Member Tournament Feedback

Greetings Tournament Directors Past & Present:

Our committee has been asked to gather feedback regarding how best to handle our member tournaments that are not complying with their responsibilities as an IGBO member tournament. Apparently several have not or are very tardy in doing so the reporting of scores that were bowled at their tournament including scratch masters, as well as paying the fifty cents per bowler that attended their tournament. This information if you want to refresh your self with can be found in the handbook (which you can download and review to verify) it is article 4.3 Responsibilities of Membership ion the P&P section.

Several ideas were discussed by the attendees at our meeting in Oklahoma City at Mid-year, and the following is what we want your input on.

1. The regional director would send a friendly email reminder to the tournament at the 30 day mark of the conclusion of the tournament to make sure they are in compliance with their duties as members. This would be copied to the board for verification purposes.
2. If scoring information. and or money has not been reported or collected by the 45 day mark after the tournament then a registered letter will be sent to the member tournament that has to be signed for (for verification purposes) to let them know they have 2 weeks from receipt of letter to comply, and if not then this will be in direct violation of membership, and their membership in IGBO could be subject to termination at the discretion of the board or a monetary fine for failure to be compliant with their duties as members if IGBO.

These ideas or suggestions are not set in stone we welcome any and all feedback regarding the issue at hand. I would like to ask that you respond no later than 12/31/07. So that any recommendation or change to P&P can be presented to the board.

Yours in Unity, Fellowship, and Communication,

Skip George & Sharon Stump, Co-Chairs Tournament Forum

Comments

[Mary Ellen Deffenbaugh (past Director ACT '05, 06, '07)]

Greetings!!

I agree with the above suggestions for action against tournaments that do not comply with the IGBO Responsibilities of Membership.

I would add, that if they don't comply as stated, the tournament eligability may be suspended for one year. Then placed on probation the next year. If compliance made, then probation should be lifted the following year.

Just a thought.

Respectfully,

Mary Ellen Deffenbaugh
Past Co-Director '05, '06, '07
Alamo City Tournament
San Antonio, Texas

[Eric Lehr]

Although I am new to IGBO as of this Fall, I concur with the lady from San Antonio. I have actually only participated in two tournaments (Mid Year 2007 and MIC 2007) I have attended several IGBO tournaments as a non-bowler with my partner. From time to time, I have seen many inconsistencies in some of the tournaments. I believe the policy mentioned by Mary should be up for discussion.

Eric Lehr

[James Pounders, Jr.]

So often the tournament officers and directors change and it's possible the new ones don't know they are not in compliance. I think having the regional directors involved by sending a friendly reminder should definitely be the first step. That would give the tournament an opportunity to make right what they didn't know was wrong. Suspension of the tournament should be a last step. Yes, it is the tournaments responsibility but it is all of our responsibility to help new officers know what is expected. Let's make the tournaments successes, not failures.

[Bill Roman]

As a former tornament rep, tournament director and regional director, I support the suggestion that the regional director follow-up with the delinquent tournaments. As mentioned by James above, there is often transition in the leadership of the tournaments, and it could be simply that the IGBO information did not get passed from one committee to another.

Sanctions and fines will only serve to alienate our members.

[Paul Burnett]

Hey Everyone, just my two cents...In a world where judgements are too easliy cast by our own society, one would think that we would all have the integrity for our own to uphold our commitments!

I think that before any tournament or league for that matter who does not adhere to the guidelines laid out by IGBO is allowed to continue membership, all fees, donations or dues should be paid in-full. Representation should be made at the next Annual or Mid-Year event to reconcile the situation.

We all have issues that come up in our leagues and our tournaments, when restitution is complete we should always be there to support those leagues and tournaments that have had the ability to overcome and restore themselves to membership!

Paul Burnett
Co-Director IGBO Midyear 2004

[Rob Hisey]

I just want to say to everyone that this is a big issue that we as Regional Directors deal with on a annual basis. Some tournaments are chronically late or non-compliant, and some are occasionally that way. Most, however, are very prompt at getting all of the appropriate information in on time.
I hear some of you saying that the Regional Directors should be on these late tournaments' more- believe me when I say we are. Most of the time we get the response that we want, but occasioanlly our requests and proddings fall on deaf ears.
It would be more effective if all those affected by the lapses in these tournaments were vocal to the tournament directors. Even more effective would be to stop attending and letting your fellow bowlers know of the issues.