[NSRCA-discussion] Participation

[Grow Pattern]

I wanted to open up the subject of participation. There has been a lot written about NSRCA membership numbers but I wonder if that has anything to do with the participation at contest numbers?

My rough estimates are that we have around 30 active contestants per districts. (The District VP's would probably know best how many different individuals actually compete in their Districts). If you multiply that by 8 NSRCA districts you get 240 pattern pilots who compete nationwide.

When we have an NSRCA national election we get about 250 voters and when we do a rules/schedule-survey we get between 100 and 200 replies. This would suggest that we have about 200 people who are "active" in our sport and its administration.

While I sincerely applaud any activity, such as the Grand event in SC, to keep our participants interested and help them improve their skills and enjoy their competitive flying even more, I am still looking for that certain something that would help the participation grow.

I have seen some sterling efforts to run primers year after year by heroes in our organization, but beyond that I don't have much of a database of ideas or plans to grow what we do. I see nothing in or local hobby shops that encourage pattern. I know that pattern competition and even the pattern pilots themselves are not that welcome at the local club fields.

We have a major image problem. No get-well strategy that I can see. A shortage of tactics and tools that any of us can use.

Of course you may think that there is no problem and that if it isn't broken don't fix it. I could be all wrong. In fact the general reaction of the NSRCA board the last time I addressed this issue with them, was that we didn't need a promotions and marketing person to focus on and coordinate this activity

We often fall into the trap of trying to act like a ruling body. We have the AMA for that and the AMA contest board for that, so I still ask the question, if our mission is to promote and grow our sport, what is the plan?.

Regards,

Eric.
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