Lamar's Answers to Troy

Fri Dec 17 11:11:00 AKST 2004

Marty,

I totally agree with everything you said, I know that at one time Tulsa, OK
was a hotbed for pattern activity and I have had several guys tell me that
Bill Cunningham put on some great contest here in years gone by.

In 2002 I moved my business from Ft. Smith, AR to the Tulsa area and was
amazed to find that in an area where there are over 600 modelers that
actually belong to clubs, there was only one guy actually flying and
competing in pattern and this was Brian Young, a masters class flyer. I
would see Brian at the field practicing almost every afternoon and we would
visit, he knew that I had an interest in flying pattern so he kept plugging
away at me until finally in the summer of 2003 I purchased myself a plane.
Very shortly after that, Chris White ( 2004 Nationals Intermediat winner )
picked up a plane. Like most things, once one guy gets going it just breeds
more interest.

Long story short, last summer Brian, Chris  & I begin attending contests in
District 5 starting in May, unfortunately about June Brian moved to
Indianapolis (new job), but Chris and I had been recruiting so along comes
Bob Hesskamp and Ken Kaut who finished out the season with us. I am happy to
report  that we now have about 12 guys who are practicing and flying pattern
here in the Tulsa area and there are at least 5 - 6 others  who are talking
seriously about giving it a try.

I am not sure that I understand all of the ins and outs of the different
topics that are posted on this forum in regards to the running of the NSRCA
and the potential candidates views on why this or that happened, but I am
fairly confident that if all of us would follow Marty's lead, recruit somone
and get them involved some of the concerns like membership and finances that
the NSRCA seems to have will go away.

One final thought, if any of you are having trouble recruiting potential
pattern buddies and would like some ideas on how to do it,
I will be glad to share in more detail what we ahve done here in Tulsa.

Russell Honea
www.patternproz.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marty King" <mking46516 at yahoo.com>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 8:06 AM
Subject: RE: Lamar's Answers to Troy

> If I remember correctly, the time between 2000 and
> 2001 is when the IMAC became alive and kicking contest
> wise. There are only so many individuals willing to
> compete in any type of aerobatic competition. If you
> have attended one of these (IMAC) contests or visited
> their web and discussion group I think you will find
> quite a number of our 2001 and before members
> associated with them. To blame anyone for the drastic
> drop is unrealistic. It was a change in focus for many
> who feel "big is Better". Just look who has a regular
> column in Model Aviation...its not pattern. And many
> featured in those articles are the same people who
> before 2001 competed with us.
>
> I know its election time but we need to look at the
> big picture on where we have been and where we are
> going. I think it is very interesting how much FAI
> influences all of us. Just look at what most of us are
> flying. If it weren't for FAI we wouldn't have any
> engines to fly, radios to buy or planes to midair...
> and yet as an organization we have nothing really to
> do with the process except feed it with our best
> pilots.
>
> Someone on the list said it best that each of us is an
> ambassador for pattern and I truly believe that. If
> each of us would nurture one person in 2005 we would
> be back to pre 2000 numbers. I have my guy for the
> year and just signed him up. Do you have yours? It's
> something to think about.
>
> Marty King
> NSRCA 2551 D4
>
>
>
>
> --- Derek Koopowitz <derekkoopowitz at earthlink.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Hey Brian... how's it hanging out there?  It has
> > been awhile hasn't it?
> >
> > Now to answer your questions...
> >
> > What caused the membership fall-off?  I have a
> > theory but I'd rather not
> > verbalize it out loud and I'd much rather focus on
> > getting back all those
> > people that did leave.  We've made some gains in the
> > past year and I'd like
> > to continue the momentum.  It will be a slow process
> > but I think we can get
> > them back - we do this by building their confidence,
> > asking for input and
> > ensuring that we partner with everyone to make the
> > NSRCA better for
> > everyone.  We're sitting at about 800 members now...
> > I'd like to get to 900
> > for 2005 - that would be a huge step in the right
> > direction, I think.
> >
> > Geography issue with regard to the Nats?  Ideally
> > I'd like to rotate the
> > Nats away from Muncie every other year - move it
> > West one year, back to
> > Muncie, and then East the following year.  Whether
> > AMA goes for this... I
> > don't know but it is something that we need to at
> > least talk about.
> > Surveying the membership to get their opinion on
> > this is critical - we've
> > managed to maintain attendance at the Nats for the
> > past 7-8 years but I
> > think we can do better - even if it increases by 10
> > or 15 that is a huge
> > increase in attendance.
> >
> > Hopefully I answered the questions... if not, let me
> > know.
> >
> > -Derek (your ex-K-Factor editor)  :)
> >
> >   _____
> >
> > From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
> > [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org] On
> > Behalf Of Wincons at aol.com
> > Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 8:28 PM
> > To: discussion at nsrca.org
> > Subject: Re: Lamar's Answers to Troy
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 12/16/2004 12:30:42 PM Central
> > Standard Time,
> > rcaerobob at cox.net writes:
> >
> > Nope.  Those are my questions.  Troy's was the next
> > day.
> >
> > BOb P.
> > >
> > > From: Tom Simes <nsrca at shinymetalass.com>
> > > Date: 2004/12/16 Thu AM 11:19:05 EST
> > > To: discussion at nsrca.org
> > > Subject: Re: Lamar's Answers to Troy
> > >
> > > On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 08:12:50 -0800
> > > Chris Larson <csl at direcway.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hey All-
> > > > Maybe I missed it, but did Lamar answer Troy's
> > questions?  If someone
> > > > could repost, or e-mail me offline that would be
> > great.  We're still
> > > > waiting for our ballots here on the "Left
> > Coast", but I'm sure they'll
> > > > be here any day. Thanks,
> > >
> > > I believe this is Lamar's reply:
> > >
> > >
> >
> http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/2004-December/024914.html
> >
> >
> > Hey guys, long time no type....... I'm still on the
> > road back to being
> > active again.  Getting back into the list again; saw
> > these posts pertaining
> > to the election.  Got a question or two, myself, for
> > both candidates:
> >
> >      Both:   What do you think caused the fall off
> > of membership?  Also,
> > Derek, great job getting the finances squared
> > away..... any insights as to
> > what happened, and how we can avoid future problems?
> >  Lamar, what kind of
> > relationships do you have with AMA personnel? Both:
> > How do we deal with the
> > geography issue; particularly, having the NATS in
> > Muncie every year, and it
> > being such a long hike for those on the west coast?
> > Me, I live about midway
> > from either coast, but in California or North
> > Carolina, this is a thorny
> > question.
> >
> > Brian Clemmons, your ex- K Factor Editor
> >
>
>
>
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