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<DIV>
<DIV>Ron, I agree....</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Having served a term as VP for District 7 and participating in the
'management' of the NSRCA, I can assure you the NSRCA Officers and others
that help are very focused on expenses, promoting of the NSRCA and most
importantly supporting and promoting pattern activities. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For those that think there may be a one time fix for promoting pattern
or swelling the ranks of NSRCA membership, I would guess you do not understand
the overall situation. In the not so distant past, Pattern was a glamour
'niche' RC activity. If you flew pattern, then you were the elite flyers
in the club or area and known for flying and building skills.
That glamour image has been significantly diluted over the past years with the
development of helicopters, free style type flying, etc. We are pretty
sedate compared to some of the newer groups so we are no longer the 'glamour'
guys at the field. There are many other types of challenging flying to
attract people from the newcomers ranks.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>To me, the challenge of maintaining our sport is a day to day,
week to week, personal challenge that we all have in supporting, teaching
and generally being good RC citizens. We just happen to fly pattern at our
local clubs. I don't think there is a magic pill or one time fix for our
challenges, but a continued, constant, steady push to gain new members and more
importantly to keep the ones we have.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Over the years, the Kfactor has been our single largest reason to join the
NSRCA and it has spread/shared an incredible amount of knowledge, tricks, tips,
etc. If you have ever had the 'opportunity' to write an article each month
for the Kfactor as each of our officers does, then you know how hard it is to
gather interesting tips, building articles or news worthy items to include in
the Kfactor. And if you haven't shared your personal tips or tricks,
please do so with your VP to help make their life easier!!!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>How we deliver that information can probably be changed for most via the
internet, however, without good content, delivery methods are kind of
beside the point. If we want the NSRCA and Kfactor (or some other delivery
vehicle) to be better, it is up to us as individual members to pitch in and
help, share and promote, more so than our officers. Sure, they represent
us to coordinate, steer, etc, but our presence at the field on a week to week
basis, helping someone trim an airplane, fix an engine, building tips, etc, goes
much further to attract members than advertising campaigns, or tricky
slogans.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Here in District 7, we are blessed with a large geographic area with lots
of contests. For most of us in D7, it is easy to go to 8-10 contests a year
without terrible driving challenges. We have enjoyed a gradual increase in
our membership, contest attendance (with a burp here and there) and newcomer
interest. That is because we spend time personally encouraging people to
participate, not because we have flashy slogans, banners, etc. It has been
a slow but steady process that takes time to see an impact but I think we have
been pretty successful at it. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sorry for the long winded email.... flame suit on.. <IMG
src="http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201d20638/08"></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Happy Holidays</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Don Atwood</DIV>
<DIV>,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> In a message dated 12/25/2006 9:26:49 A.M. Pacific Standard
Time, ronlock@comcast.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Here is
one way to look at it.........To a large degree, the product is us.<BR>Were a
membership community, having characteristics of a technical society,<BR>a
social club, and much more.<BR>The "management" of NSRCA and the K Factor is
partly a product those in our<BR>membership that choose<BR>to run for an
office, and then volunteer time and resources for the<BR>betterment of
pattern.<BR><BR>Later, Ron Lockhart, NSRCA 321<BR>(Renewed on line, worked
fine)<BR><BR>----- Original Message ----- <BR>From: "Wayne"
<Whinkle1024@msn.com><BR>To: "NSRCA Mailing List"
<nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org><BR>Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006
11:54 PM<BR>Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] NSRCA Dues
Increase<BR><BR><BR>> Ok guys I guess I'm the only one not willing to renew
because the product<BR>is<BR>> poor. By the way my dues last year were only
$30 not $15,000. 500 members<BR>at<BR>> $10 increase each is only $5k and
merely a Band-Aid on the issue.<BR>><BR>> The advertising $ is not there
because our great quality color publication<BR>> doesn't go to enough
people to make the advertising as worthy. I think we<BR>> need some drastic
changes to the way we do business.<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> -----
Original Message ----- <BR>> From: "Mike Hester"
<kerlock@comcast.net><BR>> To: "NSRCA Mailing List"
<nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org><BR>> Sent: Sunday, December 24,
2006 8:11 PM<BR>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] NSRCA Dues
Increase<BR>><BR>><BR>> > Ummm..........Merry
Christmas.........I'm going to swallow the freakin<BR>> > blood<BR>>
> from biting my tongue clean in half and I'll get back to this one
after<BR>> > Christmas is over. Not trying to be adversarial, but wow,
I'll get into<BR>> > that<BR>> > after we have a nice
holiday.<BR>> ><BR>> > Merry Christmas, and hold that
thought....but if you don't see anything<BR>> > going on to promote
pattern, I wonder where you're looking.<BR>> ><BR>> >
-Mike<BR>> ><BR>> > ----- Original Message ----- <BR>> >
From: "Wayne" <Whinkle1024@msn.com><BR>> > To: "NSRCA Mailing
List" <nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org><BR>> > Sent: Sunday,
December 24, 2006 9:16 PM<BR>> > Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] NSRCA
Dues Increase<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> >> Don't worry Paul it
wasn't announced in the KF either!<BR>> >><BR>> >> So you
didn't miss anything.<BR>> >><BR>> >> I understand the need
for increased dues. I also understand the need<BR>for<BR>> >>
the<BR>> >> NSRCA to give us something in return for our support.
Today I don't see<BR>> >> much<BR>> >> going on to PROMOTE
pattern. While I wish to support pattern and<BR>promote<BR>> >>
it<BR>> >> I will take my $40 and spend it on attendance at an event
rather than<BR>the<BR>> >> NSRCA.<BR>> >><BR>> >>
Sorry but poor management of more of our funds are not going to get it<BR>>
>> done.<BR>> >> 2 years ago when folks asked questions of
Derek and Lamar the bank<BR>> >> account<BR>> >> was sitting
on a surplus of about $12,000 or so. If I remember the<BR>> >>
numbers<BR>> >> correctly. I'm going to go find the old KF that had
this number in it.<BR>> >> Rusty<BR>> >> Dose tells us last
month that we are down over $15,000 is dues and<BR>> >> advertising
revenue. Looks to me like this has been a sinking ship for<BR>> >>
some<BR>> >> time. The very fact that I received a renewal notice
with the $40 price<BR>> >> tag<BR>> >> on it a full week
before we heard about it from the board is another<BR>sign<BR>> >>
of<BR>> >> mismanagement. A 30% increase in dues just because there
has not been a<BR>> >> increase in many years is not the solution to
our problems. Where is<BR>the<BR>> >> 30%<BR>> >> increase
going to help support precision aerobatics.<BR>> >><BR>> >>
I think that with all products and services in the market place
today<BR>the<BR>> >> NSRCA needs to show some value to the modelers
out there. If this<BR>happens<BR>> >> then membership will grow.
Revenue will increase. And Pattern flying<BR>will<BR>> >> prosper. I
feel that I and other vote with our pocket books. The reason<BR>> >>
advertising dollars are down, the reason dues dollars are down is due<BR>>
>> directly to the product supplied.<BR>> >><BR>> >>
Perhaps the NSRCA leadership is listening but instead we talk
about<BR>what<BR>> >> a<BR>> >> great job has been done and
how far we have come. I'm not into bashing<BR>> >> the<BR>>
>> guy that just left but Derek we have seen nothing about how to get
us<BR>out<BR>> >> of<BR>> >> this pickle we are in.
Therefore I elect not to renew at this time. I<BR>> >> think<BR>>
>> there are better places to spend our money to support
Precision<BR>> >> Aerobatics.<BR>> >><BR>>
>><BR>> >><BR>> >> Wayne<BR>> >> -----
Original Message ----- <BR>> >> From: "Paul Brine"
<pbrine@uoguelph.ca><BR>> >> To: "NSRCA Mailing List"
<nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org><BR>> >> Sent: Sunday,
December 24, 2006 3:19 PM<BR>> >> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion]
NSRCA Dues Increase<BR>> >><BR>> >><BR>> >>> It
also wasn't announced to the membership until Dec 22nd via Lamar's<BR>>
>>> email.<BR>> >>> Remember not everyone (ie myself ) is
in a position to download and<BR>read<BR>> >>> the<BR>>
>>> k-factor on-line.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>
Applying the increase to those who renewed before then is like you<BR>>
>>> signing<BR>> >>> on the line to buy a car and being
told a week later by the dealer<BR>that<BR>> >>> the<BR>>
>>> price went up a $1000.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>
Paul<BR>> >>> ----- Original Message -----<BR>> >>>
From: Martin X. Moleski, SJ <moleski@canisius.edu><BR>> >>>
To: NSRCA Mailing List <nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org><BR>>
>>> Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006 1:07 PM<BR>> >>>
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] NSRCA Dues Increase<BR>>
>>><BR>> >>><BR>> >>>> Anthony Abdullah
wrote:<BR>> >>>><BR>> >>>> > Silly
quesion:<BR>> >>>><BR>> >>>> > After a long
pattern lay off for grad school and such I am<BR>returning<BR>>
>>>> > in<BR>> >>>> > full force. Part of
that included renewing my NSRCA membership.<BR>When<BR>> >>>>
> I<BR>> >>>> > downloaded and printed the form from the
NSRCA website the dues was<BR>> >>>> > listed as $30.00 and
that is how much the check was written for<BR>(just<BR>> >>>>
> two days ago). Do I need to send an additional check for $10.00
or<BR>is<BR>> >>>> > the price increse effective Jan
1?<BR>> >>>><BR>> >>>> There was a missed
communication between Lamar and myself early in<BR>> >>>>
December, so I didn't hear about the change in dues until two or<BR>>
>>>> three days ago.<BR>> >>>><BR>>
>>>> The law is probably on your side, if you want to take the
time<BR>> >>>> to take it to court.<BR>>
>>>><BR>> >>>> It would be a huge kindness to
simply send along another $10 check.<BR>> >>>><BR>>
>>>> I believe the forms have all been updated.<BR>>
>>>><BR>> >>>> I'm hoping to work on the Paypal
front end over this vacation.<BR>> >>>> It hasn't been
satisfactory for a couple of years ... my bad.<BR>>
>>>><BR>> >>>> Marty<BR>> >>>>
_______________________________________________<BR>> >>>>
NSRCA-discussion mailing list<BR>> >>>>
NSRCA-discussion@lists.nsrca.org<BR>> >>>>
http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion<BR>>
>>><BR>> >>><BR>> >>>
_______________________________________________<BR>> >>>
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NSRCA-discussion@lists.nsrca.org<BR>> >>>
http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion<BR>>
>>><BR>> >><BR>> >>
_______________________________________________<BR>> >>
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NSRCA-discussion@lists.nsrca.org<BR>> >>
http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion<BR>> ><BR>>
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