The New USWSA

[radamski]

This is the assignment. We need a rep from every regional area of the US. I count at least 9 areas (HI, Pacific NW, NoCal, SoCal, Gulf States, Florida, MidAtlantic, NorthEast, and GreatLakes). These local reps will form the executive body of the USWSA.

Contests should be held in each regions to develop participation at the local level and will use the accepted World Waveski Rules.

A national presence must be made on the internet to share the rule book and whatever decisions are made.

How will the USWSA pay its bills, - contest fees, and sponsership by manufacturers of waveskis.

Who wants to host the first national event? Or is this the first test of the New USWSA?

Roger

PS, I think there was a US waveski surfing Association back in the 80's, but due to lack of funding (no one paid any dues) it sort of disbanded. Perhaps we can keep it going this time.

[Warren]

That sounds manageable.

I ran into a very helpful document on the Western Australian Wavski Association website. The 'constitution' outlines body office holders including Treasurer, Secretary, President, Vice-President, and Events Coordinator. I am assuming we will follow a similar structure. Are the regional reps that are mentioned above to double as these office holders? Here is the link to that doc: waveski.gardiner.com.au/A/constitution.pdf


Definitely good to stick closely to WWA rules for regional and national contests. It's too bad that their website is down at the moment. Maybe Brett could advice us more as to rules and structure?

On another note:

I am happy to donate my services to design and maintain the new USWA website, though, we do need to get the ball rolling as far as hosting costs go.. Those run roughly 9-12 bucks a month. Domain names are only about that much a year (I just registered uswaveski.org since all the USWA domain names were taken by the United Steel Workers..)

I didn't register USWSA because isn't Waveski one word!?

-w

(addition: I just got an email.. USWSA = US Waveski SURFING Assosiation..)

[Tyler]

hey! lol, yes waveski is one word! well if i can be of service as well, hit me up.

[BazzaBrett]

Hit you up Tyler ? How about I just smack you around a little hehehe

Yes WAVESKI is one word !

The World Association rule book is presently being updated to reflect all the resolutions passed at world titles over the last couple of years. The 2003 version is still able to be downloaded but the MOST important part of the document for you at present is the definition of a waveski.

Another suggestion for your committee is to see if somone may want to take on a specific marketing role for your newly formed organisation. That is, marketing it to your members within the organisation in terms of regional news etc but also marketing out to the general public / potential sponors etc.......

But in the interim, better come up with a logo !

Keep Surfing

[ricky]

Roger,

I think this is a great idea and I hope that we can finally get something started. I would like to make something happen but I am not around enough cause of school. Another big problem with our sport is how most of us surf by our selfs. I know in my case i haven't surfed my waveski with anyone decent since i was in Santa Cruz last year. This has led to a lack of interest in my part. I know in my case i need more contests to keep progressing. Hope we can make something happen with this sport and i am glad your trying.

Ricky

[Warren]

Anyone else wanna jump in here? I am ready to do the site.. We need to raise about 110 bucks annually..for the website hosting.. That is all.

Are you guys not into it, or just hibernating?

[Warren]

Ok..an update..

I have designed a USWSA logo, and then got carried away and designed a mock layup for the USWSA website design. Again. Read my last post for what needs to be done.. If you guys don't step in here..I dunno.. I might have to start kicking some ass..

Send me an email if you want to see the (preliminary) designs.. ::: email is: sleeptest(at)gmail.com

[Ripp]

Warren, love the get up & go attitude - but before we get carried away & you invest too much time/effort - just wanted to drop a few comments & maybe a suggestion: when we talk "logo's" we need to be aware of trademarks & copy right aspects.
No point in designing a logo & not having it protected, as if a "trademark/logo hacker" (believe me - this is a profession) submits "the created" logo to the appropiate filing offices & get's it's registered & we use same - it's infringement - then we are not able longer to use same - even though "we/you" came up with it.

If we really do get the USWA off the ground & established in a proper format - & filed as an organisation with targest/goals & structure, paying members i'd be happy to put a logo forward that is patented & copy right protected which could represent the USWA.
We could also use this to generate revenue for the association by marketing & selling various items with the logo (but this way all merchandise featuring the logo is protected)
I am thinking merchandise that can be sold on the "soon to be" USWA website for memebers for those who want to identifty themselves with our sport - t-shirts, rash-tops, decals, waveski gear, caps, etc etc
A proper association will need funding & need $$ to sustain itself - from donations alone it's a dead-end.
Sponors will be needed to pay for various things & we will need to locate same - from waveski manufacturers alone - this will not suffice - we need cross over companies & so expose the sport to other areas of ocean/surf orientated people that have never seen or heard of a waveski.
We need to generate revenue so the USWA could pay for insurance, locations etc etc for when we host an event.
We will need to run certain aspects of the USWA as a business.
Again - Warren - love the attitude - hope the w/m board is going well - how's your own shaping comng along ?
By the way - i have my current board - (see the pics on the homepage from Panama) that I will be retiring & it will looking for a new home sometime early next year - gimme a shout.
Let's keep the thread / idea's going - was good catching up on all the comments after getting back from my trip.

With chrimbo around the corner - maybe we can aim for the MLK w-end get-to-gether.

Ripp

[Warren]

Ripp, Thanks for the suggestions and comments. Yes. I am enthusiastic and definitely new to this process.. But not totally unaware of the practical needs of an association.

My main reason for getting a jump on this stuff is to counteract what seems like a lot of apathy in the Waveski community. It seems we are in need of a jump-start, and I was thinking it best to give a 'look' to the idea, so that it becomes more real in the minds of those concerned.

Regarding the logo...well, that may be wise..but in my mind it is overkill. I am pretty sure that once published to the web, the logo is the proporty of the person first publishing it. You can also do 'the poor mans' copyright and send it to yourself on a disc in the mail and have it post-marked,( and of course dont open it).

You can't actually "Patent" a logo to my knowledge. It would be the copyright issue we'd be dealing with. ( Wikipedia has some helpful information on copyright issues..).

In my experience ( 3 years as a Graphic Designer) and my father before me (sounds a little Star-Wars-ey?), I have not had to worry about those fomalities with my clients. Though I could be wrong! If that's you volunteering though Steve, I say go for it!

I absolutely agree about making sure the Association has a legitimate framework, targets, goals, fund-raising stratagies etc..

I also totally agree that it should be self-sufficient or sustainable, and of course marketing goods & apperell is the way to go. You (all) might want to see what John has accomplished with www.waveski.info. I mentioned CafePress to him and he's off and running with a full line of apperal & merchendise in a few days. He told me just the other day that he has already paid for half of his annual hosting fees with 2 weeks of sales. We could do the same.

The 'donations' idea was simply to get us started.. It would be nice to have something tangeable for us to focus on improving & adding to.

In terms of sponsorship. Absolutely. But I think it is important to keep it as Democratic as possible. This means by limiting the amount of $$ any one Manufacturer or Affiliated group can give. That way no one has (or even appears to have) undue influence over what should be something very democratic.

I have been on committees before, and I know things tend to plod along. That is their nature. But some are more efficient than others, and I am hopeful that we can actually put some energy into this and see it start to self-perpetuate - at least a little. I also know that getting things done is not always that hard, and I beg you all to take advantage of my (as Steve puts it) "get up and go".

I say.. Let's get the website up. Have a fresh perspective. and from there begin to schedule meetings and email chains to get this thing going, (ie insurance, comp rules set, etc..) so then as we accomplish things, we can 'post' them to the site and move onto the next project.



Best Regards,

w

p.s. The WM board is actually in the shop once again.. I stuffed the nose into some rocks and......twist.. At least it was a cool move to go out on. I'd love to take a look at your ski. Looks nice..though.. it looks like I'll be having some other additions to the quiver too.. (what are the dimensions?).

Getting together will be fun.. MLK wknd is on my calendar. See you then.

[radams]

Waveskis on the Rocks, Yes, It appears the Eva is getting a lot of waveskis in these days. I saw your WM there, or was it your Uncles?

Ripp, your comments are great, but I keep thinking about the old proverb that goes something like, 'the mountain is climbed by taking many small steps'. Yes, we all want to go big, we all want to see it succeed, but you got to start somewhere, and that's the beginning of credibility, the kind that you need to start marketing with.
Warren, regarding limiting 'donations' dues or whatever from Manufacturers, I say forget that, and just keep an open listing of how much funding has been received by each- then the influence factor is right out in public, and we can have a forum dealing with that issue. Maybe manufacturers should be non voting members.

Bottom line, I think Warren is taking the bull by its horns and doing something, and we should encourage that as much as possible, given the amount of apathy in the sport (and maybe its not the right term- maybe its more like everyone is busy catching their own waves).

when was the last time we had someone create a logo get a website, and generate some enthusiasm? I say lets get something started, If we disagree, remember, we are adults and we do know how to compromise and solve our problems.

Fire away!

[Tyler]

great post! i agree totally!