Candidate: Yee-Min Lin
Yee-Min Lin
Pittsburg, CA
Born and raised in western Kentucky, I graduated from Yale University in 2000 with a BA
in Political Science. I joined the Marine Corps shortly afterwards and served as an
infantry battalion logistics officer, with two platoon combat deployments to Iraq. I worked
as a Program/Product Manager and Technical Trainer in the Silicon Valley tech industry.
I discovered USPSA through Gabe White’s online training diary after years of
tactical/defensive training. I joined in 2014, earned my RO certification in 2015, my CRO
certification in 2016, and proceeded to immerse myself in the sport as a competitor and a
match staff from sectionals to Nationals as RO/CRO/RM. I was elected as your President
in the 2022 special election and have subsequently served as your national
representative per bylaw 7.2.viii and as your international representative as IPSC
Regional Director.
Why are you seeking to be President of USPSA?
The same reason I volunteered for the last 8 years at 47 major matches as staff, to serve the members that spend their time and money to play our sport. I have heard your concerns and suggestions on how the organization can and should better serve the membership and most importantly, the local clubs that are the lifeblood of the organization. USPSA is YOUR organization, and as your President, I intend to continue serving as your voice at the national and international level.
Prior to announcing your candidacy, what have you done to help promote safe, fun and fair practical shooting?
I currently serve on the Richmond Hotshots Action Safety committee vetting stages for our biweekly USPSA match serving an average of 140 competitors. I lead an RO squad that supports our club’s weekly organized practice sessions. I am also part of the range instructor cadre teaching a biweekly new competitor introduction course. Finally, I have served as stage staff at 47 major matches since 2015 as RO, CRO, and RM.
What qualifications set you apart from other candidates? What previous or current employment or volunteer experience do you have that qualifies you for the role of USPSA President?
In the seven months I have served as your President, I have had the opportunity to observe first-hand the position’s responsibilities. This includes our traditional action pistol matches, expanding Steel Challenge through international affiliation, exploring USPSA’s multi-gun/long gun positions, and serving as your voice on the international stage. I am humbled by the national and international members that have offered their
suggestions on improving our sport from the club to international level. Our members have volunteered their time and efforts on everything from developing a detailed guide to building a network to support paperless scoring to implementing airsoft Steel Challenge to bring that discipline to an untapped market. I started rebuilding the USPSA/Practiscore relationship to improve how our respective organizations work together. In a short period of time, improved relations have led to initiatives that will have a positive tangible impact on the membership. I ask for the opportunity to see these initiatives to fruition.
Describe the current culture of USPSA.
We come from all walks of life to share a common love of competition and firearms. From the Match Directors who tirelessly put on matches every week, to Range Officers who give up their weekends to run a stage, down to the competitors pasting and resetting a stage, we are all bonded by the volunteer spirit that has underpinned this sport from its inception. We gather every weekend to share not only a competitive spirit, but a social bond that continues long after the last shots are fired. I’ve seen folks who care so much about their fellow competitors they willingly give the gun off their belt, ammo, gear, and their exact stage plan if it keeps them in the game.
After reviewing the bylaws, please explain what the President of USPSA is responsible for and how will you fulfill those responsibilities if elected?
Bylaw 7.2.viii states that the President shall “Serve as the national representative of the membership in such matters as competition rules, club and member services, and opportunities for growth in Practical Shooting Competition.” I firmly believe that this is the President’s primary role to always be working with one objective in mind: “How to improve the sport for the membership and the clubs.” I intend to achieve this through constant communication with the members, receiving innovative ideas with an open mind while delivering regular messaging to the members on what your organization is doing and more importantly, WHY.
What are the top three areas that need to be addressed within USPSA? What is your strategy for addressing them?
1. Transparency and Communication: Your organization can and should communicate with you on a regular basis. As your national representative, I will always strive to tell you what your organization’s objectives are, how we intend to achieve those objectives, and why. As your elected leader, I, along with the rest of the USPSA leadership, can and must be held accountable for our actions. To that end, I will always be communicating with you through whatever tools are available.
2. Fiscal Discipline: Your organization can and should be held accountable for how it spends your membership dues, activity and club affiliation fees. While we have taken great strides towards a more balanced budget, we must strive to establish regular fiscal control processes moving forward. We must take a hard look at what USPSA's core competencies are, focus our fiscal efforts on those competencies, and seek help from our members with professional expertise for anything else.
If elected President of USPSA please explain how you will help support the clubs, sections and current members as well as promote USPSA to potential members?
Communication and transparency is fundamental to supporting the members, clubs, and sections in the organization. I intend to continue open lines of communication with the members not only to explain what their organization is doing and why, but also to listen to what our members, clubs and sections desire for improvement, whether it's how to setup a portable wifi network for paperless scoring, to an improved user interface for section coordinators to provide their member clubs with essential data. Our greatest asset to promote USPSA is our own members and the communities that each club builds to support not only practical shooting, but our 2A rights. Our individual USPSA stories are an untapped resource to tell a personal story to new members that I firmly believe builds a social bond that lasts long after our competitive days are behind us.
After reviewing Article 5 bylaw 5.1 please provide an outline of your strategy for items i) through vi)
i. Our organization should examine what its core competencies are and leverage the assistance of our members who have the professional experience to manage our fiscal obligations and investments.
ii. Our best recruiters are YOU, the members. Your personal stories, individual outreach, and community building at the club level are what brings new members to participate in our sport, and more importantly, what keeps them around. iii. See above.
iv. Quite frankly, in our organization's current fiscal and resource constrained environment, we can realistically manage at most three Nationals, to include the World Speed Shooting Championship. Our Nationals model must be examined not only to reduce expenditures, but to explore revenue alternatives beyond simply raising match fees and/or activity fees.
v. In seven months as US Regional Director, I have made great strides in rebuilding our relationship with IPSC from communicating and listening to their concerns and finding where our respective disciplines have common ground. Those efforts have been rewarded with improved experiences for our competitors at international competitions and an open door for innovations like Limited Optics as a provisional division to be considered at the international level.
vi. I firmly believe the Board of Directors and NROI must work hand in hand to create a fair, professional, and fun environment for members and competitors. I’ve participated in USPSA as a competitor and at practically every official capacity and look forward to collaboratively working with NROI towards that goal.
After reviewing the USPSA bylaws explain how you see your working relationship with the Managing Director and Board of Directors.
The President works with the Board of Directors to establish USPSA’s organizational vision as well as its annual and long-term goals. That vision is then communicated to the Managing Director to make it a reality, with course correction input provided as necessary.
What is USPSA doing right?
USPSA provides a welcoming social environment for people from all walks of life to safely practice and improve their firearms proficiency skills. Club and national level matches are a proving ground for firearms development and offer identifiable metrics for competitors to evaluate their performance.
If elected, what other issues would you want to address and what is your strategy for addressing them.
Regular open and transparent communication to the members and clubs.
If you are unsuccessful in your bid to become president, how will you serve USPSA in the future?
Regardless of the outcome, I’ll continue what I have been doing for the past eight years. Introducing new shooters to our sport through my home range at Richmond Rod and Gun Club. I’ll still be the guy you see working stages at major matches all over the country keeping our sport fun and treating everyone fairly and professionally. This election is just an extension of what I have been doing all along, continuing to serve the people who make this sport the best there is.
The same reason I volunteered for the last 8 years at 47 major matches as staff, to serve the members that spend their time and money to play our sport. I have heard your concerns and suggestions on how the organization can and should better serve the membership and most importantly, the local clubs that are the lifeblood of the organization. USPSA is YOUR organization, and as your President, I intend to continue serving as your voice at the national and international level.
Prior to announcing your candidacy, what have you done to help promote safe, fun and fair practical shooting?
I currently serve on the Richmond Hotshots Action Safety committee vetting stages for our biweekly USPSA match serving an average of 140 competitors. I lead an RO squad that supports our club’s weekly organized practice sessions. I am also part of the range instructor cadre teaching a biweekly new competitor introduction course. Finally, I have served as stage staff at 47 major matches since 2015 as RO, CRO, and RM.
What qualifications set you apart from other candidates? What previous or current employment or volunteer experience do you have that qualifies you for the role of USPSA President?
In the seven months I have served as your President, I have had the opportunity to observe first-hand the position’s responsibilities. This includes our traditional action pistol matches, expanding Steel Challenge through international affiliation, exploring USPSA’s multi-gun/long gun positions, and serving as your voice on the international stage. I am humbled by the national and international members that have offered their
suggestions on improving our sport from the club to international level. Our members have volunteered their time and efforts on everything from developing a detailed guide to building a network to support paperless scoring to implementing airsoft Steel Challenge to bring that discipline to an untapped market. I started rebuilding the USPSA/Practiscore relationship to improve how our respective organizations work together. In a short period of time, improved relations have led to initiatives that will have a positive tangible impact on the membership. I ask for the opportunity to see these initiatives to fruition.
Describe the current culture of USPSA.
We come from all walks of life to share a common love of competition and firearms. From the Match Directors who tirelessly put on matches every week, to Range Officers who give up their weekends to run a stage, down to the competitors pasting and resetting a stage, we are all bonded by the volunteer spirit that has underpinned this sport from its inception. We gather every weekend to share not only a competitive spirit, but a social bond that continues long after the last shots are fired. I’ve seen folks who care so much about their fellow competitors they willingly give the gun off their belt, ammo, gear, and their exact stage plan if it keeps them in the game.
After reviewing the bylaws, please explain what the President of USPSA is responsible for and how will you fulfill those responsibilities if elected?
Bylaw 7.2.viii states that the President shall “Serve as the national representative of the membership in such matters as competition rules, club and member services, and opportunities for growth in Practical Shooting Competition.” I firmly believe that this is the President’s primary role to always be working with one objective in mind: “How to improve the sport for the membership and the clubs.” I intend to achieve this through constant communication with the members, receiving innovative ideas with an open mind while delivering regular messaging to the members on what your organization is doing and more importantly, WHY.
What are the top three areas that need to be addressed within USPSA? What is your strategy for addressing them?
1. Transparency and Communication: Your organization can and should communicate with you on a regular basis. As your national representative, I will always strive to tell you what your organization’s objectives are, how we intend to achieve those objectives, and why. As your elected leader, I, along with the rest of the USPSA leadership, can and must be held accountable for our actions. To that end, I will always be communicating with you through whatever tools are available.
2. Fiscal Discipline: Your organization can and should be held accountable for how it spends your membership dues, activity and club affiliation fees. While we have taken great strides towards a more balanced budget, we must strive to establish regular fiscal control processes moving forward. We must take a hard look at what USPSA's core competencies are, focus our fiscal efforts on those competencies, and seek help from our members with professional expertise for anything else.
If elected President of USPSA please explain how you will help support the clubs, sections and current members as well as promote USPSA to potential members?
Communication and transparency is fundamental to supporting the members, clubs, and sections in the organization. I intend to continue open lines of communication with the members not only to explain what their organization is doing and why, but also to listen to what our members, clubs and sections desire for improvement, whether it's how to setup a portable wifi network for paperless scoring, to an improved user interface for section coordinators to provide their member clubs with essential data. Our greatest asset to promote USPSA is our own members and the communities that each club builds to support not only practical shooting, but our 2A rights. Our individual USPSA stories are an untapped resource to tell a personal story to new members that I firmly believe builds a social bond that lasts long after our competitive days are behind us.
After reviewing Article 5 bylaw 5.1 please provide an outline of your strategy for items i) through vi)
i. Our organization should examine what its core competencies are and leverage the assistance of our members who have the professional experience to manage our fiscal obligations and investments.
ii. Our best recruiters are YOU, the members. Your personal stories, individual outreach, and community building at the club level are what brings new members to participate in our sport, and more importantly, what keeps them around. iii. See above.
iv. Quite frankly, in our organization's current fiscal and resource constrained environment, we can realistically manage at most three Nationals, to include the World Speed Shooting Championship. Our Nationals model must be examined not only to reduce expenditures, but to explore revenue alternatives beyond simply raising match fees and/or activity fees.
v. In seven months as US Regional Director, I have made great strides in rebuilding our relationship with IPSC from communicating and listening to their concerns and finding where our respective disciplines have common ground. Those efforts have been rewarded with improved experiences for our competitors at international competitions and an open door for innovations like Limited Optics as a provisional division to be considered at the international level.
vi. I firmly believe the Board of Directors and NROI must work hand in hand to create a fair, professional, and fun environment for members and competitors. I’ve participated in USPSA as a competitor and at practically every official capacity and look forward to collaboratively working with NROI towards that goal.
After reviewing the USPSA bylaws explain how you see your working relationship with the Managing Director and Board of Directors.
The President works with the Board of Directors to establish USPSA’s organizational vision as well as its annual and long-term goals. That vision is then communicated to the Managing Director to make it a reality, with course correction input provided as necessary.
What is USPSA doing right?
USPSA provides a welcoming social environment for people from all walks of life to safely practice and improve their firearms proficiency skills. Club and national level matches are a proving ground for firearms development and offer identifiable metrics for competitors to evaluate their performance.
If elected, what other issues would you want to address and what is your strategy for addressing them.
Regular open and transparent communication to the members and clubs.
If you are unsuccessful in your bid to become president, how will you serve USPSA in the future?
Regardless of the outcome, I’ll continue what I have been doing for the past eight years. Introducing new shooters to our sport through my home range at Richmond Rod and Gun Club. I’ll still be the guy you see working stages at major matches all over the country keeping our sport fun and treating everyone fairly and professionally. This election is just an extension of what I have been doing all along, continuing to serve the people who make this sport the best there is.
Keep USPSA Fun
Email Address: [email protected]