Thread: DGA Direction

I have been keeping an eye on some threads re us returning to the Bridge Club etc and the actual direction DGA is taking. It is not a step back more of a rebuild and overhaul of current structures and policies.

Basically there has been a significant decrease in gamers attending lans. One must also consider the admins and organisers and others who donate their time and effort into getting these lans off the ground.

We have also had issues with venues in particualr double bookings and power problems that have plagued DGA over a period of time.

Several weeks ago we had the AGM in which the actual turnoput was piss poor and in effect we were only just able to commence a new commitee and hence keep DGA on the cards. In effect if a committee wasnt found, the would be no lans for 2006 period from DGA except fopr EVO. I kid you not. As I and many others have said before, without the support of the gamers and helpers, the club will still exist however lans would be affected.

So it was decided that to prevent further problems and to incurr less time issues to those admins and helpers with DGA events associated with the reduced gamer numbers, DGA would run lans at the Bridge Club and numbers are limited to 40 persons. Please note there are no exceptions.

In relation to DGA sending everyone an email advising of the next lans with 2 weeks notice, we are not your mothers. Take some responsibility and keep your eyes and ears out. Ask one of the admins but we will not be sending everyone an email out advising them of the next lan. For starters we may not know either and as most admins have professional careers or jobs, time is limited.

Now if the numbers of gaming attendees deter lower than expected to a point that it is not viable to run a DGA lan, they in turn may become 3 or even 4 monthly events.

So you are asking how can I ensure this does not happen?

Easy, stand up, get involved, help and be counted. We as admins and organisers are putting these events on for you the gamer. We dont get paid and we do it because we want to.

It is not a job but more of a passion and I refuse to see DGA fall over because of whatever reason. If it comes down to DGA having a 4 person lan in a garden shed, it will still survive however you the gamer will be very disadvantaged and thats not what we want to happen.

We want your input, suggestions, assistance and support. If we dont get it, we all suffer and the bottom line is lans will become sparce and I would hate to see the only event DGA does os EVO.

So whats it going to be gamers.............

Sponge

Originally Posted by SpongeBobSquarePants

In relation to DGA sending everyone an email advising of the next lans with 2 weeks notice, we are not your mothers. Take some responsibility and keep your eyes and ears out. Ask one of the admins but we will not be sending everyone an email out advising them of the next lan. For starters we may not know either and as most admins have professional careers or jobs, time is limited.

with respect, it's trivial to have your signup page automatically email previous attendees with valid email addresses, when a new event is added. whether or not you know two weeks in advance is another thing, but an automated email/mailing list to notify of events should be easy to set up.

Good Point Paladin well definately look into it and see if we can incorporate the email advice. Basically what Im looking for here is some assistance by other gamers who are genuinly interested in keeping these events happening. Whatever it needs to ensure this is done is a step in the right direction. We always try to ensure gamers are advised at the most earliest opportunity but sometimes as with this lan in particular, it cannot be done.

This doesnt mean we dont care, we need to get back to brass tacks and simplify the running and organising of these events especially now since we have had such a poor turnout to the very structure of DGA and the operating committee

We already have that. sort of.

Not automated, but a click of a button and the emails are sent to all DGA's gamers

Failing that, I've got a couple of web-based mass-mailers you could use, could even hook something up watching an admin-only postable thread here that contains the date for the next LAN, and any time there's a post in it, it could fire an email out..

A great thing I found in one Major Sydney Lan that is still going today (but not a cheap thing to do) is have a laminated membership card.

With photo ID and something to show off or even a converstation peice.

Comps and playing some of the major or latest games (which DGA has done before ) seems to work well.

Things like luckydoor prizes, comps for competing in a game seems to drive people.

Maybe also having a sponsor to sell some of there goods at lans as well is a great idea, which from memory was done also on and off lans.

I have seen in Sydney 2 Lans which i used to regular attend die off because they didn't change or was the same.

Originally Posted by Spiritwalker

A great thing I found in one Major Sydney Lan that is still going today (but not a cheap thing to do) is have a laminated membership card.

Is there an echo in this room...





NOTE: All comments by Eater this am are to be taken with a grain of salt as he is old tired and very grumpy.

If Eater is old and tired then I must be positively ancient and comatose!!!!!

My Hat goes off to those currently running DGA. Been there done that. I have very fond memories of the Bridge Club and feel it is probably the catalyst that DGA needs. Sometimes the best way to kick life into something is to pull it apart and rebuild it for the better. I have faith in Sponge and the Team being able to rebuild this icon known as DGA.
The Bridge Club is an excellent medium size venue for you and I am sure it will spawn some great memories as it has done in the past.
I will come by to this lan and say hi, it has been ages. Unfortunatley life and work makes it hard for me to attend any lans these days, but I am working on it. Most of my personal time is now taken up as President of the Palmerston Game Fishing Club and Fishing.
Sponge you will prevail mate as DGA will never die.....
my humble 2c.

Do you still need the insurance if going back to Bridge club?. If memory serves that was the reason DGA formed a committee because of the size it was getting to we needed public liability insurance. We then needed to form the committee to handle that side. IMO thats when it started to slide because the focus seemed to go off lans and onto the committee.
If you no longer need the insurance, then i'd blow up the committee idea and take it back to how it used to be.

Unsure of your obligations however.