[NSRCA-discussion] Contest board - Was Executive Board voting

[Richard Lewis]

Mark,

As for communications...you should not have to use your personal/work e-mail for 
this...I know I can fairly easily get an e-mail address for each CB member from 
various sources (the list, friends, etc...).  Heck , yours is easy and you even 
include your workplace and phone numbers in your signature!

But it is improper to do this unless they have specifically put it out there for 
the purpose.  The AMA could easily give each CB member an xxxx at modelaircraft.org 
email address for official communicaitons...A contact form on the website would 
be even better and would force a user to at least enter a name and AMA number 
before forwarding the message....

I am certain there are many more than the "vocal minority" we see on this list 
that would love to provide you guys feedback in less public way than this this 
list..... 

Richard




________________________________
From: "Atwood, Mark" <atwoodm at paragon-inc.com>
To: General pattern discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Thu, December 13, 2012 9:46:57 AM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Contest board - Was Executive Board voting

I completely agree this is a good dialog.  And thank you for the kind words.

Regarding the USA Team, everyone will be hearing a LOT from me soon.  We're 
trying to raise a TON of money ($60,000) to cover this next WC's in South Africa 
and it's going to take big effort.

Back to the topic at hand....

There may be a disconnect or misunderstanding regarding the AMA's safety stance 
than what I think we've communicated.  They're not pushing the safety guidelines 
to the Sigs, unless it's something specific TO the SIG.  Electric motor safety 
for Pattern is no different that electric motor safety throughout the AMA.  When 
we asked the AMA if they were considering any sort of "Arming" requirements for 
general aircraft , or aircraft over a certain size/power rating, we were told 
no.    When I spoke to Greg Hahn specifically about it (this was quite a while 
back) he stated that while the AMA wanted to endorse good procedures, creating 
rules of that nature around such a rapidly evolving technology had all sorts of 
negative implications.  Everything from hampering the evolution of the 
technology (no clue how ESC and other possible safeguards might evolve) as well 
as liability issues TO MEMBERS when the safety rules aren't followed or 
enforced.  Sometimes general guidelines are our friend.

As for rules without consequences... you'll find virtually unanimous support 
from the CB on that subject.  If there's no defined result, it's merely a 
guideline, or a suggestion.  Not a rule.  Yes, some exist like that, but they 
predate the existing board.  This is a fairly new litmus test for the board and 
admittedly I'm strongly in favor of it (I actually think Verne is a champion of 
it as well, we both joined the CB around the same time).  It's something we're 
actively trying to change.  It would be great if the NSRCA came out with a 
guideline and procedure manual.  Something that spoke to all of the issues that 
we care about, but don't plan to mandate.  When ever we see a "RULE"... the 
first thought that goes through my head is "How will we handle the protest at 
the nats...".      Let's be honest.  ALL of our rules are only guidelines at the 
local level.  It's the Nats where we have to deal with enforcement and protests.

One concern we all have (CB that is) regarding communication is only hearing 
from the vocal minority.  There are many that simply want to follow the rules, 
not necessarily alter them in any way.  (Set safety issues aside for the time 
being).  I'm talking about rules like weight, advancement, noise, etc.    
Contrary to popular belief, most are NOT on this list, and even those that are, 
most don't post.  Yet their opinion as stated earlier, counts equally.  When I 
solicit feedback at a contest, and the vast majority simply voice that they 
don't need, or desire a change, that weighs heavily against the outspoken few 
who rally on all the forums.

How to do a better job of communicating back and forth I don't know.  My email 
is pretty well out there.  I'm not sure everyone is open for that though.

-M
Mark Atwood
Paragon Consulting, Inc.  |  President
5885 Landerbrook Drive Suite 130, Cleveland Ohio, 44124
Phone: 440.684.3101 x102  |  Fax: 440.684.3102
mark.atwood at paragon-inc.com<mailto:mark.atwood at paragon-inc.com>  |  
www.paragon-inc.com<http://www.paragon-inc.com/>
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