bureaucratic organization!

[Bill Glaze]

This thread really rings a bell for me.  It seems to me that I'm not
able to fly some of the other airplanes in my stable, because I need to
spend all my time practicing, then, during the season, I'm gone nearly
every other weekend to a contest.  (Barring some unforeseen disaster, or
course!)
A couple of years ago, I read in one of the K-Factor columns that the
columnist "spent at least 4 evenings a week at the minimum practicing"
(His terms, not mine) At a contest last April, one of the Masters people
told me that he practices *every* afternoon after work, and, because he
has his plane with him, he frequently flies before work also. (He works
on/near airports who will permit him to fly his models on site.)
Just the people at my local club who see me practice, remark on "how
much flying is needed."  Of course, I require a good deal more than most
folks!<G>
And, a flyer John Ferrell and I are/were tutoring for the Sportsman
Class commented after I had showed him an Intermediate sequence:  "You
mean THAT is the next class I have to fly after Sportsman!!??"  Same
subject; many different takes.
I do feel that Bob's questionnaire, if answered by former pattern
flyers, can have considerable value.
But, to ask the general hobbyist why he isn't in pattern, will elicit
answers that will be so wide ranging and diffuse as to be confusing and
not meaningful, IMHO.  (I can probably sit here and without leaving the
computer think of a dozen reasons I shouldn't be in pattern!<G>
 I can also name the only reason I *am* in pattern: I enjoy it!
Bill Glaze
RC Steve Sterling wrote:

>  Tom, you have a point about the "just plain tired." In our club, one
> of the most frequent excuses is the level of commitment required--
> time, equipment and money. Its not true in district 8, since you can
> easily be competitive in Sportsman with a 4 star or Tiger 60, a
> minimum of practice and attendance of two or three meets. But its the
> impression it takes a lot of time, equipment and money that we are
> fighting. In reality, the District 8 Sportsman Champion flew a fun-fly
> Wonder for 3 of the 4 meets he attended. The District 8 Intermediate
> Champ flew a 20+ year old Hippo Tippo. Neither practiced more than
> once a week. Somehow, we got to turn this lore that it takes a $2k
> airplane and abondoning the family to fly pattern.-----Original
> Message-----
> From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
> [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Thomas C. Weedon
> Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2002 1:10 AM
> To: discussion at nsrca.org
> Subject: RE: bureaucratic organization!
>
>
>      Just a few comments in responce to the questions concerning
>      Pattern Drop Outs. One reason not mentioned is, "Just plain
>      tired". Tired of trudging hundreds of miles every other
>      weekend, coming home late on Sunday nights and having to get
>      up early Monday morning an fighting yourself back to work,
>      tired of coming home from work most every night, skipping
>      dinner, packing up the plane and heading to the field for
>      practice, tired of meeting deadlines, tired of .... (you
>      name it). Our hobby has a way of wearing some people down. I
>      guess that's why I look foreward to winter up here in the
>      North county. I can then spend some time on my other
>      hobbies. Now, for the lighter side, we are seeing a
>      resurgance in Pattern activity up here in D4. Our latest
>      problem, "Too Many Contests". That's great!!!! So, Pattern
>      will have a great future, long after I'm gone, and that
>      makes me feel satisfied. How about you all?Tom
>
>           -----Original Message-----
>           From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
>           [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of
>           Bill Glaze
>           Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2002 12:58 PM
>           To: discussion at nsrca.org
>           Subject: Re: bureaucratic organization!
>
>           Certainly not original thinking on my part, but
>           identifying similar organizations who are having
>           current success in the areas we want to increase,
>           would be a good way to start.  Polls are
>           interesting and useful, and sometimes indicative,
>           but in many cases it is difficult to really
>           pinpoint the truth.  Problem is, analysis of
>           information obtained.
>           Some respondees themselves may not be able to
>           answer the question of why they dropped out;
>           another difficulty is that there probably could be
>           1,000 different answers from 1,000 different
>           people.
>           I was favorably impressed by the K-Factor poll I
>           received; it at least recognizes there is, in
>           fact, a problem. I feel it was very well done.
>           Bob's idea of a poll is a good start; at least it
>           isn't addressing the choir, it is addressing
>           former choir members to find out why they quit,
>           and addressing other members of the congregation
>           to find out why they haven't joined the choir.
>           I have doubts about the number of responses; I
>           certainly hope they are many.  That in itself will
>           be interesting.
>
>           Bill Glaze
>
>           John Ferrell wrote:
>
>          > You have defined the problem in usable terms. If
>          > growth is a good thingThen identify the popular
>          > direction and pursue itElse the future is random
>          > or essetially adrift. Since the potential
>          > subject base is not inclined to respond well to
>          > surveysgathering the necessary input will be
>          > tedious. 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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