US Marshalls Needs Your Help

[thepaperboy]

To Our Friends,

As you know, the U.S. Marshalls, as an organization, is no longer able to provide Corner Workers and Captains to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Loudon Road Racing Series. While many of the faces in the corners are familiar, they are now employees of NHMS. The many years of USM training and experience are still there at the track trying to make each event as safe and enjoyable as possible for all involved.

Billing the track for safety services and equipment usage for each event was our principle source of revenue in the past. The amount we paid the workers was the amount we billed the track. This was a conscious decision to keep the cost of racing as low as possible. The USM, as an organization, made a small amount of money each weekend for the use of our equipment. The USM cookout each Saturday was a break-even exercise designed to feed the corner workers at no charge.

The U.S. Marshalls was incorporated in 1993 as a non profit corporation dedicated to providing training and educational services to promote safety at racing events.

While the U.S. Marshalls continue to provide training and education where requested, and to promote the safe and effective operation of motorcycle racing, we are now at the point where we are unable to pay our ongoing expenses. These expenses are now primarily web site expense and accountant’s fees.

We are asking you, our friends, to help us. If you value what we have done in the past, and will continue to do in the future, we are asking you to help us with our obligations. We are appealing to you to make a donation to us, either in person or on our website http://www.usmarshalls.org/contact.htm. You can also make a donation directly to our Paypal account, donations@usmarshalls.org. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.

Thanks for your support, your time and your donation.

[nt650hawk]

Not to thread jack but this goes in line whit what was posted.

I was asked how much do the racers really know what is going on with the US Marshalls?
and
Do the racers really care?

Well, this pretty much sums up what is going on and do you really care?

Please share you thoughts and if at all possible something more.

[thepaperboy]

Shameless bump. Your $5.00 or $10.00 donation will help out a lot. http:/www.usmarshalls.org/contact.htm or Paypal directly to donations@usmarshalls.org . See you this weekend. Thanks.

[TTD]

Tonys Track Days will be sending you some $$$$ from our Charity Raffles.

We appreciate all you do!

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Not to thread jack but this goes in line whit what was posted.

I was asked how much do the racers really know what is going on with the US Marshalls?
and
Do the racers really care?

Well, this pretty much sums up what is going on and do you really care?

Please share you thoughts and if at all possible something more.

My $.02. I knew some of what was going on, now I know a little more.

As for the second part, I do care. I appreciate what the US Marshalls do for us when we're out there racing. I was one of the many not pleased with the track taking over the corner working, the BBQ, etc. It sucks.

On the other hand, I care about the Marshalls because I care about racing. I love racing, so I love the people that make it safe and possible. Racing still comes first, so even if the situation sucks, I'm not about to stop racing over it. Unless someone builds a similar course that runs at the same times the same distance from me, I'll still be there.

I'll chip in a donation. What's the best way to send through paypal so you don't get hit with fees, etc? Personal/Gift?

[TTD]

Money sent to donations@usmarshalls.org

Thank you again! (from an ex-racer)

I did Personal, Gift...

[Doc]

I am confused. If the US Marshal's can't work at the track what are they doing?

Feel free to PM me.

[thepaperboy]

The US Marshalls are there, but the organization can't earn any money. Last year, the US Marshalls had over 90 different people working at LRRS events. Some worked a half day, some worked all 17 days. On your way to the Riders meeting, take a look in the Scales Garage and see how many people are wearing the shirts the USM has provided over the years. These are the people the USM has trained and will continue to train.

As Treasurer of the US Marshalls, I can assure you that this appeal for funds is to cover the remaining expenses from last year. Had we known before April of this year that the working arrangement we have had in place for many years would be terminated, we would have handled this differently.

Rain or shine, hot or cold, donation or not, the US Marshalls will be manning the corners so we can all enjoy the sport we love.

Thanks for your time.

[Doc]

Can the USM contract with LRRS or the Penguin school? (if those groups are interested)

[Mr. Kurtz]

As someone who doesn't know much about how the US Marshalls work behind the scenes, I've got a couple questions.

If NHMS has taken the people working the corners during the races and made them employees of SMI, don't they now take care of all the administrative, training, and management costs associated with those positions? Going forward, what purpose will the US Marshalls organization itself fulfill?

Where does money donated today go? Does it directly benefit the people who stand in the sun, rain, etc to help keep the racers safe? If so, in what way is it benefiting them?

[Donjuan]

OK People,
The US Marshalls have been keeping you safe on the track for year's, by being in the corners flagging & in the tower watching the races from above.
If there is a problem on the track they communicate it to the lead person & they take action to fix the problem, weather its a oil spill, down rider etc.

Should you care? YES!

The new owner just fired the US Marshall's & hired employees if you noticed at any of your races waving black flags! (what the hell is that?) & all the workers have helmet's now? These are the new track corner workers that maybe great at NASCAR, but motorcycle racing maybe not?
Not to slam the new workers, change is just hard & the way it was gone about was insulting to many people.

Most of the Marshalls are motorcycle riders, fans, races, relatives etc.
If you stopped to look at the corner workers, you would notice they are your fellow riders giving you the thumbs up & are happy if you take first or last.
They are happy that there was another SAFE race for this they don't receive a trophy or high fives.

Just my .02

PS LRRS is owned by the track
The Penguin school is owned by Jerry Wood
So the next time you see them ask them to donate some $


Sandy MacPherson Resigns as Chair.

On March 24th, Sandy MacPherson announced her intention to resign her position as Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the US Marshalls. At Sandy's request this resignation will be effective immediately. Sandy is an original member, founding the organization in the early 1980s.



The US Marshalls are grateful for the decades of service she has given as Founder, President, and, most recently, Chair of the Board.



Sincerely,

Laura





Laura Snyder

President

US Marshalls

[Doc]

Laura,

I (as I am sure many others) appreciate the work the USM's have done but what I hear in your post is frustration and anger.

The racers are not the ones to get mad at. I think what some of us are wondering is what we can do and what our donations will go to. We have supported the USM's in the past with donations for the Barbecue and many racers also cornerwork and have had the USM training (in my case from Sandy herself ) I am sure we would be more than happy to help now.

We are in the USM's corner BUT we need to know what we can do. Education is key here. Many may not know what the USM's have done in the past and many are wondering what the role will be in the future. It is up to the USM's to educate us.

Maybe contracting with trackday organizers to train the people corner working those events. I think we at LAPS would entertain that possibility.

Let us know your thoughts. We know it is a shitty situation but we just may be able to work something out.

[butcher bergs]

I think the message here is "just send money".

[FirstDuc-1098]

the question is to what end

[butcher bergs]

the question is to what end

Don't know. Don't care. One thing's for sure is that, with all these changes, the powers-that-be single handedly made it easy for me to decide to spend my racing-money at other venues.

Pissing off the US Marshalls while increasing or creating additional costs are not what I call "improvements".

[thepaperboy]

I appreciate the dialog, but let me clear up a couple things. First, the quote from Donjuan was clipped from the US Marshalls web site, not a post from Laura. Second, the US Marshalls are not pissed off, just disappointed. We spent many years developing training and techniques to provide a safe venue for motorcycle racing, and that work has been discarded. Third, any money we collect is to pay bills already incurred (primarily the accountant) as we are are a legitimate non-profit corporation in the State of New Hampshire and are required to file a blizzard of paper annually.

Historically, the US Marshalls made their money by organizing the corner working effort on behalf of LRRS and billing the track for those services. As an additional benefit, we were able to develop and test the techniques and materials used to clean up spills, clear the track quickly, etc. so we can get in 13 races a day plus practice.

We realize the handwriting may be on the wall and we are talking constantly about a different revenue model, but we don't want to stiff anybody we owe money to.

That said, let's go racing!!!

[Mr. Kurtz]

Are the actual people working in the corners now(as NHMS employees) the same people as before(with the US Marshalls)?

EDIT: I reread this and don't want to come off wrong.

All the people I know who worked in the past under the US Marshalls are still doing so as NHMS employees, and have told me they are making more money overall. Once they've given it a chance, they've said they prefer this way Are these people the minority? (I only know a handful of corner workers personally)

[TTD]

As someone who has just donated a fairly large sum, I guess my feeling is this.

If the money I just sent in is going toward past bills and accounting to settle things up, I'm OK with that. As a racer, I got the benefit of many years of the USMarshalls and always appreciated all they did... and would hate to see them have to shoulder the burden of wrapping up USMarshalls Version I.

I would imagine someone has done the math and there is a "number" to wrap up the past bills, so that should be the goal with this fundraiser.

If a US Marshalls Version II is going to be created, with a different model, then that should be laid out clearly before collecting $$ for that.

Again, I think everyone on here appreciates what the USMarshalls did, and what the Cornerworkers are now doing... and want to help keep racers safe. What needs to happen is simply clear and transparent accounting of the donations.

[Loun]

Are the actual people working in the corners now(as NHMS employees) the same people as before(with the US Marshalls)?

EDIT: I reread this and don't want to come off wrong.

All the people I know who worked in the past under the US Marshalls are still doing so as NHMS employees, and have told me they are making more money overall. Once they've given it a chance, they've said they prefer this way Are these people the minority? (I only know a handful of corner workers personally)

I am going to just weigh in on this question and my thoughts. I am going to try to stay out of most of this conversation as I have very strong opinions on a lot of things and will likely piss off a bunch of people on both sides of this issue.

I have been a corner worker / corner captain for 3+ years and in that time period have missed only 1 race that I can remember so I am usually there and see it all... Almost all of the workers that you would have seen this weekend are workers from the US Marshalls and those that weren't part of the US Marshalls were trained by the "US Marshalls" trainers and staff. Its all the same people doing the work just with added oversight from people who are new to this.

Those people who are "happier" are in fact in the minority. In fact I have no clue who you are talking about since everyone I know is not happy with the changes as a whole. It goes a lot beyond the fact that "its change" and people "dont like change" there is a lot more than that, that I have no desire to get into here but... So far in my eyes, the changes have resulted in a negative situation for ALL involved.

With that said, I will give the track credit, Tom is willing to listen to our ideas, and is willing to do everything he can do to implement changes that we request. I dont know if its just that its now part of the corporate world but even though he is willing to help and he understands what we are going through it seems like his hands are tied. I hope he is able to get his hands untied in the near future so things can work closer to how they should.

The note I will end with is this: Myself and the vast majority of my co-workers at the track care tremendously about you guys as racers. Anyone who has talked to any of the core workers knows why we do what we do. Theres nothing that could happen that would cause me to not be there. I just hope everything works out in the end and the result is the safety that you I as a worker and you as a racer deserve and require.

[mzdagrl]

OK People,
The US Marshalls have been keeping you safe on the track for year's, by being in the corners flagging & in the tower watching the races from above.
If there is a problem on the track they communicate it to the lead person & they take action to fix the problem, weather its a oil spill, down rider etc.

Should you care? YES!

The new owner just fired the US Marshall's & hired employees if you noticed at any of your races waving black flags! (what the hell is that?) & all the workers have helmet's now? These are the new track corner workers that maybe great at NASCAR, but motorcycle racing maybe not?
Not to slam the new workers, change is just hard & the way it was gone about was insulting to many people.

Most of the Marshalls are motorcycle riders, fans, races, relatives etc.
If you stopped to look at the corner workers, you would notice they are your fellow riders giving you the thumbs up & are happy if you take first or last.
They are happy that there was another SAFE race for this they don't receive a trophy or high fives.

Just my .02

PS LRRS is owned by the track
The Penguin school is owned by Jerry Wood
So the next time you see them ask them to donate some $

I have no idea who you are, but you should probably get your facts straight before you post something up that makes you sound like a total whiny ass.


Like Lou, I have been cornerworking for a long time....4+ years. I have seen things change and not all the changes are good. Some are, and some need improvement.

Aside from that, all I can say is, I think Tony is right - people need some clarification about where their money is going to go if they choose to donate, so a set limit, or accounting list of payoffs would probably be helpful in that respect.



Also FWIW, many of us have NEVER worked a NASCAR event. Bikes are more fun

[Stoneman]

If nothing else, this plea for monetary donations shoulda been cleared by an admin/mod BEFORE it got posted. I won't get into the 'should I or shouldn't I care?' sentiment, that's up to the individuals being solicited. We do ask NESR members to weigh circumstances & situations before donating though. And we've been VERY clear about seeking approval before asking for donations...

THIS thread is stickied at the top of each & every forum area. Please adhere to this in the future...

[thepaperboy]

Stoneman's right. Bad entrance, should'a been meat-balled, won't happen again.

Thanks to you good folks (and a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Tony's Track Days), we have our outstanding bills (it was web site expenses and the accountant) from 2009 covered. We hope never to find ourselves in this position again.

Thanks again. You guys are the best.

[TTD]

As with anything like this, only a small handful of people know all the details and have been at all the meetings... everyone else is getting second-hand info and or just making crap up.

Good luck with the future ... hope things can be worked out such that good people and policies remain and ... and lackluster people and dumb policies are ousted!