GAMA Board Statement Regarding Proposed Bylaw Changes
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
Posted by: John Stacy
Dear GAMA members,
Over the past year, GAMA has undertaken an important conversation regarding ways the organization can become more diverse, inclusive, and representative of the tabletop games industry. We have reached out to a wide range of people to gather input on what our organization should look like, the programs we should offer, and how we can better live up to our vision statement of “a game on every table, a table for everyone.”
As a result of these conversations, we are proposing a change to our organizational structure so each voting membership type will have an equal representation on the board of directors, while still maintaining direct leadership within their own membership categories. With this new structure there will be two types of members: voting and nonvoting. Within the voting type there will be six membership categories: creators, publishers, wholesalers, retailers, production, and media & events. Communicating members will be nonvoting members.
We believe that having a voice in the direction of the organization is fundamental to empowering our members and fostering a commitment to its growth and success. Therefore, we feel that this change is the best way forward for the organization’s future while meeting our primary goal of growing the tabletop games marketplace.
Why make this change? Here are three reasons:
• Retailers comprise more than 65% of our membership but have only one director on the board. Distributors represent 3% of the membership and have one director. In contrast, publishers represent 27% of voting members but 80% of the positions on the board. Many potential members have cited this as a reason not to join or, if they do join, not to take a more active role in our programs and events. Publishers want more retailer involvement, and those retailers want an association that values their involvement and provides them a voice in its governance. This new structure will promote more active retailer involvement in the organization.
• Covid has forced everyone to reexamine how they operate, and GAMA is no different. 70% of the organization’s operating revenue comes from the Origins Game Fair and GAMA EXPO. This has allowed us to keep our dues constant for nearly a decade. However, 2020 taught the hard lesson that we must diversify our revenue to weather storms like a pandemic. One way we can do this is by expanding the pool of members, which in turn will allow us to level the dues across the board so all voting members bear an equal burden in supporting the organization. Currently, publishers pay almost three times as much as retailers to be a member. By spreading these costs more evenly across all member types, we can keep membership dues affordable. If not, we may be forced to raise dues to make up the shortfall, which could mean that fewer members will be able to afford to be part of the organization.
• The industry today is far more diverse than when GAMA was created in 1977. Today, we have creators selling their games direct to consumers via crowd-funding programs. Game reviewers are no longer limited to print magazines but can be found on our phones and tablets. Retail stores have become more varied, with many transitioning to a café model and online sales. Barriers to enter the industry are lower. In order to remain relevant, GAMA must adapt to the changes in the marketplace. As new people enter the industry, they will look for businesses that reflect who they are and what they want to accomplish. If they do not see themselves represented in GAMA, they will be unlikely to participate.
Over the past few years, tabletop games have exploded in popularity, yet GAMA membership numbers do not reflect this growth. By expanding the number of membership categories, we can demonstrate that there is a place at our table for the broader community. By expanding our membership, we can offer more dynamic programs and services to help everyone become better connected and more successful.
We are excited about this opportunity to become a trade association that represents the entire tabletop game industry and encourage you to support these changes.
Regards,
GAMA Board of Directors
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