K-factor- overseas members perspective

[Rick Wallace]

Great points about the K Factor as the method of announcing contest results.

Since the K Factor might well be moving to less frequent production, I'd 
LOVE to see contest results and standings posted quickly to the NSRCA page - 
it's tough to have to wait for the K Factor to see how everyone's doing...

Rick

>
>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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