Inline Industry Vote

Inline Industry Vote: There has been a whole lot of communication in recent weeks within the Inline Industry Group. I don’t know exactly what I can and cannot share, so I will try to be both vague and specific at the same time.

To give you a little bit of perspective and history, what you need to know is that the Inline Industry group, which has 87 or so members who represent the inline skating industry in the USA and Canada, met for the first time at the 2005 Northshore Inline Marathon in Duluth and again at the 2006 Great ESkate in Florida. A smaller group, a 7 member committee was formed within the Inline Industry after the 2006 meeting. The group was charged with certain tasks but they were not able to accomplish the tasks or come to a consensus. In light of this, it was recently decided that an internal election would be held so that a board could be formed.


Allen Wright- the first leader of the IIG at the 2005 meeting in Duluth
There were some very vocal critics who though that an election should not be held, some said that this was not the right time for an election, and others claimed that there really was no discussion about whether or not there should be an election and that it was ‘dropped’ on the IIG. Despite the opposition, the election is going ahead- 8 nominees are vying for 5 elected positions. The voting, which is done by the Inline Industry members, will end tomorrow.


At the 2005 IIG meeting in Duluth
Being a member of the Inline Industry Group is interesting and entertaining. I feel quite educated on the recent history of inline skating (early 1990’s) because of the IIG; in one sitting, I read through about 3-hours worth of emails (about 150 of them that had been accumulating in my email account). The topics included a massive history about the IISA and many questions about its dissolution, questions on whether or not there are conflicts of interest, and a whole lot of conspiracy theories about various topics.

I personally think that the IIG is in need of more direct leadership. Whether or not I agree of disagree with the election, it is taking place. The IIG contains a huge talent pool of instructors, media people, skate manufacturer reps; given specific goals, structured, honest, and ongoing communication, & accountable leadership, the group could be influential and successful in what it undertakes.