Transcript for the NAFA® Candidate Chat December 11th, 2014


emma.makGood evening, this is Emma Mak of the Nafa Election Committee. I'm the moderator for this third and final candidate chat for the 2014/2015 Nafa Election. Kim Davis is assisting. Welcome, everyone.
emma.makOur Board of Director candidates for this election are: Steve Corona, Neil Flood, Sam Ford and Dale Smith. Steve, Neil, Sam and Dale are participating in this chat.
emma.makPlease direct your questions for the candidates to me in a private message. I will then queue the questions and provide them to the candidates.
emma.makWe will now take opening remarks from the candidates.
emma.makI have three questions in the queue.
Sam FordGood evening all. I thank each of you for joining or at least earding these chats. It helps to understand what everyone is thinking both candidates and racers. The more we know the better job we can do representing all of flyball.
Steve CoronaHello and good evening everyone. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to join the chat session. I look forward to having these discussions in an attempt to improve our already great sport. Thank you to Nafa for hosting and my fellow candidates for their time and input.
emma.makIt looks like we're missing Dale and Neil at the moment.
emma.makFirst question from Dana Hanson: “it’s the clubs’ responsibility to grow the sport.” Your thoughts?
Sam FordI think we all share the responsibility to grow the sport. The Board, the Clubs and each player has some ability to make this sport grow. No one person has that whole responsiblity.
Steve CoronaI believe the clubs are the most accessible part of flyball however the Nafa and the Bod have a large responsibility in marketing and getting name recognition out there.
emma.makSecond question from Mark Hartley: To all the candidates. Any thoughts on how to speed up tournaments?
emma.mak1 question in the queue.
Sam FordThe Australian have an intersting way to speed up racing. They ask the judges to only check with the team once at the start of the race. From then on teams should be ready to race. No further checking the line and box judges should be necessary. Now I am not sure we are to that point but working for faster tournament is a real goal for all of us.
Steve CoronaI think as the technology continues to evolve in our sport that will help speed up the racing day. Currently the Judges have been given some additional tools to help move racing along as well. It is a delicate balance between our handlers and their dogs enjoying the weekend versus getting finished at a reasonable hour. I'm also of the opinion that competitors need to share in this responsibility. There is a wide difference in pace amongst the Regions.
emma.makthird question from Dana Hanson: Following the speed question. One of the things I most liked about my early days in flyball was the goodwill among competitors. As we've become more focused on wrapping up and exiting the lane, I rarely see teams shake hands or share words like "good race". How do we keep or get back the "nice" part of our sport?
Steve CoronaSportsmanship should not be neglected in the heat of competition. I enjoy seeing this displayed at Canam and in various Regions. I think those that have played and enjoyed the sport for years should pass down those legacies and keep it part of our sport.
Sam FordI am not sure that this is a part of the sport that needs to be addressed. I some regions there is still the handshake. In other areas it has become a wave and a word across the mat. What needs to be kept is the part of the sport that acknowledges the importance of having a team to race against. So whether it is a wave and a thankyou from a distance or a team handshake we need to work to maintain the idea we are in this together and that we need each other to make racing happen
emma.makFourth question from Dana Hanson: Regionally diverse board makeup vs skill set (i.e. complementary talents). Which of these do you believe is most helpful to a soundly functioning board?
emma.mak0 questions in the queue.
Sam FordComplementary talents. Each of us represents all of flyball in every region. But the most important part of a board is having the business talent to make this a good working business. So we need all kinds of taleented business people to make this work.
Sam FordI worry more about the business side because if we don't run the business right we won't have a sport to play and at the Bod level it is business first because we have to keep afloat.
Steve CoronaIf we look at Nafa as a business then the skill set plays a very important role in managing day to day operations and the issues involved from marketing, rules, finances, etc. The sport should be judged as consistently as possible across all regions and the make up of the Bod allows for the nuances to be discussed.
emma.makFifth question from Dana Hanson: True what Sam says is that a team to race against is the most important thing. However, isn't the family friendly part of the sport and the goodwill exhibited important in drawing in new competitors? . . . people who may be spectators the first time around?
emma.makI have 0 questions in the queue.
emma.makAny further questions?
Sam FordOh yes it is very important to be seen as friendly. But waving and saying thanks is a way of expressing that. Never do I like to see unsportsmanlike conduct. But I don't think the Bod can dictate just how this is express in every region.
Neil.Apologies for being late. I had 7:30 in my head, except I forgot the "eastern" part
Steve CoronaOur rules for sportsmanship are in place for exactly these reasons. In today's world with cameras everywhere and social media exploding you never know when an unfavorable interaction could be caught and broadcast to the world, even if taken out of context. All competitors need to be aware of their actions and always remember we are here for a fun filled weekend of racing that keeps the safety of the dogs at the forefront of all we do.
emma.makNeil Flood has joined us. We'll give him a chance to catch up on the questions.
Sam FordNow Dana I htink one of the great added benefits to having Canam and racing there is that we begin to see all different regions and how they express flyball. This is a great eye openner for many that have never had the priviledge to race outside their home region. See new teams, new judges makes for a better all around sport.
emma.makWe're going to give Neil Flood a chance to answer the last two.
emma.makNeil: Fourth question from Dana Hanson: Regionally diverse board makeup vs skill set (i.e. complementary talents). Which of these do you believe is most helpful to a soundly functioning board?
Neil.To answer the first part of Dana's question (diverse board vs skill): I actually think they are both equally important to an organzation that spans the area of Nafa. having the greatest skillsets all in one spot will not be any better than having everyone from all areas without the right skills. In both cases i think the board would likely fail it membership. Striking the correct balanace is the key
emma.makNeil: (combined third and fifth question from Dana Hanson) One of the things I most liked about my early days in flyball was the goodwill among competitors. As we've become more focused on wrapping up and exiting the lane, I rarely see teams shake hands or share words like "good race". How do we keep or get back the "nice" part of our sport? Isn’t the family friendly part of the sport and the goodwill exhibited important in drawing in new competitors? . . . people who may be spectators the first time around?
Neil.I agree with Dana that the handshakes have disappeared, but i don't think in the racing i have observed over the past 5 years has gotten less sportsmanlike. I think we exhibit these behviors in different ways, and I think its critical to getting people to come into the sport. It has to be enjoyable, and appear enjoyable to get new people in. We all hurry out of the ring and let the next teams in, but that doesn't mean we can't socialize, interact and have fun with our competitors outside the ring - which i see happening a lot.
emma.makCandidates please prepare your closing remarks. Some reminders while they are doing that - ballots for the election should have arrived in your email inbox on December 1st or soon after. If you have not received a ballot and you are a Club Owner, Regional Director, Approved/supervising judge or a Board Member that has qualified for votes this year, please contact us at elections@flyball.org. Any questions or concerns should also be directed to elections@flyball.org.
emma.makThe election will close at midnight Cst January 8th, 2015. The results will be announced at the Agm on January 10th, 2015 in Athens, Georgia.
Neil.First, I would like to apologize to everyone for being late, and I appreciate being given the chance to catch up. I hope everyone gets out to vote, and as many voices as possible are represented. I would love to have a chance to give back to Nafa. I think I bring an excellent skillset with years of flyball experience to the board, and would love an opportunity to put that to work for our membership. I hipe everyone has a great and safe holiday season. Go Flyball!
Steve CoronaAs this is our last chat I'd like to express that it would be an honor to serve on the Bod and be a part of moving our sport forward and tackling the issues that our sport encounters from time to time. I believe my skill set both in and out of the sport are well suited for the responsibility of sitting on the Nafa Bod. I want to thank my fellow nominees for their insight during these chats and wish them the best of luck. Thank you to all who have attended or have read the chats at a later time. Good night.
Sam FordI would like to say it has been an honor to represent flyball for over 10 years now at the Bod level. This year we have a great group of candidates running and I can support each of them as I know them to be talented great people with loads of knowledge that will be helpful to Nafa flyball. I look forward to doing everything I can to make Nafa flyball successful whether I am elected or not. So if I have a closing thought...it is that I am very appreciative of each of these men running as they have already contributed greatly to this great sport.
emma.makThank you to the candidates for participating in the candidate chats, to enable the electorate to get to know you better. Thanks to those attending the chat, or those who are reading the transcript. Special thanks to the Nominating Committee Chair, Dana Hanson, for his work during the nomination process and coming up with so many great questions to pose to the candidates at each chat. Thank you to Kim for assisting tonight. Please vote! Good night and a have a wonderful holiday season!