PB Fantasy Governing Committee

[PBX Ronin 23]

Let's fantasize for a moment and say that the industry has finally seen the need to establish a Governing Committee that would establish rules and standards and have the necessary enforcement capabilities to make their rules stick (like I said, fantasize ).

Here's my vote.

League - Chuck Hedsch and Paul Sattler
Manufacturer - Tom Kaye, Gino Postorivo, Craig Miller and Dennis Tippmann
ASTM Sub-Com - Bud Orr and JJ Brookshire
Field Operators - Paul Fogal (Skirmish USA) and Debra Dione Kriesche (SP?)
Engineers - Simon Stephens and Dave Zingham
Players - 2 Chosen from a pool provided by the NPPL, NXL, PSP.
International - Laurent Hamet and Robbo
PB Press - Bill Mills and Jessica Sparks

Here's the questions:
Who would like to see on that Committee?
Would you trust the future in their hands?
Would you pay an extra $1 sur charge at your fields to fund this organization.

[Muzikman]

Hmmm...interesting. I would have to say you got some good people in there. There would be a few that I changed, but I'm going to have to think about it.

[MindJob]

[Lee]

agree w/ MindJob. it has to be universal and not targeted at a self considered "elite" group of players.

rec ballers are by far the majority and should be represented accordingly.

isn't Chuck Hendsch already on a sports a committee of some sort? i recently read somewhere that he is.

[PBX Ronin 23]

agree w/ MindJob. it has to be universal and not targeted at a self considered "elite" group of players.

rec ballers are by far the majority and should be represented accordingly.

I agree with your point Lee but there's no existing mechanism to create a pool to select Rec ballers from. The leagues have that mechanism.....but good point nonetheless.

[Lee]

PBX: not suggesting a mechanism, just voicing that i would not like to see my dollars spent on promoting a certain venue over others, regardless of who is in a position to make the decisions.
i agree that there are too many rec ballers to choose from and any few of them that are recognized enough to be considered a representative at that level are really no longer rec ballers anyway.

universal promotion and regulation of the game should be the target. my 2 cents.

[PBX Ronin 23]

Fair enough sir. Let's hypothetically add a recreational player into the mix.

[SlartyBartFast]

Sounds like a good idea.

But, you'd have to come up with rules for who can sit on the board in each capacity, conflict of interest limitations, and election guidelines.

You'd need to include scenario promoters and a member from each league.

Tom Kaye isn't a manufacturer anymore, so can't qualify in that category. I'd like to even avoid the category all together. The manufacturers have already shown themselves as inept when it comes to governing bodies and leagues. Too much conflict of interest. But, they do need to be involved and "at the table". The trouble would be defining rules and getting manufacturers from participating without taking over yet again.

As the manufacturers have all the cash anyways, perhaps let them form their own group to lobby this one.

The "engineering" part could probably work best as a "technical subcommitte" without voting right. Any "engineer" (and let's avoid that term as it is controlled by law) will be working for a manufacturer and thus be in conflict of interest on the board.

To make the whole thing binding and universal, there's only one possibility IMO. The insurance companies. Convince the insurance companies of the need for the commite and how it can limit their safety liability and then have only events and fields that are current and up-to-date members of the organisation be insureable.

[Pickle]

Tom Kaye is an excellent choice for this fictional body. Due to the fact that he was once (and probably still is ) in the business somewhere. Not to mention that if he really isn't then there is no conflict of interest.

Instead of a rec ball player, choose a well known scenario player. Not Bob from the Mayberry Marauders (or other MM) comes to mind.

[PBX Ronin 23]

I am well aware of all the potential problems that having so many divergent interests can possibly cause.

I've chosen the individuals I have chosen because of their intellect and vision.

There are too many good people that have been omitted....namely Ged Green, Richmond D'Italia and the Gardners.

But like I said, this is a fantasy type thing.

[SlartyBartFast]

I am well aware of all the ptoential problems that having so many divergent interests can possibly cause.
I've chosen the individuals I have chosen because of their intellect and vision.
There are too many good people that have been omitted....namely Ged Green, Richmond D'Italia and the Gardners.
But like I said, this is a fantasy type thing.

It's not a question of good people who were omitted.

Discussing such an organisation on a "name" basis is pointless, even as a fantasy exercise, because it shows no foresight. Also, an organisation built on the names and reputaion of individuals is doomed to failure once those individuals lose interest or otherwise drop-out.

The positions/input from manufacturing, promoters, field owners, and league organisers should ultimately be decided by those groups individually. If there is already an organisation representing those interests, then those organisations should determine who their representative is. If there isn't, you've got a very sticky situation on your hands. You'll never get someone to agree to decisions handed down by a representative that they didn't have a hand in choosing.

Players would be tricky, but you could easily use the membership lists from any eligible league and perhaps voluntary membership in a player's organisation (perhaps revive one of the defunct player's organisations).

This has been tried so many times before by different groups on a voluntary basis, and ultimately failed for the same limited number of reasons, that I think the one criteria for any new attempt to succeed is obvious. Obligatory enforcement of standards. Perhaps someone else can think of another way to gain the necessary clout, but the only group I see that could weild enough power is the insurance companies.

Back to the initial composition, I would be vehemently against the manufacturers and technical members both having a say. The only "engineers" are one and the same with the manufacturers (heck, a manufacturer could be considered for the field owner or player position).

You would most definetely have to require that any member hold membership in only one organisation in only one category or otherwise be elegible for condsideration in only one category.

[REDRT]

Too conservative. I like radical change. I think your list has good people, but they would slow the entire industry down. Kind of boring. Unthrottled, full speed ahead is my want. Class the markers like we class skill levels so everyone has equal opportunity on the field. Keep the 30bps+ markers. Cap it around(give or take) 40/45bps and play on. Everyone should be happy. You don't like electros then play in the rt class per your skill level. Simple idea that wouldn't cost us any money and give the industry some room to grow yet.

[PBX Ronin 23]

REDRT, you idea is certainly worth being tabled by such a governing body.

Your points are also well taken Slarty.

Also representation by the Insurance industry is a great idea....any nominees?

[teufelhunden]

I was just about to post that that board looks very conservative. A lot of old guard paintball names. For a board like that to be accepted by the people who make the news in paintball [read: tournament ballers] there needs to be more than two people who would likely take their side. Furthermore, I could see why what would be considered "high end gun manufacturers" could feel left out of the process.

[PBX Ronin 23]