Grievance publication

[leafericson]

There is an interesting article in the News Link on USFSA.ORG in the Weekly News Update Issue #19 Jan. 13, 2005.
It reads like this:
Grievance Publication
"In September 2003, a grievance was filed by Ben Woolwine against Joseph Mero under U.S. Figure Skating Bylaw Article XXVII, Sec 3(a), alleging violations of GR 1.03. In accordance with U.S.Figure Skating Bylaws and Grievance Committee Rules, an expedited hearing panel was appointed and a hearing was held on Dec. 30, 2004. The panel made extensive factual findings and concluded that Mr. Mero violated GR.1.02(A) for unethical behavior and GR.1.02(E) for acting in a manner detrimental to the welfare of figure skating. As a consequence, the hearing panel recommended that Mr. Mero's U.S. Figure Skating membership be suspended indefinitely until specific conditions are completed and verified to the U.S Figure Skating Grievance Chair. However, in consideration of requests made by competitive skaters coached by Mr. Mero and who would be affected by his suspension during this time period, the panel allowed that his suspension would not begin until March 7, 2005, to prevent possible seperation of U.S.Championships and World Junior Championships competitors from their coach. No appeal was filed and this decision is now final."

[Schmeck]

Quoted from above:

"However, in consideration of requests made by competitive skaters coached by Mr. Mero and who would be affected by his suspension during this time period, the panel allowed that his suspension would not begin until March 7, 2005, to prevent possible seperation of U.S.Championships and World Junior Championships competitors from their coach."

Sorry to say, but that seems wrong to me - if your coach is banned because of doing something 'detrimental to the welfare of figure skating' then the suspension should begin immediately! What if he does something 'detrimental' while at a competition?


Best of wishes to Ben Woolwine, who used to post on an older version of this forum. I was lucky enough to see him skate at Nationals one year too!

Schmeck

[Mel On Ice]

I saw him at a competition last year; good skater, nice kid, remember him as one of our original members of the headbangers/klutz club when he was but an up and comer. Best of luck to him!

[leafericson]

Well as long as the US gets a winner out of it why not? I am sure they told him not to do anything bad at these competitons, so of course I am sure he will be careful and hide all of his trails!
Look at the judging scandal. Question...Are these the same people in the USFSA on the committees judging the morals and scruples of coaches with grievences? I don't know.
I guess turning the other cheek is accteptable as long as they produce a winner. Look at the coaches that have created scandals that have been on this forum in other threads and figure out how many were at Nationals this year. I believe there were several.
It just doesn't seem to matter to parents if the coach is an alcoholic - on the ice/ unethical, very abusive or/ immoral. It seems that the hopes of a National title someday is everything, to everyone, and supercedes the obvious. :frus:

[celtic]

I believe Mr. Mero did not report his wife's actions with a skater, it was she who was the one who acted inappropriately with the skater. In that context, I can see the USFS making the determination they did. Had he been the one guilty of the acts, I have full confidence the USFS would not have allowed any delay in his suspension!

[Roseline]

I'm confused. Hasn't Mero already served a suspention for failing to report his (ex)wife's actions?