Transcript for the NAFA Candidate Chat January 3rd, 2017
SteveCorona
Okay, let’s begin. Good Evening everyone, I’m Steve Corona, Chair of the NAFA Election Committee and your moderator for tonight’s chat. Thanks for joining us this evening for the third and final candidate chat for the 2016/2017 NAFA Election. Thank you to Kyle Mankes for assisting tonight. As a reminder, this is a moderated chat. Please send all questions to Steve Corona in a private message to //pm SteveCorona
SteveCorona
The Board of Directors Candidates are: Dirk Elber, Matt Goodyear, Peter Guidolin, John Hendriks, Leerie Jenkins, Jessica Knox, Lynda Mantler and Donald Watson. Neil Flood is running for Executive Director.
PeterGuidolin
hello all and happy new year
SteveCorona
Dirk, Neil, Lynda, John, Don, and Peter are participating in this chat
SteveCorona
We will now take opening remarks from the candidates.
DirkElber
Again Happy New Year. Hope 2017 is a really good year for everyone.
LyndaMantler
Hello and Happy New Year to everyone! Thank you to the organizers of this meeting for making this chat possible and to all that are joining in on the chat live and those that will be reading the transcript later. I am honoured to be running for a position on the NAFA BOD. I would love to learn more about the processes behind the scenes at the board level and want to give back to the flyball community that I have received so much from.
JohnHendriks
Happy New Year to all....thanks for taking time out of your evening to join us
NeilFlood
Happy New Year every. Thanks for joining tonight, and hopefully we can answer all the questions you have regarding our sport and organization
SteveCorona
Leerie Jenkins is traveling this evening and wishes that he could join.
SteveCorona
0 questions in the queue. If you have any questions please private message me. Thanks.
PeterGuidolin
I would like to thank all those that put this chat together and those that have joined us tonight for the chat. I have been involved in the sport of fly ball for 10 years and almost half of that as a judge, and the last two years on the Judges' Committee, and I have served on this type of organization in that past, as Junior Hockey teams' director and its treasurer (10 hockey seasons) and a fund raising group that help volunteer organization and service clubs to raise funds (I was a director and signing office for that organisation for 7 years and a member for 8)
SteveCorona
Donald Watson is having technical difficulties and hopefully will join us shortly
SteveCorona
Question from Steve Corona...What qualifications do you bring to the board of directors both from a flyball standpoint and from personal experience?
LyndaMantler
I am analytical and thoughtful. I have served as a director on various community, sports, and professional boards, holding secretary, treasurer, special committee and director at large positions This combination of professional experience and community volunteer work makes me a strong candidate for the Board of Directors. I have been fortunate to have been able to substitute a few times for our Regional Director which has also been a valuable learning process.
PeterGuidolin
I have in my 5th years as a judge and have traveled to several different region (judged in 2, 15,9,10,13,20), so have seen how different region handle things and each year we try to travel to at least one new one. Spending the last 2 years on the judges' committee has been both very informative and educational as to how NAFA works.
NeilFlood
I've actually been doing flyball since 1998, where I started up in region 8 (Manitoba/Saskatchewan), and move to region 3 (Minnesota in 2001). In that time, I've had the privilege and opportunity to race in many of our regions throughout that time and gain an appreciation for the different ways our sport competes across our regions. I've served on the board as well, the last year as the Chairman. Outside of flyball I actually manage a team of IT Security personnel.
DonaldWatson
I have been involved in Flyball for over ten years and the majority of that as team owner which as I'm sure everyone knows takes a special skill set. I have served as a fill in for regional director on several occasions and have hosted many tournaments over the years. My professional background is twenty years serving the U.S. Coast Guard. Most of that was in a leadership role.
PeterGuidolin
Also as mentioned in my opening I have worked with two organizations in the past that are very similar to NAFA in how things get done at the board level. As for my professional like I have work as a project manager for 30 years until my semi-retirement in September 2014
JohnHendriks
I have been playing flyball for 17 years and have been a club owner for 14 years. Also have been the RD in region 12 for 8 yrs. I am seeking my second term this election and would like to follow up the work we have started during my first term. I am also a business owner/employee operating a family construction business since 1979. I feel I have the qualities of working with people through my years of experience
DirkElber
Prior to joining the flyball world I was as active memeber of another non-profit organization and filled the roll of state governor and record keeper for 3 years. That experience gave me a lot of insight into the amount of work that is required to help run an organization of this scope as well as the work required to completely review issues to find the most appropriate solution.
SteveCorona
Next question is from Emma Mak......If you are elected what would you like people to say you accomplished once your term is over?
DonaldWatson
That I was able to help promote that sport of Flyball and increase the number of new members coming in to the sport.
PeterGuidolin
I would like to leave (at the end of the term) with people feeling that I help the advancement of our sport and that was willing to listen to all sides of a debate (over rule changes etc) and was willing to work with all parties to find that common ground to make a change that benefited and advanced the sport for all regions not just certain ones
JohnHendriks
I would like every competitor to feel no matter where they are playing the sport that they are playing on a level playing field with all.
DirkElber
To answer Emma's question ... I would like to think that being part of the board that worked to improve and grow the sport is the key. Being on the board is being able to work with 9 others, including ED, to help make NAFA grow and run for everyone and not just for any certain portions of the members.
LyndaMantler
I would like them to say that I was a committed board member who gave my best effort. I would like them to say that I sought out opinions and brought those insights to the board meetings. I have a strong work ethic and these are actions I plan to take and to prepare diligently for every meeting. To make NAFA the best place to play flyball.
NeilFlood
I would like to build on the positive legacy of the my predecessors, by expanding the sport and continuing to deliver the best flyball sport to our competitors. I would like to be part of the solution to some of the difficult questions we face around measuring which I feel our board can certainly work towards an fair solution for everyone.
SteveCorona
Our next question is from Steve Corona.....Which media avenues do you feel would best help NAFA gain exposure?
NeilFlood
I actually think expanding our footprint on social media is our next step. NAFA has a small presence, but I think we have a great opportunity to build on that and better position ourselves going forward
DirkElber
I think it is a combination of multiple media that will help us grow. Social media is the current method that most people favor, especially to gain the younger generation. But tv and print coverage still does a great job as well and can be shared to others.
LyndaMantler
The power of social media, ie Facebook, Twitter is huge and free! Local media such as radio and newspapers also offer free exposure and can be leveraged at local tournaments to highlight flyball.
DonaldWatson
With social media being the main source of information for a lot of people I would have to say Facebook, Twitter, Snap chat, and others are a great way to promote the sport. In the end I truly believe nothing beats word of mouth.
JohnHendriks
contacting local media outlets to gain exposure for local tournaments is a avenue our region has used. Social media is also a obvious choice
PeterGuidolin
Instant Reply often does the Raptor's basketball games in Toronto we need to try end exploit that a bit more and also demo at local county fairs to get the word out to smaller local group let them know that the sport can be played by any dog or person. Using facebook and things like that are also helpful,
BrianFay
Question
SteveCorona
Emma Mak has asked the following question...What pushed you to run for the board? Is there a weakness you see in the way NAFA is run?
SteveCorona
Brian please private message me at //pm SteveCorona
LyndaMantler
Basically, I love flyball and want to expand my horizons in the sport and for the sport. I will be a representative of the electorate. I think fresh perspectives are good in any organization.
PeterGuidolin
I have served on this type of organization in the past and after being on the judges committee I wanted to get more involved in some the inner workings (sort of speaking) I love this sport and feel that I have a fair bit to offer a few new ideas and maybe a fresh set of eyes. I think that overall the organization is run well and is set up nicely with the board and the various committees.
DonaldWatson
I see no weakness. For me it is the want to do more for the sport and become more involved. Also to bring some representation to the west coast.
BrianFay
As someone that served on the BOD for 6 years, was head of the Judges Committee and also served on the Rules Committee way back when. We had many many large issues with measuring then and we thought we had it all cleaned up so why now is measuring back at the forefront again as a problem in NAFA?
JohnHendriks
The first time I ran I was contacted by the ED at that time to run for the board. I don't feel that there was a percieved weakness. I felt that I had something to offer to help further the sport.
BrianFay
Sorry that was suspose to go to Stex
BrianFay
steve
DirkElber
I dont think there is a weakness. But the structure is so that the other people are always being asked to step up to serve their time helping run the organization. 6 years ago I got an opportunity to join the Judges Committee as a non board member and then continued to get more involved from there.
SteveCorona
We'll address Brian's question after everyone has had a chance to answer the current question.
NeilFlood
I ran for the board as way to help further the sport I'd gotten so much out of for over a decade and it was chance to give back. I don't think there is any major weakness NAFA, but like any organization there is always opportunities for improvements
SteveCorona
Next question is from Brian Fay....As someone that served on the BOD for 6 years, was head of the Judges Committee and also served on the Rules Committee way back when. We had many many large issues with measuring then and we thought we had it all cleaned up so why now is measuring back at the forefront again as a problem in NAFA?
SteveCorona
There are 0 questions in the queue.
NeilFlood
I think there are a few items that bring measuring back in the forefront. First, is that while the process didn't change all the much the last time there was an issue, there was a consensus build around what was acceptable - but some of the problems that lead to issues didn't change.
PeterGuidolin
I think measuring is one of hottest and touchiest issues and as NAFA tighten up a rule (as may have been done during your time) people will always continue to try and stretch rules to the max. I think a lot of trouble with measuring is the "stand" is not as clearly defined as it could be. It is one of the things that I think NAFA needs to be a little more specific in. Also I think we need to be a bit tighter on setting the criteria for a height card, I am not really a big believer in the "need to video measure after a record", I think we need to video measure for the height card (perhaps 2 or 3 videos) then review the videos and add them to the public database. But required a video for a record you are almost eliminating to need to get a height card
NeilFlood
I think, at it's core, we have a highly interpretive process, that has many opportunities for variances. We need to attempt to address these, and find ways to remove variability from the process, and find ways to make measuring more consistent across all the griongs
JohnHendriks
Regarding the measuring.....I feel the problem we are having is more of a interpretation of the measuring stance as written in our current rule book. I believe the stance we are looking for has not changed but unfortunately some areas are interpreting the stance incorrectly. There needs to be a update in the illustration showing the stance that creates a clear cut picture of what a proper stance is
DonaldWatson
As teams become faster and more competitive the one thing that can affect the out come of a race is the height of the jumps. Being the height of the jumps are based on measurement conducted by a judge (human) it can be seen as flawed. Right or wrong you cannot make everyone happy and people will look for an excuse why something didn't go their way. The best NAFA can do is standby their standard and ensure that is being executed correctly throughout the regions.
LyndaMantler
I know the board has been diligently working the measuring issue. It seems there is inconsistency in how the measuring is being done. Though I don't know the solution for it right now, I know it is possible to have measuring be consistent and therefore fair to all. Many good ideas have been floated with input from competitors and judges. This will be so important going forward to keep NAFA the organization of choice to play flyball.
DirkElber
Brian definitely good to have your input on this. Yes measuring has become a hot topic item again. As those currently on the board know its not easy to correct, and many hours have been spent on this in the past year. I will say that with new wording to clean up the rule so that the intent of the rule is really clarified, and clarification to the judges as to what is considered a good stand, we can hopefully resolve this issue.
SteveCorona
As we have no more questions in the queue, candidates please prepare your closing remarks.
SteveCorona
Ballots were emailed out December 1st and polls close midnight CST January 11th, 2017. Results will be announced at the AGM on January 14th, 2017. Club Owners, Regional Directors, Approved/Supervising Judges and Board Members are eligible to vote. The ballot email comes from Big Pulse (election company). If you haven’t received the ballot email, please check your junk mail folder, and if not there please contact elections@flyball.org.
NeilFlood
Thanks for attending everyone, please get your votes in, and I look forward to working with everyone next year
LyndaMantler
I believe I can serve NAFA because of my extensive management experience and my huge passion to make NAFA an even better organization; the best place to play flyball! I would like to leverage my professional knowhow and communication skills to help the Board of Directors. I am ready to accept the challenge and I am very excited and enthusiastic about it. Thank you and good luck to all.
DonaldWatson
I want to thank Steve and Emma for taking time to set up and run the chat sessions. I have enjoyed participating and hope to continue my involvement as a member of the board.
PeterGuidolin
I would like to again thanks those that organized this chat and those that joined us and asked some great questions. I feel that with my experiences in the past both in this type of organization and my professional life along with fly ball experiences that I can serve the BOD to the benefit of the organization as a whole, and with being in a semi retirement situation I do have a fair bit of free time to dedicated to the sport and board. Thank you all and hope everyone has a great new year
JohnHendriks
Again want to thank everyone who attended tonights chat, great to see Brian Fay name. Brian you can contact me if you have any input that you might want to add. NAFA is a great organization that has incredible people working for it. I would like to be one of those people who can help grow the sport in the coming years. Thanks to Steve for taking time to moderate tonight.
DirkElber
Thank you to all that joined tonight. Always good to have questions and get a feeling how others see the issues that face this sport. Hopefully who ever is on the board for the next 3 years will take all of these answers into consideration when subjects like this come up in committee or in meetings. Hope to get to see most of you some where at a tournament in 2017.
SteveCorona
The Election Committee thanks all the candidates and the members of the NAFA community for their participation this evening and throughout the election process. This concludes tonight's chat. Good night and Happy New Year!
PeterGuidolin
good night all nice to hear from you as well Brian hope you are considering returning to the sport
KyleMankes
good night