http://www.nefa.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2949

http://www.zushy.com/photos/show/2003/fall/late/images/Clapping.jpg

Very generous donations. What is it? (nefa)

just a bunch of disc golfers united for the common good. i think its like a new england tradition or something.

it would be cool if NEFA offered regional franchises :eek:

"it would be cool if NEFA offered regional franchises" - PDGA board member Pat Brenner

"Perhaps the national org could learn a lesson from NEFA." - PDGA board member Steve Dodge

Yes,

Didn't you know, NEFA is the only organization that gives funds for tournaments and course development. The PDGA would never give money and time to support the sport. /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

the pdga gives money all the time. what are you talking about?

yes, its sometimes difficult to choose a single slogan to support when you are faced with two such compelling candidates. thank you for choosing to support both. tip: put slogans in your tagline for maximum exposure.

the pdga gives money all the time. what are you talking about?



I'm a strong advocate of equal time by my elected officials. I think, given your recognition of NEFA, that you should go through and say something positive about each DG club out there, just to make it all fair. You can start with the Dallas Club.

"Perhaps the national org could learn a lesson from NEFA." - PDGA board member Steve Dodge



At the fall summit, David Gentry mentioned that he wanted to get rid of the D-Tier and replace it with an endowment grant (or some wording like this - it turns out that a grant was not intended). I was all for the idea of a grant as I love the idea of the PDGA developing some grants and giving back directly to local groups growing the sport. I've proposed this idea a few times and it takes on the qualities of a lead balloon. I am also on the NEFA board and when this idea came up it was wholeheartedly embraced and is now paying off as many disc golfers in New England that had not even know of NEFA are now feeling all warm and fuzzy toward the org.

I'd like to see the PDGA put aside $5000 towards ten $500 grants. PDGA Members could submit proposals a couple of weeks before the Spring Summit and then at the completion of the Spring Summit, we could announce the ten winners of the grants.

If I remember, I'll propose this again at the next teleconference.

Thank you Terry for calling me out and having me make a real go of trying to get this program to become a reality.

back in the early days the PDGA actually did have a grant program. but then, certain PDGA members starting getting free plane tickets to other continents, and our dues got raised. it's a big step in the right direction if you ask me. I think we ought to give certain members free cars, free homes, and pay for their kids to go to Yale. then maybe these certain members won't feel so angry all the time. I mean, that's what the PDGA is about, making certain members feel important. If they don't feel important they'll never get the 2008 schedule out before 2009.

Nice post hot tub. Hey, some organizations are better than others, some BoD members are better than others, and some people really ARE Navy Seals. Ha ha.

"Perhaps the national org could learn a lesson from NEFA." - PDGA board member Steve Dodge



At the fall summit, David Gentry mentioned that he wanted to get rid of the D-Tier and replace it with an endowment grant (or some wording like this - it turns out that a grant was not intended). I was all for the idea of a grant as I love the idea of the PDGA developing some grants and giving back directly to local groups growing the sport. I've proposed this idea a few times and it takes on the qualities of a lead balloon. I am also on the NEFA board and when this idea came up it was wholeheartedly embraced and is now paying off as many disc golfers in New England that had not even know of NEFA are now feeling all warm and fuzzy toward the org.

I'd like to see the PDGA put aside $5000 towards ten $500 grants. PDGA Members could submit proposals a couple of weeks before the Spring Summit and then at the completion of the Spring Summit, we could announce the ten winners of the grants.

If I remember, I'll propose this again at the next teleconference.

Thank you Terry for calling me out and having me make a real go of trying to get this program to become a reality.



This sounds great Steve. but I still question. Let's do a comparison.

HFDS probably gives as much (for certain in relative terms to it's membership) to tournaments and events in Texas. And probably long term has done more to promote course growth in the Houston area than what I've seen from NEFA. Yet we don't have all those glowing posts about what an awesome organization and about how generous HFDS is. One difference is that leaders past and present didn't put a high emphasis in marketing and promoting the name of the club while working to accomplish those goals.

While I might argue that the PDGA could do more to market their efforts to the membership, "Hey, look at all the wonderful things we've done for you" I'd rather they actually spent their time... doing something.

I commend NEFA for doing something that many other clubs throughout the States, Europe, and other parts of the world are doing. Way to step up to the plate and accomplish what other clubs have been doing for years. Good marketing too! Now, get back to work... :D

BTW - I want to extend a great thanks to HFDS for all the thousands of dollars they've raised for baskets in the Houston area. For supporting major events in Houston, Dallas, the Golden Triangle, Austin and well the list goes on. Thanks to Dave Nesbitt, Andi Lehmann and on and on for playing both local and National roles. Thanks to Conrad, Stimpy, Don and on and on for quietly running leagues tirelessly without trumpeting your horns and with no recognition whatsoever (BTW - that list is such an understatement of old timers who did so much for this sport in the state that I can't even begin a list). Should I continue or have we heard enough?

I think what NEFA is doing is great. I think for two Board members to specifically point it out like it's something unique or different from what's been going on for years in many venues is potentially misleading, Oh wait, to quote Pat, "dangerous!"

Finally, the market value of a granting venue notwithstanding, I'm waiting to hear from all the venues who didn't get money from NEFA who are irritated at being ignored. You'd need to take that and multiply it by all the venues who wouldn't get money from the PDGA to think about whether the marketing value of such would be a good thing for this organization.

back in the early days the PDGA actually did have a grant program. but then, certain PDGA members starting getting free plane tickets to other continents, and our dues got raised. it's a big step in the right direction if you ask me. I think we ought to give certain members free cars, free homes, and pay for their kids to go to Yale. then maybe these certain members won't feel so angry all the time. I mean, that's what the PDGA is about, making certain members feel important. If they don't feel important they'll never get the 2008 schedule out before 2009.



Aren't you supposed to be sorting mail? :D

Lyle, you are right on many counts. NEFA seems to be doing a better job of marketing itself than the Houston club and the PDGA. The key word being seems. The NEFA post in question, on which I posted my comment, was created by clubs / courses saying thanks. If NEFA did a better job of marketing - as I suggested at the NEFA board meeting - we would publish the grants awarded with pictures of the before and afters.

Hopefully this will get done. I have heard no one - not even the couple of folks that were turned down for grants - complaining. I'll keep my ears open and will pose this question at the Unity Summit we are holding up here in NEFA land this weekend.

I genuinely believe that encouraging folks to be creative in ways to improve their local courses, get the word about disc golf out to kids, or whatever else folks come up with to help grow / improve the sport in an effort to land a PDGA grant would be a great thing for the PDGA to do. In fact, I think it is the type of thing the PDGA should market very well, encourage people to create grant ideas and apply. We could generate some real positive impacts. I believe the national org should be leading in this regard.

I am very proud of my 4+ years of military service during the Vietnam era, including three tours of duty in Vietnam. For less than two years of that time, I was a member of Underwater Demolition Team 13 (UDT-13) but I was not a SEAL. Nor have I ever implied that I was. In fact, my favorite line about that is "They took those of us who were the most psychotic and made us into SEALS. I wasn't psychotic enough."

steve,

i think you are correct that this is a marketing activity. if you do make the motion you described, i will provide a second. the association will benefit from the discussion that will occur.

pat

Lyle, you are right on many counts. NEFA seems to be doing a better job of marketing itself than the Houston club and the PDGA. The key word being seems. The NEFA post in question, on which I posted my comment, was created by clubs / courses saying thanks. If NEFA did a better job of marketing - as I suggested at the NEFA board meeting - we would publish the grants awarded with pictures of the before and afters.

Hopefully this will get done. I have heard no one - not even the couple of folks that were turned down for grants - complaining. I'll keep my ears open and will pose this question at the Unity Summit we are holding up here in NEFA land this weekend.

I genuinely believe that encouraging folks to be creative in ways to improve their local courses, get the word about disc golf out to kids, or whatever else folks come up with to help grow / improve the sport in an effort to land a PDGA grant would be a great thing for the PDGA to do. In fact, I think it is the type of thing the PDGA should market very well, encourage people to create grant ideas and apply. We could generate some real positive impacts. I believe the national org should be leading in this regard.



One might argue that such a granting program, set up the way it is, is a marketing tool... One might. The fact that you argued in the NEFA Board meeting that it could have been marketed better, notwithstanding.

BTW - Kudos to Chris Himming for doing more to promote disc golf outside our community (i.e. to the Lance Armstrong group, Budweiser, Hooters etc.) than any other promoter or disc golf contributer ever! Next week, John Houck!

BTW - as Pat points out, indirectly, marketing in this fashion isn't a bad thing or even wrong. I'm not sure I'd agree that it's a good thing for the PDGA, although I'd probably not stand against it. But, how Board members respond to the issue is important to me.

If a Board member had come to this MB, or even to the PDGA Board and said, "look what NEFA did. I think it's a great public relations move that we might consider for this organization," I'd be thrilled. But that's not what happened. From your other posts I'm assuming that it came up in the way it did because, "proposals of such went over like a lead balloon."

BTW - I'd be remiss if I didn't say that NEFA used this granting program well. It's slick and is paying benefits for them. Question, what is the long term benefit to disc golf in New England? Also, will this pay off well and equally to the members who provided the funds? Do you think this was the best benefit to those members that could have been achieved with their dollars? Think carefully about that last one. What oversight does NEFA have on the funds and how they're being used in this program?

BTW - that last one was for UPM.

BTW - that last one was for UPM.



C'mon, Lyle, you know he's been banned.

Ransom and Joe are just similarly minded individuals.

/msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I stand corrected. That last one was for the memory of UPM.

BTW - in my diatribe, I didn't mention TB, not only a contributer to local disc golf, but a sound and rational voice in every discussion I've ever read, and darn funny too.

if NEFA members like it, why does anything else matter? i thought you were a student of the "join first, then ask questions" school of thought.

Sure Hot Tub, you also were the PDGA Communications Director, which is a pretty strange title considering what you did and which administration you worked for. And I never said you said you were a Navy Seal, I only implied that you implied it, which you used to do often until someone looked up your record and called you on it.

...in my diatribe...



Wow, Lyle admits to posting an abusive attack on this discussion board!

1. di�a�tribe /ˈdaɪəˌtraɪb/ Pronunciation Key [dahy-uh-trahyb]
�noun a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism: repeated diatribes against the senator.

diatribe. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved October 31, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diatribe


2. di�a�tribe (dī'ə-trīb')
n. A bitter, abusive denunciation.

Word History: Listening to a lengthy diatribe may seem like a waste of time, an attitude for which there is some etymological justification. The Greek word diatribē, the ultimate source of our word, is derived from the verb diatrībein, made up of the prefix dia-, "completely," and trībein, "to rub," "to wear away, spend, or waste time," "to be busy." The verb diatrībein meant "to rub hard," "to spend or waste time," and the noun diatribē meant "wearing away of time, amusement, serious occupation, study," as well as "discourse, short ethical treatise or lecture, debate, argument." It is the serious occupation of time in discourse, lecture, and debate that gave us the first use of diatribe recorded in English (1581), in the now archaic sense "discourse, critical dissertation." The critical element of this kind of diatribe must often have been uppermost, explaining the origin of the current sense of diatribe, "a bitter criticism."

diatribe. (n.d.). The American Heritage� Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved October 31, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diatribe


3. diatribe
noun
thunderous verbal attack

diatribe. (n.d.). WordNet� 3.0. Retrieved October 31, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diatribe

...in my diatribe...



Wow, Lyle admits to posting an abusive attack on this discussion board!

1. di�a�tribe /ˈdaɪəˌtraɪb/ Pronunciation Key [dahy-uh-trahyb]
�noun a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism: repeated diatribes against the senator.

diatribe. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved October 31, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diatribe


2. di�a�tribe (dī'ə-trīb')
n. A bitter, abusive denunciation.

Word History: Listening to a lengthy diatribe may seem like a waste of time, an attitude for which there is some etymological justification. The Greek word diatribē, the ultimate source of our word, is derived from the verb diatrībein, made up of the prefix dia-, "completely," and trībein, "to rub," "to wear away, spend, or waste time," "to be busy." The verb diatrībein meant "to rub hard," "to spend or waste time," and the noun diatribē meant "wearing away of time, amusement, serious occupation, study," as well as "discourse, short ethical treatise or lecture, debate, argument." It is the serious occupation of time in discourse, lecture, and debate that gave us the first use of diatribe recorded in English (1581), in the now archaic sense "discourse, critical dissertation." The critical element of this kind of diatribe must often have been uppermost, explaining the origin of the current sense of diatribe, "a bitter criticism."

diatribe. (n.d.). The American Heritage� Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved October 31, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diatribe


3. diatribe
noun
thunderous verbal attack

diatribe. (n.d.). WordNet� 3.0. Retrieved October 31, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diatribe



YAWN!

Shirley you can do better than that Pat?

if NEFA members like it, why does anything else matter? i thought you were a student of the "join first, then ask questions" school of thought.



Should I run whining to the Moderator now? Me thinks not.

You still haven't addressed the points I raised Pat. Instead, you've now done two redirections, both feeble attacks on me, neither addressing the topic, whether it has real value, or answering the questions raised. Should I conclude that you can't? or that you think that level of discourse is only appropriate if you're asking the questions? Please let me know.

Finally, the market value of a granting venue notwithstanding, I'm waiting to hear from all the venues who didn't get money from NEFA who are irritated at being ignored. You'd need to take that and multiply it by all the venues who wouldn't get money from the PDGA to think about whether the marketing value of such would be a good thing for this organization.



This is one thought I'm dwelling on.

While the effort on NEFA's part to donate money to clubs in their region to establish new or re-furbish existing courses is noble, I'm not sure it's appropriate to insinuate that the PDGA could or should do the same for our membership. I can already hear the whiners complain when 50 clubs nationwide line up for donations and 20 get a stipend and 30 don't. I can already hear the conspiracy theorists howling when such-and-such club from one of the BoD member's hometown by chance gets a stipend and some other club is denied.

Sure [verbal diarrhea] it.


I pity you, truly I do.

Lagging J wrote
"I can already hear the whiners complain when 50 clubs nationwide line up for donations and 20 get a stipend and 30 don't. "

jLag, you are correct, this is a fine reason to not to support needy clubs/courses that submit worthy grant requests.
Might as well just give the funds to the areas with the most pDGA members.

$ort of like voting for Board of Directors, areas with most members get the most repre$entation.
No, am not whining about DFL.
Put my name in and accepted the results.
Doesn't diminish the love for the game.

steve timm

JLa, why assume the worst? and even if it happens, the good of the deed outweighs the bad of the whining, doesnt it?

we subsidize all kinds of interests unequally. its virtually impossible not to, cuz you can slice the Membership along so many dimensions.

JLa, why assume the worst? and even if it happens, the good of the deed outweighs the bad of the whining, doesnt it?

we subsidize all kinds of interests unequally. its virtually impossible not to, cuz you can slice the Membership along so many dimensions.




Because right now everyone already does assume the worst, including some BoD members.

Finally, the market value of a granting venue notwithstanding, I'm waiting to hear from all the venues who didn't get money from NEFA who are irritated at being ignored. You'd need to take that and multiply it by all the venues who wouldn't get money from the PDGA to think about whether the marketing value of such would be a good thing for this organization.



This is one thought I'm dwelling on.

While the effort on NEFA's part to donate money to clubs in their region to establish new or re-furbish existing courses is noble, I'm not sure it's appropriate to insinuate that the PDGA could or should do the same for our membership. I can already hear the whiners complain when 50 clubs nationwide line up for donations and 20 get a stipend and 30 don't. I can already hear the conspiracy theorists howling when such-and-such club from one of the BoD member's hometown by chance gets a stipend and some other club is denied.



I would be excited to see the creative ways that members come up with to grow the sport. I agree with both Jeff and Pat.

If this succeeds, some people will claim that there was bias in the doling out of grants. Jeff is right.

The PDGA and disc golf as a whole would be bigger winners than the whining that would occur. Pat is right.

Bearing in mind these two, perhaps one other aspect of the grant would be that each proposal and supporting documentation be posted on the PDGA site after the allocation of the grants so folks can review them. Or perhaps (yikes!) post them before hand and let the members vote on which they think is best and let this influence the grant givers as it may.

If you're going to have some logic that connects the funding source for any grants to where they're headed, perhaps it would make sense that places where events with say at least 50% non-members would be the ones getting priority consideration for the grants? If you give out 10, maybe 6 go to places where they had more than 50% non-members, 2 go to 30%-50% NM and the other 2 to those with under 30% NM.

With the complaints about the non-member fees going up and not providing anything back, those who coughed up the $10 would see the PDGA doing good things with their money in their community and perhaps be more likely to join and have a more favorable opinion of the PDGA in general.

Chuck, as usual you are a voice a reason in a sea of turbulence. I know your calm demeanor was greatly appreciated during my years of service to the MFA. While Chuck was not a voting member of the MFA BOD (much like the PDGA BOD), he presented thoughtful advice and feasible compromises without being overly emotional.

Thanks Chuck!

Rather than complicate things for the selection process, the percentage of nonmembers at each event could be automatically calculated to group them in whatever the Board decides the percentage categories should be. Then, a drawing could be done at a high profile event early in the next year like The Memorial to award the grants drawn from each NM percentage pool. Little admin required, no potential bias in selection, good PR.

Chuck Ke

Sure, base it just upon pDGA member
attendance of the events!
Is it only about the statistics?
I understand that is your specialty
but what about merit?

Sometimes this feels like a step below Kid Nation.
Besides Steve GODge and Pat "first run junkie" Brenner,
are there any level headed leaders out there?

Let's the sport grow - EVERYWHERE


steve timm

Did you completely miss the point that the places with the highest NON-MEMBER attendance would be getting the most grants? Pay attention.

Dear Chuck

My point was focusing on the MERIT of the request.
NOT another of your silly formulas.

love the debate

steve timm

If the non-members were able to judge the merits of how much to pay for a non-member fee, then judging the merits of who gets the grants might make more sense. With many in the non-member areas perhaps lacking trust in the Board or a Grant Committee making unbiased judgments, I'm simply suggesting making it more of a lottery with the odds slanted toward those who have contributed the most toward funding any grants.

From the NEFA discussion board

Dear expert Check asked ---
_______________________________________________
Post: #16 PostPosted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:02 am

What is the source of the money? Is it strictly from dues or was it some sort of matching funds from a public entity or fundraiser?
_______________________________________________

Now merely 34 hours later you have devised a SUPER
lottery to award grants, using your SUPER powers,
of course weighted to make everyone equally happy/unhappy.

Your self confidence is beyond measure.
And yes I am paying attention, dad.

Go hang a basket in a tree!

Merit baby.

respectfully
steve timm

And your point is?

Grants based upon Merit of Project/Request

enough, you win
let it go committee and die
like every other decent concept at the pDGA

s t

I know, you could come up with a formula that would
measure the merit of a proposal. Then they could be ranked
by COLORS........

As Discette pointed out, I have been an idea generator and advisor over almost 20 years for the MFA and PDGA but rarely the "decider" (ala G Bush). Others who have had the power vote on whether they like the MERITS of them or not.

I might agree with Chuck that we should make sure the grants get divvied up fairly. Although I think weighting non-members is probably a non-starter as we don't want all the grants to come to New England, heck we've got NEFA already giving grants to New England! :D

But seriously, I like the idea of (assuming 10 grants) giving 1 to the best grant proposal in each of six regions (NW, SW, North-mid, South-mid, NE, SE) and the other four to the next best four proposals no matter where they are located.

Chuck, I would trust that you can come up with a fair and balanced way to divvy up the regions.

What of the events with less than 10% non-members. Don't they deserve some recognition for saturating the area with dues paying members ?

When my son took 3.5 months last year and traveled around the country, playing 240 courses, he came back with the same observation that I have made on my travels: A lot of courses have no signage or terrible signage.

There were quite a few courses that he just gave up on after a few holes.

What if a pilot grant program was dedicated toward providing and helping to install good signage on as many courses as possible, as quickly as possible?

If the PDGA worked with a vendor or two and got some pretty good quantity discounts, I bet a little bit of money would go a long way toward increasing playability of a lot of courses, and with near immediate results.

A procedure could be established that even included the loan of GPS and laser ranging equipment to a local volunteer team for better measurement.

* This would have the added bonus of the PDGA being able to "brand" the signage in a way that increases PDGA recognition.

* If we wanted to get fancy, the signage could include space for recognizing local "hole sponsors," from whom the locals could obtain funding for additional work on the course.

* The course directory could indicate the courses improved by the PDGA in this way. In fact, this would be a natural extension into the course of the "wayfinding" that the PDGA already provides by underwriting the course directory.

* Et cetera.

If you're going to have some logic that connects the funding source for any grants to where they're headed, perhaps it would make sense that places where events with say at least 50% non-members would be the ones getting priority consideration for the grants? If you give out 10, maybe 6 go to places where they had more than 50% non-members, 2 go to 30%-50% NM and the other 2 to those with under 30% NM.

With the complaints about the non-member fees going up and not providing anything back, those who coughed up the $10 would see the PDGA doing good things with their money in their community and perhaps be more likely to join and have a more favorable opinion of the PDGA in general.



Shoot, this is such a good idea it almost makes me cry! Combine it with Terry's post and you have a granting program that I'd support.

BTW - I much prefer the "hey, here's a good idea" position to the "Oh look what a good thing NEFA is doing maybe we should learn something approach."

As the shrink said, one is a positive approach, the other a negative approach.

Last night, one of my Golden Retrievers barked at all the costumed trick or treaters. The other one licked every little Princess Buttercup or Dread Pirate Roberts he could get his spatulate tongue on.

Wag more, bark less.

Last night, one of my Golden Retrievers barked at all the costumed trick or treaters. The other one licked every little Princess Buttercup or Dread Pirate Roberts he could get his spatulate tongue on.

Wag more, bark less.




I think that belongs on the "Mission for Board Members" thread... Wag more, bark less!

Terry is absolutely correct that course signage is fairly poor. I did the same trip (albeit about 100 less courses) but found the same to be true. (However, I would not limit the grants to signage, I'll bet there are some other good ideas out there).

Lyle - sorry I barked instead of wagged. My previous wagging had produced no results. We'll see what happens and if a grant program is created, I hope it is one you can support. Thanks for the open mind.

BDH - I don't know who you are or what you think you know, but I;ve been involved for OVER ONE YEAR now. ;) Thanks for the historical perspective.

Steve.

Terry is absolutely correct that course signage is fairly poor. I did the same trip (albeit about 100 less courses) but found the same to be true. (However, I would not limit the grants to signage, I'll bet there are some other good ideas out there).

Lyle - sorry I barked instead of wagged. My previous wagging had produced no results. We'll see what happens and if a grant program is created, I hope it is one you can support. Thanks for the open mind.

BDH - I don't know who you are or what you think you know, but I;ve been involved for OVER ONE YEAR now. ;) Thanks for the historical perspective.

Steve.



Hmmmmm,

I don't know how things are for you Steve, but I live in a world where 90% of my wagging gets missed, ignored, or shot in the donkey. If I was only satisfied if I got 100% I'd be suicidal, but only in the morning (best line by Brad Pitt).

Nonetheless, I support the positioning and efforts by the people I work and interact with because I've learned that a) Sometimes I know less than I think I do (please see Brian's post and think about the whole picture) and b) lot's of experience has taught me that the best way to have future influence is not to fight every battle like it's the last. Rather, I try and compromise and work within the system.

These battles are long term and even when you think you've won, sometimes you haven't. You might find that I agree with you and Pat more often than you'd realize. I simply believe there are better ways to achieve the goals that are more productive. Like, wagging your tail.

As always Steve, I think you are incredibly polite, it is obvious that you work hard for our sport. Thanks!

Part of the reason why I'd support a granting program that was for signs, vs. a general granting program is that you get a double benefit for the signs. If each has a Sponsored by the PDGA notice with a logo that is. It is a gift that pays back dividends.

I think it's misleading to compare the PDGA programs of the past to NEFA's current program. It looks like anyone may take advantage of NEFA's generosity as long as they submit the request. When I tried years ago to take advantage of the PDGA program for new baskets in a nearby town, I was told, "Too bad, you already have a course within 200 miles (or whatever their distance range was). This is only for those areas that have nothing." Yet now that I see where some of those funds went, it seems like I got bogus information. Seems like we need to contact NEFA if we want real help. :p

there is nothing anti-pdga in creating regional structures. i call on NEFA to share their general model in order to help create strong regional bodies. replicating NEFA's model and success in various regions around the country could be a very powerful positive influence on the sport. i would gladly step up and offer a North Texas Frisbee Association based on the NEFA model. we all could still be good pdga citizens of course, but we could use the more local approach a la NEFA to strengthen the local scene.

there is nothing anti-pdga in creating regional structures. i call on NEFA to share their general model in order to help create strong regional bodies. replicating NEFA's model and success in various regions around the country could be a very powerful positive influence on the sport. i would gladly step up and offer a North Texas Frisbee Association based on the NEFA model. we all could still be good pdga citizens of course, but we could use the more local approach a la NEFA to strengthen the local scene.



This is a great idea! I do wonder, given the fractious nature of disc golf in Texas, if you could get good support?

Just wondering how well regional organizations might function in areas where the PDGA is well established? NEFA & SN operate in something like a PDGA vacuum in their respective regions.

In other areas, a similar structure might be less-well supported. I pay PDGA dues and local club dues, and state organization fees with my tournament entry fees. A regional organization would fall between the PDGA and state and be one more set of dues---I'm not sure exactly what they would do to justify another layer of organization.

Regarding possible PDGA grants, it may not be the best use of resources to target a smattering of specific projects, rather than services that have benefit to the membership in general (ratings, course directory, etc.). Plaudits to NEFA, and to everyone everywhere who has advanced disc golf. But, except for areas with no disc golf presence, isn't this better handled locally? Our club earns at least this much with every event we host, which goes to course improvements; a fundraiser could collect much more for any needed project (30 players at $20 each in a fundraiser would raise $600).

Just wondering how well regional organizations might function in areas where the PDGA is well established? NEFA & SN operate in something like a PDGA vacuum in their respective regions.

In other areas, a similar structure might be less-well supported. I pay PDGA dues and local club dues, and state organization fees with my tournament entry fees. A regional organization would fall between the PDGA and state and be one more set of dues---I'm not sure exactly what they would do to justify another layer of organization.

Regarding possible PDGA grants, it may not be the best use of resources to target a smattering of specific projects, rather than services that have benefit to the membership in general (ratings, course directory, etc.). Plaudits to NEFA, and to everyone everywhere who has advanced disc golf. But, except for areas with no disc golf presence, isn't this better handled locally? Our club earns at least this much with every event we host, which goes to course improvements; a fundraiser could collect much more for any needed project (30 players at $20 each in a fundraiser would raise $600).



On the other hand, Pat is well aware that Texas needs some structure. We have infighting (overstatement) for control that a regional body might be able to address. Funding is an issue.