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<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>I wanted to open up the subject of
participation. There has been a lot written about NSRCA membership numbers but I
wonder if that has anything to do with the participation at contest
numbers?</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My rough estimates are that we have around 30
active contestants per districts. (The District VP's would probably know best
how many different individuals actually compete in their Districts). If you
multiply that by 8 NSRCA districts you get 240 pattern pilots who compete
nationwide.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When we have an NSRCA national election we get
about 250 voters and when we do a rules/schedule-survey we get between 100 and
200 replies. This would suggest that we have about 200 people who are "active"
in our sport and its administration.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While I sincerely applaud any activity, such as the
Grand event in SC, to keep our participants interested and help them improve
their skills and enjoy their competitive flying even more, I am still looking
for that certain something that would help the participation grow.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have seen some sterling efforts to run primers
year after year by heroes in our organization, but beyond that I don't have much
of a database of ideas or plans to grow what we do. I see nothing in or
local hobby shops that encourage pattern. I know that pattern competition and
even the pattern pilots themselves are not that welcome at the local club
fields.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We have a major image problem. No get-well strategy
that I can see. A shortage of tactics and tools that any of us can
use.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Of course you may think that there is no problem
and that if it isn't broken don't fix it. I could be all wrong. In fact the
general reaction of the NSRCA board the last time I addressed this issue with
them, was that we didn't need a promotions and marketing person to focus on and
coordinate this activity</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We often fall into the trap of trying to act like a
ruling body. We have the AMA for that and the AMA contest board for
that, so I still ask the question, if our mission is to promote and grow
our sport, what is the plan?.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Eric.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>