In case you haven't heard, we are going to be REQUIRED to join USATF for the next Olympiad in order to maintain certification. The issue is insurance which I believe is unnecessary. Now, the insurance that we are required to get costs $10 for $10,000 of coverage. However, in order to get this mandatory insurance, we must join USATF. In the past, it cost $25 to become an official. Now, it is going to cost the same $25 plus $10 for insurance and $30 for USATF membership -- $65 just to work meets where there is usually no pay and you are lucky to get a cold sandwich and a warm drink for 8-10 hours of work. This decision was made at the USATF Annual Family Vacation in Hawaii last month by the "old boys network" of ass-kissers. To me, it sounds like a simple ploy to make more money for USATF -- there are currently 8272 certified officials meaning USATF stands to make about a quarter million dollars in additional membership fees. I have chosen to never join USATF in the past because, like many people on this board, I feel the organization has numerous problems with the way it handles itself. My main problem is that we are being forced to get insurance whether we want it or not. Heck, you don't even have to have car insurance covering yourself; you only need to have enough to cover other drivers. There have been a few situations in recent years where either (1) an official was simply too old and immobile to be working certain events which resulted in catastrophic consequences or (2) the official was a complete idiot who probably deserved to be sued for having no control over safety during the event. I understand we live in a lawsuit-obsessed country right now and there is always potential for trouble but these situations are so rare that I feel we should be given the option of purchasing insurance. For $10, I would probably get it anyway. What really has me steamed is the USATF membership requirement -- there is no reason we should be forced to join such a pathetic organization. I have to decide whether I am going to continue working 25-30 meets per year for almost no money or just quit officiating completely. After all, those 8-year-old junior olympic kids don't need any adults volunteering their time all summer any more than colleges need officials to work their conference championship meets.