Question for local BBQ Association board members...

[JD McGee]

Our local bbq association has it's annual meeting coming up next month. There are several board positions open and I am considering running for one of them. My question to those of you who are serving (or have served) as BOD members is this...
My wife and I plan to keep competing in both PNWBA and KCBS competitions...if I run it would be for a few reasons...one is to ensure better communication between the event organizers and comp teams...second is to improve site ammenities for comp teams...and third would be to foster better relations between KCBS and PNWBA events. I feel I would be more of an advocate for the comp teams and less a BOD team player...plus as a competitor my reasons may seem a bit self serving. What say ye Brethren? Should I run?
Cheers!
JD

[ThomEmery]

I have served in California
Both rewarding and a pain in the bottom

[YellowSuge]

Not a board member myself but YES, go for it. I think more board members should be actively competing. I sometimes see a huge disconnect between competition teams and an association's board.

I don't think its self-serving cause what you and your team want is probably what many other teams want. With you on the board, the teams will have a voice.

[Rookie'48]

Go for it! Every BBQ organization needs input from all segments of the sport; cooks, judges, organizers - everyone should have a voice .

[Smoke'n Ice]

The board you are planning on running for is composed of a majority of cooking team members. It was started about the same time as KCBS, had good relations between the two orgs and common membership until the WBBQA fiasco and BS generated by a wana-a-be presidents of the PNWBA (the PNWBA membership wouldn't elect him to the board so the KCSB membership did.) Been there, done that, it is both rewarding and, as Thom indicated, a pain in the arse. Go for it and remember, HAVE FUN!!!

[Kenny Rogers]

I think it's a GREAT idea JD! Providing you have the time. I think that would be the hardest part about it. People, most likely go into those positions with the best of intentions, with A LOT of great ideas, but then find it's WAY more time consuming than they anticipated.
I have confidence that you could do a GREAT job, if you could find the time! And the ideas you've already expressed in this thread, are definitely issues I would LOVE to see come true!

[Funtimebbq]

Hi JD,
What is the mission statement of the PNWBA? Is it to promote BBQ contests? I would want to see a BOD member be someone who will promote the mission statement of the organization.
Good luck with your decision,
Benny

[Rub]

For the FBA I've been a BOD, secretary, VP, Pres x 2, and now BOD again for 6 or 7 years total. It's nice to have someone to represent the teams, but you'll find that you will do as much or more for the other aspects of the organization too. I kind of think of it like my children - you want each to prosper and grow, and to not show favoritism towards any one area.

[JD McGee]

Originally Posted by Funtimebbq

Hi JD,
What is the mission statement of the PNWBA? Is it to promote BBQ contests? I would want to see a BOD member be someone who will promote the mission statement of the organization.
Good luck with your decision,
Benny

Thanks everyone for your thoughts...Benny...to answer your question...I think I'm good!

The Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of barbecue in the Northwest.The PNWBA is committed to educating the public in the furtherance and development of authentic barbecue knowledge through cooking classes, judging classes, and competition barbecue cooking events. Our organization is managed by a Board of Directors who are made up completely with volunteers. It was formed in 1991 by a group of Northwestern barbecuers. Over the years it has grown from 20 members to over 800 internationally. The PNWBA publishes a news letter called Drippings from the Pit. This publication reaches it's 800 plus members informing them about the world of BBQ in our region.

Since it's beginnings the PNWBA has been putting on BBQ contests from as far north as Whistler, British Columbia and south to Oregon and east to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Included among these events are many state and provincial championships. The winners/grand champions of these BBQ contests are qualified to be invited to cook at national and world championship events. Among these are the American Royal, the Jack Daniels World Invitational Championship Barbecue Contest, the Great American and several others. At these contests our cooks have gone head to head and grill to grill with the world best cooks and brought home the gold. The ranks of the PNWBA include the finest cooks in the world bar none. These events have been widely attended by the public in the upwards of 20,000 people. Also it has raised money for charitable events and good causes all around the Northwest.

Each year the Association hosts BBQ cooking and competition judging classes to educate the public and pass on the culinary art of barbecue cooking. Some of the teachers of these classes include BBQ Guru's Smoky Hale, Paul Kirk the Kansas City Baron of BBQ, Ray Lampe AKA Dr. BBQ, Myron Mixon of Jack's old South fame, Tony Stone and Merle Ellis, including our very own All Star Pitmasters. Our All Star Pitmasters class covers the cooking of chicken, rib, beef brisket and pork butt as well as BBQ theory. Graduates of our Pitmaster's classes have gone on to be national and world champs or just darn good backyard BBQ chefs.

As the PNWBA has evolved and grown so has the world of competition BBQ. It is now seen on national TV, in news papers, magazines and many cook books. It is championed by BBQ evangelists like Rick Browne and Steve Raichlen. Contests are growing into huge multimedia events with the prize money up to $35,000. The Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association is also rising to the challenge by putting on bigger and better public friendly events with the focus being on the cooks (the back bone of the association). The future is now, so let's cook!!!

[NorthwestBBQ]

I will vote for you, JD!