Get together to discuss the future of disc golf in Seattle: 1/6/10 7:00 PM

[Ken Smith]

Well, I guess I'll volunteer the meeting place (conference room at my work): 10740 Meridian Avenue N., Suite 102, Seattle ... across the street from Arby's. I take it that Wednesday, 1/6 is an UNOFFICIAL get together as a prelude to a pending "FUTURE" SDGC meeting.

Exit 173 (from North): Go west on Northgate Way, first light is Meridian ... make a left and an immediate left into our building (Meridian North Office Building).

Exit 173 (from South): From offramp you'll be facing East ... make left at light (1st Ave NE), and left at next light (Northgate Way), go underneath freeway overpass and 2nd light is Medidian ... make a left and an immediate left into our building (Meridian North Office Building).

There is water, tea, coffee, and I'll have some snacks. Ken

[JR Stengele]

I will try to make it. I look forward to the future of SDGC. Was there ever a time for this unofficial meeting?

[killa]

Andrew originally suggested 7 PM on 1/6/10, so I suppose that's what we'll go with, unless our gracious host Ken would like to modify the time.

[olydiscgolf]

Well, I guess I'll volunteer the meeting place (conference room at my work): 10740 Meridian Avenue N., Suite 102, Seattle ... across the street from Arby's. I take it that Wednesday, 1/6 is an UNOFFICIAL get together as a prelude to a pending "FUTURE" SDGC meeting.

Exit 173 (from North): Go west on Northgate Way, first light is Meridian ... make a left and an immediate left into our building (Meridian North Office Building).

Exit 173 (from South): From offramp you'll be facing East ... make left at light (1st Ave NE), and left at next light (Northgate Way), go underneath freeway overpass and 2nd light is Medidian ... make a left and an immediate left into our building (Meridian North Office Building).

There is water, tea, coffee, and I'll have some snacks. Ken

Good Lookin' out Ken! This my friends is how things get done!

Someone way wiser than myself once said....
"Ask not what my disc golf club can do for me....but what can I do for my disc golf club"!

[ChUcK]

I'll be there. Do we need anything material-wise, Ken? You know- laptop, easel, markers...? (well, crayons for Jub :wink2:)

That reminds me- I need to get you your tools back, Jub. Do you think the Seattle Metro would balk at bringing a pitchfork on the bus?

[Tim]

Once again, thanks Ken. I've started this as a new thread to concentrate on the progressive side of things.

[TreeLove]

Umm, you might want to edit the title of this thread, I think you meant 2010, not 2009....

[Tim]

Curses! You thwarted my plans for yet another scheduling fiasco!

[Ken Smith]

I will try to make it. I look forward to the future of SDGC. Was there ever a time for this unofficial meeting?

Yes, 7 p.m. will be the time.

I would certainly be glad to take notes.

[cefire]

Thanks so much Ken!!! I'll try to help you out with the notes...I've also contacted Keith Lionetti so he can update us on his progress with getting a new course in South Seattle and where he might need our help :yay:

[sillybizz]

So it's official (it's confirmed) then? 7pm, Wednesday, January 6th, 2010?

I'll be there, and my dad too.

[Ken Smith]

Lowell called me yesterday (we exchanged messages) and indicated that he would like to have the OFFICIAL SDGC meeting on a weekend at the end of January. He didn't give a specific date or time. In my message to Lowell, I indicated I would put this on the forum. However, he assumed that my work's conference room would be available for this future/official meeting. I advised Lowell that using my work's conference room was strictly a one-time venture ... and someone else would need to organize the meeting place, date, time and topics. My involvement in hosting this pre-official meeting is to get the ball rolling.

[cefire]

Great to hear about the meeting Ken! We'll figure out another place to host it, might be something to ask around about on Wednesday. We're all uber thankful that you offered up a space for this current meeting.

[cefire]

Based on conversations with a few people I've got a little bit of an agenda for the current meeting (which of course is just one person's thoughts :seeya: and can be edited in any way!):

1. What are our priorities for improving disc golf in Seattle? (New courses, events, course maintenance, etc.)
2. What are our priorities for a club/organization?
3. Communication? (I'm thinking like maybe a unified mailing list or something for all Seattle Disc Golfers? What are other ways that work for spreading info about work parties, events, etc.?)
4. Updates on current goings on (Keith from Chainbangers about his work, perhaps someone with information on potential Federal Way courses)
5. Lakewood construction/maintenance update?
6. Terrace Creek redesign update?


What else do people want to add???

[Toby Puttzinski]

Based on conversations with a few people I've got a little bit of an agenda for the current meeting (which of course is just one person's thoughts :seeya: and can be edited in any way!):

1. What are our priorities for improving disc golf in Seattle? (New courses, events, course maintenance, etc.)
2. What are our priorities for a club/organization?
3. Communication? (I'm thinking like maybe a unified mailing list or something for all Seattle Disc Golfers? What are other ways that work for spreading info about work parties, events, etc.?)
4. Updates on current goings on (Keith from Chainbangers about his work, perhaps someone with information on potential Federal Way courses)
5. Lakewood construction/maintenance update?
6. Terrace Creek redesign update?


What else do people want to add???


Ok, so back to the regularly scheduled thread discussion--
Thanks Ken for hosting... I will be in attendance, and I'd vote to focus more attention on #2 above.... along with the formation/governing of the club.

[Snooskie Longhorn]

This may or may not have been mentioned, but seems like useful information:

http://www.pdga.com/affiliate_club/start-club

[sillybizz]

Based on conversations with a few people I've got a little bit of an agenda for the current meeting (which of course is just one person's thoughts :seeya: and can be edited in any way!):

1. What are our priorities for improving disc golf in Seattle? (New courses, events, course maintenance, etc.)
2. What are our priorities for a club/organization?
3. Communication? (I'm thinking like maybe a unified mailing list or something for all Seattle Disc Golfers? What are other ways that work for spreading info about work parties, events, etc.?)
4. Updates on current goings on (Keith from Chainbangers about his work, perhaps someone with information on potential Federal Way courses)
5. Lakewood construction/maintenance update?
6. Terrace Creek redesign update?


What else do people want to add???


Hey Andrew was Keith invited to this meeting? If not I know him pretty well and have a contact number for him besides the shop.

I would like to see us do something similar to the West Sound Disc Golf Association, check out their website (http://www.wsdga.org) and take a look at their bylaws and articles of incorporation specifically.

[cefire]

And, we're back to the show and at least one or two of those posts actually accomplished something constructive. Mods, any way we can clean this thing up???

Great post Mr. Snooksie :) - I'll bring a few copies of that article along with me and hopefully a few others can read it before the meeting??

Yeah, Silly, I spoke with Keith and he said he'll be at the meeting - I'll call him and give him a reminder tomorrow as well, I've got his #


I just hope everyone realizes that we're TRYING, its been extremely hard to get everyone on the same page, and even now we're nowhere near where I was hoping. But at the same time, I've got to say its been really frustrating to deal with all the negativity that continues to be directed at the very few volunteers here who are trying to get things AT LEAST moving. I've been here for a little more than a year, I have very little clue about past histories in Seattle, I'm busy just like everyone else, but even so I'm out here giving things a go.

If you (internet reader) feels frustrated, imagine what the volunteers feel like...

For one day, Wednesday that is, lets all temporarily repress the past and figure out what we can do better in the future.

Requisite smiley guys: :biggrin2::dancing::biggrin2::)

[Ken Smith]

Andrew, I completely agree with your sentiment about keeping things positive and focusing on the issues at hand (not bitching about stuff). I'm just happy that we can get together, outside of a DG course, and talk about the local disc golf scene and what we can (organizationally) to make things better, more organized, and more fun.

[sillybizz]

How many are we expecting tonight?

[cefire]

I know of about 10 who said either in email or in person that they will be there. Other than that, you probably know as well as I do...

We'll find out in an hour or so :)

[sillybizz]

Yeah we know how that goes sometimes, hehe. Sounds good though, at least something is happening.

[JR Stengele]

Totally slipped my mind until I just read this post. I am sorry I missed the meeting but will make sure I make it next time. Maybe I can carpool with Toby or Thomas. Glad it is happening and am excited to hear where we go next!

[killa]

That was the first time I've been in a room full (overflowing, really) with people talking about what can/should/will be done to improve our local disc golf scene... and it felt GREAT! Sure, at first there were a lot of "yeah, but..." type comments, and at times it felt like a boisterous town hall meeting, but by the end of it some really good info and ideas were put on the table, and most importantly initiative was taken to continue this constructive conversation where we left off tonight.

It was generally agreed that the central location for all club news & goings on will be Andrew's www.seattlediscgolf.com (http://www.seattlediscgolf.com/) which has been in his signature for a few months now. Of course news about future meetings will still be posted in this thread, and this will continue to serve as the main online discussion forum for the club, but we want to move toward treating NWDGN as just one of several veins to lead people to the club website for an official and complete source for club info.

As I understand it, there is a committee formed to look at the existing club bylaws and see what needs to be updated or modified to establish some real organization as far as what our priorities are, and how the club and future meetings will be run. See you all at the next meeting, time and venue TBA.

[sillybizz]

That was the first time I've been in a room full (overflowing, really) with people talking about what can/should/will be done to improve our local disc golf scene... and it felt GREAT! Sure, at first there were a lot of "yeah, but..." type comments, and at times it felt like a boisterous town hall meeting, but by the end of it some really good info and ideas were put on the table, and most importantly initiative was taken to continue this constructive conversation where we left off tonight.

It was generally agreed that the central location for all club news & goings on will be Andrew's www.seattlediscgolf.com (http://www.seattlediscgolf.com/) which has been in his signature for a few months now. Of course news about future meetings will still be posted in this thread, and this will continue to serve as the main online discussion forum for the club, but we want to move toward treating NWDGN as just one of several veins to lead people to the club website for an official and complete source for club info.

As I understand it, there is a committee formed to look at the existing club bylaws and see what needs to be updated or modified to establish some real organization as far as what our priorities are, and how the club and future meetings will be run. See you all at the next meeting, time and venue TBA.

I feel really good about that meeting, everything is all out in the open and I think we are all on the same page and working together for the same goals. I am excited about the future of Seattle Disc Golf, I have to apologize for some of my comments as of late but my frustration level had almost reached it's critical mass I hope you can all forgive me. A lot more people showed up then I expected and the meeting was much more positive then I expected and I want to thank all of you who showed up. A lot of people were saying "Who's Sillybizz?" I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, lol but now you all know. One of my favorite parts was the Parks Department guy (I apologize I forgot his name) saying that there is a ton of land and money waiting for us and it doesn't even have to be in King County.

Totally slipped my mind until I just read this post. I am sorry I missed the meeting but will make sure I make it next time. Maybe I can carpool with Toby or Thomas. Glad it is happening and am excited to hear where we go next!

I'll give you a call or something next time buddy and we can carpool for sure.

[Adam Schneider]

It was generally agreed that the central location for all club news & goings on will be Andrew's www.seattlediscgolf.com (http://www.seattlediscgolf.com/) which has been in his signature for a few months now. Of course news about future meetings will still be posted in this thread, and this will continue to serve as the main online discussion forum for the club...
Do you want us to create a separate section on NWDGN for Seattle Disc Golf Club discussion?

[Ken Smith]

Adam, I think that would be a good thing to do. It would be strange to arbitrarily pick one of several possible locations, possibly making some people feel that this is being territorial.

I counted 28 people (27 put their e-mails on the sign in sheet). I shot out an e-mail with everybody on it to get that e-mail "thread" started. For some reason Curt's and Nathan Bell's came back after I re-sent it twice to them. Not sure if it's on your end guys, or mine?

Thanks to all that showed. My office was really swallowed up by everybody, so sorry about that.

The man from King County is TJ Davis. Many thanks to TJ for that great information!!

Wow. Let's keep this going. The hard work is yet to come. Ken

[cefire]

I'd like to echo the comments about the really positive nature of the meeting. I know I learned a lot about what is possible for the road ahead and it was great to see soo many people come out to the meeting.

I'm going to work on the website a bit tomorrow and upload a short description of the meeting (not minutes though) and what the action steps that came out of it were.

[killa]

That's great, Andrew. I agree that minutes are not the most important thing to be recorded from that meeting. Perhaps later when the conversation is more structured. Thanks again for doing your part in getting things rolling. :cheers: You should also be commended for keeping things focused enough during the meeting to cover most everything from your agenda... and for being so darned positive and level headed. Three cheers for Andrew!

[JR Stengele]

One of my favorite parts was the Parks Department guy (I apologize I forgot his name) saying that there is a ton of land and money waiting for us and it doesn't even have to be in King County.



How about Everett??!!??@!@

[sillybizz]

How about Everett??!!??@!@

What I got out of what T.J. said was that if we find a suitable spot outside of King County we can still use the money towards putting in a course if we have the club set up and the bodies to help put in and maintain the course.