K-factor- overseas members perspective

[Henderson,Eric]

The K-Factor is the NSRCA SIG newsletter and as such reports results of
pattern contests for its districts. CD's and District-VP's submit these
reports. They are read by their district and other districts. Many pilots
track the progress of their potential rivals at the upcoming Nationals. It
also posts world results such as the FAI world championships and European
champs, etc. All contest results are news to some section of the membership.

Today the tech info and news is all mixed up with the contest results.
Contest results will not go away but the data could be much better
structured, especially in the on-line buckets.

Regards,

Eric.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Wendt [mailto:wendt at kingcrab.nrl.navy.mil]
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 6:46 AM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: RE: K-factor- overseas members perspective


Tom,

         Great idea.  If you posted the contest results on the web site, 
instead of in the K Factor, you would take out a whole bunch of stuff that 
doesn't mean much to folks outside the districts where the contests are 
held.  And since the contest info wouldn't be included in the K Factor, 
there would really be no need to do it on a monthly basis, since the info 
in the magazine wouldn't be as time sensitive.  Using the web site is a 
much better solution for contest results, because it can be updated in a 
much shorter period of time for those hungry for those results...

Mark


At 07:51 PM 10/3/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>We will be able to offer a compromise soon. We are planning to have a
>monthly K-Factor for our members on the web site, soon. The costs for
>foreign members should be low, as there are no expenses involved. I do
>agree, that we must always have a printed version. That is our "Flag Ship".
>That defines us and makes us what we are. But times are changing and we may
>want to think about other communication opportunities as well.
>
>Concerning cost savings, the most effective way to cut costs is to reduce
>the number of times we publish per year. Our saving would be considerable
if
>we published 6 or 8 times a year instead of 12, and our work load would
>diminish, giving everyone a small rest from the publishing pressure. We
>would still save money if we made the issues slightly bigger. It's the page
>setup, printing, and postage that costs. The less often you need to do it,
>the more you save.
>Tom Weedon
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
>[mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Nik Middleton
>Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 5:52 AM
>To: discussion at nsrca.org
>Subject: RE: K-factor- overseas members perspective
>
>
>A most excellent post.  Couldn't agree more.  There is an opportunity here,
>but as ever costs are an issue.  If there were some way of receiving the
>K-Factor in electronic format in the destination country and then having it
>printed, that might be a way forward, then the numbers would be low.
>
>I simply do not agree with the idea that we should go 100% electronic.
It's
>not for everyone.  This is born out by the fact that far from killing paper
>media, the newspapers are holding their own.
>
>I stopped my membership because I couldn't justify $50+ for a magazine that
>mostly contained contest results.  That being said, I know it takes a lot
of
>effort to write and submit articles.
>
>It's a real issue, but I don't have any solutions
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
>[mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Koenig, Tom
>Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 4:44 AM
>To: 'discussion'
>Subject: K-factor- overseas members perspective
>
>
>Hi all,
>
>I've been reading the threads regarding the K-factor with great interest
and
>finally decided to put in a short burst myself.
>
>I've only been a member since 95 and have actually managed to get several
>others signed up down here, but for various reasons retaining those members
>is/was another story.
>
>With the utmost of respect to the NSRCA but for the overseas members I see
>the K-Factor being the only 'real commodity' that the NSRCA possesses.
There
>is little else the NSRCA can do for 'us' unless the it takes on a more
>'Global' role, which is something I hope to see. Think outside of your own
>backyard.
>
>We have our own national bodies etc and our own newsletters, but because of
>our small relative size(s) we have never attempted something along the
scale
>of the K-factor. So why not take on a world leadership role?
>
>Something that you MUST consider is the cost. ALL the guys I had signed up
>gave the number one reason as cost v what they got.
>You must consider exchange rate here...over the years an average membership
>for me has cost between 80 to 100 Aussie big ones. This is not cheap...I
>realise the exchange rates are no-ones fault but when you consider that as
>overseas members we really get nothing else but the K-factor. We get no
>voting rights (not that important anyway ) but I  find it humerous when I
>see some people complaining about their 'local' U.S cost.
>
>The number two problem that seems evident in retaining OS members was
>'content' of the K-factor. Everyone conceded that it is first and foremost
>there for the local American members..it has to be, it is afterall your
>national body, but contest listing/report after contest report proved to be
>what everyone down here got bored with.
>So I asked more questions..what do they want. As overseas members they
>wanted the following:
>
>*       More of a "Global" attitude...lets see some worlds  and continental
>reports containing lots of information, pictures, trends analysis etc. lets
>face it, the major magazines do nothing, when the K-factor did little or
>nothing...you lost at least 4 OS members down here that I know of.
>*       The ads and suppliers are vital..all wanted more and actually
listed
>this as a major factor in joining the NSRCA to read the ads and see whats
>available to us pattern freaks. INFORMATION.
>
>*       lets keep the cost realistic,  some of the ideas mentioned before,
>like CD's sound quite feasible.
>*       guys down here wanted to see more technical content.. I seem to
>remember Brian Clemmons wanted to do a plane feature every month...surely
he
>had some volunteers??
>*       More pictures... and finally.. more of a global outlook( again)
>
>While on cost....there aren't going to be any OS members left if the
>K-factor is as irregular as it is. Maybe that wont matter to the NSRCA but
I
>think it would be a shame...lets face it... pattern flyer's are the same
all
>over the world, no matter where you come from, we are all hopelessly
devoted
>to it, which is why I see this as an opportunity for the NSRCA to unite
>pattern flyers around the world. There has to be a way to bring us all
>together and I see the K-factor being the tool to do it with. Lets become
so
>strong that the FAI shakes in their boots!!!
>
>Sorry for this to be written by a 'scatterbrain' but I'm in a hurry at
>work!!
>
>Just some food for thought.
>
>Tom
>Canberra, Australia
>
>
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