Youngblood Resigns As (Sub) Chairman of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
calls new AMA leadership "monstrous"
by staff
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Former long-time AMA President Ed Youngblood has sent us the letter
he sent yesterday resigning his post with the Motorcycle Hall of
Fame. Here it is, in its entirety:
December 11, 2007
Mr. Don Rosene
Chairman, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Committee
400 West Potter Drive
Anchorage, AK 99518
Dear Don,
On December 7, 2007, two of the hardest-working, best, and most loyal
employees the American Motorcyclist Association has ever had were
fired and escorted out of the building like criminals. One had served
25 years and the other 28. Never mind that the employees in question
have been key to driving membership, magazine circulation, and
magazine revenue to all-time highs. Never mind that they were utterly
loyal to the Association and served it well, even during the period
of confusion and instability it has experienced in recent years.
Beyond this cruel incident, it is my belief that the current
leadership of the Association has established a reign of terror over
the professional staff as a whole.
In my opinion, the current regime is monstrous, and I am simply
dumbfounded that the AMA Board of Directors seems tolerant of this
style of management, if not complicit. It has caused me great pain to
watch the deterioration of the AMA, but I expect my unhappiness is
nothing compared to that of the employees, volunteers, and supporters
who have been directly affected by it. There is very little I can do
about this situation except cease to be a party to it in any direct
or indirect way.
For this reason, it is with deep sadness that I resign my position as
Chairman of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Ambassadors and Promoters
Committee, and my membership on the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Pioneers
Committee. Furthermore, with the firm belief that the current AMA
leadership will apply any resources provided it toward the
destruction of the Association, and eventually the destruction of the
Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, I will make no further financial or
in-kind contributions until a more caring, conscientious, and
responsible leadership is established at the levels of both the
administration and the Board of Directors of the AMA.
Sincerely,
Ed Youngblood
Past President, AMA
Member, Motorcycle Hall of Fame
CC: AMA Board of Directors,
AMHF Board of Directors,
AMA President | 
