NASSOA and Nationals

[DHH]

Since the moderators/NASSOA officers clearly don't want this discussion in the current thread about 2010 Nationals, I'll try it here. (But I am doubtful that I will get an answer here, either).


Sorry if I'm slow, but....
I still don't get it. What is NASSOA's role when it comes to deciding where a National meet will be held? I read that NASSOA was defining a process for clubs to submit bids/proposals. Is that "assisting"? Who decides which proposal is the winner?

It is great that NASSOA is there to support those who have the passion and dedication to organize a national event. But I keep seeing postings that make me think that NASSOA wants to decide where Nationals will be.

It may or may not be a good thing to have NASSOA be the "decider", but we should be upfront about the intentions. So far Nationals have come about by someone raising a hand and volunteering and then rallying enough support. NASSOA then comes along side to help and support, as in 2008 and 2009. Can we continue in that manner? I don't know, but my question remains:

What does it mean that NASSOA assists in the selection of Nationals?

[solli4me]

The newly formed "NASSOA" consists of the members of this forum. The people who hold a position on the council essentially put into a legalized structure what all of us (who joined the Solstice Forum in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006) have built from the very beginning through our energy, dedication, enthusiam and love.

That being said, NASSOA belongs to the members of the forums because the entity of NASSOA is the members who contribute and participate within these forums.

If the council can put a methodology into effect without alienating anyone, they will have performed a service for the rest of us. I'm assuming that the submissions and proposals process is a formality you'd find in many clubs. I'm also assumimg that the proposals would be posted for vote by the NASSOA members (just like before).

Hope that helps and if I'm way off base, please let me know.

[Aspenrose]

Originally Posted by solli4me The newly formed "NASSOA" consists of the members of this forum. The people who hold a position on the council essentially put into a legalized structure what all of us (who joined the Solstice Forum in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006) have built from the very beginning through our energy, dedication, enthusiam and love. That being said, NASSOA belongs to the members of the forums because the entity of NASSOA is the members who contribute and participate within these forums. If the council can put a methodology into effect without alienating anyone, they will have performed a service for the rest of us. I'm assuming that the submissions and proposals process is a formality you'd find in many clubs. I'm also assumimg that the proposals would be posted for vote by the NASSOA members (just like before). Hope that helps and if I'm way off base, please let me know.

You're spot on! (With the addition that we have a good number of members that only belong to the other big SKY, GXP or RL forums, and a very small number that belong to none, yet!)

[solli4me]

tru dat.

[DHH]

Originally Posted by solli4me The newly formed "NASSOA" consists of the members of this forum. The people who hold a position on the council essentially put into a legalized structure what all of us (who joined the Solstice Forum in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006) have built from the very beginning through our energy, dedication, enthusiam and love. That being said, NASSOA belongs to the members of the forums because the entity of NASSOA is the members who contribute and participate within these forums. If the council can put a methodology into effect without alienating anyone, they will have performed a service for the rest of us. I'm assuming that the submissions and proposals process is a formality you'd find in many clubs. I'm also assumimg that the proposals would be posted for vote by the NASSOA members (just like before). Hope that helps and if I'm way off base, please let me know.

Originally Posted by Aspenrose You're spot on! (With the addition that we have a good number of members that only belong to the other big SKY, GXP or RL forums, and a very small number that belong to none, yet!)

So NASSOA is the arbiter of where Nationals will be each year?

[MyNewSolstice]

DHH
NASSOA offers an umbrella policy as farces insurance goes which is HUGE to an event... Also the people who chair nassoa are alot of the people who have done the national meets in the past...as far as the control of the national meet...hmmm this is interesting... Nassoa by what has been posted said their will be bid packets out....I am looking into some clarification for you on this....as far as what you have read make up your own mind about it all it is an ever evolving forum and I don't see any money spent on any of the groups or orginizations would be in poor judgement!

[JustMike]

Originally Posted by DHH What does it mean that NASSOA assists in the selection of Nationals?

It means that we MASSOA does what our members want us to do in the selection of Nationals.

Remember that we are a non profit member lead organization. We are not a for profit business.

So that means that to continue to exist we need to service the needs of our members.

So maybe the better question is what do the members of NASSOA want the role of NASSOA to be in assisting in the selection of Nationals.

[DHH]

Originally Posted by JustMike It means that we MASSOA does what our members want us to do in the selection of Nationals. Remember that we are a non profit member lead organization. We are not a for profit business. So that means that to continue to exist we need to service the needs of our members. So maybe the better question is what do the members of NASSOA want the role of NASSOA to be in assisting in the selection of Nationals.

Well, I am an NASSOA member and have never been asked for my input on anything. I can't even get a straight answer as to what the current intent is vis-a-vis Nationals. It looks like "supervising" Nationals is one of the reason's NASSOA was formed, but I've not been able to get a yes or no answer out of NASSOA.

So, as a dues paying NASSOA member I'll make this suggestion. Let's stop dancing around the issue and say that NASSOA will select the location of aNational meet each year based on proposal submitted by regional clubs (which do not need to be affiliated with NASSOA. The NASSOA grand poo-bahs will review all proposals and submit them with recommendations to a vote by the general membership.

That is not my first choice for a solution but I think it is better that the "we-sort-of-maybe-might-not-really-but-kind-of" decide where nationals will be held.

BTW: Being a NFP really doesn't have anything to do with how you are governed.

[JustMike]

Originally Posted by DHH So, as a dues paying NASSOA member I'll make this suggestion. Let's stop dancing around the issue and say that NASSOA will select the location of aNational meet each year based on proposal submitted by regional clubs (which do not need to be affiliated with NASSOA. The NASSOA grand poo-bahs will review all proposals and submit them with recommendations to a vote by the general membership.

That sounds like a viable solution ... Would you want that suggestion for NASSOA role in the Nationals put to the current NASSOA members for a vote?

Originally Posted by DHH That is not my first choice for a solution but I think it is better that the "we-sort-of-maybe-might-not-really-but-kind-of" decide where nationals will be held.

So what is your first choice?

Originally Posted by DHH BTW: Being a NFP really doesn't have anything to do with how you are governed.

Not sure I agree with you here. I think it has everything to do with how you are governed. If you are a for profit company then you are governed by the owners or the shareholders. You serve their interest which hopefully are the same as the customers or members.

If you are a NFP then you tend to be governed and elected by the members of the organization.

[solli4me]

Originally Posted by JustMike It means that we NASSOA does what our members want us to do in the selection of Nationals. Remember that we are a non profit member lead organization. We are not a for profit business. So that means that to continue to exist we need to service the needs of our members. So maybe the better question is what do the members of NASSOA want the role of NASSOA to be in assisting in the selection of Nationals.

WE are NASSOA, yet we are independent in our regional groups. Essentially, we represent ourselves in our endeavors and NASSOA provides an insurance policy for our events.

If I wanted to host a National Meet I would do what Druid is doing - soliciting ideas, getting feedback and guaging interest. After culling through the info, I might want more detailed information from folks who have experience dealing with setting up hotel reservations, tee/calendar printing, vendor contracts, promotions and the like. Networking is key to a successful event and the forums are helpful to this end.

NASSOA assistance in the selection of the National should read that we (NASSOA) are selecting the National. If there are "bid packets" going out, I hope that the bid packets aren't subjected to approval by the council before they go to the members and I hope there's no fee involved.

What is the redress if the council sets policy that may not serve the needs of the members or is limited in scope?

[dengel]

I think regarding NASSOA, everyone has to realize that it is still in its infancy, and not yet one full year old.

The reason that we haven't heard exactly how future NASSM sites will be decided is probably because the logistics of the process has not yet been figured out.

As was mentioned in one of the posts above, the Solstice and Sky community is made up of many folks who are members of four or five different online forums and/or are members of many different local or regional clubs, as well as some NASSOA members aren't involved in any forum or local club at all. So what is the best way to make sure all those folks get a vote in the selections? I don't know, but I am willing to wait and see what process is decided on before jumping on folks about whether or not it is fair.

[Aspenrose]

Originally Posted by dengel I think regarding NASSOA, everyone has to realize that it is still in its infancy, and not yet one full year old. The reason that we haven't heard exactly how future NASSM sites will be decided is probably because the logistics of the process has not yet been figured out. As was mentioned in one of the posts above, the Solstice and Sky community is made up of many folks who are members of four or five different online forums and/or are members of many different local or regional clubs, as well as some NASSOA members aren't involved in any forum or local club at all. So what is the best way to make sure all those folks get a vote in the selections? I don't know, but I am willing to wait and see what process is decided on before jumping on folks about whether or not it is fair.

Thanks, Diane, you've nailed it pretty much. The council was meeting weekly, and we had cut back to every 2 weeks. With the sudden onset of 2010 Nationals hysteria we are resuming the every Sunday night conference calls to get the National packets finalized. We are using other successful national clubs' processes to create what the Solstice and Sky community really needs at this young stage. Not reinventing the wheel, just customizing to suit the size of the potential attendees in upcoming years.

There will be no 'fees', and there will be no council pre-screening. Now if a group fails to submit a key element (ie, area facilities for lodging/banquet) they'll no doubt be contacted to get that critical info, before putting the proposals before the membership to vote.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I've misstated anything, however it is a holiday weekend, so folks just aren't online right now.

JustMike-we need a life, eh?

[Devoking]

Isn't the key point here the fact that anyone can put together a meet any time and anywere they choose.
The NASSOA then has at their disgresion the choice of giving their support to the event or not.
It just so happens that an event with the backing of the NASSOA will most likely wind up having more support from vendors, and will automatically have the support of GM.

[Aspenrose]

Originally Posted by Devoking Isn't the key point here the fact that anyone can put together a meet any time and anywere they choose. The NASSOA then has at their disgresion the choice of giving their support to the event or not. It just so happens that an event with the backing of the NASSOA will most likely wind up having more support from vendors, and will automatically have the support of GM.

For a local/regional meet yes, for a NASSM(TM)? No, it's more involved, and do we really want two or three events setup and trying to get attendance as a national level meet, on the same weekend, in the same month, or even in the same year? That's counter-productive for all the clubs involved.

The NASSM(TM) has key elements to be defined and documented that set it apart from local / regional meets, and since I'm the only council member online right now, I'm going to shut up before the rest of the council starts wagging fingers at me.

[Devoking]

Originally Posted by Aspenrose For a local/regional meet yes, for a NASSM(TM)? No, it's more involved, and do we really want two or three events setup and trying to get attendance as a national level meet, on the same weekend, in the same month, or even in the same year? That's counter-productive for all the clubs involved. The NASSM(TM) has key elements to be defined and documented that set it apart from local / regional meets, and since I'm the only council member online right now, I'm going to shut up before the rest of the council starts wagging fingers at me.

You're no fun at all!