Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

New Pokemon TCG Organized Play Management for Italy!

Marcello-Milord

Marcello-Milord

New Member
Dear Gym friends (both US & INTL ones),

this is a personal announcement, but I'm really happy to be able to share this information with you all.
As of now, I'm the new Organized Play Manager for Italy, with the help on a "financial" basis, of Gedis Edizioni (our Local Distributor for kiosks).
I have a lot of plans and a lot of possibilities with this new responsibility, which was given to me directly by the heads of PUI.
I thank them for their trust in me, I thank our old OP Management (25 Edition) for their work, and I want to thank my new "home" Gedis for everything they'll do to support my work.

I cannot continue without thanking my fellow Prof Donphan, who will continue to be the "second head" for OP in our country: you know that your work will be easier now... :)

I hope to be able to make OP grow in Italy, we are strong and Gedis is willing to give me MANY ways to fulfill my tasks.
This means more promotion, more tournaments, more support (and always in tome, I hope), more recognizement of the events staff's work, and so on.

Don't worry though: just like Eskil does, I will be always here to discuss, and give my honest opinion, this time maybe with some more knowledge on what's behind some decisions and some scenarios.

Yours,
Marcello
 
Congratz Marcello,
This is very very good news.

So you are asked by PUI to run the Organized Play program for them in your country?
No LD in between, but a direct line? (I mean you get info direct from POP and implent it?)

Are you informed if this is possible for other countries too??? HOPE HOPE HOPE.
 
Hi Lia,
thanks!

I'm under a LD, but their "influence" in OP is limited only in "financial" issues, as how many trips have to be provided, or the amount of OP materials that has to be ordered.
For the rest, it's all up to me, and I was chosen straight from PUI. Gedis is a great support, they won't interfere at all in OP decisions, as they don't even know any OP thing.
 
Marcello, like your LD doesn't know much about how to run OP, there are many more LD's like that.

Most EU LD"s are running on the merrits of the "old fossil" dedicated persons.
Without rewarding those people.

I could understand why PUI choose the LD"s to be in charge of OPback in 2003, they didn't know who else to approach.
Now I can only hope for big changes, most of all regarding the function of OP Manager in each country.
Because without those fossils POkemon would NOT exist anymore in several countries.
 
This is really good news. I´m very interested in the answer to the question, if this is just the beginning of a trend. (Just imagine, an OP manager like that in more European countries. What they could do for the players...) But I don´t see it coming very quickly. Regarding Italy, Marcello worked for the LD and had a longtime working history with PUI and Jarrod, so this decision was not that difficult. In other countries: Who to take for this job? Ask the distributors, if they have one? Mmh, sounds not that good.

Well, this will definitely help the community in Italy. Kudos to PUI for that decision!
 
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Congrats Marcello.........so, with Gedis, would be possible to have more trips related to the number of "financial" basis?
 
News? It's more than that.

The way I see it, it's a breakthrough.

This is the first sign of PUI admitting their LD's are failing.
Remember what we were told for over 3 years, the LD's cannot fail, we will support them.
Finally PUI recognized a part of the international problem --> the LD's in charge of OP.
By awarding Marcello the function of OP Manager (which is the same as PTO int) it's for me more than clear we were right from the start.

Like other issues we will never know what made them change their minds.
I only know it's almost contract renewal time and I hope this new way is going to be implented in more countries.

As a matter of fact, we did send the head of PUI a month ago a letter with about the same proprosal.
To please undo the LD=OP manager construction and offered them help for our country.
Because we don't have a really cooperative LD, we proposed to run OP through a NonProfit Foundation.
We also arranged a bank guarantee, because there is money involved in OP (like buying boosters for prerelease etc).

I can't oversee OP for other countries, but I now very well what to do for mine.
Since the start of POP we did take a lot of financial risks to keep this game alive, such as after releases because the LD wasn't doing any prerelease.

For OP it is not the matter about how many trips. Trips are the last thing to be concerned about.
It's about building a base of players and make that grow.
Awarding the people who are really doing to job.
The USA concept can work perfect here, no doubt about that.
But only as finally the real workers are recognized and not blamed for the lack of OP.

Imagine what could happen if
Marcos - OP Manager Germany
Michel - OP Manager Belgium
Michael - OP Manager Denmark.
Ben - OP Manager UK (however their system is the best at this moment in EU)
Eskil - OP Manager Norway (under contract of PUI not the way it is now)
Henna (or me)- OP Manager Holland

Some of those already work/contact each other for years.
These people can cooperate, because they are not obstructed by Market profits or company results.
They are all into Gaming, playing, organizing, have fun and know the rules.
The only way to get a European Championship in the future will be if those people have the opportunity to arrange it.
Plans who are already there, but not used because of the LD=OP structure.

Those countries have a huge potential, which is not used.
All we asked for in the past: Leave distribution to the LD"s but leave OP to dedicated people.
Give them a little trust and also 3 years and compare.
I know what would happen if that becomes reality.
 
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Congrats to you Marcello :clap:

This is clearly the result of your dedication to the game and your involvment in POP in Italy.
A very good news for the Italian players and the players community in general.

I'm sure you'll do an excellent work ... and that ProfD will still be of a great help :wink:
 
Rainbowgym said:
This is the first sign of PUI admitting their LD's are failing.
Click to expand...

If I recall right Italy didn't have a OP manager for a long time.
btw, in the Netherlands we already swapped OP managers ;)

Anyway, great news!
Good Job Marcello and Prof Donphan.
 
Congrats Marcello! You know how I wish this become true!
Now we can talk with someone who knows the OP problems!!!


P.S.: thanks for named me "second head" :))))
 
CONGRATULATIONS!

This is great, great news. I wish you the best of luck with your new profession, and want you to know that you can conctact me anytime if you have any questions and need help in starting up. I have 2 1/2 years of experience with this job now, so just ask me if there's anything you need to know.

I'm glad you also want to continue to be a Pokégym member and Pokémon fan on a non-professional level besides working with Pokémon on a professional level. I've found that combining a work-Pokémon-personality and a private Pokémon-fan-personality works fine.
 
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Congrats Marcello

also from Slovenian players.

I hope we will still be welcome in italian tournaments
(i heard your regionals will be closed)
 
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