -- EVERYONE involved in the WORLD Congress' need to come together at the same time in order for anything real to come about....

Please offer your thoughts.......

[Chris Coletti]

I think that is a great idea Nicole!

We have so many intelligent people in this sport that it is a shame we have not moved forward yet.

I know that Karen, Frank Leonard and Denise want this but the problem is exactly what your solution would address!
At a world level we could get the resistors exposed and dealt with in a democratic manner.

I would vote you as the mediator! You compete regularily and with great success at both org's and your pretty smart (That is pretty and smart)

On a side note are you going to TN next month?

[Nicole Cisco]

Thanks Chris -- for the vote, but I don't think that I would be be best choice for medeator... Personally I think that someone from an "International Sports Council" not associated with either faction would be better -- in the long run naysayers could not say that favoritism was given to either side. The problems that are occuring are not isolated within Armsports alone -- I am sure that other sports have had to cross simuar obstacles.

It seems that Denise - Leonard - Frank - Karen are all being blamed for the World NON Unification - I don't see it that way -- I think it is just that the World Organizations need to physically meet - they need to "merge everything" and then ratify it and make it happen. This seems so simple, but in reality is not - especially when there are so many things that need to be addressed. By meeting in a common ground - it could work -- now we need to find the key people that can get everyone together.

Not sure on TN -- have an trip already planned..

Nic

[simon]

Nicole I would love to see these two sides come together in some fashion, but they have not been willing to do it as of yet and regardless if anyone wants to admit it there are several private business's involved in these discussions, so some people have a lot to risk by letting anyone else decide how they will come together again I think this is a very larger factor in why nothing has been done yet. To my previous post Das and company had the chance to take the unification proposal from Ottawa and vote on it or make a counter proposal for unification and they did not. What leverage do we have to force these groups to do anything if we do not show we are capable of doing for ourselves.

[Nicole Cisco]

The one thing I know is that if you want to move to a new level in anything -- and I say this to the people that work for me all the time -- You have to think outside of the box. (not a new concept - just one that is a bit uncomfortable to some). By that I am saying -- if the armsport "business" if you will is good now -- it will be 100 times better once it moves into Olympic status.. yes? Marketability - exposure - etc....which will ultimately lead to profitability for many.
One the other board I posed this same question and Karen messaged back that this same discussion was on the agenda for the WAF Meeting in Brazil -- we will see.. I wish them well in there congress meeting........

Nicole