K-factor- overseas members perspective

[Mark Wendt]

Eric,

         I didn't mean the contest results weren't important.  I just meant 
the members may be better served by having the results in a quicker fashion 
by posting them to the web site.  Since the K Factor comes out monthly, in 
most cases by the time the contest results are seen, the results are 
already, in many cases, old.  And the gist of my post was if the NSRCA was 
to limit the number of issues of the K Factor per year, the results would 
be even older by the time the newsletter was received by the 
member.  Keeping a district-by-district results page on the web site would 
allow more timely dissemination of the results.  Folks could check on 
Monday morning, for instance, about a contest held that weekend.  I would 
think that would make the contest results cravers even happier.  More 
current up-to-date results, without having to wait until the next months 
newsletter came out.  And it would allow the K Factor  to publish on a 
smaller schedule, if that's the road the SIG wishes to take to save money.

Mark


At 09:36 AM 10/4/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>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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