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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[Founder]

I always say what goes around, comes around, and it did, so I for one am happy to look forward.  As far as I am
concerned, the ADBRF is a moribund operation with respect to Calgary.

You need to know that the CCDBF was organized with the blessing of the City with what really was an "ad hoc" committee, with no real power but a ton of responsbility to ensure races and a festival happened in 2008.

A review process is being considered which I am sure will involve a survey of all team managers/captains, and an opportunity to provide meaningful input, but we do not know what this all looks like yet.

Ultimately with the assistance of professionals in non-profit management, the hope is to form a new, well-represented,
well-governed organization that can steward dragon boating and the annual festival in Calgary.  This will not likely take the form of a true democratic organization at the outset, but I have always said that it would be in the best interests of dragon boating in Calgary for the community, perhaps with the assistance of the annual race/festival organizers, to have an option to buy a "Calgary Dragon Boat Paddlers Association" membership along with a mandatory annual race ID card along with race registration.  With this in place, perhaps a seat or 2 on the new organization could have democratically appointed representatives to express the views and protect the interests of the paddlers.

Of course other interest groups should also be represented including the Chinese Community, Lakeview or surrounding residents, and possibly "Clubs", the City and maybe even some experienced board members at large.  With the proper by-laws and governance, we can avoid any one person or group of people from running the races for personal gain or with a singular vision.

By the way, count me out for politics...and in fact count me out for any direct role in whatever the new organization is, but do count me in as an advisor, supporter, volunteer or whatever else I can contribute to ensure that dragon boating has a future in Calgary!

And madap is right, let's get on with building a great event in Calgary that we can all be proud of and work together (as the organizers did this year) instead of at cross-purposes!

[sweet heat]

Founder, I think it's great that you have all these ideas, and some of them actually seem reasonable... but for a guy that has a lot to say and has a lot of opinions, you don't want to get involved??  you'll volunteer??  I think we may have just gotten to a partial root of the problem, there are too many people out there who are all talk and no action.

[Founder]

Sweet Heat, well said.  I have applied talk and action and all we have from you is talk.  To me, volunteering IS action, but perhaps you have a different view and interpretation...which you are entitled to.

I do not want or need a vote or a seat on any organization that is formed and hope that we will have a new generation of leaders step forward from the Dragon Boating Community and the Community-at-large who believe
in the sport, the races, the festival and the cultural roots of the event for the benefit of ALL of the citizens of Calgary.

Tall order?  Perhaps.  Achievable?  There are many that think so.

Can you be one of them?  Get on the boat Sweet Heat.....and anyone else who wishes to help to build a better event..one that Calgary deserves for the paddlers, spectators et al!

By the way, how about some constructive comments and suggestions for improvement instead of just idle chatter...and by the way, if you are interested in volunteering I can give you the contacts necessary to get involved early for 2009!

[uhavetobeserious]

All of you in Calgary - we applaud you for your passion and personal desire to create a wonderful Calgary Event.   
All the points have been valid and have merit.

However, by airing your DIRTY laundry out in the open, people don't want to come to Calgary because we (some of us) think all you do is "complain", "gripe" and only focus on the negatives about your own festival. There are too many people with too many ego's out there! How do all of you survive in a city?

Please call a meeting and have all your DIRTY laundry unfold behind closed doors. Don't air this out on the forum, it only hurts your own festival. If you want to grow your festival, then grow it - don't complain on an open forum

Like the last string of comments. Enough is enough. It's time to kill this thread. 

I think most of us are aware of the issues in Calgary and we don't even live there, regardless who is right or wrong     


It's time to go    BRING OUT THE BEER BONG

[Bolero]

Oh come on!  We're just having some fun!  The Calgary festival was great, and will continue to be great!  You should come to it!  Mostly, we just get a kick out of Founder and his speeches!  (Hmmm....maybe I should speak for myself!)  I wouldn't use the comments on this forum as your sole source of info about Calgary's festival.  But you are right, it's time "kill this thread"!  Hope we see you in Calgary nest year!

[Founder]

Boom!  Let's kill this thread and get on with it.

I promise to buy the first round at the CCDBF 2009 for uhavetobeserious's beer bong if they promise to come!

Proof will be in the pudding...I do like to have the last word but will defer to Bolero, who is shorter
and sweeter, but who I suspect will wish to have the parting shot!!!

Have at it, Bolero (or Sweet Heat or anyone elsie that wishes to have a parting word) and
"see you at the races" as they say!!

Was that shorter than most of my "speeches"?  I know you will miss me though.....won't you?
(Don't hurt my feeling now....)

Paddle hard, have fun and bring your smiles and good times to YYC!  This is party town,
but with a heart and sense of history no less.

Signing off,

Founder