2007 PDGA elections ballot

[Chainmeister]

I just received an e-mail askimg me to vote.  I assume all PDGA members received the same.  I really do not  know anybody.  I am not saying that I will listen to you or that I will vote for anybody but...does anybody want to chime in on reasons why I should vote for somebody or tastefully and tactfully tell me why I should not vote for somebody?

[CEValkyrie]

I voted for anyone saying they'd vote to lower PDGA memberships.

I also did not vote for they guy trying to keep Disc Golf World News part of the membership.

[pickax]

Mike Kernan is UnderParMikey. He's notorious for shooting his mouth off and shooting himself in the foot. He currently is banned from posting on the Message Boards until sometime like mid-July. He actually has some decent ideas, but has not shown that he can communicate them in a manner that would be productive on the BOD.  I'd recommend against him.

[Bruce Brakel]

I would encourage everyone to vote for Bob Decker.  He has been providing free accounting services for the PDGA while serving as PDGA Treasurer.  He has been encouraging the PDGA to clean up some sloppy practices and has not been a shaker or mover for anything you'd be for or against.  He would be your "professionalism and competence" candidate.

Beyond that, I'd agree that Mikey Kernan would be a bad choice.  I'm going to vote for tournament directors [other than Mikey] and business owners, in hopes of getting some more common sense on the board. 

[tacimala]

I voted for anyone saying they'd vote to lower PDGA memberships.

I also did not vote for they guy trying to keep Disc Golf World News part of the membership.

I like the magazines, is there something I don't know about that should make me not want this as part of the membership?

[Dan Michler]

i think the issue is that a large portion of your pdga fee goes to making that magazine.  if the magazine could support itself with people who would subscribe voluntarily, then that would be cool.  but i think pretty much everybody who gets the magazine only does so because they want to be pdga members.

i personally think that the internet makes the magazine pretty worthless.  usually all the info in there is outdated.  plus its mostly just ads that i don't care about.

[Mike Clark]

I do not like being forced to pay for a magazine just because i want to be a PDGA member. I forget what the magazine portion of the membership but it is a fairly large part. If there is a magazine option I would more than likely take it but to not have a choice is bad.

[CEValkyrie]

I voted for anyone saying they'd vote to lower PDGA memberships.

I also did not vote for they guy trying to keep Disc Golf World News part of the membership.

I like the magazines, is there something I don't know about that should make me not want this as part of the membership?

I'm not a big fan of the magazine. The cost of a PDGA membership right now is way too much. By eliminating the magazine maybe memberships will come down and draw more members. I don't have the exact numbers but i've heard the magazine is a decent portion of every membership.

If the magazine will go under without the support of PDGA memberships it's obvious to me it's not that good of a magazine. If people like the magazine they would purchase a subscription. I actually think the free issues of Disc Golf Magazine are just as good as DGWN.

[tacimala]

You can buy a subscription to the magazine on Amazon I believe, so maybe the PDGA would be better off sending out a coupon for XX% off the regular price of the magazine with PDGA membership, lower the costs of membership and at the same time, still promote the magazine. I'm sure the numbers would drop in readership because many people are too lazy to register themselves but you are maybe right that PDGA memberships would go up.

[Mukey]

I actually think the free issues of Disc Golf Magazine are just as good as DGWN.

I agree. Even if DGWN is $20 of the membership fee, thats a big part.

[Jon Brakel]

I really like Rick Rothstein. I consider him a friend. I've also done a lot of free work for him. I support the seperation of the membership with the subscription to DGW. I hope that if it happens, Rick will be able to continue the magazine in some form. If Rick is still visiting this forum, I appologize but you know it's not something that I wouldn't say to you personally if/when given the chance.

[Bruce Brakel]

I think the magazine is a moot issue.  The BoD has already decided to make it optional next year.  Rick Rothstein has already decided to shut down the magazine production at Disc Golf World.  I don't think either of those two decisions are going to be reversed by a new board member.  

The magazine was costing $25 per member per year.  I'd be happy to bet $25 that we don't see a $25 dues reduction for opting out of getting the magazine next year.  

Peter Shive's main issue is rebuilding the barrier between the cash-paid and merch-paid divisions.  He's against Pros-Playing-Am based on rating, trophy-only options for ams playing pro, ams being allowed to take prizes in lieu of cash in pro divisions and retain their am status, and the recent amnesty.  He's for the traditional tournament structure.  He's strongly in favor of the current format where players at my skill level are spread across six or seven different divisions based on gender, age and payout preference.  Peter has better defined himself as a candidate than any other candidate except maybe Mikey.  Peter is the candidate for 1990s rules disc golf. 

[stpitner]

Results are in...

Peter Shive received the highest number of votes.
Ron Convers, Jr. was second
Todd Andrews was third
Bob Decker made it in as fourth

I know I voted for one or two of those guys, can't find my email with what I voted for.

[Working Stiff]

My ? is if anyone really thinks anything Peter Shive had to say had any bearing on the election.  The PDGA is completely a player-operated organization, and a multiple World Champion (even in the Senior Grandmaster class) gets respect for what he does on the course that no one can overcome with actual ideas.  If someone like Ron Russell ran for BoD and never campaigned or said a word about what he was in favor of or against, my guess is that he would win in a landslide based on the fact that he is a former Men's Open World Champion.

Of course, there would be the Cam Todd exception to this rule.   

I see people get into arguments on the PDGA message board all the time where the responses end up being "so and so is a 1000 rated player, the other so and so is an 870 rated player.  So shut up 870 rated player, you are obviously an idiot because you can't play.  The 1000 rated player must be right."  Running the PDGA would be a lot easier if this was correct, but unfortunately there is little evidence that a high PDGA rating corresponds to good leadership or problem-solving skills.

No real knock on Peter Shive, but his vision looks backward.  Now because of his high number of votes he comes in with a mandate to turn back the clock and party like its 1999 that the BoD can't ignore.  However, I'm not sure people voted for his ideas.  I think the name recognition of being a multiple World Champion accounts for his high number of votes, not his agenda.

Oh, well.  I could be worse.  Mikey Kernan could have won! 

[Bruce Brakel]

PDGA elections, like elections everywhere, are a popularity contest.  I think most of the Board members realize this.  That kind of takes away from any mandate that anyone thought they had. 

Individual board members do not have that much power to run the PDGA anyway.  The staff and the committees run the organization.  For a Board member to run the PDGA he has to have a lot of time, money and political skill. 

[tacimala]

Wait so Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't really the best candidate for the job?

[Jon Brakel]

Just because a candidate is the most popular does not mean that he cannot also be qualified for the position. I don't know about Arnold, but I think Brett was at least as qualified as I to be your state coordinator.

[Bruce Brakel]

I think Brett was more qualified because he was more popular!