[NSRCA-discussion] Participation

Tue Apr 4 06:55:14 AKDT 2006

Hi Mike,

Back in the seventies...I thought pattern flyers as a general rule were more egotistical than some chief test pilots I've seen (who had good reason to be arrogant:-)).  This was just because of a very few who happened to be a little stuffy.  Stereotyping is a bad thing, but it can happen.   I was hesitant to get back into pattern, but I've found that most pattern flyers seem to be good ambassadors to the hobby.  (Take you and Frankie for instance:-))

Seriously, I think your comments about "Cool appeal" have some real merit.   When I was a kid it was cool....and its cool now.  Competing with computer games seems to be a little bit of a problem in recruiting the youth to RC flying.  When I was a kid if I heard a model airplane engine I'd be making tracks to find out where it was....:)

Hope all is well with you and the Chicago gang....

Chris

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From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of mike mueller
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 9:38 AM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Participation

 It's the little things that make a difference. We need to seem like a cool thing to do with cool people to do it with. Our attitudes and personlity's can make the biggest difference. We have to break the bad stereotypes that are too often associated with the people in the sport. I've been witness to many episodes where sport flyers were treated rudely by a pattern flyer. It constantly damages our reputation.

 I'm just saying that we all need to look in the mirror and see what we can do with helping out the hobby. The single biggest thing is to be an ambassador for pattern. If half of us could get 1 person interested we would be in a lot better shape. 

 We also need a youth movement. Seems like the only young people I see are ones that have a parent in the sport. You only need to look at the explostion of interest in the small electrics. It attracts a young group much like RC cars. It's gotten really big.

 Pattern is cool. We don't have to reinvent it. We need to do a better job of including everyone. This will take time.               Mike

"White, Chris" <chris at ssd.fsi.com> wrote:

	Good question Eric.... Come to think of it the only promotion I've seen of pattern is the NSRCA add in Model Aviation mag.  (The one with the Eclipse in flight)

	How best to promote pattern....can't wait to read the responses.  I've considered ideas about a lower cost event, but SPA exists and that participation is limited.  It seems that IMAC attracts a lot of people, but in reality we have more pattern contests within 6 hours of Tulsa than we do IMAC.  I counted it up in 2004 and there were about 8 contests available at that range.   Cost to fly pattern is probably a restriction to some, but I would guess that it just looks boring and expensive to a lot of people. Pattern to me is the purest form of RC next to RC Soaring, you would think it would attract all on its own.  I think that maybe part of the bad rap among club members is that some of us are pretty wrapped up in getting practice time in on a time limited schedule.  (A big factor for me that probably leads people to believe that I'm snobbish or something...actually I'm just focused and not very adept at multi-tasking:-) )

	I guess if half the RC public was interested in aerobatics, and got a chance to fly a good 2m airplane we could probably recruit the half of them.

	Chris

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	From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Grow Pattern
	Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 7:58 AM
	To: NSRCA Mailing List
	Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Participation

	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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