Dilemna!!!!

Our club was deciding on whether or not to put alot of entries into the trials so that some of our paddlers could go through the experience.

Questions we are having trouble answering!!

Why are the fees per person different based on where you live, does Dragon Boat Canada have a subsidy policy that nobody is aware of?

What is this $65 if you live in southern ontario?

Going to the Worlds Website, everyone pays the same fee of $50 per person, why such a difference?

When will Dragon Boat Canada be posting its' audited financials on its' website for the years back to its' incorporation?

Which government department does Dragon Boat Canada report to?

Our members are starting to ask us alot of questions.

contact them, don't stir sh*t up!!!

What good will contacting them do, either they have a policy or they don't, Is this some kind of secret organization!

Really, why are we subsidizing athletes that will be racing us for an entry to the worlds, am I missing something here, please tell me, what other sport does this without a policy.

We're not stirring anything, just give us some straight answers!

go bowling if you don't like it.

why don't you contact dbc and ask. you'll get 500 different responses here.

Take up Badminton!

I read the first post in this thread and could sense a tremendous amount of venom from the unnamed author. Either this person has been wronged by DBC or is trying to cause problems for them.

For me personally, I am not a competive paddler yet I have been around for a long time. I am now seeing better events for the elite paddlers and more opportunities to race for top level teams.

I am not sure that this has anything to do with DBC but I do know that the constant bickering by people who don't get themselves involved is not good for the sport.

The questions that this person is asking is all about spilt milk. If a team doesn't want to become part of DBC, then don't. If the questions are all legitimate and your team is really "asking a lot of questions", then go through proper channels and get the answers. This organization has a contact page that you can go to for answers.

If your team is not a member, then don't expect DBC to answer your questions. If you can't get answers, go to the next AGM and ask your questions. These people have never backed down from answering questions in the past.

I am just wondering if you really have asked questions or this entire thing is about stirring the pot because you don't like what's going on.

Good Advice,

Frustration, Anger regardless, DBC is getting better. However, you mention better regatta's for paddlers, do they sanction regatta's? I know they host races. You also mention that they give answers to members yet they claim to represent all Dragon Boaters, Do you know where they stand on this?

One point I do see, who do these people report to?

The politics and slandering in this sport is of Olympic porportions, but the sport will never be.

The current president is very focused on sport racing, and standardizing rules and officiating.

This slandering is just some jerk.

I'm also curious why there are different charges for paddlers from different regions. That could do with some explanation. Do we have to wait for the AGM, months after the fact to get an answer? Probably not. You probably just have to write them an email and they'll tell you. Although something on their website would serve to answer the question without us having to ask.

It IS kind of curious. You would think they would note that it stands out like a sore thumb and address it proactively.

Lots of comments and conclusions drawn here with no facts. The fact is that the west is long overdue to host national team trials (and national championships). But every second year it ends up in the east's backyard most notably in Welland (or Montreal). While I fully understand that the Welland course is probably the best choice for trials it is still our right to host the trials this year. The compromise is that we come east incurring all the related expenses but our entry fee is less. Would you rather that DBC made the majority of national team hopefulls come to Calgary or Vancouver or Victoria, whereever we decide to host trials? We'd all probably hear allot more complaining over that than over the graduated fee structure. Be happy that you can all get up a little earlier on August 9 and car pool to trials again this year while we take days off and long flights and sleep on crappy mattresses all in the spirit of competition. DBC made the right decision here for all of its members including hosting trials just before the Club Championships. I applaud them for that and keep up the good work.

So the different fees are about some partial recognition of travel costs?

Sounds reasonable enough, I suppose. I had wondered if any local government subsidies had played a role, but I guess compensation for travel makes more sense (even if the discount hardly scratches the surface).

What follows are strictly my opinions. I'm going to suspend disbelief and pretend for a few minutes these are real questions.

1) Why are the fees per person different based on where you live, does Dragon Boat Canada have a subsidy policy that nobody is aware of?
Many festivals offer reduced prices for out-of-town teams. It's a simple recognition of the costs of travelling to the site. For NTT it makes even more sense since the whole point is to attract talent from across the country.

2) What is this $65 if you live in southern ontario?
A fee - see first answer. You might also consider that it might be meant to discourage frivoulous participation, which is what it sounds you are trying to do. If pro/semipro teams hold open tryouts they will typically charge you for the right on the same basis. It's not that anyone specific is unwelcome, but not everyone is welcome if you see the difference. NTT is serious s#it for the clubs involved, not the locals' opportunity to race off against the national team. Sorry for the hard truth. If you still want to do it, be prepared to pay. It's not like DBC is likely to make any money from this based on the usual attendance.

3) Going to the Worlds Website, everyone pays the same fee of $50 per person, why such a difference?
Geez - again? This isn't organised by DBC and see first two answers.

4) When will Dragon Boat Canada be posting its' audited financials on its' website for the years back to its' incorporation?
Ask them and... oh wait that was obviously rhetorical - a bit of demagoguery.

5) Which government department does Dragon Boat Canada report to?
To the best of my knowledge none - although they would probably love to. Status with Sports Canada could give them funding. Maybe they could actually afford a subsidy policy then. Getting status isn't as simple as applying for a birth certificate. It was discussed at AGM, try asking DBC for details.

Ok - belief unsuspended. It bears repeating - I'm just tossing out opinions. Registrar is obviously just trying to cause trouble and is not going to contact them - if anyone suddenly has questions because of this monkey (or for any other reason) you can usually get a prompt reply by emailing DBC. Keep in mind the dozen or so names you see is all there is, unpaid and part-time, so don't be shocked if sometimes you get answers along the lines of "not decided yet" or "still working on it". Some of the more complex issues might only be publicised at an AGM. If you have issues with how and when they communicate then maybe you should be prepared to volunteer your time to do it for them.

Sounds reasonable.

No Gov't subsidy or funding as it is not recognized.

Thank You, yes my questions were real and we were contemplating attending Welland because we had been led to believe that it was important to do so to support the trials being hosted in Southern Ontario.

Obviously you see how our members reacted. The questions, they had no idea and they were good questions.

Wow, couldn't believe how some people went off on this!

Your answers were direct and open, thank you, we only wanted to know the anwers folks!

Lighten Up!!

If indeed you were so well intended, why didn't you just e-mail DBC instead of using this forum? Matt has always been good at getting back to people quickly.

Some club members directed me to the forum, said that informed people often responded to questions.

Why not go right to the source (DBC) before comung here? Then you will get your answers instead of everyones 2 cents.

Like it or not, this forum is VERY GOOD for getting responses to tough questions and has led lots of very good changes. Look at how Ottawa's responding and getting feedback? Look at how Pickering is now a great festival after there were complaints lodged on the forum? When the people responsible don't want to be accountable or are too lazy to be accountable, public questions often gets the job done.