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National Organization

Submitted by lucky on Tue, 2008-03-18 07:26.

Hey y'all,

This is a recent myspace bulletin from Jared at Seattle Bike Polo. Here in Chicago, the planning for the NACCC National Polo Tourney has taught us that big, sanctioned events are easier to organize (cheaper, more easily insured) if the organizers are well... organized. Getting 501c3 (Non-Profit) status halves the park district fees associated with the two-day NACCC.

However, getting 501c3 status is a long and complicated process. Only worthwhile for the biggest of events. If there were a national, or several regional, organizations that held status, we could turn to them for support with big events and sanctioned tourneys when we wanted to throw them.

> Urban Bike Polo Association
>Looking for players/organizers in other cities to talk to >about starting a national/international Bike Polo >non-profit.

>The main goal would be to organize tournaments and get a >more transparent communication line between the individual >clubs.

>Please let me know your interest level and ideas on this.

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bohl's in

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2008-03-18 11:13.

isn't this something we could get the state or national bike organizations to help with? i know madison has some big housing/food (and a cab company) cooperatives which are non-profit (but the right kind?) i will talk to the peeps at wheels for winners which in my opinion is the most organized bike non profit where i actually go to the meetings.
how is obama on bike polo?

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For the NACCC's...

Submitted by lucky on Tue, 2008-03-18 17:18.

...we've got the help of two non-profits. The Chicagoland Bike Federation, a city agency, and the NACCC committee, the race organizers who applied for status just to host this one event.

It's a good idea to involve already existing agencies, you should message the guy at http://seattlebikepolo.com/ and offer the suggestion.

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we're game

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2008-03-19 06:23.

Lexington would be happy to help any way we can. I think some sort of loose national organization sounds interesting.

Although we only have 15-20 regulars, we're currently going through an "experiment" of sorts with our city gov't. and Parks & Rec. which is looking like it's heading in the direction of a dedicated bike polo court in a city park (which will be a big feat for us and urban bike polo in general if we can pull it off). I think the trick is to help establish some legitimate organization, while still maintaining the autonomy to do as we wish (for example, we are more interested in having a place to play and hold tournaments rather than establishing local "leagues" with registration fees and stuff like that. I get the feeling that a lot of folks don't think your sport is legit unless you are making money from it somehow).

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sanctioned polocourt

Submitted by crash on Wed, 2008-03-19 10:39.

hey lexington- this is jake from milwaukee we should talk more about what you got going with this court in your town. i have been promised time with the county parks trail director to propose we turn an old roller hockey rink into a sanctioned polo arena so i would like to hear any ideas you have or what you are doing down there to add to my proposal

send me an email at mkebikepolo@gmail.com so we don't bore everyone here

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Courts and Leagues

Submitted by lucky on Thu, 2008-03-27 06:43.

Update:

Chicago Bike Polo had another informal meeting last night and here's what came up RE: a national org.

A national organization would exist to ease the planning and administration of large tournaments.

Things like: having non-profit status to reduce park district fees and insurance costs for sanctioned events.

Keeping records for/from such events so we know which cities are cheaper/easier to deal with and so we can prove to a doubtful city that we have a successful record of hosting fun, safe events that promote biking and local business.

Holding records of and plans about getting city supported courts and fields so a town can just pull the file and give it to their park district.

Providing a forum for discussion of things like standardizing rules or equipment if we felt like that became necessary.

Setting a calender for local, regional, and national tourneys so there's less of this traveling back and forth every other weekend.

Agree? Disagree? Less authority? More authority? Regional councils? Delegates?

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