Flowrestling is getting behind the concept of a national framework that will help ensure the security and growth of the sport: the Presidents’ Fund, a central account that can be used to both protect and institute wrestling programs.
How does the President’s Fund get its funding?
Every organization adds a buck or two (for bigger tournaments) on top of the entries. If entry fee is $15, now its $16. That $1 goes straight to the Presidents’ Fund. If it’s a national tournament like Flonationals it should be more like $2.
At this year's Flonationals, nearly 800 wrestlers kicked back close to $1600 to the Presidents’ Fund and guess what? No one knew they were doing it. That $1600 isn’t game-changing for wrestling, but if every tournament implemented it that weekend (and throughout the entire year) it would be.
Across the country, recent years have seen a great number of wrestling organizations thrive. They are run by passionate leadership teams that put the best interest of the sport and its athletes as a top priority. Difference-making organizations exist throughout the country. They are successful and independent while promoting the
sport and providing opportunities for wrestlers.
These organizations compete and try to destroy each other because that is what competition and capitalism is all about. This concept is routinely practiced in the corporate community. Competing companies contribute to national trade associations so they can collectively grow their customer base. Hopefully the consumer,
the family that has a son or daughter get into wrestling for the first time, experiences a better sport as a result. The Presidents’ Fund, for example, could be the driving force behind giving that son or daughter an opportunity to compete at the collegiate level.
While the benefits of these organizations to the wrestling communities are invaluable, there still exists a fractured and disjointed movement on a national level. It is precisely now, when local and state organizations have become solvent entities and pillars of their wrestling communities, that a cooperative be established to help the security and proliferation of wrestling on a more broad-based, national level.
Some years Flonationals competes with two other national tournaments on the same weekend. Does that mean we can’t work together to support the long term viability of wrestling? Heck no. The Presidents’ Fund will allow organizations and tournaments to compete for members and wrestlers while still working together to grow the sport. And guess what? Growing the sport is in the best financial interest of Flonationals!
Although several organizations ‘compete’ for the same market, cooperation among us is certainly beneficial. As a rising tide lifts all boats, so too does the growth of the sport ensure our ability to continue to work in the field we all passionately love. A national framework that serves to promote and grow the sport is in the best interest of all of us.
We are going to work on convincing every organization in the country join the President’s Fund because wrestling shouldn’t just be holding on, it should be the fastest growing sport in America….on all levels.
How does the President’s Fund get its funding?
Every organization adds a buck or two (for bigger tournaments) on top of the entries. If entry fee is $15, now its $16. That $1 goes straight to the Presidents’ Fund. If it’s a national tournament like Flonationals it should be more like $2.
At this year's Flonationals, nearly 800 wrestlers kicked back close to $1600 to the Presidents’ Fund and guess what? No one knew they were doing it. That $1600 isn’t game-changing for wrestling, but if every tournament implemented it that weekend (and throughout the entire year) it would be.
Across the country, recent years have seen a great number of wrestling organizations thrive. They are run by passionate leadership teams that put the best interest of the sport and its athletes as a top priority. Difference-making organizations exist throughout the country. They are successful and independent while promoting the
sport and providing opportunities for wrestlers.
These organizations compete and try to destroy each other because that is what competition and capitalism is all about. This concept is routinely practiced in the corporate community. Competing companies contribute to national trade associations so they can collectively grow their customer base. Hopefully the consumer,
the family that has a son or daughter get into wrestling for the first time, experiences a better sport as a result. The Presidents’ Fund, for example, could be the driving force behind giving that son or daughter an opportunity to compete at the collegiate level.
While the benefits of these organizations to the wrestling communities are invaluable, there still exists a fractured and disjointed movement on a national level. It is precisely now, when local and state organizations have become solvent entities and pillars of their wrestling communities, that a cooperative be established to help the security and proliferation of wrestling on a more broad-based, national level.
Some years Flonationals competes with two other national tournaments on the same weekend. Does that mean we can’t work together to support the long term viability of wrestling? Heck no. The Presidents’ Fund will allow organizations and tournaments to compete for members and wrestlers while still working together to grow the sport. And guess what? Growing the sport is in the best financial interest of Flonationals!
Although several organizations ‘compete’ for the same market, cooperation among us is certainly beneficial. As a rising tide lifts all boats, so too does the growth of the sport ensure our ability to continue to work in the field we all passionately love. A national framework that serves to promote and grow the sport is in the best interest of all of us.
We are going to work on convincing every organization in the country join the President’s Fund because wrestling shouldn’t just be holding on, it should be the fastest growing sport in America….on all levels.
Updated on May 11, 2013, 2:14pm
PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Call it something else. How about 'Wrestling One', 'Wrestling First' or something like that? "The President's Fund" sounds like something from my Rotary Club (yawn).