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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mike, your email stated exactly what I was
thinking. Thank you for writing it!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I personally VERY MUCH value the
K-Factor and think it would be a terrible loss if it were to go away or if
the circulation were reduced. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I also GREATLY appreciate what the NSRCA volunteer's do for us. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Perhaps those of us who are unable to contribute
time, due to family & work obligations, but are financially able could
donate an extra $50, $100 or $250 to help the NSRCA. Many many
organizations, collages, fraternities, public television, amateur sports
organizations, etc. depend on additional donations to keep running. If we
could get 100 people to give an additional $50 to $100 we wouldn't be rolling in
dough, but it could certainly help. Heck, 40 people donating $250 would raise
$10,000 for the NSRCA!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Personally I'm very willing to do this, for goodness sakes, last year
Mike Hester donated three pattern planes that he paid for and spent time
building!!! Those who can afford should at least be willing to write a
check!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Some may ask what if the money's not spent wisely? My answer would echo
Mike's point, people volunteer because they love pattern, I am absolutely
confident they have the best interest of pattern in mind. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Marty, if you add a donation section to the NSRCA shopping cart I'd be
honored to be the first to use it.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Keith Black</DIV>
<DIV></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=kerlock@comcast.net href="mailto:kerlock@comcast.net">Mike Hester</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org
href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">NSRCA Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, December 26, 2006 3:04
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [NSRCA-discussion] NSRCA
membership, dues and volounteers</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ok,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Christmas is now officially over, and so is my
cease fire =) I'm going to preface this with a slight warning: I'm not
trying to be adversarial, I'm trying to explain some things and express some
frustrations. If I get a little animated, well it's just the way I am, so bear
with me....or just close it out and go about your merry way without
reading.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The very first thing I want to express is how
much WORK it is being involved with the NSRCA. None of the officers or
volounteers get paid, for the most part they all have jobs and this is
something they do because they WANT to. Because they CARE. If any of you have
this vision of fat cigar smoking slicks sitting around a board room counting
money and laughing at the membership, MAN have you got the wrong
picture.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I can tell you without exception that every
single volounteer, officer or whatever has nothing but YOUR best interest in
mind. if you disagree with the way they do things, that's another issue, but
here's the real problem: who else will do it? Most people in positions are
doing thier JOB because nobody else WILL!!!! What thanks do they get? When's
the last time you picked up the phone or sent an email to your officer and/or
rep and thanked them for giving so much of thier time and effort? Sure, some
of you do, and let me tell you, it is VERY much appreciated. But most of the
membership simply wants to fly, and things be taken care of for them. But if
something happens they don't like, THEN the reps will hear about it.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Complacency and lack of volounteers is the
largest problem we have, not a stupid $10 increase in dues. $10 freakin
dollars, who cares?????? And if your issue is principal, just what do you
expect? Most of the officers are doing the work of 10 people already. Some
more than others. if YOU have an idea of what could/should be done, here's a
novel idea.....DO IT!!!!! </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now here's a little tidbit that I'm
absolutely positively %110 convinced of. There is no magic thing that we can
do to attract new competitors in droves. It ain't happenin. There is one way,
and one way only to attract new people. YOU, each and every member has to get
out there and actively represent pattern and the NSRCA. If a person is
interested, you'll know, so help them as much as you can. If they are not
interested, there's nothing in the world you can do to make them suddenly see
the light, buy a pattern plane and drive to a contest. What you CAN do is be
helpful and sell it, and if it's something they have an interest in, keep
selling it and maybe they'll choose to join us. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I made a conscious choice to do everything I
could. Not for any other reason than I love it that much. I know full well
there are a few isolated people out there that believe I/we do it for other
reasons and have ulterior motives. You're wrong, oh well, be wrong if you
like. Some peole just love conspiracy theories.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As for the K Factor....you have to understand how
the expense works. MOST of the money is in set-up fees. Printing one isn't all
that much difference price-wise than printing hundreds. The price of doing
business of any kind in the US has increased, and we're not immune. Can we
shave a few bucks here and there? Sure, but not to the extent you may think
where the magazine is concerned. Have you noticed how many editors we've gone
through in the past few years? Can anyone guess why? Because it's a LOT of
work, and generally thankless, and I'm just about convinced that the only
people that actually read it are new members starving for info. I'm fairly
convinced that most of the general membership gives it a quick glance and a
toss to the side. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The other problem is content. When is the last
time YOU (generally speaking) wrote something for the K Factor? Or even sent
in a picture? A couple weeks ago I sent out a request for pics of somebody's
shop, it is building season in most of the country and I know how many of you
are working on projects for next year. Guess how many I have recieved thus
far? Zero. Nada. Not one. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So if I sound frustrated, it's because I am. VERY
frustrated. I know how hard Lamar and Jerry have worked, as well as all of the
VPs. I don't think most of you even realize just how much time and effort they
all gave. I am going to support Derek fully, and whatever the new
administration decides, I'll back them up %100. if we have to go online only,
or bi-monthly, that's what we'll do. if you think another editor is needed,
say the word and adios amigos, good luck. No harsh feelings, I'm only worried
about what's best for us ALL. I could care less what format it's in, but
remember how many people are going to scream "everyone doesn't have access to
the internet!!!" if we go all online.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I understand fully well that for most of the
people flying pattern, this is a HOBBY. Nobody cares about the politics, they
just want it to work. But what they seem to miss is that somebody has to give
up a LOT of time and sweat to make it work, and when something goes wrong,
they see it as everything going straight to hell and it MUST be mismanagement.
but one person can only do so much, maybe it's time to give a little
too?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pay the freakin $40 and get involved. Give a
little. This is OUR club (so to speak). it's not us vs them, it's not the
dirty politicians spending away your hard earned money, it's not inept...if we
were to suddenly have to do without this organization, we'd have one heck of a
mess of problems to handle, but a lot of people have no idea how much the
NSRCA actually DOES. And without YOUR support, help, input, whatever, it ain't
gonna work fellas.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is it right here, right now. This is almost
the start of a new year, a new season, and a new beginning if you choose to
view it that way. Which way it all goes doesn't depend on what "they" do, it
depends on what YOU do!!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now my epoxy is cured so back to work!!!! And
please, let's get past this and move forward and grow. put the differences
aside and let's get busy.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And most of all...have FUN!!!!!!!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Mike</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<P>
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