[NSRCA-discussion] NSRCA membership, dues and volounteers

Tue Dec 26 16:47:26 AKST 2006

Wow- some fresh spirit here.  Well said Mike! 
Ron Lockhart
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mike Hester 
  To: NSRCA Mailing List 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 4:04 PM
  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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