Lamar's Answers to Brain

[Lamar Blair]

Hi Brian, ol ex-editor. Good to have you back hassling us on the List.

 

Let's see, Membership: I think I hit most things in my two previous sets of answers. Probably all the standard reasons, with some "Political" ones also. We have to eliminate those, and concentrate on making NSRCA provide good, legitimate reasons to join. We will have to work on both getting new blood, and wooing back those that have left, for reasons we can resolve. This needs some serious study, and objective evaluation to really find the realistic, and best path You know the K Factor used to be one of the largest reasons, and I think some things Tony has done will help, plus getting it back to better than it was when we used to wait at the mail box, and complain about it being a day late.

Finances: I have not been privy to much in that area. Probably Derik is the best source for what the history is. He indicated we had problems in 1998/1999, and whatever they were, were resolved. Also he indicated that we were operating at a yearly loss, and essentially living off our past Bank account. We have to get that fixed. According to Maureen's input, we are a non-profit organization, and if Florida laws are the same as Alabama laws, should not carry much over from year to year.  I recognize that two of our major resource generators, K-Factor and Membership, have gone down, and I have addressed how I would work on both those areas.

AMA: As far as I know, I have a great relationship with the personnel at AMA. I have spent time with several of their VP's, mostly discussing day to day things. I have not had any reason to hob nob with them, but all my contacts and interfaces have been very satisfactory. Spent most time working on memberships and Club related activities as Club President. Lately a lot of time with the Insurance, and Legal side related to our Field.

Geography Issue: Moving the RC Pattern portion of the NATS around to "share the travel wealth" sounds great on the surface. It could be doable, if we have a good comprehensive plan to present to AMA. They have the hammer, and we will need to show tangible benefits for them. E.G., they would have more slack days, probably less effort, and expenses, etc. The computers they use, we donated to NSRCA, and NSRCA owns the scanners, so they are available.  It needs to be looked at in detail, and I plan to get some people together, "Committee," to dig into all the pro's and con's and report back what they found, and recommend. All those things we take for granted at Muncie will have to be found, funded, and organized locally. I think the best place for this Committee to start is by setting down with those involved in putting on the W C in Florida, and extracting all the information relevant to holding our NATS at some other location. Then we can provide that info to the Membership so they can make an informed judgment about whether they want to go forward to AMA or not. Being located in the middle, it's great for me, but I do sympathize with those on both ends, and "have trailer will travel," if that is what the Membership wants, and we sell.



Lamar Blair 

NSRCA 475

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Wincons at aol.com 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 8:27 PM
  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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