Vugraph coordinator in Estoril

[mycroft]

I'd be willing to give money to the "give back to vugraph" fund; I strongly agree with Fred, however, that it should be free for use - and for the reason he has given frequently; it's a way of bringing more bridge players into the game and encouraging discussion and growth of bridge even at the club level (by looking at what the best do, and what the best think about what the best do).

 

It's frustrating that everybody thinks it's someone else's job to pay what's necessary; but BBO volunteers enough cash through programming, server hosting, and promotion, so I think it's got its side paid for.

 

This is why, whatever I think of the non-bridge discussion during the vugraphs, I don't say anything. The experts that choose to have fun watching good bridge and showing off for the rest of us are doing so on the "it's worth it to me" model - and a bit of non-bridge stuff to filter out is part of the price. However, I expect a fair number would have a different idea if a fee was being charged, and they didn't get any of it.

 

Michael.

[Booze]

hi

 

it was not my intention to start a topic if Vugraphs should be free or not , Fred has once decided that they should be , enough said in this.

 

I didn`t intend to discuss commentators either, they are fine and doing well.

 

If BBO thinks Vugraphs from Estoril will be good enough without Rolands presence there also OK.

 

Malmö was a low budget project that worked rather OK in many ways. I tried to keep costs low as I could, we had 6 full time operators and 6 half time + Roland as coordinator, Wojela as web updater. BBO staff was very often the first to come to the venue in the morning and last to leave at night.

 

During those 15 days we rather often got the question " How much do EBL pay you guys for this?" Sadly I had to answer not a cent.

 

Everyone thought it was scandal. The boys and girls distrubuting hands or papers earned 10 Big Mac and company per day, while BBO folks got none.

 

I stayed at a hostel in a 4 bed room, Roland stayed at a relatives home and Wojela and the other Poles slept at the floor in a friends house. We brought food to the venue , it was rather expensive eating there.

 

None of us complained, we worked hard and did as I saw it a huge success. I estimated we had over 50 000 specs during the 2 weeks. I am very glad that BBO, the people who worked in Malmö and over 100 commentators could give you all this for free.

 

As you all understand this is something that can`t happen several times a year, BBO cant afford it, the volunteers have to make a living and so on.

 

If we want free high quality Vugraphs we have to let volunteers work under better circumstances and absolutely not pay for it.

 

 

 

Thats why I started this topic, hoping we could find a solution!!

 

Bo

[mrdct]

Interestingly, the Australian Bridge Federation has today published a remuneration policy for "helpers" including data entry people which I presume includes BBO operators. http://www.abf.com.au/about/helpers.html

 

A$80 (about US$60) is the specified per diem for data entry which for someone living in the same city should be enough to pay for petrol, parking and a couple of meals with bit of spare change to spend at the bar after play is finished.

 

I think it's fair enough, particularly if travel and accommodation can be neogiated with the convenor for out-of-towners.

[Booze]

Thats similar to what Italian Federation pays as I have heard for operators, and I think its great.

 

We had only 2 half time operators living in Malmö, Swedish federation was not interested in helping us at all , they have a contract with Swan Games.

 

They were extremly lucky to have BBO staff at venue , the INtranet didnt work at all before we came, I had to tell them the solution of the problem.

 

And think you agree it is worth a lot to have at least one expirenced operator and well informed of BBO software. Several times I have helped organisers from all of the world to converte files.

 

And Rolands outstanding job has also to be done, I dont know if I ever seen a more dedicated person to his task.

 

Bo

[FAQPG]

Fred

In addtion, it is not unlikely that there will be some volunteers among BBO members from Portugal (or elsewhere) who will act as operators at least some of the time (so that we can broadcast from more than 2 tables at a time).

 

First of all i would like to apologies for my bad english :P second i think as the coordinator of the caddys for Estoril, that is going to be very difficult to find volunteers to act as operators of the viewgraph, im having a lot of trouble find young people to be caddys and the portuguese federation is paying for the job, 20 days for the beginning and i still havent got the number they ask for. I dont now if this brings something of importance to the discussion but im writing it anyway :D

 

I really think a viewgraph coordinator is needed there.

 

Best regards,

 

 

Francisco Pereira Gonçalves (FPG)