M170, I base my response on the knowledge that the AMA already has a very well set up and complete system for how to have sanctioned competitions. I'm sure that there are little wrinkles that need ironing from time to time, but for the most part every contest that I have ever taken part in [about 100 by now] has taken place with virtually no intervention from the AMA. Based on that past experience I've wondered what could possibly keep the national contest director busy 40 hours per week. It seems like pretty light work.

Hoss, thanks for weighing in. I'll take your word for it if you say that the position is essential, you strike me as someone who knows what an honest days' worth of work is about. Your past experience with the inner workings is also a good reason to close this topic, I'm pretty sure that if you felt that the TD/CDs' job was superfulous you would have chimed in here somewhere back around post #2 or so.