What do to about The Brewing Network Club for the future

[EagleDude]

Great discussion!! ... and Justing you have too much feelings!! (although justified). As a "dues" paying member of the BN army club ... "dues" going to the BN Company ... not sure how that all works but not important, I strongly believe that the BN club needs to maintain the status quo! COTY has always gone to the biggest clubs with the most entries for years on end ... and there have always been gripes about those clubs when they are winning. If the BN or AHA were to change things up to tilt advantages to other super large clubs ... their win would be hollow.

I started brewing back in 1996 (hush ... at age 19), but started entering into the NHC in 2011 with the BN as my club. That was my first year attending the NHC ... and it was amazing!!! I earned points for the BN in the first round (not second) and joined the club on stage for the first COTY award. Total fun and excitement. Same for 2012 in Seattle (no second round metal, but first round points for the BN and joined the BN on stage). After that, I joined a fledgling local club due to the BN's encouragement for participation in local clubs, if available ... that is my only complaint about the BN as I have been the President for several years, and I blame Justin, JP, and Doc. As President, I had a dilema on chosing who to acknowlege as "my club" ... I chose the local club to put them on the map (but secretly rooted for the BN). I earned the first round gold points for our local club in 2013 but did not attend NHC ... first points ever for this club. I was one of the unlucky 3% that did not get to enter in 2014 and did not attend NHC that year either.

Fast forward to 2015, I am sill entering as my local club who had a booth at this years NHC for the first time, I am good friends with some QUAFF members, and my heart is still tied to the BN club/company ... whatever the designation. My small local club from a small AZ mountain town will never be COTY, but I will support them with my entries. I will also always feel a part of the BN club even if not entering under that name. QUAFF had a great chance at COTY with the final score difference being in a single digit difference (8 points?) ... and the QUAFF rows of tables were not booing. They were the first to stand and clap in recognition of the BN army's accomplishment ... although still a bit dissapointed like the losing team in the super bowl. I did not hear many boos (some) ... but the "crickets" were a bit uncomfortable until QUAFF members stood and began clapping. I was sitting with the QUAFF folks and although dissappointed at their loss, they did not hold animosity towards the BN (perhaps because they new I was a bit partial to the BN?).

The biggest surprise to me at the 2015 ceremony was that the stage did not fill up with BN army club folks!!!! The stage was filled in 2011 and 2012 when I had attended and entered as the BN in the past. I did not join the stage this year since I entered under the local club (Whiskey Row Brew Club) and was representing them instead of the BN. Perhaps I should have since I am a member of both. Justin needed the support and energy from the BN up on stage to counteract the crickets (uncomforable) and distant boos (minimal), but he was met with BN "company" members and "sponsors" with very few BN club members ... blober you rocked!!

One other comment would be that the BN did have seats up front and center like other "sponsors" where the QUAFF folks had to "fight" (stand in line for hours) for good seats behind the reserved sponsor area. It would be great for the AHA to automatically reserve seating for the organizing club and have them treated the same as sponsors when they are handling a good deal of the organiztional load for the conference ... Justin take that to the governing committee for consideration.

Long story short ... the BN left Justin hanging and feeling abandoned with a silent room to contend with ... and we all know how much Justin hates radio silence.

[misled_drummer]

Definitely keep kicking ass. I somewhat understand Justin's concern about the BN business getting a bad wrap due to the club, but you guys already do so much for homebrewing by offering amazing (and free!) information. If anything, new homebrewers will be more curious about checking out the BN if the club keeps winning.

If you're really concerned, why not change the name of the club? A brand change can do a great job of creating some separation between the two brands, though you still have the problem of being an "online" club.

[TheDarkSide]

One other comment would be that the BN did have seats up front and center like other "sponsors" where the QUAFF folks had to "fight" (stand in line for hours) for good seats behind the reserved sponsor area. It would be great for the AHA to automatically reserve seating for the organizing club and have them treated the same as sponsors when they are handling a good deal of the organiztional load for the conference ... Justin take that to the governing committee for consideration.

I'm shocked by this too. I would really expect them to have reserved setting for all the work the club does before, during and after the conference. I have a friend on the Baltimore committee and he's already freaking out (Doc style) with all the work that needs to be done before next year.

I would suggest changing the name of the club (BNArmy sounds good but I think it still holds too close to the Brewing Network). Also, one of the biggest complaints is the club members never get together in person. Maybe the BNArmy can arrange regional BN meetups throughout the year in their respective areas and do brew days, brewery tours, etc. How cool would it be if you happened to be traveling and there was a BNArmy club meeting in the area? This way people can't pull out the "online" club card all the time.

[mobrewer]

I like the idea of regional meet ups. Electing officers may be something to consider but we'd only be doing this to shut up the haters and we all know they'll just find something else to whine about.

[Ihaveabig]

After being at the banquet this year I believe that this whole ordeal reflects poorly on the BN, and should therefore come to an end.
Both the "not a real club" people and the "keep kicking ass" people lack class in my opinion.

To me the Brewing Network is about spreading brewing knowledge and supporting the brewing world. This is just a distraction. Lets focus on the craft.

Cheers

[NervousDad]

Sugar valley brewer needs to write a song about all of the sad feelings

[Ozwald]

Sugar valley brewer needs to write a song about all of the sad feelings

Yeah, but it'll just end up being about Beevo's ass again.

[Klickitat Jim]

I like the idea of regional meet ups. Electing officers may be something to consider but we'd only be doing this to shut up the haters and we all know they'll just find something else to whine about.

A President isnt going to fill my in box with junk, or expect anything from me. (JP)
A VP who earned it (current highest medaller, multiple VPs if a tie)
And a Sgt of Arms that the Pres trusts. (His pick)


The trouble is that I highly doubt that very many soldiers actually use this forum... so how do you include them in the discussion? Probably you dont. Thats one reason to have a default selection process. Maybe, to save JPs sanity, the current VP becomes next year's Pres. Then JP is one year and retired.