[NSRCA-discussion] What the NSRCA does for me in Aus?
Koenig, Tom
Tom.Koenig at actewagl.com.au
Thu Dec 28 13:07:09 AKST 2006
Hi Guys,
I've read all these comments with great interest and thought I might chime in too.
I've been an NSRCA member since '95 and I'd have to agree with most of Paul's comments. For me the K-Factor is very important. Yes, it has had its ups and downs, but I look forward to receiving it every month. I have threatened to write many times-even offered a 'plans feature/ building article' of my Merlin designs etc (remember my challenge Mike??) Who knows I may yet be brave enough, time permitting.
The NSRCA can do little for me as such-it is the US national SIG after all. BUT being a part of it, I think, helps pattern globally overall.
For me the single biggest benefit has been 'meeting' and 'establishing' some of the best friendships (be they Cyber) one could ask for!! I would welcome most of you guys in my house anytime and share some Aussie beer ( That's if you fellas can handle a proper Aussie beer =) hahahahaha
Make no mistake guys, even our organisation, the APA with which I'm involved, has its problems. Seems politics truly are a global 'constant'.
But lets not forget, for some strange reason, we all share that common bond ( Globally) for those silly 'toy' planes, we call pattern planes!
I hope we do not 'de-value' the K-Factor or in any way make it less attractive. I must admit that I groan when it is filled with contest reports from end to end-but I understand that if that's all there is, then that's all there is!! It is up to EACH of you to write something and submit it. I get terribly self conscious with my articles for our Australian Pattern Association-I worry wether I may be seen as some sort of 'wanker'...but in the years I have written, not one complaint, only praise and questions and disappointment when I don't submit.
Guys, don't be scared to submit an article, the K-Factor belongs to YOU. I for one would love to read how a Florida wife hates being a pattern widow, or how a 'Hicksville' fella is teaching junior to fly.
I might even throw some of my stuff across to y'all after all!! Mike-I'll be in touch.
And my advice for those of you who are feeling jaded and are whinging-GET OUT and FLY your pattern plane. Then fly some other 'PIG' ( which is just about ANY other type of plane!) and then the penny will drop WHY you do this!
Enjoy your New Years-I have but six hours to get through at work till the weekend, and it will be a LOOOONG six hours!
Rock on!
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Paul Brine
Sent: Thursday, 28 December 2006 11:59 AM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] What the NSRCA does (and could do) for
me
Wow!!
Amazing where this has gone. My original point had nothing to do with
whether or not a dues increase was justified or not or whether the amount
should be $10, $50 or $100.
My point was simply that the organization needs to honour the memberships at
the old rate for those that renewed prior to the announcement of the
increase. If folks want make a donation for the difference that should be
up to them.
As far as the list of what NSCRA delivered on here are my thoughts keeping
in mind the I am NOT US based. First I agree with Terry T re the cost.
New and continually updated sequences to fly. - Doesn't affect me. We have
our own.
Competition rules and critical rule interpretations - See above
The Nats and banquet. - See above - Cost should be covered by those who
attend.
A web site with lots of related info. - Good stuff although it could use a
refresh.
District championships coordinated. - Don't have those
Monthly columns written that report local and national information. - Good
How-to articles in the KF that are not to be found in non-pattern sport RC
mags. Good, although the k-factor has been mostly contest reports lately.
Discussion of new products that apply to the hobby in the KF written by
people that actually compete. - See above
A discussion list and archive of many more gems of related information. -
Good
A national organization to share what works/doesn't to promote the hobby.
MA column. - Not an AMA member. Never see it.
Support for sportsman primers.
Officers and VPs that deal with many small member issues and many governance
issues.
A consistent contest calendar. - Doesn't affect.
Promotion of the sport at the Grand Event, AMA convention, Toledo show, etc.
etc. - Good
A video segment inthe AMA DVD collection. - Not an AMA member
Some thoughts for the future (This could get long)
I joined NSRCA to get the K-Factor. As a non-US based member that is the
only benefit to being a member. I suspect many others did the same. In
fact at one point in our 100 member club there were 3-4 of us who were
members. I was the only pattern flyer. The others were sport flyers who
joined to get the K-factor. I suspect we have lost the most of these
members in recent years.
As someone mentioned the most of the budget goes to support the k-factor.
As an organization it is our single greatest asset and at the same time our
biggest liability. We need it to promote the organization and attract
membership beyond those who fly precision aero.
Here is where I suggest we should go:
Set a schedule for production and keep to it. It has been very good lately
but since I joined the NSRCA in 1998 or 99 the K-factor has gone away for an
extended period twice with no notice. Each time there was a drop in
membership afterward.
Keep the hardcopy delivery. There are no real savings as someone mentioned
by cutting the numbers printed. Based on my experience at work with small
print runs for publication I expect it will cost about the same for 250, 500
or 1000. As someone mention not everyone has broadband (I don't) to be able
to read it online. Alot of folks are still on dialup. Dropping the colour
covers may save some cost.
Consider reducing the number of issues a year. I would suggest 10 issues.
My suggestion would be to have July-Aug, and Dec-Jan but there are other
combos that would work.
Content - That is what will help attract those folks who just want the
magazine. We need them to help support the production costs and to provide
the numbers to attract the advertisers. Lately, there have some technical
articles but mostly the columns and articles have been contest reports that
are months old.
Suggestions:
- Construction article and plans for an entry level wood pattern aircraft.
- How about recycling some of the older technical articles from years gone
by. There is likely alot that still applies and the newer members won't
have seen them.
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: Pete Cosky <pcosky at comcast.net>
To: NSRCA Mailing List <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 3:48 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] What the NSRCA does (and could do) for me
> This is the exact reason I gave up being active in my local club; too much
> complaining and not enough help. I was the president for a few years and
the
> previous president had run us into a deficit and membership was waning. I
> almost doubled the membership and had to increase dues by ten dollars to
get
> us back in the black. Since I left the post the club membership has
> decreased again and the club has spent most of the money that I had built
> back up treasury.
>
> What I learned is people who spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars
on
> one plane will blow a seal at having to spend an additional ten bucks a
year
> on dues. I had no issue coughing up the extra ten dollars for my club or
for
> the NSRCA. It is much easier to complain about the state of affairs than
be
> proactive and help change the situation.
>
> If you want the math on the increase it 2.739726027397260273972602739726
> cents per day for one year.
>
> The officers of the NSRCA do a pretty much thankless job. Mike Hester
gives
> of his time and product. Arch Stafford took his time to put on pattern
> primers and contests not to mention helping me personally. I let anyone at
> the fields I fly at try my planes out if they show even a glimmer of
> interest and give NSRCA members a $20 discount on my fuselage jigs. If ten
> more dollars a year will get us in a better place I am more than willing
to
> pay it.
>
> As for going to an online K-Factor, if you do not have a broadband
> connection it would take a while to download. Believe me when I tell you
> there are lot of people in the US still on dial-up
>
> I'll go back to reading all the responses now.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Del K. Rykert" <drykert2 at rochester.rr.com>
> To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 1:39
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] What the NSRCA does (and could do) for me
>
>
> > Even with all the ingenious ideas, membership, pattern attendance and
> > contests have shrunk the last few years. It would also seem time to trim
> > the
> > budget and some line items in the organization. I would think the
> > majority
> > of members would prefer at least a 2 or 3 month notice that a dues
> > increase
> > was coming. Was it only decided by the board in December to raise the
> > dues?
> > This last minute notification gives some the impression no one is
minding
> > the store.
> > A 25% dues increase is a big jump. This armchair pilot says it is the
> > final straw.
> >
> > Del
> > nsrca - 473
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Lynn Burks" <rclen123 at adelphia.net>
> > To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 11:23 PM
> > Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] What the NSRCA does (and could do) for
me
> >
> >
> >> Thank You Mike for your time and energy and your talent. L Burks
> >>
> >> Mike Hester wrote:
> >>> Ummm...correction on one line.
> >>>
> >>> The winner of sportsman got a fully built 2 meter plane, I'm painting
> >>> it now. Not sure where you heard it faltered, the winner was Marcio
> >>> Jorge. Time is just an issue with me, I'm super busy and it's getting
> >>> much worse than I ever imagined.
> >>>
> >>> Also second place got a sheeted kit, and 3rd got a kit.
> >>>
> >>> So, that one hasn't faltered one inch =) As for someone else not doing
> >>> it elsewhere, not much I can do about that.
> >>>
> >>> -Mike
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>> *From:* Lance Van Nostrand <mailto:patterndude at tx.rr.com>
> >>> *To:* NSRCA Mailing List <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> >>> The NSRCA is a volunteer group made up of officers, district VPs,
> >>> and members. Although elected, the officers and VPs are not paid
> >>> and, like the members, volunteer their time for this hobby.
> >>> Here's what I get for my $40 and what I didn't get:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> What got started but faltered due to lack of volunteers:
> >>> Roving Nats location
> >>> Updated judging video
> >>> New advertisers in KF and on web site
> >>> Major Promotions, like D3's sportman winner getting a 2m plane
> >>>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> NSRCA-discussion mailing list
> >>> NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> >>> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
> >>>
>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>>
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> >
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> >
>
>
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