My team is FULL of height dogs, so usually our Short Fuse team is all 7 inch jumping dogs with a token big dog.

Do any of the candidates feel NAFA flyballers would be better served by having all dogs issued a height card by a single measurement or a three-measurement effort?

Chris: “…I think the three matching measurements is fair. Not everyone agrees with this so, again….this needs delegate input…”

Jackie: (on the Ufli system of one ‘measure’) “…one of my dogs is on the line – of going up, so I have never felt the need to re-measure any of my dogs.”

I clearly would prefer to debate these issues with someone who is a candidate for the NAFA Board and not with members of the flyball public who feel:

1) That they have NO representation on the Board.
2) That they have NO candidate to vote for and
3) ..a deep and sincere belief that NAFA is going the “wrong” way and that they have (untried) ideas that would improve NAFA.

It is an interesting admission that (because) you have a dog that “is on the line” and may re-measure at a higher jump height, you choose not to re-measure. I do not fault you at all for taking that “one” measure and keeping it because the rules (ufli) permit it. I would, too. …but, I wonder how your competitors feel racing against your team if that dog is the “height dog” and thinking/knowing that it should be jumping higher?

The chat questioner was asking what would be “fair” to NAFA flyballers? …a single measurement or a three-measurement effort? My answer has been quoted above in an effort to illustrate that my “candidacy” will ultimately hurt NAFA in some fashion should I be elected because it is not innovative or creative. Three measurements is “traditional” NAFA and not “forward thinking”. ….but, I don’t take it personal since NONE of the other candidates are judged to be any better.

I was simply “asked” and I simply “answered” my opinion as to “what” would serve NAFA’s competitors the best. I don’t want to “hinder” the future success of NAFA at all but, I want to be honest with folks who ask for my vision of “fair” and not give an answer that would earn me “points” with the questioner.

To Larry and Jackie and ALL who feel that there is no candidate in this year’s NAFA elections that is worthy of their vote, I have a suggestion: When NAFA mails you your ballots, take those paper ballots and write on them clearly “NONE OF THE ABOVE” and return them as paper ballots. Why?

1) There is no electronic capability of writing something on the ballot if you return your vote by electronic means.
2) Returning a paper ballot means that the envelope will be opened and somebody will actually read the words: “NONE OF THE ABOVE”
3) Returned ballots, even if spoiled, will be accounted for. If you return a ballot without marking a choice, it cannot be mistaken for “apathy” (throwing it away)
4) However many ballots are returned this way, it will send a clear message to the candidates who will be successfully elected. 10 ballots or 100 ballots with NONE OF THE ABOVE written on them clearly says, “You do not represent US.”

That way, no NAFA Board member elected in this year’s cycle can take “for granted” their tenure on the NAFA Board.

Sincerely,

Chris VanWert,
Candidate for the NAFA Board of Directors

I went to a Ufli tournament and asked them to measure my dog. But, I didn’t think the judge did it quite right so I asked the Ufli owner that was there (I go to open flyball night at her training facility) if I could do it again. She said I could. Then she told me that I could remeasure my dog as many times as I wanted. I didn’t think that sounded right as everybody keeps saying you only measure once. She explained that the rules say you only need one measure to get put in the database but the rules allow you to measure as much as you want. So, she said, “If you don’t think the judge got the right measure for your dog, you can go back and remeasure. In fact, you could remeasure at every turnament if you want.” Thats what she said to me.
I don’t want to get anybody into trouble here but thats what she (ufli owner) said to me.

We did not get the entry forms for most teams…I don’t think it is a requirement? I will have to find out. I just filled out the tourney sheet with race numbers and had the teams sign those. I did not hear anything about it.

I would be curious to know what horrors you have heard? My team has hosted both U-Fli and NAFA and we will continue to do so. In fact this year we did 2 NAFA and 1 U-Fli and next year it will be 1 NAFA and 2 U-Fli and then back to the previous way (yah I know we are making a NAFA one into a U-Fli tourney). U-Fli provided us with a racing schedule (which we were able to do some tweeking of our own and then got resubmitted for approval just like NAFA). They also generate labels for you.

I guess maybe what Danie is talking about might be the entry forms that U-Fli has. NAFA also has tournament entry forms but none of the clubs seem to require them anymore. Or maybe there is something else that I am not thinking of. I think one thing that was different for me to adjust to was singles and pairs and day of entries which can be trying. But now I have an idea on how to handle them next time around.

I have hosted both a NAFA (in California) and U-FLI and have not had any problems. The benefit of U-FLi is they do the race schedule and scoring for you. In NAFA – it was a nightmare to get an approved seeding/format and race schedule – constant tweaking.

I don’t know if Danie’s problems arose because they had such a HUGE turnout…but, I found the process quite simple (and I had two back to back – Wags for Wishes being one of them) I would be interested to know what specifically she had problems/issues with. (as I am sure the U-FLI owners would to rectify).