This article appears in the upcoming Disc Golf World (in most people's hands around the end of the month). Hopefully it will add a wee bit of insight.

Thanks to all the candidates for running, answering the question, and allowing their words to be published here.

Rick Rothstein
Publisher, Disc Golf World



PDGA Elections�Your Vote Does Matter!
An unprecedented nine people are running to fill the four open PDGA Board positions. You can read the candidates "platforms" at PDGA.com, which of course, will be included on the ballot. (See the PDGA pages in the Spring 2007 issue about the election procedure.) Because we do not know most of the candidates personally, as we have in years past, we decided to use this space to ask them a single question that is dear to our hearts: "What is your vision of how the PDGA should communicate with the membership in print?" We requested 125 words or less, and did not edit any candidate�s words (we did edit punctuation and spelling, and we combined paragraphs). The candidates appear alphabetically.

Todd Andrews - #13590
Portland, Oregon
DOB: 7/3/1962
[email protected]
Communication of information within any organization is very important. In our modern world, it seems that the places one can get information is infinite. While still an important form of communication, I see the relevance of print media waning when compared to what is available on the Internet. I see Disc Golf World as a valuable resource. I love the articles, interviews, pictures, and equipment reviews. It is because of this that I would choose to continue receiving the magazine. However, I believe that the role of providing the membership information could be better served by a newsletter that is produced in house. Produced in this manner, it could be easily distributed via e-mail or mailed to those without Internet access by request.

John Birkrem - #13399
West Windsor, New Jersey
DOB: 2/10/1966
[email protected]
I believe it is very important for the PDGA to communicate with its members through printed material as well as electronic. The reality is 100% of members do not have e-mail. So, in addition to the important role that the Disc Golf World provides, periodic flyers to each member�s home should be mailed as well. This is especially true for the more important items: voting related, rules related, special fund raising, the endowment, to name a few. The relative cost is outweighed by the value this brings to the member.

Roger J. Brickell - #20915
Valley Center, Kansas
DOB 9/17/1961
[email protected]
Communication within the disc golf community as well as with the general public is important to the PDGA�s continued success. The PDGA Board should increase the communication with its membership through all means available: media, print, websites, forums and email. Printed media should be specifically used to communicate financial results, budgets, mission statements, and business plans to our membership through newsletters and/or official published articles in an affiliated magazine. All members should be included as part of any printed distribution. A professionally printed publication is essential to attract new players and potential sponsors. Printed articles should highlight our members, playing tips, new products, human interest stories, tournament results and advertising. These should be designed to promote our sport and recognize its competitors.

Ron Convers, Jr. - #9648
Blackwell, Oklahoma
DOB: 08/01/1962
[email protected]
Until recently, I didn�t have a P.C. at home. I relied on my quarterly issue of DGW as well as other publications to keep me current on disc golf issues. I firmly believe that PDGA members must have a tangible source of disc golf information Electronic newsletters are wonderful, however, a magazine or printed newsletter offers many more opportunities: 1) to share with others; 2) to keep...years down the road; and 3) most importantly, all members do not have easy access to electronic media. I believe that the PDGA needs to either adopt a publication or print one of its own to fulfill the obligation under the bylaws. Perhaps bids could be taken to print a quarterly PDGA magazine.

Robert Decker - #17745
Wichita, Kansas
DOB: 11/21/1954
[email protected]
It is important that the members, staff, and Board of the PDGA maintain as many lines of communication as possible. As is done now, I would envision that the PDGA should use print media as a way to communicate tournament results, summary financial statements and budgets, and detailed articles from staff and board members to all disc golfers and other interested parties. Electronic media can continue to be used for up-to-date communications and for communicating with those that do not wish to receive printed media. Print media is still an important tool for the sport. A quality, visually appealing, magazine(s) showcases the professionalism and growth of disc golf to those outside our sport and gives us a great tool to promote disc golf.

Michael Kernan - #14304
Metairie, Louisiana
DOB: 04/05/1968
[email protected]
Anyone who would ask candidates to provide a grand "vision" of an idea in 125 words or less doesn't understand what a grand vision is...and that's always been my problem with Disc Golf World. DGW lacks vision. Rothstein, you need to sell DGW to someone who will quit printing fluff like poetry and your redundant articles about girl scouts and Disney families�enough already! Let's hear more about the overwhelming majority of players with tattoos, strange haircuts, and jewelry that would scare the pants off of our parents. It's also impossible to answer this question without knowing the cost of DGW to each PDGA member�something DGW and the PDGA have never had the courage to publish, even as the debate continues over subsidizing DGW I'm not opposed to the PDGA subsidizing a disc golf magazine�but let's be sure it's more than propaganda for the PDGA tyrants who are trying to turn a sport, born in the rebellious hippie �60s, into a clean, wholesome, elitist hobby fit for any greedy sponsor to which the PDGA is willing to sell its soul.

Peter Shive - #7240
Laramie, Wyoming
DOB: 7/2/41
[email protected]
As noted in my platform statement, I believe that there should be a high-quality magazine that can document disc golf for the membership and represent it in an exciting way to the outside world. I don't want this to be published directly by the PDGA because I would prefer that it have editorial freedom to air controversial issues. In addition the PDGA should seek membership opinion more than it has. Too many major Board decisions have been made impulsively, with little or no chance for the membership to comment before the fact. We cannot depend on the DISCussion website because it is read by few and deliberately avoided by the majority. The best way to do it would be to send poll questions to members who can be reached by the Internet. This is not as easy as it sounds. Someone has to generate a useful survey instrument, tabulate the results, prepare an effective synthesis, and then explain to the membership what the Board did and why. So, it isn't going to happen often, but it should happen for the big decisions. Finally, the Board should continue its present policies of publishing "PDGA pages" in the magazine, and publishing financial statements and minutes of Board meetings. With regard to the minutes, I would prefer that they be more informative, and be published more promptly, than they have been.

Steve Timm - # 29408
New Orleans, Louisiana
DOB: 01/01/1956
[email protected]
The publication DGW needs to be examined regarding the cost to the PDGA. Yes, the Bylaws says print communications is needed but at what cost? The overall budget has limitations, and the increased fees to members needs to be justified. This increased membership cost has been and will continue to be the core issue for retaining members. Too many members are voting "NO" by not renewing. They fail to see the value in membership. The present publication has an image challenge and has taken the brunt of the outcry from the membership. I propose to evaluate the effectiveness of DGW in our purpose of communications. I refuse to continue spending members' money just because "That is what we have always done."

Michael Wildner - #12132
Interlochen, Michigan
DOB: 12/11/1964
[email protected]>
As a computer technician, I opt to get my information electronically whenever possible. I realize that not every PDGA member shares this preference, so it is clear that PDGA communication should not go completely paperless. This is one of those issues that I believe is best left to individual choice, as it is for stockholders in most modern corporations. Give each member the option of e-mail versus paper communication, and a choice as to whether or not to get a magazine. If this saves the PDGA some expenses, then there should be a proportional discount off of the membership fees. Anything that can help decrease the cost of being a PDGA member will help to keep the organization growing.

That was enlightening. Thanks, Rick.

Mikey Kernan is something else...personally I like his view on the sport.

Michael Kernan - #14304
Metairie, Louisiana
DOB: 04/05/1968
[email protected]
Anyone who would ask candidates to provide a grand "vision" of an idea in 125 words or less doesn't understand what a grand vision is...and that's always been my problem with Disc Golf World. DGW lacks vision. Rothstein, you need to sell DGW to someone who will quit printing fluff like poetry and your redundant articles about girl scouts and Disney families�enough already! Let's hear more about the overwhelming majority of players with tattoos, strange haircuts, and jewelry that would scare the pants off of our parents. It's also impossible to answer this question without knowing the cost of DGW to each PDGA member�something DGW and the PDGA have never had the courage to publish, even as the debate continues over subsidizing DGW I'm not opposed to the PDGA subsidizing a disc golf magazine�but let's be sure it's more than propaganda for the PDGA tyrants who are trying to turn a sport, born in the rebellious hippie �60s, into a clean, wholesome, elitist hobby fit for any greedy sponsor to which the PDGA is willing to sell its soul.


Eff yeah! Why the hell would we want to change from the 60s? Has pro football changed? I'm sure those guys would rather be wearing leather helmets and playing "for the love of the game" and lost teeth instead of entertaining millions while raking in billions. Look how much worse off those guys are, the pathetic changing-with-the-times sell-out [censored] [censored] ers. Go Mikey! You understand what's really important!
{/sarcasm}

Mikey Kernan is something else...



Right. And that "something else" may require a medical evaluation to be determined.

I hope the guy gets the help he seems to need.

WOW, how do you really feel, Mike?

I did find one thing to agree with...NO MORE POETRY! I know we are trying to attract more ladies to the game, but I'm not even sure they like the poetry.

Personally, I would like to see DGW do more tips from the pros, profiles of players, information on places to play, etc. I enjoy about 20% of the magazine (enough to keep me reading it), but I think there are ways to improve.

Wow.

Rick Rothstein, Disc Golf World Publisher, gives every Board Candidate space in his magazine to answer a simple question about PDGA communication. It's an excellent opportunity to reach PDGA members who potentially have no computer access and only follow PDGA communications in the magazine.

And what does one candidate do? He takes the opportunity to insult Rick, as well as the existing PDGA leadership, labeling them 'tyrants.' And save for a few punctuation and spelling corrections, Rick has to print every word of it.

How incredibly sad. :(

Mikey Kernan is something else...personally I like his view on the sport.



On the other hand, I'd say that Mikey doesn't read DGWN since I recall articles on tatoos and other radical parts of disc golf within the last year or so.

I do agree with him that we are what we are and we should not deny that, but I think he misses the point. Take for example Cycle World. Do they focus on the drug culture that surrounds parts of the motorcycle world? No, that would be dumb. Even Chopper doesn't do that.

The job of the PDGA and to some extent DGWN is to make the sport look good. I'd say they do that reasonably well.

I do agree with Annita. The replies were enlightening.

Personnaly, I think that DGWN is good for disc golf. However, that doesn't mean we should foster the cost on members who don't want it. I would be sad to see it go but I don't have an answer that is fair.

I do believe there will be a hue and cry from the many members who never go to the internet. They will be caught by surprise by this.

If there was one thing I think DGWN could have done better, it would be to cover the issues that come up on this site. I suspect that the non-internet players would have had some harsh words about some of what has gone on here.

I don't know if I like how the question is worded. We all know your vested interest in the issue at hand. Why not come out and directly ask: If elected will you vote to make DGWN optional to members? We all knew what you assumed, just be forthcoming and ask it. You already announced that DGWN would fold if the membership were optional. Now you�re going to ask an indirect question to a pretty hot and important issue.

Of course you want everyone to know where each candidate stands on the issue, your income depends on it.

I work as a manager in a printing and publishing shop. I have seen and worked with many publications over the past few years. I haven't seen many publications like DGWN. It is subsidized by the organization it serves, sells a substantial amount of advertising space and is available for purchase by subscription. So the magazine is going to completely fold if one of those avenues of income is reduced? Without knowing the numbers, I can only assume it is a pretty sweet deal. You receive a nice check from the PDGA. All major disc golf related businesses want to advertise because they know it is going to every member�s home. The circulation rate automatically increases at the same rate as PDGA membership, without any additional effort. CHA FREAKING CHING$$$

I will have to say that I think it is a quality magazine. I do bring every issue to work and share it with co-workers.

I have one question:

Will DGWN really fold if it is an optional part of membership?

I do not know how much DGWN gets from the PDGA or what the advertising rates are. I do know that a quality publication costs a decent amount to print. However, digital printing is changing the economics of printing a high quality "niche" publication like DGWN. Even if there was circulation of only 1,000 pieces, the magazine could be printed digitally for a low cost. If DGWN was printed digitally in small quantities, the current cover price would provide a good profit margin.

I personally feel that making DGWN optional would be good for disc golf and the PDGA. It would make DGWN a better, more independent, self-sufficient publication. It worries that the publisher has so little faith in the product he is selling that he forecasts its demise if the consumer is given the choice whether or not to receive it.

Let�s just call it what it is! The biggest gravy train in disc golf

Mike knows exactly what he is doing. He has successfully presented himself as the anti-establishment candidate and is unabashedly catering to this constituency which the establishment refuses to acknowledge as an important and vital faction of the membership.

The present election system benefits Mike's type of candidate, as he only needs to win the support of 25% (or less) of the voters to get elected. As a resident of Louisiana, he is all too familiar with this "open primary" system and its nuances, and is exploiting the PDGA election much as recent demagogues in Louisiana have exploited that state's electoral process.

6Pack speaks the truth - this election system does give an advantage to candidates who would otherwise be relegated to "the fringe," but who can probably muster enough votes to come in 3rd or 4th. Four or five of the current candidates are nearly indistiguishable, based on the answers to these questions and other comments that have been posted. Taking the top four of such a field paves the way for a maverick to finish high. I think that's the strategy that David Duke used to win election to the State House and almost the Governorship in Lousiana.

Wow - I'll have to let my mom know that I finally found a situation where my graduate degree in Political Science could be put to use.

and the comments made to discredit him may actually increase his popularity. classic.

Mike knows exactly what he is doing. He has successfully presented himself as the anti-establishment candidate and is unabashedly catering to this constituency which the establishment refuses to acknowledge as an important and vital faction of the membership.

The present election system benefits Mike's type of candidate, as he only needs to win the support of 25% (or less) of the voters to get elected. As a resident of Louisiana, he is all too familiar with this "open primary" system and its nuances, and is exploiting the PDGA election much as recent demagogues in Louisiana have exploited that state's electoral process.



Anti-establishment is one thing, openly hostile is another. Take for example what happens to "real" political leaders if they get too openly hostile.

Also, remember, this is not the first time that Mikey has run for office. He's lost at least one time before, granted there were fewer candidates.

On the other hand, Mike's message is going to appeal to some, and his openly hostile (IMO) rhetoric will appeal to some others. He just may win a position after all.

Wanna bet that if he gets elected he actually makes those issues he is championing worse... :D i.e. retention, growth etc. His notion that you're going to grow the sport by attracting the low end player (keeping the cost low) and allowing the crassest behaviors to dominate, is rejected by every successful business organization out there.

Even the Gen X sports don't directly cater to that behavior. Look at Tony Hawk. The guy is the consummate professional. He has to be. Teenagers don�t buy skateboards� their parents do.

Our sport is dominated by reasonably mellow middle aged men. Yes, there are large influential groups other than that but most of the talent and money comes from that older group. They won't take well to a radical approach to the sport. We aren't skateboarders...

That doesn't mean we should all be wearing polos, but it also doesn't mean we want to be out there in our hip hop t-shirts lighting up.

i envision a series of small, visible marks that form symbolic representations of sound. these representations are combined in such a way as to form "words" that have specific meaning. when these so-called "words" are put together and understood by all, information may pass between the membership and the pdga leadership.

Words from the exiled Mike Kernan follow:

"Mr. Ross, please refrain from your usual distortion of my opinions and positions until I return in triumph from exile in the third world of Katrinaville. I again thank 6Pack for his generosity in allowing my message to be delivered to the suffering PDGA members who have been overtaxed for far too long.

If you will recall, Andi Lehmann, hardly a PDGA black sheep, and I, both collected about 40% of the vote in the 2003 election under the old system of PDGA elections that any political scientist would agree was skewed towards the incumbents. These elitist incumbents for years preyed upon the understandably blind acceptance by the majority of PDGA members that the PDGA was doing just fine (after all, disc golf is simply an enjoyable hobby to I'd guess at least 90% of the members). Often these elitists would resign near the end of their terms, so their hand-picked successors could run as incumbents. That Andi and I scored 40% of the vote should have been an alarm to the elitists that they were getting out of step with a growing faction of members, however, they were drunk on power and instead decided they were beyond reproach. Instead of listening to the members, they dismissed valid concerns as the views of a few "madmen" and then they destroyed the old PDGA Constitution, revoked some rights of the members, and of course, raised membership dues by the highest percentage ever.

I am not appealing to the low end player, Mr. Elitist Ross. There are better ways to raise money than to force members to pay higher dues---those who have more money to donate than others should be encouraged to do so. If every member was encouraged to raise just $25 from a disc raffle, a bake sale, a corporate sponsor in their town, or their parents, or other avenue, the PDGA would have $250,000 to spend.

While you may think I support the return of $25 memberships, in reality, I am willing to compromise at between $40-$50 for everyone. It's dumb to make the pros pay more---while they may use more resources they certainly also generate more resources by running tournaments, building courses, and often have used a hefty sum of money to wholesale purchase better discs for sale to locals in their areas.

As for your opinion that disc golfers won't take well to an extreme-sport attitude, I disagree. We will never be able to compete head-to-head with ball golf, therefore we should emphasize the differences between the two types of golf. I am not anti-family, anti-woman, nor anti-polo, however, I believe that we must try something different than DGW's constant pandering to the small minorities of disc golfers these constituencies represent. DGW rejected a well-written article about the 3rd largest tournament held in 2006, the Southern National Pro/Am Championships, that would have given the membership a lot to think about. DGW needs to educate about things like the Rules Of Play, Course Design (I miss terribly Houck's excellent articles in that realm), Ratings, Techniques, and display photos of someone other than Mark Ellis and Tom Monroe every darn issue. I've heard their stories enough, now let's find the next World Champ like Coda Hatfield or Cale Leviska or Chris Sprague or Matt Orum and ask them how they're kicking so much tail.

Thank You,
Michael Kernan
#14304"

DGW rejected a well-written article about the 3rd largest tournament held in 2006, the Southern National Pro/Am Championships, that would have given the membership a lot to think about.



is it possible to read this article somewhere? i need something to think about :) (seriously, i'd like to read it)

mucho gracias...

wow, you gotta admit - thats the kind of reply from Mikey that would get him elected and the kind of reply that shows his true intentions of refining the PDGA if you can look past all his hostile remarks

DGW rejected a well-written article about the 3rd largest tournament held in 2006, the Southern National Pro/Am Championships, that would have given the membership a lot to think about.




is it possible to read this article somewhere? i need something to think about :) (seriously, i'd like to read it)

mucho gracias...



yes ... it was published in Disc Golf Magazine ... you know, that disc golf publication with the good writing, informative and timely articles, great price (free), clean layout ... the one that supports itself on advertising.

If you can look past all his hostile remarks



Sigh. And the lack of truth underlying many of the claims and allegations.

For example, how is it that the "elitist" old guys hanging on to power have let the combination of last year's and this year's elections create a PDGA board this August that, at most, will contain only one member who was a board member in 2005?

Nothing like the real world to disprove power-hungry conspiracy theories.

...but let's be sure it's more than propaganda for the PDGA tyrants who are trying to turn a sport, born in the rebellious hippie �60s, into a clean, wholesome, elitist hobby fit for any greedy sponsor to which the PDGA is willing to sell its soul.



Isn't there already a magazine called "High Times"?

The following is a question from Mikey Kernan:

"David Gentry is the PDGA Tour Manager. In 2006 the PDGA paid for him to fly all the way to Japan to learn first-hand about International PDGA competition. Yet recently he claimed in an e-mail to candidate Mike Kernan #14304 that he is "not up to the specifics on International events".

This was in response to a question Mike asked in regard to the PDGA charging different fees for events overseas versus events in the USA, such as $0 per player for non-members in Europe versus $5 per player for non-members in the USA. (I'm not sure if that is a fact, but could be true)

So, Board of Directors Candidate, do you feel that David Gentry is properly doing his job as PDGA Tour Manager? Don't you agree that the PDGA Tour Manager should know what the PDGA charges for overseas sanctioning? Finally, does this indicate that all the PDGA's finances are improperly centered in one person, the PDGA Executive Director?

Thank you for tackling this thorny issue."

Mike

PDGA tour manager, Dave Gentry followed proper office protocol in politely advising Mr. Kernan to contact the International Committee chairman, as that committee has been charged with the management of the International program. It should be noted that Mr. Kernan's reply to Dave contained profanity, false accusations, an insult and a threat. Dave used his better judgement and showed great restraint in not responding to this unwarranted attack and he has my full support in this regard.

Regards,
Brian Graham
PDGA Executive Director