Weight

[Ron Van Putte]

I agree with everything John wrote here.  Being the rule change 
committee chairman, as he was, is very difficult.  He was trying to get 
a group of opinionated, strong willed people to get out a job and meet a 
schedule.  It was kind of like "herding cats", wasn't it John?

Ron Van Putte
Member of Team A
Rule Change Committee

John Ferrell wrote:
> Writing rules is a tough job. No matter what you do, you are assured of 
> angering some one. I served as Committee chair for most of the previous 
> cycle. It was an enlightening experience. I have long been a student of 
> organizational behavior. It caused me to break out the stored textbooks 
> for a little guidance. When you chair a function like that you come to 
> appreciate any little success you can manage. It all comes hard.
>  
> It took us a matter of weeks just to settle how the recommendations 
> would be scored. There were some that felt that if there were 51% in 
> favor of change, we should recommend a change. There were others that 
> felt this would create an unstable environment and that a 3/4 (75%) vote 
> should be required for any change. I believe the compromise came out to 
> be 60%. 2/3 majority was rejected because we just did not want to deal 
> with fractions.  That little bit took weeks!
>  
> The best way to address a controversial rules change is to use it in an 
> area where it can be fairly assessed, then talk up the favorable results 
> while addressing the negative concerns. That will build a group of 
> supporters that can help you to win your objective. It is a sales job 
> and it has to be sold.
>  
> Eric has been harshly criticized for "betraying what we voted for" in 
> agreeing to an eleventh hour compromise on the Intermediate schedule 
> rather than risk the whole NSRCA sequence package being voted down. 
> Whether we like it or not, that is the way politics work now, in the 
> past and in the future. It is a fact of life in politics that you must 
> kiss your share of frogs.
>  
> There are a fair number of the FAI advocates that are returning to 
> Masters class because they percieve that the FAI sector is moving too 
> fast and too far in the wrong direction. Perhaps we can observe their 
> efforts and benefit from both their successes and failures.
>  
> If you are a good pilot and can acquire good equipment, find practice 
> time and manage to compete in pattern you can win contests.
>  
> If you want to change rules you will have to be credible, be a salesman 
> and a politician.
>  
> Both require a lot of advance work!
>  
> John Ferrell
> 6241 Phillippi Rd
> Julian NC 27283
> Phone: (336)685-9606 
> Dixie Competition Products
> NSRCA 479 AMA 4190  W8CCW
> "My Competition is Not My Enemy"
>  
> 
>  


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