[NSRCA-discussion] NSRCA membership, dues and volounteers

[Steve Byrum]

Mikey,

 

I don't normally READ posts this long, but yours is very well stated.  Guys
at my skill level will gladly pay over $100 each for servos to fly one or
two contests a year.  Pay the $10.  We normally get at least one how-to each
issue worth the entire $40.

 

Steve Byrum 

-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Mike Hester
Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 3:05 PM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] NSRCA membership, dues and volounteers

 

Ok,

 

Christmas is now officially over, and so is my cease fire =)  I'm going to
preface this with a slight warning: I'm not trying to be adversarial, I'm
trying to explain some things and express some frustrations. If I get a
little animated, well it's just the way I am, so bear with me....or just
close it out and go about your merry way without reading.

 

The very first thing I want to express is how much WORK it is being involved
with the NSRCA. None of the officers or volounteers get paid, for the most
part they all have jobs and this is something they do because they WANT to.
Because they CARE. If any of you have this vision of fat cigar smoking
slicks sitting around a board room counting money and laughing at the
membership, MAN have you got the wrong picture.

 

I can tell you without exception that every single volounteer, officer or
whatever has nothing but YOUR best interest in mind. if you disagree with
the way they do things, that's another issue, but here's the real problem:
who else will do it? Most people in positions are doing thier JOB because
nobody else WILL!!!! What thanks do they get? When's the last time you
picked up the phone or sent an email to your officer and/or rep and thanked
them for giving so much of thier time and effort? Sure, some of you do, and
let me tell you, it is VERY much appreciated. But most of the membership
simply wants to fly, and things be taken care of for them. But if something
happens they don't like, THEN the reps will hear about it. 

 

Complacency and lack of volounteers is the largest problem we have, not a
stupid $10 increase in dues. $10 freakin dollars, who cares?????? And if
your issue is principal, just what do you expect? Most of the officers are
doing the work of 10 people already. Some more than others. if YOU have an
idea of what could/should be done, here's a novel idea.....DO IT!!!!! 

 

Now here's a little tidbit that I'm absolutely positively %110 convinced of.
There is no magic thing that we can do to attract new competitors in droves.
It ain't happenin. There is one way, and one way only to attract new people.
YOU, each and every member has to get out there and actively represent
pattern and the NSRCA. If a person is interested, you'll know, so help them
as much as you can. If they are not interested, there's nothing in the world
you can do to make them suddenly see the light, buy a pattern plane and
drive to a contest. What you CAN do is be helpful and sell it, and if it's
something they have an interest in, keep selling it and maybe they'll choose
to join us. 

 

I made a conscious choice to do everything I could. Not for any other reason
than I love it that much. I know full well there are a few isolated people
out there that believe I/we do it for other reasons and have ulterior
motives. You're wrong, oh well, be wrong if you like. Some peole just love
conspiracy theories.

 

As for the K Factor....you have to understand how the expense works. MOST of
the money is in set-up fees. Printing one isn't all that much difference
price-wise than printing hundreds. The price of doing business of any kind
in the US has increased, and we're not immune. Can we shave a few bucks here
and there? Sure, but not to the extent you may think where the magazine is
concerned. Have you noticed how many editors we've gone through in the past
few years? Can anyone guess why? Because it's a LOT of work, and generally
thankless, and I'm just about convinced that the only people that actually
read it are new members starving for info. I'm fairly convinced that most of
the general membership gives it a quick glance and a toss to the side. 

 

The other problem is content. When is the last time YOU (generally speaking)
wrote something for the K Factor? Or even sent in a picture? A couple weeks
ago I sent out a request for pics of somebody's shop, it is building season
in most of the country and I know how many of you are working on projects
for next year. Guess how many I have recieved thus far? Zero. Nada. Not one.


 

So if I sound frustrated, it's because I am. VERY frustrated. I know how
hard Lamar and Jerry have worked, as well as all of the VPs. I don't think
most of you even realize just how much time and effort they all gave. I am
going to support Derek fully, and whatever the new administration decides,
I'll back them up %100. if we have to go online only, or bi-monthly, that's
what we'll do. if you think another editor is needed, say the word and adios
amigos, good luck. No harsh feelings, I'm only worried about what's best for
us ALL. I could care less what format it's in, but remember how many people
are going to scream "everyone doesn't have access to the internet!!!" if we
go all online.

 

I understand fully well that for most of the people flying pattern, this is
a HOBBY. Nobody cares about the politics, they just want it to work. But
what they seem to miss is that somebody has to give up a LOT of time and
sweat to make it work, and when something goes wrong, they see it as
everything going straight to hell and it MUST be mismanagement. but one
person can only do so much, maybe it's time to give a little too?

 

Pay the freakin $40 and get involved. Give a little. This is OUR club (so to
speak). it's not us vs them, it's not the dirty politicians spending away
your hard earned money, it's not inept...if we were to suddenly have to do
without this organization, we'd have one heck of a mess of problems to
handle, but a lot of people have no idea how much the NSRCA actually DOES.
And without YOUR support, help, input, whatever, it ain't gonna work fellas.

 

This is it right here, right now. This is almost the start of a new year, a
new season, and a new beginning if you choose to view it that way. Which way
it all goes doesn't depend on what "they" do, it depends on what YOU do!!!!

 

Now my epoxy is cured so back to work!!!! And please, let's get past this
and move forward and grow. put the differences aside and let's get busy.

 

And most of all...have FUN!!!!!!!!!

-Mike

 

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