They're getting there...

Checked back on the discussion in the Yahoo group. At least they're starting to realize that there is a problem. Now let's see if they understand its nature.

I will safely dismiss the idea of one overarching organization and championship for the following reasons:
1. CBI isn't likely to play nicely with NAQT (This would be like Microsoft and Linux getting together)
2. ACF isn't likely to play nicely with CBI (No actually THIS would be like Microsoft and Linux getting together, or at least Bill Gates and Richard Stallman)
3. ACF isn't likely to play nicely with TRASH. (This is the tricky nut to crack, if you want an overarching structure, either you accept that trash has value and a place at the table, or you cleave the circuit into two components, which defeats the purpose of an overarching organization)

I think the other problem is that right now, even if such a beast were to appear tomorrow, I think that it wouldn't benefit all of the organizations to join it. CBI would lose out because it would be stuck with revealing its competition to groups that don't even know the circuit exists. ACF would be forced to actually act as something more than an ad hoc cabal of the best ACF players. While I could see NAQT and TRASH joining up with such a plan, I can't see either agreeing to a single tournament structure.

The fundamental problem, as I see it, is that there has always been insufficient critical mass of people, free time, and money to propel the growth of the circuit forward. This quest for additional organization that has sprung up is the manifestation of a method to solve these problems, but not the solution itself. Would an organizational layer serve to improve ths situation? I'm doubtful. I appreciate that a coherent vision could give us at least a better road map. But the actions needed for growth have to come from lots of individuals. And if there's one thing that the quiz bowl community does not do well, it's take orders.
For almost a decade, we've been able to float in a range between 120 and 140 schools on the circuit. It's enough to keep the system going, but only by the application of serious effort. To get beyond that size, we have to apply an even higher amount of effort.

I might as well tackle this issue in the next couple entries, because I think that we might be able to actually do something. NAQT has wanted to help grow the circuit for years, but this year we've internally committed to really reach out beyond the circuit, and at this point, I'm the point man for that. But I also know that such efforts will hinge on the efforts of dozens of people on the circuit. It won't be a case of NAQT leading the charge, it will be NAQT helping those who want to make the circuit bigger, better, and more open to newcomers.