This interview was conducted by Ken Stone in November 2006:

Bob Fine, a racewalker at Charlotte nationals, helps out in the awards tent.

Masterstrack.com: Why are you running for masters T&F chair?

Fine: I am running because two of the announced candidates have never been involved in the Masters T&F Executive Committee, WMA or the regions. The remaining candidate has been blatantly recruiting for his club all over the country -- which, though technically legal, evidences a mind-set that completely ignores the main purpose of team scoring: the development of association clubs.

What are the three biggest issues facing USATF Masters T&F? How would you tackle these issues?

The three biggest issues facing the masters are
1) restructuring;
2) finances;
3) grass roots development.

What qualifications, attributes or perspectives would you bring to the chairmanship that your opponents would not?

I have been more involved with the masters than any other American, no less the other candidates. I have attended all of the past 37 national conventions, except one. I am the only master that has participated in all of the WMA outdoor and indoor championships. I structured the program in the United States. I have served as the first national chair, the North American chair, the WMA Stadia chair and as the WMA executive vice president. I've served as the Masters Law and Legislation chair and the Masters LDR vice-chair. I presently serve as the Southeastern masters chair, the Florida masters chair, the chair of the Masters Race Walking Committee, the North American Race Walking chair and serve on the WMA Law and Legislation Committee.

I have been involved in every major decision made by the masters since our inception, either as a sponsor of legislation or as an administrator. I started the Masters News under the Master Sports Association. I have served on the Masters Hall of Fame Committee and am the only candidate who is in the Masters Hall of Fame. I have received the USATF National President's Award and the LDR Administrator's award. Under my leadership, as president of the Florida Association, Florida received the award as the outstanding association. I turned a $25,000 deficit in Florida into a $10,000 surplus during my term as Florida Association president.

How would you communicate with grass-roots masters athletes?

Communication is the key. I would work closely with the regional chairs to develop association programs as well as National Masters News and the USATF Web site to solicit opinions from administrators and athletes. I would award stipends to associations to host masters events.

Bob Fine ponders an issue at the 2004 Portland national meeting of USATF.

What changes, if any, would you make in the Masters T&F section of the USATF Web site?

I would have provision for discussion panels. Expression of ideas is vital in what is basically a volunteer organization.

What would you do to increase revenues for USATF Masters T&F?

I would have a provision on the USATF registration form for a donation to the Masters T&F Committee.

Obviously, I would fight to have a greater stipend awarded to the Masters T&F Committee.

I would also have a major drive for donations to the program via life insurance, estate designation and voluntary donations on entry forms.

Basically, masters will have to do it on our own.

I would consider hiring a professional fundraiser to obtain sponsorships.

Would you work on behalf of Sacramento's bid to host the 2011 World Masters Athletics Championships? If so, how?

I would strongly support Sacramento's bid. Because of what I consider to be outrageous rights fees, the past four WMA championships have been held in Europe. This has resulted in European countries having even a greater proportion of the votes in WMA. It is imperative that WMA championships be held outside of Europe. If elected, I would be a delegate to WMA. and would fight for Sacramento amongst the other delegates. Having been so deeply involved in WMA, I have many personal contacts to seek support of an American bid. None of the other candidates has such rapport.

USATF is considering a smaller board of directors -- with no seat reserved for Masters T&F. Would you fight to keep Masters T&F at the table? If so, how?

I would strongly fight any restructuring that would preclude the masters from the USATF Board of Directors. Since this would require a bylaw change, if the delegates from the associations vote against it, it would not pass. I know that the associations chair, who I am close to, opposes it. He feels that the associations will vote against it. I believe that the Youth Committee would vote against it. Since nothing will happen at this convention, there will be another year to fight this proposal. I would not hesitate to vociferously voice objection to any proposal in which the interests of Masters T&F is not guaranteed.

Masters faces serious problems on the international level regarding the rights fee, affiliation with the World Masters Games (WMG) and the power of the WMA Council.

The $150,000 rights fees has resulted in Europe hosting four WMA Championships in a row. Since the number of delegates to the WMA Assembly is based on the number of participants in the WMA Championships, Europe's domination of the WMA Assembly has increased. There are other alternatives to increasing the rights fee over sevenfold. The easiest way is to reinstate the athlete's fee to $20.

As of now the meet directors can charge just about any fee to the athletes, which they keep. The bottom line is that the athletes are ending up paying the rights fee. A more reasonable rights fee will result in more bidders for the championships. I would reduce the rights fee to no more than $40,000 and have the athletes fee of $20 go directly to WMA.

There has been some disussion about combining the WMA and World Masters Games Championships. I strongly oppose this. Originally, the WMG were held in even-numbered years. They changed the year to satisfy the swimmers, even though T&F is the main event. It is vital that WMA maintain its independence.

If elected, I would serve as the leader of the American delegation. I would strongly resist any attempt to increase the power of the WMA Council. For example, there have been attempts in the past to have the council basically decide where the WMA Championships will be held. I would require more accountability.

I have a close personal relationship with Cesare Beccalli, WMA president. As such, I am one of the few people who can take him to task if I feel he is overstepping his authority. This personal relationship is important in protecting the interests of the USA Masters and the WMA Assemnbly.

The masters program is at the crossroads. There is a great need for experience and personal contacts. I simply don't believe that the other candidates have sufficient experience to properly do the job.