Kyle Ryc – Candidate for Board of Directors 2024

Note: This is a candidate page for a Judge Foundry Election. Information on this page is provided by the candidate, and does not represent the opinions or positions of the Elections Committee or of Judge Foundry. For more information about this election, see the schedule and index for the 2024 Regional Advocate Election.

Nomination Statement

Hello Judges!

The Foundry exists as a space and community for Judges to come together. We do so to improve the practice and craft of tournament operations, rules comprehension, and infraction mediation, in the face of long hours and fraught competition. The  Judge Foundry Board needs people who have experience in nonprofit management, developing business practices, negotiating with outside organizations, managing volunteers, and creating educational resources. Stick around for an argument to support me in this endeavor!

In addition to a brief stint as Regional Coordinator for Canada, and a year-long effort to organize tournaments across the country, I have volunteered with a number of boards over the past 15 years. These include community associations, advocacy groups, business improvement areas, student unions, and membership-based organizations. Having succeeded in many roles including Bylaws Committee Chair, Public Relations, and Board Secretary, I have a diverse skill set that enables me to support the Judge Foundry in whichever manner it needs. These experiences have taught me that a solid and broad understanding of organizational needs is necessary from the top-down in any group.

I worked for a number of years with a coffeeshop company, wherein I trained and developed training materials for new and senior employees. This often meant retraining experienced colleagues on best-practices, and codifying how to approach the change in a systematic manner. Within the Magic sphere, I have worked with many tournament organizers to streamline their event models and logistics systems, acknowledging that sometimes change from the outside will not stick as effectively as that from within.

At various times I have held management roles over paid and volunteer staff. I recognize that the means with which you incentivize and recognize contributions change depending upon both the person and the behaviour you want to improve. This is an essential skill for a prospective board member, because the needs of a volunteer organization like ours cannot succeed on a one-size-fits-all mentality. Our resources are limited, and letting people’s abilities waste away is a cost we cannot afford.

In the Q&A I have tried to outline a few of the important ideas that I think are necessary for the future of judging in North America. We need to do better at facilitating mentorship, be it online or in person. We need to be better

In summary, I would like to work on our board to build up our volunteer community, streamline communication, and ensure that every member has access to the answers they need to make Magic happen.

Regards,

Kyle A. Ryc

Ottawa, Canada

Q1: Specializations / Focus Areas

Question: Board Members work on a wide variety of tasks and projects. What would your “specialty” or main focus area be as a Board Member?

We have a lot of really passionate members, and a lot of ideas, but the key ingredients to making ideas happen are the people. To that end, I think we need some better tools to streamline the process of recruiting and managing volunteers. By implementing more efficient systems for volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement, we can ensure that the right people are in the right roles, fully equipped and motivated to contribute.

This includes developing clear role descriptions, establishing a robust orientation and training program, and creating opportunities for ongoing support and recognition. With these improvements, we can harness the passion of our members more effectively, turning ideas into actionable projects that drive our mission forward.

Q2: Certifications

Question: Many questions related to the value of Judge Foundry membership. First, regarding certifications: How would you ensure that Judge Foundry Certifications have value in the eyes of TOs and other stakeholders?

The proof of the value of Judge Foundry membership in the pudding. Tournament Organizers need to see that their events run more effectively with certified judges. Let’s start collecting data from events with post-event surveys from players, tournament organizers, and judges. Let’s use that data in conversation with both Premier Event Organizers and Wizard’s Play Network stores, to better provide for the hiring of tried-and-tested members of Judge Foundry. 

Premier Event Organizers want to see more certified judges so they can trust that the new faces they encounter understand how Magic works and get the fundamentals of organized play. We’ve sold them on the basics of certification, and now they want to see growth in our membership.

WPN stores need help making sure competitive events run smoothly, without interrupting their day-to-day business. Certified judges have the know-how to make it happen, and do so in a timely and professional manner. Let’s celebrate these accomplishments by keeping a public tracker of events completed, along with other fun data points to celebrate all the hard work we’ve done.

Q3: Member Benefits

Question: Second, outside of certifications, how do you think Judge Foundry should best use its limited resources to benefit the members?

Judge Foundry should focus on creating meaningful connections and provide ongoing support for its members. Our most valuable resource is our experienced community members, who have access to a long history of best practices and digital platforms that allow us to connect and share ideas.

We should re-establish a mentorship program that pairs less experienced judges with veterans. This would not only provide guidance and support but also strengthen the bonds within our community. Additionally, we should host regular online workshops on relevant topics, tapping into the expertise within our community to provide valuable education without requiring significant financial investment. These will fulfill the desire for learning opportunities alongside helping complete annual maintenance requirements.

These initiatives are feasible because they primarily rely on the time and knowledge of our community rather than financial resources. By focusing on these, we can offer continuous value to our members, helping them grow and succeed in their roles as community leaders and tournament officials.

To implement this, we need to start by surveying members to identify areas of interest and need, then match mentors and mentees accordingly. For workshops, we schedule monthly sessions, with topics rotating based on member feedback and current trends. There will always need to be rules updates with new sets, but some workshops can be written and rerun with new attendees as time goes on. By utilizing our digital platforms, we can ensure these resources are accessible to all members, regardless of location.

Q4: Legal Commitments

Question: Judge Foundry as an organization and Member Directors individually are bound by several Non-Disclosure Agreements, prohibiting disclosure of information gained as part of their duties as a Member Director, including in some cases disclosure of the existence of an NDA with a particular organization. Violating these agreements may have consequences for the individual and for the organization. As a Director, will you abide by any agreements that Judge Foundry has signed, and will you personally sign NDAs with other organizations as needed in order to pursue and maintain partnerships with other organizations?

Yes.

Foundry has Transparency as one of its founding values, but there are limits to what we can disclose to everyone.

Q5: RCQ Judge Demand

Question: In the post Covid era of Magic, the amount of qualified L2 judges seems to have declined, but demand for judges at competitive REL events has grown with the advent of RCQs. Is there a solution you would pursue to prepare enough judges for Comp REL demand?

There are two issues at hand with this question: Do we have a large enough supply of Comp REL judges? And how can we make more?

The process for reaching L2 has been updated to separate out the Policy from the Game Rules in an effort to mediate this blockage. I would like to see some meta-data on how the tests are being written (i.e. same day, during a tournament, off-site, etc.) to develop better test-writing protocols, and perhaps increase the length of the policy test to give more opportunity for success.

In addition, I think we as senior judges can do better to advocate for the development of other judges. To that end, I have proposed we resurrect the mentorship project, to better prepare our colleagues for the trials that they are about to endure, and to provide a continuity of care in their competition journey.

Q6: Judge Work Opportunities

Question: What efforts, if any, would you support in order to increase work opportunities for judges?

Step one is to encourage the growth of local events. This is going to require effort from judges to prod organizers into creating the kinds of events that need judges: largely, 60+ player competitive events. Destination RCQs are the template example of the kind of regional-sized event that we should be encouraging and facilitating. New stores should be contacted as they get setup with the WPN, local judges should be introduced to create recognition, and the community should be encouraged to advocate for certified judges being present. We should be showing them information like attendance records for other events in their area, along with directing them to the official resources for hosting RCQs.

This also means that becoming a certified judge should help you work in any industry. Whether at your local game store, gaming startup, or conference hall, we should recognizing your judge accomplishments in a clearly visible manner. We should be include our level-up newsletters on our home page, and develop an Open Badge system that makes understanding your work as easy as a single click.

Q7: Judge Foundry Areas for Improvement

Question: Pick one area you strongly feel Judge Foundry needs to improve and tell us your idea for doing so. Is it feasible? Is it achievable? How will you make it happen?

Cross-channel messaging is essential to achieving our goals. The days of everyone being in the same Facebook group are gone: we need to reach out to current and prospective members wherever they are. Currently, our messaging efforts are fragmented. Social media requires a team of people dedicated to delivering in a uniform manner.

To address this, we need a coordinated communication strategy. This strategy should include guidelines on messaging tone, content themes, and the timing of posts across different platforms. We can ensure that our message resonates with our audience via a clear plan, regardless of where they interact with us.

This plan is feasible and achievable. We already have dedicated regional teams with a deep understanding of their local communities. By empowering these teams with the tools and training they need, we can ensure that they deliver our core messages effectively while also tailoring them to local contexts.

To implement this strategy, I propose setting up a cross-functional team responsible for content creation, distribution, and monitoring. They would meet regularly to review performance metrics and adjust as needed. Additionally, we can invest in open-source tools that allow for streamlined content management and scheduling across multiple platforms.

By speaking with one voice and delivering consistent, high-quality messaging, we can strengthen our Judge brand and increase engagement.

Closing Statement

Hello again, Judges!

Thank you for considering my nomination to the Judge Foundry Board. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with passionate and dedicated individuals who, like the members of our community, are committed to excellence. My experience in nonprofit management, volunteer coordination, and strategic communication has equipped me with the skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to the board.

I am deeply committed to ensuring that our community not only thrives but also continues to grow in a way that honors our shared values. I believe that with the right tools, strategies, and support, we can achieve our goals and make Judge Foundry a stronger, more effective organization. I look forward to the opportunity to serve, to listen, and to work alongside all of you to make our community the best it can be.

Let’s work together to build something truly exceptional.

Thank you for your support.

Regards,

Kyle A. Ryc

Ottawa, Canada