Now recruiting for Fresh Meat committee!

Do you possess strong leadership skills? Have the knowledge and desire to teach others?

Since committee head and board re-elections, your new Fresh Meat committee heads have come together and decided that we are going to be starting from scratch and building our committee from the ground up! New meat, new crew!

If interested, please fill out the following information and get it to a committee head (Sick, Claw or Melle) by 8/8 (next Wednesday!).

Thanks!

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Derby name:

Why do you want to be on Fresh Meat committee?

What assets do you bring to Fresh Meat committee?

Please explain how you would teach a J-motion shoulder hit.

Do you feel comfortable leading practices?

Are you available Sunday through Wednesday?

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Looking forward to hearing from all of you!

This makes me excited

We've recently heard to questions voiced about why we're having people "apply" to be a part of the new Fresh Meat committee.

We are trying to assemble a cohesive committee who can all work together and help appropriately guide the new meat through the process to becoming full derby girl capable of passing all her skills. Thus, we are looking for people with strong skills - both on and off the track.

This won't be a popularity contest or a pissing contest and we will 100% consider EVERYONE who wants to be a part of the committee in order to pick the best fits.

Please feel free to reach out to any of the Fresh Meat committee heads - Sick, myself and Claw - if you have any questions.

And remember to get those surveys into us by Wednesday!

I'm not usually one to cause conflict, but I have issues with this. I'll begin with having to apply. I thought only elected positions required a person to apply? There was already a fresh meat committee and, without prior notice, it was posted that everyone on the committee was no longer a member and that they needed to apply for their membership that they held. This leads to my next concern: The 3 committee heads will then decide who possesses skills and qualities that the new girls will benefit from, thus, implying that there are some people that don't fit into this category. I completely disagree with this! Everyone has something unique to offer! I love all three of you, and please don't take this as a personal attack. I'm just not comfortable with a committee head (or 3) being able to make up and implement their own set of rules that purposely excludes members of the league. I would be more than willing to discuss this further if you would like. We all want what is best for the league and I know that you have put a lot of thought and hard work into this.

I too only jump on here when I have a strong opinion of something. I disagree with what is happening here. To my knowledge, committee members are not elected positions (whether that means election by the team, the board, or committee heads.) I thought that as Missfits, we all work together to make this a team and that we should all be a part of a committee. Therefore, based on what we feel we can contribute to this team, then we jump in on that committee and put in the work. So, essentially I feel that I could submit my answers and not be selected to this committee, which would mean my work, talent, effort, knowledge, etc.....isn't wanted or good enough for this committee. This seems to be a change of rules for this individual committee. Honestly, I would like to be a part of Freshmeat, but I'm not going to submit my answers. Either I get to be a part of this because I choose to (and because I was accepted to the committee in the past)...or, I choose another committee and hope that they don't change the process of joining that committee. It would be upsetting to "apply" to each committee and get turned down by every one. Essentially that could happen with this new system. I'm also not attacking anyone, I love the hell out of all three of you!!!! I just want you to know how I feel about this.

First of all, I love both of you and greatly respect your opinions.

This was not an arbitrary decision but one that was discussed and approved by the board. The way I would explain it is that you wouldn't hire a math teacher that couldn't add. Just the same, we want our new meat (who are learning things from scratch), to learn skills appropriately. I'm not pushing for all committees to be run this way but, in this case, it makes sense.

As a WFTDA rep, after graduation, I am required to be a member of a committee. All committee positions require an application process. That is because each committee is looking for specific skill sets. In order to have a cohesive, supportive and non-dramatic committee, we all feel this is best.

I'm sorry you both disagree because I very much value your opinions.

And also, if you guys don't already have my number, it's 309-830-0598. I'm happy to chat or text about it whenever!

So the board has changed the policy that positions other than elected ones can now have to be applied for? To think that committee heads can now eliminate their committee at any given time and make everyone apply for their spot back only to have the heads pick and choose who they want is scary, and not the direction I would like to see our league going. I also don't agree with your math teacher example. While basic skills are extremely important, I think it would be helpful to have others on the committee that have strengths in a variety of areas. I talked at length with Sick about this today and to a certain extent I see where you're going with it, but I also think that a lot of people have more to offer new girls other than just skating skills. I don't want to keep adding fuel to the flame at this point, I just want to make sure that the process is fair...to both the committee members and the new girls.

Still love you...respect your position on this.....and appreciate the feedback that the board voted on this. However, still disagree with it:) But, that will happen when you have (however many of us there are now.) So, respectfully I will agree to disagree and NOW to determine what committee I should try to be on. HHMMMM....

Could a board member please chime in and let us know if this is a new policy to be on Freshmeat Committee? If so, will it become a new policy for all committees? I just want to remind everyone that this decision leads to people being "turned down" from giving their time, knowledge, skill, etc...into this league. Sorry, I know I said I agree to disagree....but I had a few more thoughts.

Committees have always been able to put a limit on the # of people involved and committees do occasionally close from time to time, which essentially is being told you can't be involved. In that case, people find other committees to volunteer their time with - and there are MANY out there.

And, if you read my first post, I never said anything about only taking people we think are "worthy." It is incredible important that this committee works together COHESIVELY and NON-DRAMATICALLY to achieve our goals. I specifically asked for people to "apply" - and I did put it in quotes - that felt they had strong skills both on AND off the track.

No one is telling you you can't volunteer your time and talents. There are PLENTY of committees - HR, PR, fundraising, training committee, etc. - that you can be a part of. We are all incredibly open-minded people and will be trying to assemble a crew with all different types of talents. That has always been our goal.

My point is that you are not "closing" the committee. You are eliminating the current committee and making anyone who was previously on the committee apply for their position back. If you didn't feel that some people on the committee weren't "worthy" of being on it, this conversation wouldn't be taking place. Again, not trying to add fuel to the flame, but your response made me feel that I needed to clarify.

Just want to kinda chime in. This was discussed in a meeting with FM, TC and the board. I personally am for this. I think the reason people are chosen to head committees and board and Hr is because our league trusts in the decisions made by the people placed in charge. I don't think this is meant to be a bad thing but more of a helpful cohesive way for the heads to run this committee. There are people who sign up for committees and their members rely on them and they don't really participate :/

I think it's a good idea to have people on the committee who will train FM their skills properly and this is also a time commitment that the heads HAVE to count on the members. I think I am looking at the application more as what can you offer FM how can your make the future MissFits badasses? These are the future girls, cause lets face it we all won't be here forever and they need to carry on the name. Dont we want to make sure that they are given the best attention and training we can?

Pretty sure moving forward that procedures are going to get put in place and the groups just act on the procedures. If they want a procedure change, they have to go through the process.

The league voted that all P&P changes (which this is) would go through the league for a majority vote. I didn't pass it. The league did... which means these decisions cannot be made unilaterally.

This isn't about whether or not I agree or disagree, it's that several groups have gone and made decisions and announcements now and specifically bypassed the rules laid forth by the skaters and all are punishable as conduct infractions by the existing bylaws.

I am on TC and I dont remember this being discussed. Did I miss it?

Bruiz e, im on TC and am unaware as well. I assume she meant the heads of TC. I can understand why CM would want to utilize those wi thnot only knowledge and skills, but also those who can clearly explain how to do a skill. Also people who have people skills and who are approachable. That being said, maybe the league could've been made aware of this and voted on (if its in the bylaws). We on the outside of the board and HR do not see whats inside. So when certain things pop up randomly, its kind of a shock and leaves people confused and questioning. This is just my perspective though

FM* not CM.

I'm going to have to say I agree with what has been so far.
It seems like you feel like people previously on the committee aren't worthy of training new meat and the process for deciding this was not clearly stated to the league ahead of time.
I know this personally makes me not want to re-join this committee, even though I feel like I have a lot to offer. We want everyone to be INVOLVED with their committee, not just on it but I feel like this is going to have the opposite effect. It isn't fostering the for us, by us mentality that roller derby has always been about. If the goal is to have skaters be more active in the league and contribute to the success, i feel like this is counter productive.

I'm confussed why everyone is taking this to that level? Who said the people on the committee aren't good enough? Did I miss this? This really is bein over dramatized now.

No drama intended. Just the feeling/opinion of a former committee member. Felt a little blindsided and wanted to be able to respectfully discuss it openly.

I really like connecting with people but I am not solid on the rules of derby or all of my skills. I would love to just skate with the new gales and do what I can to help!

Oh hey so I noticed that TC was mentioned here and we the heads have not yet commented...so, yes, Ice and I were present at the meeting with FM and the board and definitely agreed that whomever is training our new recruits should have strong skills, knowledge, and ability in the area of gameplay.
And while I personally support the idea of a brief application process for those who would like to train our Freshmeat, I don't recall there being any mention of disregarding or disqualifying any former members of this committee. I do recall, however, the mention of educating all members of FM on the hows and whys of every aspect of training (and there was certainly discussion about how a variety of skills, from interpersonal skills to wftda rules, strategy, and/or skating badassery applied to said training).
Also, I don't think this post has mentioned that there will only be room for a small number of committee members (outside of FM and TC heads) who will be able to attend and train during the FM practices, given the spaces that we have to work with.
So I suppose that in conclusion I am saying that yes, we should have strong, committed MissFits teaching the future of our league what it's all about. And, no, we should not exclude any of our current fantastic Fits from providing their valuable perspective.
So let's move forward with this process remembering where we came from (whether it was aimlessly skating around cones at the SnP or struggling to hear or follow directions or stand up on the scary floor of BJ), and try to also remember that we are all still learning along the way.
We are still very young, and every time we try something new there will automatically be hesitance, and possible conflict, but we all have the same goals at heart and in mind at the end of the day.
Love u MissFits! Let's all work together to show the newbies why we're all here!
xxxooo

Thank you, JMFK. That was more of what I was getting at. I feel that the current committee members could be assigned specific jobs, thus, having a specific core of girls that teach basic skills and what not. There could be a form to fill out that members could list what they feel their strengths are regarding the committee and fresh meat, but there would be no committee member currently on FMC that would no longer be included in the committee. Does that make sense? I feel like this turned into a much bigger deal than it was intended. I also feel like my initial concern of the current FM committee being completely eliminated, starting over from scratch, and the application process for the new committee going directly against our league's bylaws has gotten lost along the way. I am very willing to discuss it with FMC, TC, HR, or the Board. I want it to be discussed in a positive manner so that we can see eye to eye. I know we're not going to all agree on everything, but I think we all love this league enough to hear each other out and work together for a solution. I love you ladies and I want this league to be the best it can be.

Why don't we try to sit down after practice Wednesday and discuss this? I can see your points and would never want to exclude anyone. We do, as jmfk stated, need/want to put a cap on maximum committee members and we're nearing full. :/

I think that's a fantastic idea. I'll be there!