UMass Amhert course in close to installation!

[Isaac Chaney]

It would probably greatly disappoint NEFA to know how much grant money has NOT been spent on its original intentions. Just another one of those things were better off not knowing.

Requiring receipts would be a good start. Changing the model to reimbursement would also solve the problem (if there truly is one), but the course may not have someone who can front the money while waiting for the reimbursement check.

thats going through way too much trouble.
Nefa has a bank, they should be able to aquire as many debt. cards as they want all with different names on them. It is so simple, The nefa masses shouldnt have to worry about how OUR money is being spent. Yet we are, and somthing should be done about that.

[Kenji Cline]

Just curious wasn't having ownership of at least 8 baskets part of the criteria for getting the grant? Does Umass have baskets in storage somewhere? Kinda weird if they had bought baskets without the course being approved yet. Just curious cause the basket ownership was a blocking point for DisCap applying for a nefa grant for new courses we are working on. We didn't have baskets purchased yet so we didn't apply.

[Sandy Redd]

so let me try and awesome some questions.
There is a course going in the UMASS amherst, like brian said there waiting for everything to ready to go. From what i know is that they have an order for the baskets reaDy for once the approval of the college says its ok.
If it doesnt get approved (which i think it will get approved), brian will send the grant money back to us, with in the time frame.

On the note about the application process, we will be discussing that on friday a our meeting.
Im sure next year we will have a great application and it will be very thorough.

on the opening of accounts, its good idea but we might get penalized once we open accounts and then close them after a few months. but i will bring it up at the meeting as well.

on the concern with Webster fish and game, it is a pay to play course, if we donated a small grant to webster for 500, all it takes is for 100 people to sure up there in a matter of months pay 5 dollars to play and theres the 500 bucks. like i said we are going to reevaluate the application so that maybe pay to play courses will be accepted
hope that helps feel free to bash me if you like, especially buttons

[Derek Brazauskas]

No bashing Sandy, The problem i have with this situation is that the Umass course is no further along now then it was a year ago.. That grant money could have better served a course that already exists.. I also think that Isaac as a has a great idea.. Somehow you need to show the monies went toward a just cause.. Is Brian installing the course at Umass as a volunteer or is he looking to be compensated for his work? That is another reason there maybe a hold up that no one is talking about. I hope all is legit, but somethings just don't add up.. Also if your building 4-5 courses there is no way you can be giving Umass all the attention it needs.. I would love to see a course there as much as the next person but it it feels like we are just getting the run around..

[Sandy Redd]

definitely brian is not getting compensated from the grant money. i emailed him when we were dicussing it and was concerned as well, and he insured that the money will not go to that.
but i will get an update from brian so that we can get a re-cap

[Brian Giggey]

Hi everyone, seems like this is a hot topic as of late. I apologize if my updates are few and far between, but I try to keep to myself with these projects as when I come onto NEFA, I just seem to get guff. If you're interested in our projects, go to our website.

1.) The large grant is sitting in a completely separate bank account. If, for some reason the course doesn't go in within 18 months (the guideline set by NEFA), we will return the money.

2.) The large grant is not being used towards union labor, nor is it paying me. Monies really don't have much to do with the project --- it's getting 6 big wigs together in a room and having them set a date for the Mobile to be installed. Once it's installed, they will see EXACTLY what we're trying to do...on a temporary scale.

3.) We do have baskets allocated for the project, and they will be purchased when the timing is correct.

4.) I proposed this project in my last semester of me getting my Master's in Landscape Architecture in May 2010. They said we'd be lucky if it went in within two years. I spent the first year plus looking for an academic sponsor for the project so someone would actually listen. I finally got one, and a little over a year after graduation, I left my stint as a Tour Manager, and returned home to fully focus on Explore Disc Golf.

5.) UMass is a large focus of our company, but of course, it's one of many. It takes a long time to get the approvals, permitting, meetings and more, so we are constantly ping ponging between the courses we are currently contracted with. We are a design-build company --- no successful company has just one project --- so please respect our company in that fact that we are obviously working on several projects to help grow disc golf.

6.) I can't stress enough how MASSIVE of an operation UMass is. They actually have a hard time bringing everyone together for meetings cause all the players are such big wigs. We don't force the issue, cause they could squish the project at any time, but we are diligently moving forward to make this a reality.

7.) Derek, or others that question our intentions and work ethic --- please either come sit on the Board of Directors for The Explore Disc Golf Foundation or visit my house in South Amherst and watch me work. I work 14 hour days, 6 days a week (I'd work 7 if Zeena let me), and pride myself on working harder than the person sitting next to me, so I'll try not to be insulted by your comments...especially due to the fact that we don't know one another besides a quick introduction at Pure Flight.

-----------------------------

I try my best to find a balance between keeping the community informed and keeping information to myself. UMass is worried that people won't use the course. If they only knew how interested people really were, like in this thread...

When the meetings come together, and the Mobile is installed for a week, the RSO at UMass will gather e-mail addresses and prove interest to the University. Please don't question our work ethic or our intentions, we have started this company from scratch, put in over $20,000 in infrastructure (van, vending, website and more), felt the wrath of the NEFA forums, and pushback by many, but we've also had the support of a tremendous amount of people, and seen thousands use our Mobiles over the course of only one summer.

Once again, if you'd ever like to talk to me DIRECTLY, my information isn't hidden, look around.

Respectfully,
Brian

[Brian Giggey]

I think a lot of people care.. maybe not.. bottom line is we cant get answers..

You can get answers. A nice gentlemen from the area called me a couple days ago to ask about the status of UMass since he had just picked up disc golf. I told him everything he needed to know, in addition to the surrounding courses he could play, and Pure Flight's address/phone number/names of employees so he could begin his obsession.

Once again, I'm not hard to find. Please contact me when you have questions, not the NEFA forums.

Respectfully,
Brian

[Isaac Chaney]

this is exactly why I think the grant funds should be directly monitored by nefa.
not because you can't be trusted Brian, but for nefites to know that the funds are are safe and everything is under control. We can eliminate conversations like this if we can trust each other. but it seems like we can only trust each other if there is a common ground in between the grant holder and the nefites. Which is obviously NEFA. There is no reason for anybody in the nefa community to sever ties due to trust issues.

[Brian Giggey]

this is exactly why I think the grant funds should be directly monitored by nefa.
not because you can't be trusted Brian, but for nefites to know that the funds are are safe and everything is under control. We can eliminate conversations like this if we can trust each other. but it seems like we can only trust each other if there is a common ground in between the grant holder and the nefites. Which is obviously NEFA. There is no reason for anybody in the nefa community to sever ties due to trust issues.

Maybe NEFA allocates funds towards the entities, but doesn't actually give them the money until time of purchase? Or they actual purchase the good themselves?

I know that for The Explore Disc Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3), that's similar to something we have to do. Once we hold enough tournaments or fundraisers to build up the bank account, we will allocate grants, but WE have to purchase the goods, not the entity. (i.e. A course wants two baskets, we contact Innova and buy them directly and have them blinded shipped to the course.)

Glad you put that "not because you can't be trusted, Brian" part in there. I'm a look you in the eye and shake your hand kinda guy. You're only as good as your word, and I'll never screw anybody. The grant funds are in the bank account safe and sound, and will either purchase something for UMass or the grant will be given back to NEFA if the course doesn't go in by September 2013 (18 months from appropriation of funds).

Respectfully,
Brian

[Derek Brazauskas]

Brian my intent is not to slander or demean you or your foundation. I'm a bit confused as to why you wouldn't want to talk about this in an open forum. You can understand where im coming from right? Where is the next course your breaking ground on? Are you looking to be paid by the university for installing the course at Umass(I'm not against it just wondering your intentions) As that could be another big stall point as you try and get the course in.. I hope you don't feel like i'm attacking you because i'm not, but when you give general answers without substance it causes people to wonder.. Everyone wants to grow the sport in Nefa and we are all for the grant going out to help, there are tons of courses that are already in that could use that money i.e. crane hill, Newton hill, Amesbury pines, and so on and so on..

[Dave Jackson]

Werd

[Brian Giggey]

Brian my intent is not to slander or demean you or your foundation. I'm a bit confused as to why you wouldn't want to talk about this in an open forum. You can understand where im coming from right? Where is the next course your breaking ground on? Are you looking to be paid by the university for installing the course at Umass(I'm not against it just wondering your intentions) As that could be another big stall point as you try and get the course in.. I hope you don't feel like i'm attacking you because i'm not, but when you give general answers without substance it causes people to wonder.. Everyone wants to grow the sport in Nefa and we are all for the grant going out to help, there are tons of courses that are already in that could use that money i.e. crane hill, Newton hill, Amesbury pines, and so on and so on..

I don't come on here much due to the reception I received when I started posting on here initially. It's the internet --- people can be whoever they want to be. I've been on music forums for years and see how "noobs" get treated. Luckily now people have my back and respect my opinion over there, but in disc golf world, I'm still a "noob" or "newb" (spelling depends on how cool you want to be). The responses I received to some of the stuff I posted actually effected my day, and I thought about them. I'm too busy to worry about internet forums, so I decided to pull back and not post on here. I received a lot of positive remarks at our Mobiles and knew deep in my heart that what we are doing is good for the sport.

That being said, I do share progress on this open forum, though. Someone asked for updates a few days ago, and I told them we were trying to schedule a time to put in temporary holes. That's the update for now. There has been such a wild response to this course, that I decided to pull back on the other courses we're working on in terms of sharing information. Initially, I reached out to prove support to the University, but then it turned into people starting rumors about how it wasn't happening. So internally, we discussed it, and decided to keep a lot of information to ourselves except when we had very concrete details to convey.

Believe me, I'm excited about this course! I want this to go in so bad so we can play here in Amherst and attract a lot of eyes on disc golf. The course will be a challenge to many, but it is geared toward education and getting people started in the world of disc golf; then when the players that find disc golf through UMass get good, they go to Crane and get NASTY!! Other courses we're doing, like Sugarloaf in Maine, will be a tournament style course as they have less restrictions than UMass...and actually WANT the course instead of someone like UMass who I have to convince. They have been convinced.

Yes, we have other courses we're working on. Sugarloaf is trying to get holes in by October, but they are expecting to have a full release in April 2013. We are working on two other courses in Maine, one in New York, potentially starting a new one in Vermont and are going down to Virginia for an initial site visit in early October. I'm a very honest, to the point, fun guy, but when it comes to business, I've learned that maybe we need to keep information internally until it's time to unveil it so we don't have a rumor mill like the one UMass created. I, personally, don't think there needs to be a whole lot of discussion about courses prior to installation. When it's time to get business sponsorships, we'll make the announcement. If I can get funds allocated for installation, I will reach out and give those funds to those who want to help. (i.e., I have a construction foreman who I have on call for tee pads. He tells me how much he needs for money, and what we'll get in return, and I make sure that the end client has that in their budget for him.) I'm a community guy --- if I can help others do this for a living, I will. I love this sport, and my job, but it wouldn't be the same if I wasn't running through the woods with friends.

Receiving payment for UMass isn't a goal, and even if it was, that isn't slowing the process down. I'm sorry I'm not more forthcoming with information with the course, but there isn't a ton to share. In regards to the "general answers without substance," I'm really not sure what to say. I answer when I can and with the information I have. Sorry if that's not enough, but its better than nothing. I apologize if most of the remarks stemmed from the NEFA grant, but that really doesn't have much to do with me. We applied for the grant, and got it. We feel blessed that with this money, we really can focus on some things that usually get scrapped and use the disc golf course as a framework to educate the public at a location where there is going to be a TON of eyes.

I hope you see my point with keeping information to myself. If the UMass course wasn't public information until it was time to go in the ground, I'd be printing t-shirts in the garage and not replying to an on-going thread on the internet. I love NEFA and all the disc golfers I've meet in my travels. I will try my hardest to get this course in the ground as soon as I can, but I do believe that if you truly knew who we were working with, you'd have a little more grace and patience in what we're doing. Don't take any of this personally, Derek. I know you're a solid dude and a great player --- I wish we had gotten to speak at Worlds in Charlotte, but I'm just here to answer questions and continue to plug away like I do every other day.

Respectfully,
Brian

[Titan Bariloni]

first off..how is Umass a free to play course?

they stand to make more from DG then WF&G ever could..a year cost 20K...

Umass is a business one that does rather well..why should nefa even buy there baskets?

if 1 kid wanted to go to Umass cuz of DG they just crushed more then all courses combined..80k generated cuz they have DG

maybe they these big wigs should wake up and realize that..and I personally know of a few people who woulda/didn't go to Umass cuz of DG/No DG

so yes free to public..maybe..who is to say they don't say only students/workers..need an ID card to play...they could and prob will as I don't see them letting the general public just stomp on their campus..is this pre written that it is open to public?

also I doubt anyone but the union can work on this course..they get 20 bucks min an hour..so we will have the most labor expensive course ever..

to me Umass should wake up and spend their own time/$$$

we can impact that area and the students of ALLLLLL those colleges another way..via maybe a town park..w/o all the BS of 6 big wigs and BS reasons why no course is around..

so we pay to help them out? seems strange when we deny places cuz they are pay to play..wow holy 5 bucks..growing the sport of DG also includes helping DG businesses..as we only are taken serious as more and more DG businesses arise and thrive

all other BS..well personally I think explore is a joke and question the motives of brian...I did meet with you and I found you to be all about the $$$$$ among other things!!!! bottom line they won't pay you to put course in and as you said "you guys can put courses in for free if you want.but I need to get paid"...Umass won't can't pay..hence no course

[Titan Bariloni]

basically you want a course and interest prove it will make/help make $$$ for Umass by drawing tuition from students attracted to DG

nefa wont give to a pay to play but they give to a DG business blanketed under the businesses non profit branch..who in turn will benefit financially..kinda seems like the same thing except we have no course

[Paul Sullivan]

Is there any way to delete this frickin' thread. So over people behind the keyboard trashing this guy and his organization. STFU

Everyone thinks they know all the details, you don't !!! How about everyone that says negative stuff on this thread promises that they will not ever play UMASS.(when it is done).

I can't wait to play it, if and when it gets built

I can't believe how many times that Brian has come on this thread and TRIED to explain. You all just don't get it.

BOTTOM LINE - any way you shake it guys, He is promoting disc golf. More players= more fun.

My .02

[Andrew McManus]

first off..how is Umass a free to play course?

they stand to make more from DG then WF&G ever could..a year cost 20K...

Umass is a business one that does rather well..why should nefa even buy there baskets?

if 1 kid wanted to go to Umass cuz of DG they just crushed more then all courses combined..80k generated cuz they have DG

maybe they these big wigs should wake up and realize that..and I personally know of a few people who woulda/didn't go to Umass cuz of DG/No DG

so yes free to public..maybe..who is to say they don't say only students/workers..need an ID card to play...they could and prob will as I don't see them letting the general public just stomp on their campus..is this pre written that it is open to public?

also I doubt anyone but the union can work on this course..they get 20 bucks min an hour..so we will have the most labor expensive course ever..

to me Umass should wake up and spend their own time/$$$

we can impact that area and the students of ALLLLLL those colleges another way..via maybe a town park..w/o all the BS of 6 big wigs and BS reasons why no course is around..

so we pay to help them out? seems strange when we deny places cuz they are pay to play..wow holy 5 bucks..growing the sport of DG also includes helping DG businesses..as we only are taken serious as more and more DG businesses arise and thrive

all other BS..well personally I think explore is a joke and question the motives of brian...I did meet with you and I found you to be all about the $$$$$ among other things!!!! bottom line they won't pay you to put course in and as you said "you guys can put courses in for free if you want.but I need to get paid"...Umass won't can't pay..hence no course

Umm, what are you talking about?? How exactly is UMass going to profit from the course? If they require an ID card, doesn't someone need to be there to check them?...that costs money. Anyone who uses the presence of a dg course as a primary criterion for choosing a college should be put down immediately for stupidity. Titan, take a freakin break from your ridiculous conspiracy theories, really, take a looong break.

Bottom line folks, the NEFA grant process will be thoroughly evaluated and fixed so it will be fair, measurable, balanced and accountable. A matching requirement would also be a really good idea.

[Titan Bariloni]

so Andrew, DG is not relevant enough in society that a person would not chose a school because it has DG? If a person plays DG avidly and has 4 schools they desire to attend...all of semi equal academic standards and one has DG..they would not chose that school with DG?

furthermore DG is trying to break through to collegiate sports(and has to some extent)..that in turn means eventually DG will actually have athletes that compete on a national level(that counts for something)..thus in turn WILL have students that chose schools based upon DG..much like other sports...so nobody ever chooses a school based off from a sport they play?..take the sport seriously man...

heck a nefaland star chose his original school based on DG or DG in surrounding area..is he stupid?...heck he even chose Umass originally cuz of DG..so don't feed me conspiracy theory BS...I speak in facts

checking ID cards..yeah for sure would cost money...but I think it needs to be pre determined via a formal contract on who is allowed to play once built..so we don't spend nefa's money on something nefa members could not use..as I have found some colleges have different insurance plans..one covering students/workers for on site activities and one costing more allowing general public to use activities..I have personally ran into this..again not conspiracy theory...facts!!!

I have personally took time to meet with Explore..sorry was not impressed by some of the words I heard..sorry that is how I feel..not bashing...just my opinion..so the perception of behind a keyboard is BS who else on this thread has actually taken time away and drove to meet them..I have..so assumptions I make I can rest assured I made them from personal interactions not an internet thread

the point was if nefa is gonna give pay to play crap and then hand $$$ to a place that has more money then every DG course combined is BS...and if we wanna reach all those people in that great untouched DG area there is other areas to make the same impact in that region..via public parks ect ect

sully yes promotion of DG is great...and I can admit even in almost any form...that I can respect..when the promotion leads to other courses getting vandalized then I say BS,,(explore stickers placed on baskets) yeah minor but BS IMO...as far as Brian being trust worthy..sorry I know for almost fact you put those stickers around..when confronted he lied and said he had nothing to do with it...if your gonna lie about something that stupid then my suspicions of bigger BS going on is fed...

conspiracy theories...pffff

[Titan Bariloni]

and to further break down the how is DG going to make Umass $$$

pay to play vs Umass

1 person comes to pay to play course=$10 bucks for the day
1 person comes to Umass because of DG for a 4 year plan=80K

hmmmm...and please don't say 1 person could not chose Umass cuz of DG..that is just unrealistic math..if you can't admit that even ONE person would chose Umass because they have DG..you sir are living in a conspiracy theory that DG has not blown up

[Andrew McManus]

Read it again Titan, I said "primary" criterion, so yes, my point still stands.

In regards to U-Mass making a financial gain from DG, you obviously know nothing about basic economics. Is it really worth the university's time and effort to charge players to play the course? Yes, they want to be reassured that it is a compatible use with the campus, as would any landowner under similar circumstances, but to think that they are actually approaching dg with the intent of making $$ for a profit just doesn't make sense when you think about what a small fish DG is in the huge economic sea of U-Mass...basic economics 101...cost/benefit analysis.

[Titan Bariloni]

but to think that they are actually approaching dg with the intent of making $$ for a profit just doesn't make sense

just cuz they are not approaching it in that light does not mean it won't net them profit...more so then a pay to play DG course..and I am not sure if it was ever stated that it would be open to the public...and to what extent

and if it was approached in a cost/benefit analysis way it might be more convincing to the "big wigs"..if this seems to be the issue..the word big wigs shouts $$$$ to me...so speak their lingo...$$$$$..and not the same old DG pitch of good for outdoor activity

edit...nobody ever said they would charge to play we are talking about monetary gains from DG...regardless of actual cost to play..bottomline Umass stands to benefit from DG for FREEEEEEE in a monetary way more so then any other pay to play course

[Bill Stewart]

so Andrew, DG is not relevant enough in society that a person would not chose a school because it has DG? If a person plays DG avidly and has 4 schools they desire to attend...all of semi equal academic standards and one has DG..they would not chose that school with DG?

furthermore DG is trying to break through to collegiate sports(and has to some extent)..that in turn means eventually DG will actually have athletes that compete on a national level(that counts for something)..thus in turn WILL have students that chose schools based upon DG..much like other sports...so nobody ever chooses a school based off from a sport they play?..take the sport seriously man...

Pipe Dreaming Titan, pipe dreaming.

Last I heard, it's still pretty tough to get into the top schools that would challenge a student's relative abilities. Until colleges have more open spots than applicants, for DG to crack the "top 50 improvements to our college that will attract prospective students" list is a long time away.

Titan if you're so passionate about how UMASS spends their money, I sure hope you vote against "Free-em-all-Deval" Patrick when given the opportunity. He's all about free tuition for illegals--money that could productively be spent on DG. BUT, it's programs like these that make the $$ at UMASS so tight. I don't think they're rolling in the dough that you imply in your posts.

[Titan Bariloni]

Bill..lol I don't vote

and the point is not that Umass has tons of available money..the point is they have way MORE then any pay to play course ever would...I say F'em..move focus to another great piece of land in the area..one day the students will demand DG..and then they can spend their OWN $$$$ for DG

just seems strange we can't support a pay to play course but we can support a mega business that in all reality could cough up 5k if they desire

[Isaac Chaney]

Stone hill college in easton has a 500k "fun" budget for their students each year!
Brian your crew seems to get around, you should go work your magic over there

[Isaac Chaney]

Look it up on Google earth, they have tons of land not being used for anything, they are heavy into ultimate frisbee too.

[Brian Giggey]

Here we go again. Good morning. I'm not going to spend much more time on this thread, especially with the negative turn it has taken. That being said, we hope you continue to support the course and look forward to seeing you out there!

In terms of you knowing me, Titan, you don't. So please don't make it seem like you do. Yes I like ways of making money, but I also LOVE philanthropy. Do you know EVERY project I'm associated with? Do you know how much money we donate to local businesses? Did you know that our Foundation bought Northampton's brush hog mower so we could save them over $500 on the retail value? Did we ask for anything in return? No, we actually gave them an additional $150 check as a thank you for hosting our tournament back in February. But of course you know all that...cause you know me

You came to an Explore Disc Golf Foundation meeting --- a way of RAISING money to give back to the community. Of course a lot of the conversation was about money. We need to raise money to give back grants. In respect to the quote "you guys can do it for free if you want, but I need to get paid"...that's true. As I said before, I have put in over $20,000 into Explore Disc Golf since February alone. When I go on 3-day site visits and put in HOURS slaving over site analysis and site specific documents, of course I'm going to charge. You'd be crazy not to. But going back to that quote, you're more than welcome not to charge. I've been blessed to be contacted by the clients who want course, knowing from the get go that our services aren't free.

I can understand how The Explore Disc Golf Foundation and Explore Disc Golf might be confusing to some. The Explore Disc Golf Foundation isn't my thing --- yes I paid over $2,300 of my own money to start it, yes I put our name in it (it's marketing...I like marketing), and yes I sit on the Board of Directors --- but so do a lot of other people, especially as of late with a lot of interest for the solid DG community. One day, once it grows, I will have nothing to do with The Explore Disc Golf Foundation --- it will be governed by a BOD that just loves disc golf --- but for now, I sit as one of the Board members since there aren't many disc golfers that I know that want to be a part of it yet.

Explore Disc Golf does design, consultation, Mobiles, equipment rentals and much more. When some people are on here bashing us, we're out every weekend digging holes, giving out free disc rentals (and losing 10-20 each event), and being away from our family. We're reaching out to hundreds of people at every Mobile, and will soon be at an event with over 35,000 attendees. I'm sorry if we bother some, but we're putting the pedal to the metal and promoting disc golf as hard as we can.

UMass will be free, forever and always. That's the first thing they said to me --- "this has to be free." They have no way to monitor payment, and have expressed no interest in getting paid for it. Of course they will benefit --- it's a disc golf course. If I was looking at colleges, I would go to one with a disc golf course! They'd be silly not to put a course in. As far as them not paying for it, I'm not concerned about it. NEFA isn't buying our baskets, we have that part figured out. NEFA has given us a grant though, and the majority of it will be used on signage to make this course the educational platform that it should be. UMass is big, we can't screw with a lot of things. They told us many times not to worry about parking...there is simply nothing we can do about it. Sorry, we'd love to, but we can't. We take what we can get, and we have given a lot of time and hard work over the past 2.5 years on this project, sorry if you don't approve, but hopefully some of you can understand that their Facilities Management is more concerned with adding new science buildings, 7 new residential building and fixing some parking issues before bringing a "frisbee golf" course to the area.

I, personally, think NEFA is incredibly smart with their move to allocate funds to this project. You said it yourself, look at the sheer number of people and eyes that will see this course...and NEFA will be one of the lead sponsors with their name all over it. The course is going to be used as a framework to educate the public --- much more than just disc golf --- so of course it's in NEFA's best interest to attach their name to a course that will be located at the flagship University within the state it conducts business.

Say what you want, but I only hope others out there make up their minds for themselves. I've put a lot of time into this course, answered all your questions, put up with some ridiculous claims, and for what? The better of the game...so children both young and old can be turned onto disc golf. Sorry you have the things you have to say about me after meeting with me for a couple hours. A lot of people actually think I'm a swell guy, and I believe that's true. I put a lot of time into my businesses, my church, and other local organizations, and only hope you get the chance to know who I truly am in time. And no big wigs doesn't mean $$$$, it means campus planners, landscape architects, facilities management, advisory board directors and more. It just means they're incredibly busy, and when they snap their fingers, things happen.

Thanks for your interest. Bashing or otherwise.

Respectfully,
Brian

[Andrew McManus]

Bill..lol I don't vote

and the point is not that Umass has tons of available money..the point is they have way MORE then any pay to play course ever would...I say F'em..move focus to another great piece of land in the area..one day the students will demand DG..and then they can spend their OWN $$$$ for DG

just seems strange we can't support a pay to play course but we can support a mega business that in all reality could cough up 5k if they desire

I'm hoping that pay to play courses will be eligible for NEFA grants, I see no reason why they shouldn't be. You keep painting a picture that UMass has all this $$ available, yet you've provided no realistic basis for your claim. How deeply have you delved into their financial situation? Can you honestly back up your claim with facts??...the answer is no because you are simply assuming and speculating, that's all. Be thankful that they are open to the very idea of a dg course on their property and if you're so bent about their financial situation, then contact your local state rep and get some real facts, but you probably won't because you don't vote, thus you don't really care how the system works, you just enjoy being a rabble rouser, and you're not very good at that either, so quit while you're behind.

[Titan Bariloni]

NEFA isn't buying our baskets, we have that part figured out. NEFA has given us a grant though, and the majority of it will be used on signage to make this course the educational platform that it should be.

$1500 for signs..IMO perma signs shouldn't even be installed until last..as the course often changes early...

just marking directing people to course/holes..once a perma tee pad is installed after full review of long term sustainability of hole is determined..then a perma sign should go in..as it is more realistic the hole will remain as sign depicts..wasting money on early signs is just a joke IMO...if this project is far from earth being broken..then why would money for signage be needed so early in the courses life?

as far as knowing you..I don't..never claimed to..I just simply said I met with you and explore...I wasn't impressed with things stated...or actions following the meeting..cancelling the PCC event after some time/energy went in on our end...w/o much explanation from Explores end...again w/o further communication..the meeting to me was about western MA DG not about lining an event up to make explore money..regardless of what it is used for...it turned into explores way to make monies...to me I wanted to meet to get this shart storm we call western ma DG on the same page...as it is obv it needs to be..placing stickers on private and public land to further promote your "business/org" is not cool..esp w/o permission..or any relevance to the course

words like "I don't care about safety,I tell people I design the course and then your on your own if anything happens" is a joke..course design 101 should have safety in the front part of the picture...if we have people putting in unsafe courses it is unproductive for DG....and I question if it smart to attach nefa's name to a designer with lil regard for safetey...as nefa has had issues in past with their name on a kiosk!!! but that is a nefa issue..one that should make sure the BOD has things in place to ensure when their name is on it..the course will be REP them well..having your name on something is not always a good thing...a team that "explores" these grant sites is important IMO...

[Titan Bariloni]

Bill..lol I don't vote

and the point is not that Umass has tons of available money..the point is they have way MORE then any pay to play course ever would...I say F'em..move focus to another great piece of land in the area..one day the students will demand DG..and then they can spend their OWN $$$$ for DG

just seems strange we can't support a pay to play course but we can support a mega business that in all reality could cough up 5k if they desire

I'm hoping that pay to play courses will be eligible for NEFA grants, I see no reason why they shouldn't be. You keep painting a picture that UMass has all this $$ available, yet you've provided no realistic basis for your claim. How deeply have you delved into their financial situation? Can you honestly back up your claim with facts??...the answer is no because you are simply assuming and speculating, that's all. Be thankful that they are open to the very idea of a dg course on their property and if you're so bent about their financial situation, then contact your local state rep and get some real facts, but you probably won't because you don't vote, thus you don't really care how the system works, you just enjoy being a rabble rouser, and you're not very good at that either, so quit while you're behind.

I don't need to see any info to know they have more money then a pay to play DG course...you are speculating on what I know...pot calling kettle black....and FYI I speak with someone that has worked at Umass for 10 years almost everyday!!!

I don't believe in the system. it is flawed..so again why support something I don't believe in...

rabble rouser..you have negatively commented on every post basically I have ever made...hmm again pot calling kettle black

but can't return a PM..in regards to your nefa postion..or take time to update the home page with something other then the crap that has been on it...take some time away from responding to my post and actually write a solid article for nefa's home page..one that does not involve TC as TC is no longer around the nefa site..funny how nefa throws TC out but had a blog on it on their homepage for 2 months

[Titan Bariloni]

http://www.umass.edu/af/budget/Budget_Office_Data_Statistics.htm

http://www.umass.edu/af/budget/FY12/FY12-operating-budget--revenue-expenditures.pdf

yeah pay to play crushes those kind of numbers

http://www.umass.edu/af/budget/FY12/FY12-operating-budget--current-revenues.pdf

2012 "private gifts" 10,769,736

but they are broke

[Andrew McManus]

Bill..lol I don't vote

and the point is not that Umass has tons of available money..the point is they have way MORE then any pay to play course ever would...I say F'em..move focus to another great piece of land in the area..one day the students will demand DG..and then they can spend their OWN $$$$ for DG

just seems strange we can't support a pay to play course but we can support a mega business that in all reality could cough up 5k if they desire

I'm hoping that pay to play courses will be eligible for NEFA grants, I see no reason why they shouldn't be. You keep painting a picture that UMass has all this $$ available, yet you've provided no realistic basis for your claim. How deeply have you delved into their financial situation? Can you honestly back up your claim with facts??...the answer is no because you are simply assuming and speculating, that's all. Be thankful that they are open to the very idea of a dg course on their property and if you're so bent about their financial situation, then contact your local state rep and get some real facts, but you probably won't because you don't vote, thus you don't really care how the system works, you just enjoy being a rabble rouser, and you're not very good at that either, so quit while you're behind.

I don't need to see any info to know they have more money then a pay to play DG course...you are speculating on what I know...pot calling kettle black....and FYI I speak with someone that has worked at Umass for 10 years almost everyday!!!
So, what does this person do at UMass?...you've conveniently left that out

I don't believe in the system. it is flawed..so again why support something I don't believe in...
change doesn't happen without public input...aka, voting, so good luck with that philosophy

rabble rouser..you have negatively commented on every post basically I have ever made...hmm again pot calling kettle black
rabble rousing isn't about negative comments, its about raising issues without merit or basis and trying to gain support for an issue or cause by making unsubstantiated claims

but can't return a PM..in regards to your nefa postion..or take time to update the home page with something other then the crap that has been on it...take some time away from responding to my post and actually write a solid article for nefa's home page..one that does not involve TC as TC is no longer around the nefa site..funny how nefa throws TC out but had a blog on it on their homepage for 2 months

TC article was posted before TC thread was removed, but nice try. While this whole section has nothing to do with the topic at hand, I will be posting new blogs. This is your MO Titan, you deflect and scatter the topic to the point where it truly loses any and all meaning and sense