As the State Chairman for Texas there is no question where my loyalties lie. I am a firm supporter and advocate of USA Wrestling, and, I have no doubt that it is the right organization for the wrestling community in Texas.     Although many people in the Lone Star State have a great passion for the sport of wrestling, it is important that with our passion for wrestling we also understand the options for wrestling in this state. When people take a clear and thorough look at how we can move wrestling forward in this state, I am certain they will find agreement with me that USA Wrestling has Texas wrestling's best interests in mind.     Before I can discuss what USA Wrestling is already doing for the youth of wrestling in Texas, I first would like to take some time to explain what USA Wrestling is exactly. In the 1970's amateur sporting was really a mess. Every amateur sport whether it was wrestling or swimming or the like, had any number of competing groups and special interests. The result was not positive, very often organizations were corrupt and little was getting done for the sport that these organizations supposedly represented.     It got so bad that in 1978 the United States Congress stepped in and passed the Amateur Sports Act.     Essentially, the Amateur Sports Act created the United States Olympic Committee. The USOC then was empowered to recognize one organization in the country that would take the lead for each sport. The organization that was recognized by the USOC would be recognized as the National Governing Body for that sport. As the NGB, that organization would be regularly reviewed and required to meet 'markers' of performance and development to ensure the growth and development of that sport nationally.     The NGB for each sport really became the link from the grassroots to the greatness of the Olympics for each sport.     In the early 1980's, USA Wrestling became the National Governing Body for the sport. They were charged with forming Olympic, World and Pan-American teams as well as fostering wrestling nationally at all levels.     The Mission of USA Wrestling reads like this:    "USA Wrestling, as the National Governing Body for wrestling in the United States, shall responsibly advocate, promote, coordinate and provide opportunities for amateur wrestlers to achieve their full human and athletic potential."     Behind these words, and behind the label of being the NGB is a deep and unified commitment to the sport of wrestling nationally for all ages. USA Wrestling gives every state's wrestling community the opportunity to be fully plugged into the development of wrestling.     People wonder about card prices - the cost of being involved with the national organization. They wonder if they are paying too much. They wonder if we are getting our money's worth.     To me the answers are clear, no we aren't paying too much, and yes we are getting our monies worth. But I'm not going to ask you to blindly accept my statements; I want you to understand USA Wrestling the way I understand it.    First of all, I'd like to point out that USA Wrestling's card price when compared to other sports is really a substantial bargain. Many other amateur sports have yearly membership dues that exceed $150. USA Wrestling has consistently worked to keep the cost of the card low, while constantly adding benefits for its membership. In fact there have been only two increases to the price of a membership since 1992. The last occurred in 2001 and USA Wrestling's membership went up by 4,000 members in that year despite the increase. Obviously, nationally, USA Wrestling is being recognized for doing many things right.     I am so fully committed to USA Wrestling in Texas, and I am fully confident that this organization works to keep costs low and help the sport of wrestling that I made a solemn pledge when I became State Chairman. I resolved as long as I serve as State Chair in Texas any future card price increase will be absorbed by me personally. I made this commitment out of a firm belief in the importance of USA Wrestling to the state of Texas, and I continue to stand by that pledge.     Currently, we are in a situation that really helps the Texas Wrestling community. Everyone in our state operates with USA Wrestling. When kids and coaches come to tournaments they are required to have a USA Wrestling card. For the organizers of tournaments this no longer means that they have to purchase individual insurance for tournament participants.     While we used to operate tournaments without using the USAW membership system, this really meant we had a much greater outlay of expenses to operate a tournament. Without USAW, tournament organizers would have to purchase insurance per person that ranged from $2-4. To host a tournament of a thousand wrestlers meant that the organizer would spend between $2000-$4000 to cover the cost of liability.     With USA Wrestling the cost is dramatically less-$50. That's right to sanction an event we now have to pay only fifty dollars to be insured. More money stays with Texas in this manner, and the longer we operate with this system the stronger our clubs will grow, and the stronger Texas wrestling will become.     Now, of course, that is just one benefit for the administrators of wrestling in the state of Texas. Of course, club organizers and tournament directors see this benefit. But many of you are parents so it is right for you to ask: "What does my wrestler, my son or daughter, get for being a member of USA Wrestling?"     There are many benefits that a membership card provides. Things like a subscription to USA Wrestling's national magazine, "USA Wrestler," open our young wrestlers eyes to a wider community. Because our sport is not rewarded with thorough national media coverage, very often that magazine serves as the starting point for kids to learn about the sport. They learn about heroic efforts by the likes of Rulon Gardner and even a native Texan like Brandon Slay. They discover the names of future stars like Cael Sanderson and Stephen Abas. They begin to learn the sport.     There are many benefits that are concrete things like a newspaper, insurance, and web-sites like TheMat.com.     However, there are many things that your son or daughter might not readily see but they are there. I can simply encapsulate these intangibles down to one word. When you and your wrestler are a part of USA Wrestling, the National Governing Body, they are rewarded with "ACCESS".     One of the things that we strive to do as parents is to teach our children about the wider world that they are a part of. We want them to believe in what we call the "American Dream." You can accomplish anything you put your mind to.     However without access, that is not always the case.     USA Wrestling gives our kids and coaches access. We can bring the best coaches and wrestlers in the country to our tournaments and towns. We have access to them through USA Wrestling, because they are a part of USA Wrestling.     When our coaches want to learn more about developing a program, or improving their coaching skills, once again we have access. We have access to the National Coaches Education Program that serves Olympic coaches and the coaches all the way to Odessa.     To truly improve wrestling in the state of Texas, we must get an even greater commitment from the coaches of the state. Because we lack a collegiate program and because wrestling got off to a late start in Texas, we need to vastly improve our coaching talent in this state. There is no other wrestling organization in the country that has made a commitment to educating and improving coaches.     Coaches actively involved in USA Wrestling have a whole range of ways that can improve their wrestling knowledge. One great example is the USA Wrestling Silver Level Coaches College, that we will be hosting in Texas this summer. By organizing this experience with the National Office we once again will have access to America's best coaches and athletes, all timed so that we will have even better training for our athletes preparing to wrestle in Fargo.     As coaches advance in their knowledg