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<div dir="auto">That’s a fair point, so maybe have active league players vote on it at league, since many are likely not on this mailing list. <br />
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As for me, I have been taking a break from competitive play, but do intend to return to it. Still, I should get no vote. </div>
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Steve</div>
<div name="messageReplySection">On May 12, 2024 at 12:16 PM -0400, Dan Reynolds via FSPA <fspa@fspazone.org>, wrote:<br />
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<div dir="ltr">It shouldn’t be surprising that people who don’t even play in the league anymore don’t care about WPPRs.</div>
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<blockquote type="cite">On May 12, 2024, at 9:45 AM, Stephen Jonke via FSPA <fspa@fspazone.org> wrote:<br />
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<div dir="auto">As I said before, I’m absolutely in favor of dropping WPPRs and then doing what’s fun instead of what complies. On top of that, let’s just say that the FSPA shrinks as a result. Is that so bad? Suddenly house parties become an option again in that case. Though I suspect dropping WPPRs will not cause a mass exodus. <br />
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For me an issue is we no longer have a league in Maryland. I can’t drive to the VA locations every week. Or rather I could, but all that driving is not great. Don’t know what can be done about that. </div>
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Steve</div>
<div name="messageReplySection">On May 11, 2024 at 2:09 PM -0400, Barry Schwartz via FSPA <fspa@fspazone.org>, wrote:<br />
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<p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Party-I love a good pinball party and especially love reconnecting with old FSPA friends. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I also appreciate party games and the surrounding friendly competition and they motivate me to attend. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>However, I generally am unwilling to travel an hour or more just for a party and frankly, pizza demotivates me. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So, I have only attended sparsely in the past few years. </span></p>
<p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Competition format-I don’t care much about WPPRs as I don’t play enough events in a year nor am I good enough to be top rated. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I started playing in FSPA and would happily continue without them. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m in it for the balanced but friendly competition and camaraderie it brings. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve developed many friendships through league affiliation. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The competition is also important to my experience as it excites me in a way that little else does. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s why I participate in occasional tournaments. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But, it’s immediate and local vs IFPAs state and world levels. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So, I vote for the FSPA to focus on balanced friendly competition and frankly think too much attention is paid to WPPRs in the pinball community. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The IFPA exists for the top 1%, not for me. </span></p>
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<blockquote type="cite">On May 11, 2024, at 11:57 AM, Dave Hubbard via FSPA <fspa@fspazone.org> wrote:<br />
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<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, May 11, 2024 at 11:08 AM Sergio Johnson via FSPA <<a href="mailto:fspa@fspazone.org">fspa@fspazone.org</a>> wrote:<br /></div>
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<div>Calling the party contribution a “tax” is a bit unfair lol. It’s an association benefit that some folks choose not to take advantage of but that others like. The reality is that everyone subsidizes something else in the league that may not be for them, but someone else takes advantage of.</div>
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<div>Well, call it whatever you want, it's a part of dues that I'm essentially just setting on fire. I am FAR from alone on this. By your own admission, the party isn't self-sustaining and depends on significant no-shows to even happen. Is that healthy? It's probably getting worse with the rising cost of everything, and I assume that raising dues just to cover increased party costs is a non-starter (at least I hope it is). All I'm asking is to really rethink whether it's worth it, and offer an opt-out for those that have no interest. There's a way to find out for sure: do a survey, poll the playerbase, ask if people would rather pay $40/season with party, or $30/season and no party. Let's gather some data.<br /></div>
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<div>There are players who have never made the playoffs or very rarely do, yet there they are, season after season contributing to the prize pool that frequently goes to the same subset of players at the top end. They’re subsidizing the prize fund. Some folks really don’t want to own a pinball machine, (I know, go figure!), but get entered into the drawing anyway. The party isn’t any different, and clearly $10 a head isn’t covering the costs of it. When we came up with the cost years ago it was with the assumption that not all would likely attend. I guess we could go to a “a la carte” system for all of it but it would be an administrative headache trying to keep track of who is “in” for prizes, party and giveaway. That said, we could make all of those optional and really get bare bones with it. Something to think about. Does the size of the prize pool or trophies matter to folks?</div>
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<div>This is disingenuous. FSPA's playoff structure has always included a multitude of divisions such that even the worst players in the league can have a legitimate shot at their division playoffs, and therefore win something. It's not just bad players subsidizing "the top end." No one is asking for opt-in (or opt-out) to the prize pool, which wouldn't make any sense. I don't think anyone is asking for an opt-out for the giveaway machine, it's essentially just a raffle.</div>
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<div>To your last question, the size of the prize pool doesn't entirely matter to me, as long as it's something. Trophies do not matter.<br /></div>
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<div>The private feedback that I’ve gotten so far is that folks really hate the wide disparities in skill levels seen in the early weeks of the new system. It was not a fun experience for them. Unfortunately that’s the cost of doing business with the IFPA. If anyone has any additional feedback on that or other topics, I’d love to hear it!</div>
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<div>Just a feeling... but it might be time to decide whether FSPA wants to be a competitive thing or a casual thing. I know the party line in the past was trying to strike some sort of balance, but if people really hate the result of kowtowing to IFPA in an attempt to keep points, maybe it's time to pick a side. Believe it or not, I actually think you should lean into the casual side. Competitive players who care about points will continue to go to tournaments. FSPA can exist for the more casual/social side, and without having to worry about the IFPA, you can go back to the ladder system and/or do whatever you want.</div>
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<div> --- Dave<br /></div>
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