Nancy Lewis' letter to the IFBB

[genex]

Posted below:


October 18, 2005
Jim Manion
IFBB Pro Division
P.O.BOX 3224
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
USA 15230
CC: AMI/ Flex Magazine ; CC: Peter McGough Editor in Chief ; CC: David Pecker Chairmen, President & CEO

Dear Mr. Jim Manion:
I have just received my issue of the Flex October 2005 edition. To my surprise and dismay I read the most insulting and degrading article; “Chick on Chicks” by no other than the Men’s Representative Bob Cicherillo.
In my 14 years as an IFBB Pro I have never read nor heard any IFBB Pro Female bash her male counter part. What is more disappointing the article states these comments are from the “athlete’s rep.” Can you imagine someone, perhaps a fan reading what the “athlete’s rep” thinks about his female counterparts/competitors??
This is unacceptable! Because of this, I am putting forth my formal complaint to the IFBB Pro Division, AMI (American Media Inc.), Flex Magazine Editor in Chief Peter McGough and Flex Magazine President David Pecker, regarding the slanderous, abusive remarks made by the IFBB Pro Men’s Division Representative, Bob Cicherillo. My complaint stands on the grounds of the following: Please see IFBB Professional Rules 2005 Edition #14.6.
I hope you all take the time to understand where I am coming from as well as many other Pro Female Bodybuilders and review the seriousness of this letter and Bob Cicherillo’s actions/comments. Professional female bodybuilding is already at a decline with having suffered many blows from lack in prize money, coverage, and very few shows leaving the most prestigious show (MS. O) to be demoted to a Expo hall event. With that being said, I understand that you and/or our male bodybuilding counterparts may not like how female bodybuilders look or what we do. This is a right of anyone to hold there individual opinion. But it does not give anyone the right to speak about a group of Female Professional Athletes, some whom have competed in the IFBB there entire adult lives, as a whole and slander there names, physiques, or there looks of being to manly. All we ask for is the same respect and support you give our male counterparts and DO NOT ALLOW such abusive statements to be published in a National sold magazine.
As a result I am requesting Bob Cicherillo’s termination of his current Men’s Athletes Representative position and the most stringent disciplinary action to be taken immediately.
Sincerely,

Nancy Lewis
Female IFBB Pro

[SteelWill]

Women's pro bodybuilding certainly has it's niche. Proof is the crowd that was jammed packed to see the women's bodybuilding at this year's Olympia. I have to disagree with anyone who does not think that there are beautiful pro women bodybuilders. Yaxeni is just one of the many examples. I saw Linda Lewis win the overall women's bodybuilding competition at the 2002 Jan Tana and she is another example of how beautiful women pro bodybuilders can be.

[CalJoe]

Posted below:


October 18, 2005
Jim Manion
IFBB Pro Division
P.O.BOX 3224
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
USA 15230
CC: AMI/ Flex Magazine ; CC: Peter McGough Editor in Chief ; CC: David Pecker Chairmen, President & CEO

Dear Mr. Jim Manion:
I have just received my issue of the Flex October 2005 edition. To my surprise and dismay I read the most insulting and degrading article; “Chick on Chicks” by no other than the Men’s Representative Bob Cicherillo.
In my 14 years as an IFBB Pro I have never read nor heard any IFBB Pro Female bash her male counter part. What is more disappointing the article states these comments are from the “athlete’s rep.” Can you imagine someone, perhaps a fan reading what the “athlete’s rep” thinks about his female counterparts/competitors??
This is unacceptable! Because of this, I am putting forth my formal complaint to the IFBB Pro Division, AMI (American Media Inc.), Flex Magazine Editor in Chief Peter McGough and Flex Magazine President David Pecker, regarding the slanderous, abusive remarks made by the IFBB Pro Men’s Division Representative, Bob Cicherillo. My complaint stands on the grounds of the following: Please see IFBB Professional Rules 2005 Edition #14.6.
I hope you all take the time to understand where I am coming from as well as many other Pro Female Bodybuilders and review the seriousness of this letter and Bob Cicherillo’s actions/comments. Professional female bodybuilding is already at a decline with having suffered many blows from lack in prize money, coverage, and very few shows leaving the most prestigious show (MS. O) to be demoted to a Expo hall event. With that being said, I understand that you and/or our male bodybuilding counterparts may not like how female bodybuilders look or what we do. This is a right of anyone to hold there individual opinion. But it does not give anyone the right to speak about a group of Female Professional Athletes, some whom have competed in the IFBB there entire adult lives, as a whole and slander there names, physiques, or there looks of being to manly. All we ask for is the same respect and support you give our male counterparts and DO NOT ALLOW such abusive statements to be published in a National sold magazine.
As a result I am requesting Bob Cicherillo’s termination of his current Men’s Athletes Representative position and the most stringent disciplinary action to be taken immediately.
Sincerely,

Nancy Lewis
Female IFBB Pro
Nancy, I commend you on writing such an eloquent but firm letter. I hope other female bodybuilders get behind you on this.

[bigbrother]

Posted below:


.
As a result I am requesting Bob Cicherillo’s termination of his current Men’s Athletes Representative position and the most stringent disciplinary action to be taken immediately.


I am with you all the way Nancy, it is simply unacceptable to make such comments on fbb.

Don't take away the representatives job from poor Bob, that is the only thing that's left for him in pro bodybuilding. His physique doesn't allow him to be amonst the best, not even close to make the wild card at the O.
Frustration is driving him, for sure.
Get a life Bob ......

[Melissa&Nancy]

thanks Steelwill but I think you mean Nancy Lewis...she won the Jan Tana 2002 Overall show.

thank you so much for the suppot!:-)

[James]

hey Melissa.

Has Nancy expressed any interest in being the athletes rep? I think she would be good at it. I was looking at this thread at Mayhem and wondered why more issues about the women werent raised by Betty:

http://www.chadnicholls.net/forums/showthread.php?t=32980 (the thread starter, 'ProUSA2k' is Bob Cicherillo)

[Harry The Hat]

Funny, but I was thinking the self-same thing as James. Nancy would be a fine and popular choice as women athlete's rep. (Nancy herself would have to say whether she was interested in taking it on, obviously.)

Much has been made of Betty not tabling any amendments at the Pro Division meeting and of only Betty P and Heather Foster attending the Pro Athlete's meeting.

As far the Pro Division meeting goes, Betty probably took a realistic look at what the likely response would be to any amendments specific to the women and made a judgement as to their likely success. It's more a reflection on the IFBB's attitude to FBB-ing that she felt it was wasted energy to put forward proposals. Strangely, no one raised a word on the boards about the fact that the fitness and figure reps submitted no proposals either.

Personally, I think there's another way of dealing with these meetings. If it were me, I'd spend the year collating a 'wish list' taken from conversations with every FBB pro I talked to. Then at the next Pro Division meeting, I'd read out 20-30 perfectly reasonable requests. If you're not going to get more than 1 or 2 accepted, why do that? Because it forces the IFBB to put into writing and minute every rejection, it shows up the reality behind the spin. Motion One. Denied. Motion Two. Denied. etc., etc. It's a bit difficult to put a front claiming to fully behind FBBing when your own official minutes say otherwise. Heck, I'll even give you the first motion. "It is proposed, in accordance with the IFBB's stated aims relating to the advancement and growth of women's bodybuilding, that the $4,000 sanctioning fee for professional women's events be scrapped." You get the idea.

Also, any motions that address issues of gender discrimination and are denied, are then useful if an female athlete or group of athletes wish to take class action, based on gender, against the federation.

As far as the athlete's meeting goes, I don't see the point in attending a meeting organized by Bob, chaired by Bob and largely about what Bob's done for the world recently. In fact, contrary to most people, I don't want to see a room full of the women pros at all. Remember, The Chic himself tried to get a men's union going a few years ago. And looked what happened. None of the top pros turned up, and the whole thing degenerated quickly into farce.

Hell, the IFBB itself didn't start that way. Joe and Ben had an idea and made it happen. They didn't sit there and say "I'm waiting till a couple of hundred guys who lift weights are in agreement with us. Then we'll get going."

Individuals make the difference. Everyone has individual strengths and expertise. For example, there are articulate and strong-minded women who are used to dealing with the media. Betty P, Joanna T and Lisa Bavington immediately spring to mind. The Chic does a FBB-bashing article for Flex. Fine, pick up the phone to Bob Kennedy at Muscle Mag and say that you've got a few things you want to say in return. Chances are, he'll be delighted to oblige you. Remember, hype is created, not uncovered by journalists. A female Chicerillo is a good story and a good counterbalance.

You have to understand the way the media work. Each magazine has hundreds of pages to fill every month. They're looking for stories. They want ready-made stories dropped in their lap. Don't be afraid to schmooze, cajole, charm or rant your way into a muscle journalist's attention. Create the story - "Craig Titus Ate My Hamster" - and 'sell' it into an editor or journalist. It takes just the invention and enterprise of a single woman (or man who's familiar with the sport) to create a media opportunity.

Organize into small groups. Call them The Knitting Club, The Billy Bragg Appreciation Society, whatever you like. Just a handful of women from the same area or with same skills, who then have their own forum to meet on a regular basis. Rather than looking for a grand revolution, create a grassroots coalition. It's more realistic and you don't have to wait for someone else to make the first move.

I can understand why people want The Grand Revolution, but I simply think that it's not going to happen and even if it did, it would be a centralized organization within the IFBB that they would be able quickly to suppress and scatter. They've already done it to the men.

Individuals and small groups. The IFBB can't track them or handle them. A few people start and more people join along the way.

[Melissa&Nancy]

Hello Harry Hat,

Very thankful to both you and James for informing me of the disappointing news of the IFBB meeting held at the O. It is VERY saddening to see that nothing at all was expressed on the womens behalf. I like Betty Pariso very much. She is a strong willed woman, smart, business savy and a great female bodybuilder I have been on many show stages with her.
I do also take into consideration that she does have to walk a very thin line due to her promoter engagements of the Europa show. However, for me I would have handled things differently.
My letter was sent out and we will see what happens. I think Harry Hat you make VERY valid points regarding the media and SOMEONE ANYONE contacting Bob Kennedy regarding a rebutal. I am willing to do this. Does anyone have Bob Kennedys information? I will make a few phone calls and research this myself but Harry I WILL GO ON RECORD WITH BOB KENNEDY expressing my views and stand up for what I believe in and for the sport I love.

Thank you very much for all your support.

Best of Health

Nancy Lewis
IFBB PRO

[BodybuilderBeth]

I think the best candidate for this should be a female that isn't actively competing....it would be so very hard and 'tiring' to compete and attend such meetings. I also feel that regular meetings at some of the NPC national level shows would be a good idea....especially to get more FBB's out there in the crowd that is the most accepting for them. Maybe having circulars inform each IFBB pro the minutes of each meeting, what is discussed, where the next meeting will be, and what the direction of any movts. That may gather more interest if more women saw that there was actually something getting done and more people were getting involved.

Just some thoughts!

Beth

[Tre]

www.fbbaction.com

Despite the various 'cliques' that may exist among female bodybuilders, the bottom line is that there's a fundamental lack of group communication.

That's the reason that no proposals were put forth at the IFBB PRO DIVISION meeting last week in Las Vegas.

Solve that! www.fbbaction.com

[BodybuilderBeth]

I do have to say, I like the idea of an informal 'knitting club' group of people meeting on a regular basis. That may be the way to generate interest for athletes that may be hesitant to speak out or attend meetings. Plus it could be fun to get together with other females in the sport and do some
'female bonding' .....any ideas?

Beth

[Tre]

...any ideas?
The idea is to DO IT.

The Arnold is the next big event that will draw pro women. Organize a get-together of all the pro women who can make it and invite the amateur women in as well. Prior to the meeting, decide amongst yourselves the main things you'll need to talk about once you're all present. Go in with a formal agenda and use the time wisely.

Once there, decide who your representatives are going to be and send them to the IFBB - or whomever - with your proposals. You've got to communicate, though.

I have only 2 rules that I'd like to see you adhere to for your first meeting - no men, no media. Your first meeting needs to be free of anyone with an agenda that you might not share.

[SteelWill]

Nancy,

Sorry for the name mix up.. I was brain dead.

[James]

Tre brings up a good point, which is to mobilize the competitors into organizing in a unified way.

I'd also would like to add that the information age we live in now makes it possible to do the same kind of collaboration across great distances. Things like password protected messege boards where the competitiors could exchange ideas in a non-public forum. Or teleconferencing, which I could donate the resources I have availabe for something like that. These are things that can help maximize the efficiency of a meeting at the Arnolds, for example.

So to Melissa/Nancy and Beth, I can say that I can offer the resources of FTV/GeneX Magazine to assist in organizing your efforts if you need it.

[Harry The Hat]

If there's a groundswell of opinion - e.g. if the whole Flex/Chic thing still has blood boiling - then by all means organize a formal meeting for the Arnold. The point of the previous post I made was that women don't necessarily organize in the same way as men. Typically, (at the risk of stereotyping), women organize by networking and consensus. For example...

Scenario One. You send out emails to all the pro FBBs telling them of the meeting and invite people to come and give their opinions on an agenda outlined in the email. Women then turn up to the meeting. A closed message board facilitates and develops the issues before and after the meeting. An agenda for going forward is created and implemented.

It could work. And if does, great. On the other hand, some women might not feel comfortable with the confrontational nature and rigid structure. The last thing FBBing needs is another 'see, they won't help themselves' non-event.

Scenario Two. Much more informal. A series of phone calls and emails between the FBBs. Don't worry about getting all the women on one list. Just get as many email addresses as you can and get them to forward the initial email. Get the FBBs to phone each other. Small groups will develop and within those smaller dialogues, a wider variety of issues can be raised. Not so much a once-off mailing, as a viral one that grows, has comments added as it does the rounds. and gains momentum. The women talk and network way in advance of the meeting.

But don't get me wrong. There needs to be leaders. Leaders, plural. At the Arnold itself, 3 or 4 women then make another series of calls to get everyone together. Yes, it can be in a single room, but it can take place just as easily (and a lot less conspicuously) in someone's hotel room or a cafe. In fact, the more relaxed the environment, the more likely the women are to open up and communicate. The agenda grows organically, out of the conerns of the women expressed there and then.

It doesn't matter to me which way the women themselves choose to go about it, I'm just pointing out that there's more than one way to do it.

PS The point about 'The Knitting Club' - as Beth I think understands - is that there is a lot more to be done outside of big, one-off meetings. There needs to be a greater sense of community and common purpose built-up between the women throughout the year. It's not big, brash or exciting but it may prove to be the most important element of all. You have 70 women who don't interact much and then you ask them to attend a meeting to define shared goals. How many turn up? 5? 10? Just Heather Foster? Or you have 70 women who've been socializing, shooting the breeze, sharing opinions and building up friendships throughout the year. How many attend? Probably a lot more, all the small knots of friends going together. Revolutions always start at the grassroots. Let's try to grow the grassroots.

[BodybuilderBeth]

Dear Mr. Hat

I certainly do understand the issue of building a community for this movement. You are so right about people not seeing each other except competing side by side up on stage. What is needed is fo each and every girl to feel part of the 'whole' and not so individualized. Nothing can be done on our own, but if we unite as a whole, then we can start being a part of the solution, as oppossed to part of the problem!!!

Beth

[hans]

Anyone see the pic in the current issue of Flex of Bob Chicerillo on his knees begging Betty Pariso for forgiveness for his comments about fbb? :)

Hans

[d-pump]

yes- its in the latest flex- i used to think he was allright before those stupid remarks.

[amadgenius]

Everybody is offended by everything...damn!!! Just do what you love and let that be your motivation...not what others think or say. If you love this sport, then you will not worry about articles like what's in Flex. The general public may never totally accept FBBers...and that is a fact...but that should not stop you from doing your best in what you love most.

You may not agree with this, but this is true too: that, in White minds, Black America as a whole may never be accepted as equal to them (Whites)...but that should not stop us (me...I am Black) from doing the best that I can. Get over your hang-ups.


Posted below:


October 18, 2005
Jim Manion
IFBB Pro Division
P.O.BOX 3224
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
USA 15230
CC: AMI/ Flex Magazine ; CC: Peter McGough Editor in Chief ; CC: David Pecker Chairmen, President & CEO

Dear Mr. Jim Manion:
I have just received my issue of the Flex October 2005 edition. To my surprise and dismay I read the most insulting and degrading article; “Chick on Chicks” by no other than the Men’s Representative Bob Cicherillo.
In my 14 years as an IFBB Pro I have never read nor heard any IFBB Pro Female bash her male counter part. What is more disappointing the article states these comments are from the “athlete’s rep.” Can you imagine someone, perhaps a fan reading what the “athlete’s rep” thinks about his female counterparts/competitors??
This is unacceptable! Because of this, I am putting forth my formal complaint to the IFBB Pro Division, AMI (American Media Inc.), Flex Magazine Editor in Chief Peter McGough and Flex Magazine President David Pecker, regarding the slanderous, abusive remarks made by the IFBB Pro Men’s Division Representative, Bob Cicherillo. My complaint stands on the grounds of the following: Please see IFBB Professional Rules 2005 Edition #14.6.
I hope you all take the time to understand where I am coming from as well as many other Pro Female Bodybuilders and review the seriousness of this letter and Bob Cicherillo’s actions/comments. Professional female bodybuilding is already at a decline with having suffered many blows from lack in prize money, coverage, and very few shows leaving the most prestigious show (MS. O) to be demoted to a Expo hall event. With that being said, I understand that you and/or our male bodybuilding counterparts may not like how female bodybuilders look or what we do. This is a right of anyone to hold there individual opinion. But it does not give anyone the right to speak about a group of Female Professional Athletes, some whom have competed in the IFBB there entire adult lives, as a whole and slander there names, physiques, or there looks of being to manly. All we ask for is the same respect and support you give our male counterparts and DO NOT ALLOW such abusive statements to be published in a National sold magazine.
As a result I am requesting Bob Cicherillo’s termination of his current Men’s Athletes Representative position and the most stringent disciplinary action to be taken immediately.
Sincerely,

Nancy Lewis
Female IFBB Pro

[ibarramedia]

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7192/magscan6zq.th.jpg



Cicch begging for forgiveness on his knees while Betty's thighs are bursting through her pants......

[Amanda Dunbar]

Can someone post a bigger version of that page?? I didn't know Mimi and I were in Flex? What does it say? What issue is that?

Amanda

[Amanda Dunbar]

Found a bigger version. Cooool!

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7192/magscan6zq.jpg


Amanda

[ricard]

My wife has a friend who says she was at school with Bob ...she says he was a brown nose even then....go figure

[Amanda Dunbar]

lol.

Amanda

[Maxt]

That is the current issue Amanda. I just bought it last week.

[chris]

Is it me or are Betty's arms as big as Bob's in that picture.

[ricard]

Is it me or are Betty's arms as big as Bob's in that picture.
Yes but his ego is still bigger.
Ricard