[NSRCA-discussion] Why did you join the NSRCA?

Sun Feb 1 16:20:18 AKST 2009

I've felt for decades now that the "Contest board" was an outdated way of doing business. On more than one occasion I've seen the Contest board voted contrary to the wishes of the represented of the district. Given the fast communication we have today there is Zero reason for a contest board to have the final says so in our sport. I for one would like to see it disbanded entirely and replaced with a popular vote.

Tim 

--- On Sun, 2/1/09, John Fuqua <johnfuqua at embarqmail.com> wrote:

From: John Fuqua <johnfuqua at embarqmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Why did you join the NSRCA?
To: "'General pattern discussion'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Date: Sunday, February 1, 2009, 7:59 PM

Matt

AMA is not giving up rule making “responsibility” to NSRCA (SIG).   However AMA does look to the SIGs (NSRCA) to take the lead on promoting (and at the Nats for example running) their sport.   Giving NSRCA the responsibility for schedules is no more, nor less than the responsibility that IMAC has had for a long time now.   And remember they will have to be published on the AMA website to become official.  The only thing given up is the vote by the AMA RC Aerobatics Contest Board and the 2 year cycle for schedule changes.  I might point out that all the schedules we have had for the last 3 or 4 maybe 5 rules cycles have been those proposed by NSRCA.   

I do not see any evidence that NSRCA has been a negative factor in Pattern.  NSRCA has matured along the way just as IMAC has.   I remember back about 10 or so years when IMAC was totally screwed up.  East coast vs West coast factions, different rules and with no one speaking for the organization.  Fortunately they finally elected good leadership and it took off.   NSRCA has never had those problems at least as long as I have been on the Contest Board.   Sure we have had our “personality” issues but that is the nature of volunteer organizations.

I also would like to mention that the AMA RC Aerobatics Contest Board members are also NSRCA members who, in my experience, wish to work with NSRCA to enhance our avocation.

John

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Matthew Frederick
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 3:11 PM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Why did you join the NSRCA?

It may very well be in pattern's interest that the NSRCA remain healthy, but I am my own driving force. I don't fly to win the district championship, and I don't attend the Nats at this point. Before the NSRCA came around, there were still AMA rules for pattern. Contests were held. I could make an argument that the NSRCA in it's current form is the reason that pattern stuggles. I'm not saying that, but evidence exists to support the claim. I tried to go read the history of the NSRCA to find out exactly what year the organization was formed, but the link to the NSRCA history article is not working. All I know is when I first started in pattern in 1990, the NSRCA was hardly around, and I frequently attended contests with 40 - 50 contestants.

I've been holding my thoughts on this, but I think it needs to be said: the thought of the AMA allowing the NSRCA to make changes to schedules or rules without going through the AMA rules process scares me. Although I have been an NSRCA member for 2 years, I never once felt that the NSRCA leadership was really looking out for my interests. If the rules proposal comes up to allow the NSRCA to have that level of control, I will vehemently oppose it with the AMA, and encourage all of my friends to do the same.

Matt 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Ed Alt 

To: General pattern discussion 

Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 2:02 PM

Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Why did you join the NSRCA?

Matt:

Probably the most important thing to understand about supporting the SIG that promotes your interests in Precision Aerobatics before the AMA.  It is also the case that the majority of contests are being organized and run by NSRCA members, as are judging clinics, championship point systems and year end awards.  I don't want to make this long winded,  but NSRCA is the driving force behind what we do in Pattern, so on that basis alone it is in your interest as a Pattern competitor to see it maintain a healthy status.  

Ed

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Matthew Frederick 

To: General pattern discussion 

Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 2:53 PM

Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Why did you join the NSRCA?

All very good points. I too have not renewed yet this year because being a member was not of much value to me. The main reason I was a member was to get the K-Factor. 3 times last year I did not get my copy in the mail. Furthermore, as pointed out below, the internet has eliminated the need to post contest results in the district columns. Nothing wrong with a narrative about the contest, but wasting space with pictures and results that have already been perused by those who care on the internet is just that, a waste. I know how much we struggle for content, but it's a waste of the organization's money to print 34 pages of stuff nobody really needs to read again.

Matt

----- Original Message ----- 

From: davidmichael1 at comcast.net 

To: General pattern discussion 

Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 1:55 PM

Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Why did you join the NSRCA?

Some good discussion today.  Hope I can add a different perspective.  I joined NSRCA last year- part way through the year- with the plan to begin flying some pattern (I flew one pattern contest and six IMAC).  I still plan on flying in a couple pattern contests this year and in the future.

I tend to agree that pattern and IMAC are just different- but it's still precision aerobatics at its heart.  Having said that I think that the IMAC guys have been much more active in promoting their cause and making sure that the organization gives value back for the membership.  I also agree that IMAC has the real advantage of high end money events (TOC, Masters, Tuscon Shootout and now Clover Creek) but this is kind of a chicken and egg thing- is IMAC big because of the events or is it the other way around?  And there is no discounting the value of having so many IMAC planes of all sizes available on the market right now- but again, why is that?  More people like them.

Having said all this, I do believe NSRCA can improve, raise visibility, its value and membership if it wants to.  I do not mean any of the following to offend or belittle the work that has been done by NSRCA officers or volunteers- but I think it is worth saying that what NSRCA membership  offers, the K-Factor and the website- the big three marketing vehicles- is not where it needs to be anymore.

1) I haven't yet re-joined NSRCA-  if I do it will be just to support the organization, so the question in my mind is "is it worth joining?"  After trying it out, my perception is that the value, to me, of an NSRCA membership is not that great.   I understand that the organization provides new sequences every few years and a voice with the AMA- but what else?  Part of growing an organization is merchandising what you have done for its members.  I may be missing the value- so I say advertise what NSRCA membership offers- if it's not enough then the NSRCA needs to figure out how to fix that.  

2) I know now that it is plainly stated but I have to mention that I didn't like that the membership ended at the end of the year-  I didn't get a full year out of my membership.  I would like to see memberships end on the one year anniversary- not the calendar year.  By the way, when I sign into the IMAC site it says what my membership is good through and I can print out a membership card anytime.

3) Honestly, I see the K-Factor as "old news" by the time I get it.  These days the expectation is to get news instantly-  for example contest results or articles.  With sites like RCU and Flying Giants, you can even get mid-contest results after the first day.   The IMAC site, by comparison, provides quick updates on contests results and an archive of past contests.

4) I think the NSRCA website needs to be more robust  and be updated more frequently if it is intended to attract and keep members.  I thank all who have and are working on the site now- but I am struggling to find a way to say this without offending or being ungrateful- so I'll just say it- take a look at the IMAC site and compare:  www.mini-iac.com 

5) For what it's worth I would like to see new sequences every year and unknowns.  I mentioned this about a year ago on this same list and the majority of responses were against unknowns.  If I recall correctly there were many who felt that they wouldn't want to have an unknown decide their placing.  To me, sequences that change annually and being able to fly an unknown is a true indicator of your flying skills- as opposed to just getting good at a set of manuevers that you have been flying for 2-3 years over and over again.  

Dave

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anthony Romano" <anthonyr105 at hotmail.com>
To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 10:15:29 AM GMT -05:00 US / Canada Eastern
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Why did you join the NSRCA?

  Lots of interesting discussion here but not a lot of solutions. Maybe a survey of the membership as to why they join the NSRCA. 
  What is the value of the K-factor to the members? What is the draw of the K-factor to our advertisers? 

  Maybe even the more fundamental question of why are we drawn to pattern over the other various R/C disciplines now available. Knowing your customer is the key to making a sale.

  For me I was drawn to the sleek airplanes and the elusive grace and smoothness of a pattern flight. Nothing gives me the same satisfaction of the Zen of that effortless great round. 
 As for the NSRCA I join to support pattern and help the efforts of all the people who work so hard to make these events happen.

Anthony

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