Hi ladies,
there was much activity at the beginning of the year regarding the revitilization of the PDGA women's committee. I remember talk of having some sort of meeting at women's nationals to talk about the committee and its possible goals and duties. Did this happen? If so, what was the outcome? If not, perhaps we can get the discussion going here.

Who is currently involved in this? What action is currently being taken?

Thanks!

I already made this post in response on another thread but decided to also copy it here since it addresses the women's committee topic. I've also started three new posts where you can add your input for the league and clinic flyers and a survey.


There is a PDGA Women's Committee started, but... keep in mind that it was women offering up their time while not being real sure what was expected or how to accomplish it. It easy for someone to say we should do this, we should do that, or rather, YOU should do this, YOU should do that. It's another thing to the get people involved and see tangible results.

The committee did decide on some initial projects and goals with much help from Chairperson Lyn and a flyer was put together. The flyer was emailed out, handed out, posted online with a link directly to it and like the initial request for committe volunteers, the response was VERY minimal.

The initial projects:
1) Set up a women's directory with protected access. This was accomplished! While access may be challenging sometimes, we don't want our personal info out there for anyone. We've since discussed keeping a women's directory database at the PDGA that can be updated via a check box on new memberships and renewals. The directory would be available via Lorrie. Any other thoughts on that?

2) Put together a flyer on starting a women's league to involve more women in the sport. No this didn't get done, however we do hope to have something by next year that can be emailed out when requests come into the PDGA.

3) Put together a flyer on doing a women's clinic to teach women disc golf skills to again involve more women in the sport. No this didn't get done either. But we hope to have this one together available to be emailed out also.

Requests were made for ideas and info for both flyers, again with VERY minimal response. So if anyone has an idea that has worked for them or learned something specific in a clinic that helped them, PLEASE email any of us with the info. We really do want to have flyers available. Lorrie gets quite a few requests for both. We do have some reference articles from various sources that can be sent out, but what we really need is a simple 1-2 page sheet of basics that women can use to get started and help other women get started.

4) Put together a survey for women golfers to find out needs and desires. Lyn did do a survey that was emailed out with results written up in the DGWN. There was a fair amount of criticism about the survey and the results in the PDGA forum. Ouch! Someone tries and gets slapped down. The plan was for another survey after we got a good list of women from the new directory that could be analyzed and used for to help with future projects and goals. So what questions do you want to see asked? Does someone want to take on putting it together and email it around among the committe and PDGA to come up with a final survey that can be emailed out to the women's list? It can then be used to help figure out some specific direction for 2006.

5) Pro/Am doubles at tournaments. While this seemed like a good idea initially, it kind of got moved to the back burner. But what we do need out there at tournaments is women willing to meet and greet. Welcome new players, just say hi and tell them you're glad they came. Women who are familiar with tournaments, rules, play well, have gone pro, can all be intimidating to the new woman. Smile and say hi! This will do more to further women in the sport than almost anything else we do.

and finally...
6) Promote and get as many women as possible to the USWDGC. With A LOT of help from Des and personal invites, this was accomplished. I don't think I went to a tournament where it wasn't brought up by someone. It was a great tournament with a record turnout of women.

So maybe we didn't accomplish all that we wanted to, but the numbers are up, the excitement is up and if we all work together things can and will be accomplished.

The flyers need to get done. But when you look at a task like that, even if it's two pages, it just seems huge when your time is already spread thin by work, family, tournaments, practice, etc. We're ALL busy. Trust me, those that did offer time and/or help didn't do it because they just couldn't find any other use for their time. And now it's holidays, it cold and snowy, then it'll be Ice Bowls, then the tour starts, there's mandatory overtime, school papers to write, there will always be something. But if we want to add women to the sport and want to be heard at the tournaments, it just takes a little effort from each woman. Just think if 10 women emailed an idea for a clinic and 10 emailed an idea for a league, the flyers would almost be done.

Ever hear the joke about the traveling salesman that comes to this house in the country, man in the rocking chair, old hound dog on the porch? He trying to sell something while the old hound dog kind of yowls every so often, The salesman finally asks if there's something wrong with the dog. The response... "Nope, he's just laying on a nail. Doesn't hurt enough to move, only hurts enough to complain."

So ladies, does it only hurt enough to complain or are we ready to move forward and do something? One idea, one email, or one post.

HUGS! We do need you all out there playing the tournaments and cheering each other on!
Kathy

Kathy, thanks for you time to respond. That is exactly what I was looking for.

A few general comments:

- The women's directory database sounds like a great idea. Having it available through Lorrie also sounds good, but adds another duty for Lorrie. If she's willing to do it, then kudos! I was thinking it might be possible to have someone else manage the database, but the with the direct access Lorrie has to members' information, she does make the most sense. Perhaps Lorrie could compile the information and someone else distribute it? One possibility would be to create a hardcopy (yes, I realize, $$$) that is sent to all of those who elect to have their information included, and it could also be available electronically through something such as the UMich website.

- There was at one point talk of creating a "W-Tier" designation for tournaments. I have thought about this more and I think it's a good idea. However, I don't think that "W-Tier" should be the sole designation for a tournament. It could be along the lines of the X designation, as a sort of subscript to the tournament classification. Initially tournaments such as TWC and USWDGC could be included, with the intent of spreading to other tournaments that also include male participants but are very woman-friendly (I am think of the WVO but I am sure there are tons of other examples!). This would require establishment of criteria for the W-Tier designation. Thoughts on the W-Tier?

- Many thanks to those women who did volunteer. Like I said, I would like to be kept in the loop and participate when possible. I am sure several of the other women would also appreciate periodic updates and chances to be included in the decision-making process. I wouldn't mind volunteering for the role of creating periodic updates that could be posted to this board, but that requires a source of information or involvement with the women's committee.

Again, thanks! Good things are and have been happening!

I have read that you can contact Lorrie at PDGA for more info on the Woman's Committee- where under contacts can I find her contact info?
I would like to help in some aspect- can't keep complaining about more woman not playing if I don't do anything about it, right?

Lorrie can be reached at the PDGA [email protected] Be sure to see the three posts about ideas for women's clinics, leagues and survey. You can help with ideas on these too.
Kathy