More of vision at godiscussions.com

I added more of my vision at godiscussions.com

The thread is found here: http://www.godiscussions.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6480

But I'll copy and paste here to save time. Feel free to comment away. I want to hear from all of you!

In short, I'm announcing that I am running for an At-Large spot on AGA board of directors. There are five questions here that should be asked.

1,2. Who and where?

I'm Daniel Short, 3d AGA from Maryland. In terms of go playing, I started with Empty Sky Go Club in Spring of 2004, as a wee little beginner who have little clue how to play the game. At the time I met many wonderful people, especially Greg Lefler, and I learned tremendous amount over the times. What I learned the most is the passion for the game. I was constantly amazed by how many times Empty Sky Go Club gathered up members and go to some far-flung place, just to connect to different players. I remember that one trip to Toronto, and I was 9k at that time...tremendous amount of fun with that trip. Just going to Canada to play go! Furthermore, I am deaf myself, but people at the club kept trying to help me along, teaching me few things at a time. It is possible to teach anybody, no matter what barrier...since hands truly talk on the board. The passion from go players that I have met along the the path...in Michigan during summer 2004, in Canada...in New England region...in many different locations across United States...if I am traveling across USA, and if there is a go club there, I will stop by if it is open. It is truly amazing to see so many different go players.

3. Why?

Why am I running? Simply put, because I see passion of go players, and I wish to bring them together. At least, find ways to bring the community closer together. That means encouraging go clubs to go out of the way, and do different things. For instance, I remember that one Labor Day where go clubs across Maryland, DC, and VA gathered in Dupont Circle in DC and played go. That was a truly a wonderful display of community of go players gathering. I hope by taking the position, I will be able to further encourage clubs to take this direction. It doesn't have to be a tournament to gather up go clubs and have fun.

4. How?

I'll put this in a slogan to whom I credit Keith for.

"I am deaf, but I listen"

What does this mean? That means I am opening myself up for business. I want to talk to clubs across the country and find out what clubs need to allow their passions to grow. I want to hear from people and develop meaningful discussions that allow for solutions that allow AGA, and go communities to grow as whole. I want to create opportunities to develop go communities, but I cannot do it without input from go communities. I will open up in every ways possible so people can contact me with questions, requests. I cannot promise I will be able to fulfill every requests, but I will take every input seriously and use them to find ways to improve our influence in the country. Talk to me on KGS...I'm FlameBlade there. Drop a comment in my blog, which I opened up, linked at http://agafuture.blogspot.com/ Throw me an e-mail to me at flameblade42 at gmail.com

You even can drop a message here, and I will reply in kind.

Why I am throwing all that out? I wish to open up to everyone. I am deaf, yes, but I do listen.

I end this with a question for you.

5. How can you help AGA as whole?

If you truly love go. If you truly want to develop go community as it is, then I ask you all to step up and volunteer. You do not have to work closely with AGA, but rather, find ways to develop ways to bring go communities together. Find ways to bring in new players. Find ways to make it a wonderful experience for all involved. Find ways to support small clubs that may be close to you. I know of a club who travel to a club an hour away every week just to help it grow, help it bring in more people. I am asking you all to step up and make it a memory for all involved. Also you can step up by talking to me, share ideas with me so we can develop new ideas.