Nats Proposal

[EHaury at aol.com]

Some things to think about as you advise your Dist VP's of your position 
regarding the pending Nats proposal. Change is always resisted by someone and 
generally I dislike change solely for the sake of change as much as anyone.

Please don't focus a dislike for the proposed changes on F3A and the Team 
Selection Program. They are separate issues. Chip and Dave volunteered to CD the 
Nats a long time before Chip was involved with the TS process. Chip's plan to 
fly the F3A finals with F05/unknowns predates his TSP involvement. Essentially 
the TSP should be transparent to the Nats.

Regarding the proposed changes. Consider that we work our Nats volunteer 
horses very hard and there isn't a waiting list for the job. People like Betty 
Stream, Tony Stillman, Ron Van Putte, Bob Noll, Jeff Hill have given a great deal 
to ensure that the Nats is what it is today. Each made changes that were 
resisted but proved to be for the best. Within the NSRCA structure, Chip and Dave 
should have the same latitude. Also consider stepping to the plate and taking 
on the job in the future if you believe that you can do it well.

As for the Team Selections. I put the program together for the last cycle and 
was (am) convinced that a stand alone event in the year of the WC selects the 
best Team and sends it to the WC best prepared. The feedback from 
participants, both before and after is a close call between a stand alone event and a 
Nats process. A stand alone event is expensive and the cost must be borne by the 
participants. Program fee math is simple, divide the cost by the number of 
participants and it comes to $300 - 500 per entrant. AMA strongly suggested that 
the cost for the 2005 process be much lower. I realized that the only way was 
to select the Team at the Nats. I also realized that it's a can of worms to 
try and meet the expectations of both sets of competitors within the 
requirements of NSRCA, AMA, and TSC. I decided to step aside and give someone with 
convictions toward the Nats TS process the opportunity to do the job. None of the 
TSC members were willing to take the job. The process at that point was to 
obtain a (non-voting) Chairman from the competition community. Chip again stepped 
to the plate and is the current TSC Chairman. I would prefer the Team Selection 
be in the year of the WC. Chip has arguments for doing it this year. The TSC 
approved the latter. 

The Nats changes being proposed (and some that aren't) were being considered 
before the TS issue came up. Other variations of the banquet have been tried. 
Trophy presentations being separate for classes has been great for Int/Adv 
(enjoying the fanfare at the banquet)  but lackluster for Mast/F3A (on the runway 
after most have departed). It seems reasonable to present awards when the 
Nats is over - not just each class. Then again - I like to get out of town as 
soon as possible also! The Wed evening banquet is tough - a lot of folks are 
working to get things ready for the finals, both competitors and staff. Maybe, in 
the future, we should return to having a finals for all classes. Sure would 
bring the scheduling viewpoints together.

My vote to approve the Nats proposal as submitted.

Earl Haury
NSRCA 191
AMA Dist VIII Team Selection Committee Representative
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