IGDA SC

[ryebread]

ok, I must apologize for not catching some of the posts as they happened, to help answer some questions that we have had as of late. Been a pretty busy time of year from GDC to E3, but I have to voice a couple things here since it seems the thread I was trying to respond to has been locked.

First off, we are a student chapter of the IGDA in WI. the first chapter in fact in WI and since then Madison has gotten together to start an official pro chapter. There is now a student chapter also in Madison. Being a student chapter means that, yes, we are recognized as being based from ITT in GB, however this deos not mean that you must be student from ITT to be a member or participant. It is and always has been open to the general community to be a part of.

This means that communication cannot be done via classroom communications solely. We have a website (the second or third now I think), we have a newsletter that was started in an ID class and is community maintained at this point. also, we have regular meetings to voice questions/comments through.

Regular meetings should be held monthly or every other month. This is not just something that we would like to see, this is something that was detailed from the IGDA when the club started 4 years ago. One of the criteria is that we host regular meetings and have projects ongoing inorder to attach 'IGDA' to our club.

As far as cabinet goes, it was initially intended that we have a revolving cabinet that trades between two positions twice a year. meaning that the pres and treasurer would be voted and then two quarters later the VP and sec would be renewed. This way we would have a fluid transition of the cabinet and this confusion of office wouldn't happen. This kind of fell apart when we had people resign their positions in the past. (We do have a chapter business/bilaws document that was written up when we were approved for chapter status...currently being revised and rewritten).

Thank you for your time, and looking forward to meeting you at our next get together.

ryan

*edit:spelling and clarity

[KuriousKook]

Amen, I 100% support attempting to follow more of the rules and regulations. Everyone who posts here cares about the future of our IGDA.

In the past, we have had waning expectations. In the past, we allowed too many excuses. In the past, elections and the responsibility of position was unofficial and very confusing. In the past we did only the bare minimum of what is expected. I was apart of it.

In the past the other cabinets involved had the similar good will and progressive motives as does the current IGDA cabinet. It is not from a lack of wanting our chapter to progress. It is from a lack of knowing, a lack of learning from our previous trial and error. Like ryan said there lacks the fluid exchange of position.

This cabinet will do many things very well. For example the LAN coming up is looking to be amazing. I think it will be a hit, and it is something we've been trying to do right for some time now.

We were once the best & most involved student chapter in the nation.

Any of my comments that seemed strange come from almost two years on the cabinet watching us come together, every now and then only to fall back apart. What we need is steady and strong community that grows, and our community leaders need to be picking the brains of everyone involved. Listening to us, gathering up good ideas, thinking outside of the box, finding ways to bring us all together and most importantly doing more work then anyone else.

We have to ask ourselves some questions. Is our community stronger, larger and more inter involved? What are we doing that makes our chapter stand out? Why haven't I worked on a game with more of you of reading this? Despite our good intentions and our concern, how much closer are we to being a professional chapter?

If it was completely up to me, as a group we would set up and define the expectations and responsibilities for the cabinet positions. If no one is doing the tasks we agreed upon then we simply have an empty cabinet position, period. We'd let someone/anyone who wants to do that work and earn that title properly.

I am not claiming that the current cabinet is unable or will not do everything I mention. Nor do I have anything against anyone. You are all my friends, I mean geez! We seriously need to remove as much ego from this IGDA chapter as possible.

This is a call for IGDA Green Bay change, not cabinet change. So that who ever is in charge he/she is the right person at the right time for our IGDA, and the job gets done every month. Our turn around time is quicker and we make serious and noticeable progress.

I'm suggesting we adopt a more demanding view on our positions. We'll end up giving them real meaning. Anyone can pin a label on your jacket and call you what ever you want. It won't make you a leader.

I know that some day I will not be in the cabinet of the IGDA. As someone who is very ready to admit that he could work harder, be more involved and get more of his ego out of this. Frankly we all could do better, but we won't if we are not a group. A group brings perspective.

Thing is it doesn't need to be what I say goes or any one person. It does however need to be what we say goes. As a group our leaders (including your local friendly web master!) should be accountable to the members, and if you can't take our heat well... you know.

This website was created out of a necessity, and we've had many a meeting setup because 'we had to' or because we should. There are so many times I could, and should have been replaced by a more motivated go getting or willing person. It happens and when it does we should gracefully step down. If we wanted however, under the idea of what I proposed; all we need to do is out work the guy in the position we want.

Less ego = Progress

[SpartanDonut]

Both above were very informative posts. Quite insightful. I hope we can bring this group back up to its awesome status. I would be glad to help in anyway I can. (I'm talking to you cabinet members )

[JJMaster]

We do need to revitalize the IDGA here in Green Bay. It is the best community available for those interested in game development in the area. Thanks goes to Ryan for clarifying some of the information in his post above.