What is the Role of DDGA?

[Deflord]

What exactly is the role of DDGA?  The impression I am getting is you keep track of membership, you pass on $$ to the tournament folks for the tournament (the upcoming tournament) but what about ground rules, policies, and etc?  Like I inquired about DDGA should promote about the National Deaf Disc Golf Tournament - and then I get a response - one says it is TX11 responsibility, the other says newsletter is for members only.  So when that happens how does DDGA expect to grow or is it content at the level it is now?

[Deflord]

Keep in mind - I am just inquiring on this - because when I look at the website - I see no guidelines - no information on guidance and etc.  So this is why I am inquiring on this information.

[Kent]

Deflord - fantastic question - definitely one that deserves to be explored.

I'm going to wait until an officer of DDGA replies first before I will add my two cents.

[Snap]

We are never content, we want to grow. THe old record of active membership was 70-72. We are at around 80 right now and more will join at TX11...

 Remember it's all effort from Volunteers who put in more hours in this organization than we do other organizations. DDGA has grown like 10 times in the past few years. More active members = more what we can do as an organization, which is ALOT. A lot of players know who DDGA is now compared to 3-5 years ago. Dave Feldberg didnt know there was a real national organization until he was bumping into me often and convinced Ken climo to donate 2k to us, that story will be in the newsletter.

Bylaws are on the front page of DDGA.org, tournament guidelines are under "tournaments". Kent and I, Mostly kent, do web stuff to keep the site updated for the reading audience and take feedback when it is given to improve.

Front page news gets updated by me or kent when we have information to upload

Patrick has been working on the newsletter. I am working on the DVD. Scott operates everything funds wise (not a forum type guy so dont see him on here). I update all tournaments and points when I can since that position is empty and no one has stepped up to offer help.

Most of my work recently has been liasons with PDGA and hearing clubs in building the gap between DDGA and PDGA. The result so far is an automatic bid to USDGC *biggest tourney of year and hardest to qualify for*, 3 automatic invites to pro worlds, subtitled DVD of pro worlds 2010, and PDGA sponsorship of 2011 nationals by waiving fees worth near 1 thousand dollars, and am working on a few other major things with PDGA and other major tournaments.

Most of the money is spent on seed money to national championships, which has been done all the way to 2013, sponsoring sanctioned tournaments, new member discs, web mainteance, merchandise to solidfy DDGA future funds with retail sales like our new drifit shirts, towels, patches, stickers, and discs. Dont forget the end of year point winner prizes which has grown over 500 percent in the last 2 years. DDGA has also been able to get trophies updated and get new trophies for our archives etc.

If you would like copies of the previous newsletters, there are 4 of them from 2009-2010, can ask me, kent, tan, or patrick for them...

Scott presented a clear treasurer report at VT10 and is prepared to do the same at TX11.

In the last 20 months, a total of just over 3 thousand dollars has been given to VT10, TX11, WA12, and IL13. Which would not be possible without the hard work of the officers of the DDGA.

Kent can add more now.. My 9 month old son is sick, need go doctor. Hope my answer clarified a few things. Kent is the best person to add to this thread. Kent, you have the floor

[Deflord]

Snap -

Excellent start- but Constitution/Bylaws - I dont see them on the front page unless it is hidden quite well where I dont see it.   Now the reason why I ask this question is because on some other topics I had asked why doesn't DDGA promote the National Tournament - It should be DDGA also promoting this event because it is the NATIONAL Tournament but Tx11.org is host for it.  DDGA should in my perception take a more active role on promoting events and etc to help the expansion and growth of disc golf.  Now I'll be honest with you - I didn't know there was a National Disc Golf Tournament until last year when Justin Ashton who played softball for me told me that he was going to VT10.   So this is where I am indicating DDGA really has alot of potential for growth and opportunities.  But one thing I admit I was a bit bothered when I inquired about a newsletter or some kind of flyer to send and promote the event - I was told it is TX11 responsibility and job to do that and that newsletter were for members only.  Now that kind of response kind of made me think okay maybe they don't want to take up extra responsibility.  In my eyes/vision it should be the responsibility of BOTH the host and the National organization to publicize, market, and try to draw people to the events.  But I see you have tournament guidelines - which is good and great!  But what I would like to see more of marketing to both members and non-members.    I see a great opportunity to become a large organization with wealth of opportunities but it all falls on marketing.

[Snap]

Bylaws, scroll down front page to bottom - Kent put it there for now.

As for Nationals promotion. Trust me, this is something I personally pinchhhhhhhhhh the committees for nationals to improve on, both for VT10 and TX11. I have been in communication with WA12 and they are already used to my pinching since I live in their backyard, WA12 will get the most pinching from me personally. As for DDGA promoting TX11, TANNNNNN? heh, also we did send out mass FB messages and posted on DDGA front page about TX11 registration often. The newsletter is for DDGA members, same as PDGA magazine for PDGA members. You want archives, ask It's great reading material. I personally have tried contacting sportsmx several times and no answer from them. I did pinch DeafNation for about 18 months until they finally posted 2005 and 2006 Nationals videos back on their website 1-2 months ago. As far as promoting TX11, www.tx11.org and www.ddga.org cover those bases and flyers are on tx11. Help out?

In my own opinion, the officers of DDGA have done more in the past 20 months than in the last 9 years, but that is due to technology and more people helping out. If we had 1-2 more people volunteering their time to help us, we would be even better off. It's not that we are not wanting to take on extra responsibilities, it's just that we have a lot of projects for DDGA on our list of things to do and we are doing our best with what we have to knock each project down.

Kent can fill in more;

But for now from what I know off top my head.

year; Active Membership /Nationals attendance

2011; 76-78 (getting updates weekly) / 80+ signed up already (more than 15 are not current members) - expect current membership to break 100 for first time in DDGA 11 year history. Bylaw saying must be active member to play at nationals put back into effect

2010; 55-60 / 55 at vermont. Bylaw about active membership at nationals announced to be put into effect for 2011

2009; 70-72 / 101 at Illinois. Bylaw about active membership at nationals suspended to attract maximum number of players.

2008; 30-40 / 28 at new mexico. New mexico was best nationals to date easily! Too bad many players chose not to go to new mexico.

2007; 30-50 / 58 at Oregon. Snap joins DDGA officers under Kent.

2006; 40-45 / 48 at paw paw. First time 1st place gets paid 1k cash.

2005; 70 / 68-69 at minnesota. Minn paid for everyone's membership for those who played at minn.

Not too sure about 2001-2004.

Glad you have faith in DDGA's potential, will we see you at TX11? Maybe you can join our efforts to improve DDGA?

[Deflord]

Yes brother you will see me at TX11 - I am already registered as Billy Koch.

Secondly - but there was no Facebook Event Page created - checked with David he wasnt sure - (That is something that DDGA could/might have done since they have all those peeps in their Facebook page) but I created an event this evening and blasted it out to 78 peeps - and some of them are not even registered - so I am hoping that the facebook event blast will help out!  And hoping that people who says they are attending will also send it to their friends and become like a little chain reaction! 

My goal is to see over 100 peeps there participating!  Yes I am like a Woody Woodpecker and I pick and pick until I get people's attention!   

[Kent]

Ok - bunch of posts to read.

If I understand correctly - the direction Deflord is going in is publicity/promotion for TX11.

Let's start listing the how.

1. Facebook (Deflord has blasted an event invite)
2. SportsMX (Snap has bugged them)
3. Deafnation (Snap has bugged them)
4. Ddga website
5. TX11 website
6. PDGA event schedule page
7. Other?

Suggestions.
1. Deafdigest
2. Deaf DG club and their respective representative/president
3. Twitter
4. Other?

Note: I am focusing on the issue at hand based from what I read in the recent posts.
There is always more to be added when the questions are not as loaded 

[Nika]

I have send out emails to ODDGA/NW disc golfers and friends about TX11 registration deadline couple times before, and we spread the word via ODDGA facebook page and at the tournaments etc.   

[Deflord]

As for DeafNation if you want I can contact them - I personally know Joel since we both went to Gallaudet the same time.  Let me know and ill see what I can do - I can also contact SportsMX since apparently my brother knows someone in there.  Let me know.

[Deflord]

Keep in mind something like the Facebook event page can be very useful.  Because alot of time people will wait and see who is going first before committing!  Admittingly some people don't want to look at a website but an event page is like a fast quick peek at updates and who's going. 

[Snap]

www.pdga.com has the updated list of who's going, been updated daily the last 6 weeks... but thanks for the event page, didnt realize there wasn't one already.

twitter will be used with deafdiscgolf, same as last year