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Post by catamountalum04 on Aug 15, 2024 14:39:44 GMT -5
Check out the video around the 40 minute mark. Kelli Brown starts talking about athletics and how we have not raised the same money for athletics that we have raised for academics
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Post by tarcat on Aug 15, 2024 15:55:19 GMT -5
Regarding the Catamount Club and staff turnover, I will comment that it is a pretty thankless job, working lots of nights and weekends away from family for a fairly low salary, eating Aramark-catered meals and frequently listening to us complain about the state of things. I think those positions are considered EPA (or exempt), meaning they are not eligible for overtime pay. There are those for who a job in Catamount athletics is a labor of love but love alone won't pay the bills. I seem to recall Admissions has had a similar situation with staff turnover for the same reason. From the for-what-it's-worth department...
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Post by catamountfanatic07 on Aug 15, 2024 16:02:53 GMT -5
Regarding the Catamount Club and staff turnover, I will comment that it is a pretty thankless job, working lots of nights and weekends away from family for a fairly low salary, eating Aramark-catered meals and frequently listening to us complain about the state of things. I think those positions are considered EPA (or exempt), meaning they are not eligible for overtime pay. There are those for who a job in Catamount athletics is a labor of love but love alone won't pay the bills. I seem to recall Admissions has had a similar situation with staff turnover for the same reason. From the for-what-it's-worth department... 100% agree, but the issue now is that our AD thinks he can do all this on his own and has dismantled the CC
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Post by wcu1995gocats on Aug 15, 2024 19:27:10 GMT -5
Regarding the Catamount Club and staff turnover, I will comment that it is a pretty thankless job, working lots of nights and weekends away from family for a fairly low salary, eating Aramark-catered meals and frequently listening to us complain about the state of things. I think those positions are considered EPA (or exempt), meaning they are not eligible for overtime pay. There are those for who a job in Catamount athletics is a labor of love but love alone won't pay the bills. I seem to recall Admissions has had a similar situation with staff turnover for the same reason. From the for-what-it's-worth department... This is what we’ve heard for years but I call BS. Julie Miller left without another job. Ryan Jones and Anthony Miele left for the same job a Chattanooga. Blake Cantrell left for the same position but D2. If it was about the money or it being a “thankless job” then those moves don’t make sense. According to staff directory there are four people on staff. One lives in Charlotte, two are grad students, and then Kim Beck.
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Post by catamountalum04 on Aug 15, 2024 19:54:32 GMT -5
I still don't know how someone does a CC job based in Charlotte
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Post by mtncat1 on Aug 15, 2024 20:07:39 GMT -5
I won't speak to the culture created by the most recent AD, because I know nothing of the subject. However, I'll dwell on the pay, hours, and demographics. These roles don't pay well for the area. Nobody's fault, is what it is. One of the issues is WNC is simply a popular area to live, especially in the last 10 years. Inflation and overall desired location has made Jackson county a pricey area to afford to live. I'm a career "banker". Made really good money over my 25 year career, and when I look at places to possibly re-locate in and near Sylva, I get depressed. I see "shot gun" houses that are dated and need tons of reno going for upwards of $300,000 in the Sylva area and I think to myself, "Wow, if we sell our house in a nice neighborhood in the Winston-Salem area and try to pay CASH for something up there, we are DOWNGRADING BIG TIME!" How can anyone making $50K to $80K LESS than what I make a year EVER afford to settle down there long-term??? Hours, the hours are long and VERY unpredictable. To me, the ideal candidate would be someone like me that has a degree, some savings and retirement/pension built up, not in the need for a job that pays six digits or more and willing to be flexible that has a passion for all things WCU. NOT really somebody that is a recent college grad, right? They need that perfect fit of someone young enough to have the drive and energy to be flexible, not have young kids or want to start to have a family, yet financially stable enough to move to that area with ties to WCU and willing to have a "change in life style" and wanting to leave the corporate "rat race" but bring tons of professional experience to the table, yet not need a big time salary to afford to live in Jackson county. Personally, I'd love to have a full-time, exempt role at WCU like this. However, even for me, would WCU even think of looking at my resume?? Not sure. At my age, I could do that role, with passion and drive for at least a good 10 to 15 years. However, with all that said, even with my house paid off, a pension, and a great nest egg saved up for eventual retirement, it still would be a struggle to find decent housing up there without having to get another (maybe small) mortgage to buy a nice, or somewhat nice, house up in that area. That's a huge drawback. Poor Ryan and his wife, had to leave the area for multiple reasons. They just had a kid, and bought a place in Waynesville for double the price that the place would have been worth anywhere east of Charlotte. I honestly don't know how the made it financially for as long as they did. He was a worker though and had passion for what he did.
Lastly, the entire thread started out with a link talking about how WCU raised record amounts of money, yet once folks discussed things, it has turned out to a topic of how poorly we are financed via private donations. Is it all "smoke in mirrors"? Will WCU meet that goal to get the funds needed for matching so we can execute on our vision of building a better stadium and facilities for athletics, OR, was this just a "put lipstick on a pig" press release? I don't understand what is going on up in Cullowhee after reading everyone's posts on this thread. At first glance, I was like "YAY! Progress! We are well on the way to a new stadium and stuff!" Now, I'm like "Same story, different day."
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Post by tarcat on Aug 15, 2024 20:12:17 GMT -5
I am guessing that Chattanooga pays a bit more, but I could be wrong...wouldn't be the first time. Tusculum was Blake's alma mater and closer to home. I can't explain the Julie Miller departure though. That's a head-scratcher.
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Post by catamountfanatic07 on Aug 15, 2024 20:43:51 GMT -5
Regarding the Catamount Club and staff turnover, I will comment that it is a pretty thankless job, working lots of nights and weekends away from family for a fairly low salary, eating Aramark-catered meals and frequently listening to us complain about the state of things. I think those positions are considered EPA (or exempt), meaning they are not eligible for overtime pay. There are those for who a job in Catamount athletics is a labor of love but love alone won't pay the bills. I seem to recall Admissions has had a similar situation with staff turnover for the same reason. From the for-what-it's-worth department... This is what we’ve heard for years but I call BS. Julie Miller left without another job. Ryan Jones and Anthony Miele left for the same job a Chattanooga. Blake Cantrell left for the same position but D2. If it was about the money or it being a “thankless job” then those moves don’t make sense. According to staff directory there are four people on staff. One lives in Charlotte, two are grad students, and then Kim Beck. Kim moving on to another role, Martin is out of pocket right now from what I understand, and yes that leaves us with two referent graduates and Kim until she moves to her new role to do everything that the CC does. IMO you’re getting ready to get treated like WCU is a power 5. If you’re not giving massive money I don’t think you will be hearing from anyone, it will just be assumed that you will give because you will give. I won’t air Julie’s stuff on here because we are very good friends with her and have heard it all about the CC and how things are being done now. I’d say if she wants to air it all out she knows where this board is.
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Post by 4everacat on Aug 16, 2024 9:10:11 GMT -5
Bashing the Catamount Club does nothing to help with the situation or help our beloved University. The current staff is working very hard and how do you think they would feel seeing this while working long hours and being understaffed. The staffing issue is currently being worked on and there should be a fully operational staff soon. There are a lot areas that need money right now for athletics (likely more than ever) so we all need to work together to make this happen. Let us all be a part of the solution! Go Cats!
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Post by catamountalum04 on Aug 16, 2024 13:10:39 GMT -5
Bashing the Catamount Club does nothing to help with the situation or help our beloved University. The current staff is working very hard and how do you think they would feel seeing this while working long hours and being understaffed. The staffing issue is currently being worked on and there should be a fully operational staff soon. There are a lot areas that need money right now for athletics (likely more than ever) so we all need to work together to make this happen. Let us all be a part of the solution! Go Cats! I am not bashing the CC employees. I think they do amazing work. My issue is with others that do not work for the CC and those issues roll down hill. I want to see WCU have the best facilities in FCS
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