Hyun Lee's Election Statement
I have served on the MVA’s Board for six years, the last three as Board President. These six years have represented a time where I’ve seen people put aside differences, pull together and step up to the plate for an organization and cause they all believe in. Having a velodrome right in your backyard, or a reasonable drive away, is something most communities don’t have. Having grown up somewhere where you only read about track racing, or saw it occasionally on ESPN, I definitely appreciate having one right here.
In the last few years, I’ve seen track cycling flourish here. The MVA has worked really hard to promote track cycling as a fun and healthy activity. In the next few years, the MVA is going to be at a critical juncture that will shape how the sport develops in Western Washington. This is going to require some difficult, but necessary decisions.
I would like to steer the organization towards a structure where ultimately an employee executive director would direct staff in charge of different components of the MVA’s programs, and be answerable to the board. Presently, the organization’s biggest resource shortfall is people power to manage various programs, namely the various . There are a few people tackling too many things.
If elected to another two year term, here are some of the things I will be advocating for:
- Creation of Racing Coordinator Position to oversee the Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Night programs in conjunction with the Friday Night Event Manager and Program Coordinator. The goal would be to have an individual who’s familiar with the racing programs coordinate the existing racing schedules so that they provide the educational value necessary to develop newer racers, evaluate existing programs, and most importantly keep it fun. This position could be a key player in bridging institutional gaps necessary to accomplish a full season racing.
- Evaluation of the price points of existing racing and program fees. Raising the race fee $5 a person and re-examining the kids’ program prices could enable the MVA to hire a second part time staff person to tackle critical program development objectives.
- Create stronger linkages and partnerships with existing sponsors to develop better understanding of what their needs are, and what MVA could do better. This would also include working with the county to develop a better sense of the value of the velodrome and MVA’s programs, enabling them to better fund maintenance of the velodrome
- Ambitiously seeking to hire an Executive Director in 2011 to oversee racing, educational development, management and fundraising activities of the organization. This will entail creating a job description and raising funds to pay a reasonably qualified individual to take on this role. This position would be answerable to the board.
Ultimately, the organization’s strength comes from its membership. It is because of the great people involved in the MVA s Board members, staff, volunteers and participants that we’ve had such fantastic development in the organization. Thanks for letting me be a part of it, and hope you consider me for the Board again.
