bureaucratic organization/ beginners!

[Bill Glaze]

Don't know if you had a chance to meet Lance and Gray at Muncie; if you
did, you wouldn't be surprised at all by this story.  In this case, my
impression of these 2 gentlemen was confirmed.  Bill Glaze

Tony Stillman wrote:

> Keith:
>
> It's great to hear stories like this!  The guys you name obviously are
> great ambassadors for the sport! GOOD JOB, GUYS!!!  Tony Stillman
> Radio South, Inc.
> 3702 N. Pace Blvd.
> Pensacola, Fl 32505
> www.radiosouthrc.com
> 800-962-7802
>
>      ----- Original Message -----
>      From: Keith Black
>      To: discussion at nsrca.org
>      Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 1:45 AM
>      Subject: Re: bureaucratic organization/ beginners!
>
>      I was in this hobby many years ago and got back into it
>      again the first of 2002. I've know about pattern since my
>      first entry into the hobby but never considered for a moment
>      that I could or would compete in pattern. For one thing,
>      I've always assumed that one had to be an incredible pilot
>      with many many years of experience to compete. >From the
>      pattern contest I've seen in the past it was obvious that
>      the pilots were way above my head in experience and skill.
>      Another factor was that I'd never had any discussion with
>      anyone involved in pattern and quite honestly I did have the
>      impression that pattern guys where sort of "elitist". That
>      impression was not earned but just my impression probably
>      due to how skilled I thought all pattern fliers were.
>
>      Then, early this summer I was visiting a local club that I'd
>      never been to before and three guys were flying their
>      pattern planes. One of these guys, Gray Fowler, came over
>      and started telling me all about pattern, how it works,
>      invited me to stand next to him when he was flying, and just
>      generally being very friendly. Actually all of the guys were
>      very nice. Gray told me I could download the Sportsman
>      sequence and based on watching me fly he thought I could fly
>      it. That night I went home and downloaded the sequence and
>      started trying it out at my regular field (which has no
>      pattern fliers). It took me several flights to finally get
>      all the pieces together. I was shocked at how hard it was to
>      keep the plane where I wanted it, but pleased that it wasn't
>      beyond my reach. At that point my goal was simply to build
>      the skills enough to fly the sportsman pattern under
>      control. I was only doing this because I felt it would make
>      me a better pilot, I had no plans on ever competing.
>
>      Well, a month or two later I joined the club where I had met
>      Gray, Lance and Bill. Gray stood with me while I flew and
>      was extremely complimentary and encouraging. He answered my
>      questions and gave me pointers. He told me that I could
>      easily compete in Sportsman and probably do very well, this
>      I doubted :-), but it made me feel good to hear him say it.
>      Lance also worked with me and was very helpful. They
>      answered all the questions I had and then Gray started
>      prodding me to go to a competition with them. He told me
>      stories of how he and many new Sportsman pilots are all over
>      the place in their first contest, strangely enough this made
>      me feel good to know that I wouldn't be the only one. To be
>      honest with you I thought I would be scared to death to fly
>      in front of the judges, but I knew deep inside I really
>      wanted to give it a try.
>
>      At my first contest everyone I met was incredibly
>      encouraging, friendly and helpful, they made me feel right
>      at home. And guess what, I wasn't scared to death, I didn't
>      crash, and I had a great time!
>
>      Now I'm hooked, want to attend every contest possible, and I
>      couldn't wait to get a plane that was capable of flying the
>      intermediate pattern (that I'm practicing for next season).
>
>      And guess what, I spoke to a couple of non-pattern fliers at
>      the club the other day about pattern and encouraged them to
>      download the sportsman sequence and the very next day one
>      had already downloaded it and was planning to begin
>      practicing!
>
>      For pattern to grow everyone in this organization just needs
>      to engage non-pattern fliers in friendly conversation and
>      tell them about pattern. Provide encouragement, let everyone
>      know that the sportsman pattern is well within their reach,
>      and do a little prodding to get them to go to a contest.
>      Tell them how much fun you have at contests and describe the
>      camaraderie pattern fliers have (which honestly is a big
>      part of what makes everyone travel so far to be together).
>      Once new guys see how friendly everyone is and find out they
>      can actually compete many of them will be hooked just like
>      we are. :-)
>
>      Keith Black
>
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