sensitive issue

[Glenn Lampman]

With the profession being "white " for ever it is about time that the minority (race or gender) be given a chance. But regardless of the race or gender, you have to have the ability! something, or someone, can get you there, only your ability can keep you there. As a white assigner, who tries his best to be objective, I welcome and search out females and minorities and strongly encourage them to stay with officiating. We presently have 45 Varsity rated officials. Of those 45,11 are minority and 4 are female. I would like to have more female members but you all know the difficulties of recruiting females. I know that in our area that the upper levels (I assign HS and below) 2 year college, NIAA and the NCAA divisions certainly are picking up minorities and females when they are competent and available. Does it seem unfair? Probably,when the white official who has been around for 20 years looks at it. but even in the "old days" there were those officials on the "fast track" that moved up and everyone talked about it.
NO different, except that some white officials now know what minorities and female officials have experienced for years!! We have a great fraternity of people and the greater mix of people we get involved, at all levels, they better and stronger we become..