Polo in the Ads

Please can we get this out of the main forum; it really makes us look like a sack of cocks.

Leave it here. It's fine, it's a discussion about how we collectively or otherwise deal with approaches from sponsors. Putting it in a subforum means nobody reads it.

I agree with @SuperLuca that companies getting involved with polo is good. We need sponsorship and finances to put on events like the Open, or move towards a permanent home at HH. The eBike ad with Spring Break for example, iirc paid for the boards at one of the Opens.

I don't begrudge people getting paid for taking out some of their time to turn up at 8am for a photoshoot. That's fair enough. I guess what I am not keen on is people entirely pocketing all the money for themselves. Isn't what we do more than just one, or four, or six individuals? If people enjoy events such as the Open, and want a good court of our own, then those things cost money; and if private companies come along willing to pay to make use of our 'brand', then I would think / hope / encourage those who do participate in the ads would throw some of that money towards the association.

I'm repeating myself a bit here so I'll shut up now. If people decide to keep all of that £1200 for themselves, I think it's disappointing. Even a small chunk of that would pay for eight flat bars to replace on the bikes that we got donated, which would enable the juniors to play better on them.

Well said Emmet, nailed it.

Its a shame that this has diverted from a potential source of funding for the community and more specifically the new court at HH (as originally offered to us) to a sparring match on the forum.

Luca, I would reiterate what Emmet said. Happy to meet for a drink to discuss.

Lets try not to let this get out of hand a la Adidas...

When things are typed, they appear worse than they would sound if they were said in real life. Dont stress, it's not a sparring match. It's a discussion.

There isn't any other outlet to debate this because LHBPA meetings aren't attended well any more. The forum is where we interact, so this is the best place to talk it out.

the LHBPA or LPC forums...

Some people aren't in them.

everyone is in the LHBPA who needs/wants to be - its up to Max to include the rest in the LPC

Sponsorship money often takes the path of least resistance, you cannot negotiate good terms, or improve the sport (for everyone) without using an umbrella organisation/community.

Sponsorship offers are finite and few, it's pretty irksome when people cannot see the opportunity cost of their own self-interest.

Getting people to work together is often thankless and hard, good luck to all involved whatever you decide and make sure you read/sign a contract.

The problem with continuing this discussion on the public forum is that none of the actual facts are posted here, therefore the potential positives of transparency regarding our policy for dealing with sponsorship are entirely negated by the fact that this discussion begins in the third act with a man waving a gun around.

I will remind you that this forum serves as our public community archive, and therefore it feels prurient that anything relating to the associations funds should only ever be discussed in the private threads that are strictly for association members. If people don't look at them, then that apathy speaks for itself.

I will also remind you that everything you say on any part of this forum is an official contribution to the collaborative authorship of our community history. Don't be the guy who only ever managed to call people a sack of cocks etc.

also while wer at it, can everyone who wants to play vote for the league please?
http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/27393­8/?offset=25#comment12565641

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKvuOOg1htw

Yes!

I think it is only fair to the spirit of polo to point out that mrak got paid in muffins ... and he didn't save any crumbs for the lhbpa.

makes us look like a sack of cocks

limp cocks

Sweet hop stop, and wheelie shot!

I apologize for the animosity that my post caused - the issue of ownership splits the community as always

Here's why: Bike polo, not only London is more than any individual could be - it's a collective of souls who chose to ride around on a bike swinging mallets and have a great time.

I owe a lot to the scene for where I am right now and yes my initial post could have been kinder but it was meant to be crass, direct and trigger a debate. Could have been handled better but needs must and that was the best I could have mustered then.

Best of luck tomorrow!

Where are these souls located? In the brain or heart or somewhere in the belly or what?

Mine's in my pants...

Miss you guys! #plsdowntfyte

That's the right answer! Miss you too.

If we want to grow the numbers of people playing ... a sure fire way of doing the opposite is in any way to alienate those that already play.

Agreed, that's what Beagle was trying to stop, just in an overly confrontational way.

I'm pretty sure that a couple of players going and doing a magazine shoot is not going to stop other people playing, but being overly confrontational to someone might ... Polo is losing numbers everywhere, every city. Getting paid to wear some crap 70's jeans shouldn't be anyones business but the mannequin.

I think that whatever we all individually think about this, carrying the argument on and on is certainly very unhelpful. I'll drop you a pm about it in a bit B but let's let this drop now before it causes even more bad feeling. Everyones various opinions have been more than fleshed out already on this thread.

Sure, sorry B didn't mean to stir. x