Nats Proposal

[Del K. Rykert]

Earl.
    Thank you for taking your time to share some of the back ground info that most of us weren't aware of.
                         del 
               NSRCA - 473
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: EHaury at aol.com 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Cc: patterndude at comcast.net 
  Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 8:07 AM
  Subject: Nats Proposal


  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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