This is a historic occasion for disc golf and for the PDGA in Europe! As detailed in the PDGA Europe Transition Concept Paper section of the International Program Guide, over the past year the PDGA has begun the process of transitioning PDGA Europe from a Committee to our organization’s formalized and largely self-governing continental body for Europe.

A key step in this process is the establishment of a volunteer PDGA Europe Board of Directors. To this end, we are now looking for some of the best and brightest minds in Europe to run for the Board of Directors. The elections will take place online between July 1st and July 31st, 2017 and the successful candidates will serve a 3-year term beginning September 1st, 2017.

The Board will initially consist of four elected European members, together with three members appointed by PDGA headquarters. Of the four board positions to be elected in 2017, each must come from a different European country. They will be determined based on the votes of the current PDGA members in the European countries. The top vote getters that meet the criteria of each representing a different country will serve 3-year terms from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2020.

The ideal candidates will be inspired by the opportunity to personally play a leading role in the governance and development of the sport at the European continental level, committed to getting the key tasks accomplished, and will bring with them new ideas, proposals, and analyses from their own perspectives, that will enable PDGA Europe to grow into the future.

Board Member Responsibilities

The Board, the PDGA Europe Administrator, and the PDGA International Director will conduct monthly teleconference calls, ongoing communication, and hold annual or semi-annual in-person meetings to accomplish required business.

Some of the Board’s main activities will include:

• setting PDGA Europe policies
• hiring and supervision of the PDGA Europe Administrator
• supervision of ongoing operations
• financial management including annual budget, end of year statements, and submission of tax returns
• establishment of PDGA Europe Committees
• identification of future Board member candidates
• representing the countries’ and membership’s visions for the future of the sport and the organization

Individual Board members can also expect to be assigned to specific projects, on an ongoing basis, and in particular during this formative phase. All told Board members will be expected to dedicate between 15 and 20 hours of their time per month.

The key initial tasks of the Board will include the following:

• Drafting, and approval by vote of the current PDGA members in European countries, of the Constitution, by-laws and any other governance related documents that are required in order to register a European governed and sports related non-profit organization in the Netherlands. This work will be facilitated by using the PDGA’s existing governance documents as templates.
• Appointment of Board Executive, consisting of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer
• With the PDGA Board, Executive Director and International Director, drafting and signing of an agreement between PDGA and PDGA Europe regarding mutual roles and responsibilities, the assignment of rights, and financial relations.
• With the National Associations Committee (currently known as the PDGA Europe Committee), which consists of the Country Coordinators appointed by each country’s National Disc Golf Association, negotiation and reaching of agreement in regards to the scope and areas of mutual and individual decision making and authority.
• Ongoing analysis of the financial performance and sustainability of PDGA Europe

Board Member Qualifications

Candidates must hold citizenship or residence status in a European country, be an active PDGA member, and should have some of the following:

Skills:

• Professional experience involving management, marketing, financial, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, and/or experience in the non-profit sector.
• Fluency or semi-fluency in the English language
• Oral and written communication
• Listening to and patience in dealing with others
• A passion for the sport of disc golf
• Familiarity with and commitment to PDGA Europe

Training and/or Experience in:

• Competitive Disc Golf
• Disc Golf Organization
• Finance
• Sales and Marketing
• Tech Management and Development
• Human Resources Management
• Journalism
• Event Production

Intangibles:

• Enthusiasm for the Task
• Time Availability
• Collaborative
• Creative Innovator
• Vision
• Flexible/Adaptable
• Respected

Reaching the Voters

A feature of the PDGA Europe Board of Directors election is the option for candidates to personalize their campaign by providing a video message to voters. This innovation is aimed at providing voters with an opportunity to be better informed about each of the candidates, especially those who they may not have met in person. Videos are to be produced by the candidates and posted on YouTube. The link information should be included in the candidate biography. The suggested format is 3-5 minutes in which the candidate introduces him or herself and outlines one or more primary goals of his or her participation on the Board. Content of the videos should keep in mind that we have voting members of all ages. Provision of the video is, of course, optional. 

Submitting Your Board Candidacy

If you are interested in running for a position on the PDGA Europe Board of Directors, download and complete a Candidate Biography Questionnaire. This form may also be requested by contacting the PDGA Europe Administrator at [email protected]. The completed form must be returned to the PDGA Europe office along with a candidate statement no later than June 9, 2017 for Board Candidates.

Download the 2017 PDGA Europe BOD Candidate Questionnaire »