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Platform for the 2006 NYTHA Presidency
I have been around the New York backstretch for over
44 years. There are a great many significant issues
that currently face the horsemen and our industry. As an extremely
active open minded President, I will reach out to all horsemen to learn their
point of view on the important problems that confront horsemen in their
daily lives and work actively to achieve the goals of our benevolent
organization for the membership. I understand that the primary
function of an individual who wishes to run for President or to serve on the
Board of Directors is a willingness to make the problems of the membership
their problems and to find a way to make things better.
The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association can
also provide strong leadership in the
positive resolution of a variety of industry wide problems while most
importantly attending
to the vital local issues facing our horsemen. However, I am
committed to the concept that charity begins at home and that the name of
our organization is the New York
Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.
I am somewhat renown for my frankness and so I am now
going to layout some important concepts and improvements that in my judgment need to be
implemented. The inadequate improvements in the operation and
achievements of the NYTHA in past three years, has inspired me to run for
the office of President of NYTHA so that I can more readily implement
change. The responsibility of accomplishing these improvements
will reside with the new
President, Board of Directors and professional staff of 2006 administration.
There are numerous justifiable complaints from horsemen
that our organization does not do enough. I make a personal pledge that I would do
what is necessary to
provide some spark to NYTHA activities in many areas.
1. The NYTHA is in drastic need of a complete new look to
our business. Our information lists, communication methods with our members,
and the general professionalism in our office procedures are in dire need of
a modernization. There needs to be a rapid
stream of
information flowing from our headquarters to the directors and members, to
enable us to act quickly on important issues. We must be doing things on a
day to day basis since the world is moving so fast. You never get a second
chance to make a first impression and we must make a better one then we are
currently making.
E-mail listings,
accurate reporting of events and constant communication
with the directors and members are high up on the list. The ability for the horsemen to act immediately with
petitions and letters of opinion needs to be in place to deal with
situations that suddenly arise.
NYTHA dealings with the VLT issues
fell far below membership expectations and still have a long way to go
before an acceptable solution to financial and philosophical matters between
NYRA, NYTHA, New York Breeders and the legislature in Albany are achieved.
2. Our committees need to be formed with Board
of Directors Members and voluntary interested expert participants from our
general membership. Our membership is a resource of very successful
and accomplished people of great intelligence and influence. Many such
professionals and experts would be happy to devote some of their time and
expertise to the NYTHA committees.
Our committees need to report progress to the
other board members, and there must be activity and progress. An agenda and a timeline
needs to be implemented by each Committee Chairman. These reports will then
come to the President and Vice Presidents of our organization to monitor and
then will be discussed at what will be
the
very frequent meetings of the Board of
Directors. With the appointment of a
chairmanship to a committee comes accountability and responsibility of the
tasks of each respective committee. As Yogi Berra says, "If we do not know where we are going, we might not get there."
3.
Our Mission Statement and By-laws are in need of a
complete overhaul. Times have changed and the methods of how we do things in
this high speed world of communications must be brought up to date. Our
interaction with other horsemen’s organizations needs to be highly active,
much more so than just providing them with money. A critical analysis of one
another must be part of our agenda. Our budgetary expenditures are out
of proportion with that of other benevolent organizations, and the mission
of the NYTHA first and foremost is benevolence. Once
again our first responsibility is to take care of the needs at home right
here at our New York racetracks.
4.
Directors and members need never hold back
in providing concepts and criticisms of relevant issues. Our goals of
benevolence and quality of life within our realm are the primary function of
our existence. We need to hash out our disagreements from within and then
find a way to speak with a strong united voice. Everyone’s point of view is
valuable since no one person has a franchise on
ideas. The NYTHA staff must put the
physical time and effort to go and visit our members and get their input and
disseminate that information to the general membership.
5.
It is my intention to pursue grants and charitable contributions in an
effort to find new revenues source, other than the owners and trainers who
are endlessly approached for contribution. Grant writing will become
part of the fund raising process. This will be achieved through NYTHA or the
new B.E.S.T. organization of which I am our organization's committee
chairman. It is my intention to augment our fund raising efforts by having equine memorabilia
sales for backstretch charities using various vehicles to include online
auctions. I need the support of the
owners and trainers to assist in donating merchandise for the good of all.
As stated more funds are needed in many areas
There is currently a backstretch security issue linked to equine
memorabilia and its online sale. Unauthorized individuals roam the
backstretch and deal in such memorabilia for personal profit. The benefits
reaped from sale of these thoroughbred treasures needs to reach the
entire backstretch community. A program involving dealing with such items
needs to be created and implemented in conjunction with NYRA and I will
accomplish that task.
Thank you for taking the time explore my views on a
variety of the important issues. Please let me hear your thoughts about these
vital aspects of the business. As stated above, no one has a franchise ideas. Your
opinion is very important to me and off course so is your vote.
Thank you for taking the time to
read my platform.
Robert S. Fox |
