On the web / non-NAF stuff - lots to think about there. As I say, I'm going to bring it up, but we do have a really pressing issue with the PayPal that must take priority. Again, I am under the impression this is technically very hard, but we have a lot of new minds engaged at the moment because one of our (many) adverts for webmaster help bore fruit, so maybe we can come up with a solution once the PayPal issue is fixed. All I can do is ask!
On the website spend / a new website - a new website would be wonderful, but every quotation I've seen to have it done professionally is more money than the NAF has ever had. While the spend over the past two or three years appears high (and it did to me when I came aboard), members that have assessed what we've had done have suggested we negotiated a good rate. Some of the website stuff was critical 'it has broken, we need to fix it because the database is important (what are we without it?)' stuff, and of course, we as members don't
see anything has changed for the money because it's just a fix of what is already there. There are visible quality of life improvements too (variant rankings, various tables and bits and bobs - more info
here). Anyway. It is easy to
want better, but very hard to
buy better with our budget, so we have upgraded what we have when we can. What we really need is someone that wants to do a new site as a volunteer project. That is the most likely way of getting it done.
On discounts - this is totally up to TOs. I guess we do it because we want to encourage everyone to join what is (still, in my opinion) our rather wonderful club. You might think we have some problems, but I still believe the NAF is an important and worthwhile thing. But don't offer a discount if you don't want to.
On 'project champions' - to me, this is the regional staff that we already have. I have a good relationship with Hacha (your NTO) and some of your RTOs. Our door is always open if Hacha knocks on it with an idea or a Spanish project they wish to undertake. OK, I speak to Hacha mostly about day to day tournament stuff, but that isn't to say that's the only thing he's there for. He already represents you at Annual Review time (on rules discussions), I'm sure he'll be on the selection committee for the next World Cup decision, etc. So we have this already, imo.
Sometimes when I read threads or comments like this, I get a little frustrated that the same stuff comes up time and again. I'm never frustrated with the people making the comments, more that the NAF as an organisation is totally limited by the quality and quantity of volunteers we get, and sometimes by our communications. I can be as on-top of tournaments as is humanly possible while also having a family and a job(!), but these other wishes and niggles persist that are outside of my competence and control. At the end of the day, for a lot of it, we simply need more, skilled bodies to make it happen. If you think you can fix 'non-NAF' for us in the code, I am absolutely listening, for instance. It probably won't ever happen if we just wish hard for it.
Bottom line - I want Spain (and other countries) more engaged and involved. Sure, you've pointed out some long standing issues here, but I don't think that fixing non-NAF or a volunteer developing a new website will fix your relationship with the NAF the wider organisation. There is something more cultural at work, and I'd like us to have a stab at fixing that.
Edit: Interesting thread from mepmuff
here. Thoughts?