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BGonline.org Forums
USBGF: should the coup be bloody or bloodless?
Posted By: April Kennedy In Response To: USBGF: should the coup be bloody or bloodless? (Carter Mattig)
Date: Friday, 18 August 2017, at 7:54 p.m.
All of this infighting has been very distasteful to me. It doesn't help new tournament directors and it doesn't help grow the game.
When I stumbled across our local club a couple of years ago, I couldn't believe that I found such a hidden jewel. It was filled with highly skilled players who have a true love of the game that I also love. And for some reason that I can't fully explain -- even on that first night -- I have never felt so comfortable in a group of strangers in my life. However the club was also stagnant and filled with people who have been going for the last 20-30 years. They are the hangers-oners from the glory days of the 70s and early 80s.
I was motivated to help others find this great thing that I have benefited so much from, so have been using my marketing and social media skills to help cast a net. Between some minimal marketing, special newcomer initiatives and our club who enthusiastically welcomes and accommodates the new people, we have doubled our weekly attendance from about 16 a week to now about 30 per week(a little less in the summer). I feel like we have barely scratched the surface of interest out there.
Because of this, I think that the majority of true growth, if any at all, is going to come from grass roots efforts at the local clubs. Supporting existing tournaments is great, and should be done, but the people who come are those that are already aware that this community exists. I think that there are untold thousands that play (with friends/family/online) that have no idea that this community exists. I see most tournaments with more open players than any other division. That to me is a signal that something is off. I don't obviously want to reduce the number of open players, but increase the advanced/intermediate divisions and more novices. This increase can only come through more outreach programs.
All of the uproar right now is not super helpful, but I plan on putting my head down and getting back to work on building awareness locally. We keep experimenting and I am willing to share with others what is working. I have sat down with others from smaller clubs to help talk through ideas that may work for them locally. All it takes is someone who is willing to put in a little effort. The interest IS out there. I would even be willing to put together a social media guide for clubs, if that would help.
I think that concerted efforts to build attendance at the local clubs would be a helpful focus for our Federation. Becoming more of a regulating body, less helpful right now. My impression is that some of the clubs are dying, or sickly limping on, and former leaders are leaving.
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