Don Hobbs, in his sixth year as DODDS-Pacific’s Far East Activities Council chair, says the worldwide economic crisis, while not yet affecting FEAC activities, is forcing many within DODDS-Pacific to be conscious of every dollar spent. "We could be asked at any time" to make cuts to the FEAC calendar. (Dave Ornauer/S&S)
TORII STATION, Okinawa — With the bad economic news being flung at the world daily, Don Hobbs says he has little trouble rising and shining.
"I don’t even need coffee to wake up. I just turn on the news. A slap in the face every morning," said Hobbs, in his sixth year as DODDS-Pacific’s Far East Activities Council chair.
And a worry, he says, that the economic downturn might spill over into the DODDS system — canceling co-curricular activities he oversees; events, he says, important as any classroom experience.
"I don’t think we’re that close, but … we’re being asked to be conscious of everything we spend money on," Hobbs said. "Our pockets aren’t nearly as deep as they were three, four, five years ago. In some respects, we don’t have any pockets."
Money was a major topic of discussion, Hobbs said, at last month’s FEAC meeting on Okinawa. Hobbs discussed that plus other issues in a wide-ranging interview with Stripes last week at DODDS-Pacific’s regional office here.
The last time FEAC activities were cut was in 1986, the year of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings balanced-budget act. DODDS’ budget was trimmed by $10 million — and Far East tournaments were the first to get the ax.
Hobbs coached Kubasaki boys basketball at the time and remembers those days well; only a last-minute offer of transportation by Northwest Airlines saved the winter boys basketball tournament.
"We’re still managing to exist," Hobbs said, adding that if asked to make cuts he has "some ideas." He did not discuss specific dollar figures nor elaborate on what those ideas are.
Hobbs did emphasize that DODDS is aware of the importance of co-curricular activities and how canceling them for short-term gain might create long-term problems.
"Especially when there are so many parents deployed," Hobbs said. "You have to keep kids occupied. If they don’t have anything to go to after school, what would they do?"
Some activities may be streamlined rather than trimmed, such as the football playoffs, which eat up the most money for the most athletes for the fewest number of games.
An idea batted around at the FEAC meeting was to bring district champions or representatives to one locale for semifinal games on, for example, a Monday, with third-place and championship games on Saturday.
"It’s only in the discussion stage," Hobbs said. "Not only to lower costs, but make it easier for schools to schedule transportation."
For example, Guam High will play at Kadena in a Class AA semifinal this year. The team must also reserve tickets for Inchon should Seoul American win the other semifinal and for Narita in case Yokota wins it. In some cases, Guam High must put down a non-refundable deposit.
One area in which the FEAC panel was in full agreement, Hobbs said, was strict enforcement of the Code of Conduct, standard contracts signed by students, parents, coaches and administration before each season, rules by which all must abide. Violation of the code means no participation in all FEAC activities for a year.
Banned students may still participate in local activities or regular-season play, but "not at Far East," Hobbs said.
"I don’t think it’s that big a problem; it only became a problem because of a small handful of students," Hobbs said. "I’d be almost willing to bet we won’t have those problems this year. Zero problems."
