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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Well said Lance. Also, I don't think earlier
contest postings serve a purpose. If a particular contest has been
on docket several years you can expect it to be scheduled on or about the
same date next year.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The cold weather must create a strain. I
suggest a simulator or new wife
or <G> ...
Nat
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=patterndude@tx.rr.com href="mailto:patterndude@tx.rr.com">Lance Van
Nostrand</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> Wednesday, December 27, 2006 6:47
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arm Chair
pilot....</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Del,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pattern interest ebbs and flows. 3 years
ago the only Oklahoman attending contests was Bob Pastorello. Now he is
out of pattern but the Tulsa club has grown to contain 9 pattern guys, 5 of
which travel to contests. Go back 5 years and the same is said of
Houston. In D6 we have more CDs that want contests than can fit.
We just got a new one in El Paso, which is pretty far from everything, but
growth in that area for pattern is amazing. I've been sad to see
diminished interest in Colorado, but it is more than compensated for in other
areas of my district. I could go on, but won't. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Point is that the "big picture", as you refer to
it, is not that clear. There are new contests in D5 and D3 is on a
roll. I'm finding too many people that attend contests but don't join
the nsrca, so membership is not an accurate indication of pattern
interest. With 10 contests locally all attracting 25-35 pilots I think
D6 is healthy as it is in other areas. I recognize that just as some
areas grow, others shrink. Also, there is a critical mass that requires
a few energetic people to create the soul of an area and a little luck in
finding converts. I've seen pattern voids turn to pattern centers in 2
years. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>YOu might just toss my comments in with the rest
of the polyannas but I wanted to offer my comments because from my perspective
we have challenges to work on, but the battle rages on and is far from
lost.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>--Lance</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=drykert2@rochester.rr.com
href="mailto:drykert2@rochester.rr.com">Del K. Rykert</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> Wednesday, December 27, 2006 6:20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arm
Chair pilot....</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rex..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> What I meant by an armchair
pilot is I have not flown my planes in 3 years.. Thus have not
competed at all in that time. The last 3 years I subscribed to support this
SIG and try to stay in the loop in case I returned to competition. In
my area which had 7 and 8 contests per year I could easily travel to
and compete in has dwindled to 2 or 3 at best. Some sites that used to allow
on site camping now don't. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I am disturbed some of the
powers that have been elected are in denial there is or has been a
continuous and steady decline. Some have even been putting in print
that pattern is well and growing. Well excuse me.. But quit
micro managing and look at the big picture folks. If the numbers are
to be accepted and believed the undeniable fact is pattern is still and
continues in a decline. Many factors contribute to this decline.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I am not against the raising
of the dues $10.00. It does bother me the way it was
announced and at the last minute. That information should have been in
print in the K-Factor in Septembers issue and printed on the renewal
forms. These factors all contribute to make the straw I mentioned in my
1st post on this thread. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>
Del <BR> nsrca -
473</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> AMA
- 8928</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> kb2joi -
General </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=trexlesh@msn.com href="mailto:trexlesh@msn.com">Rex LESHER</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> Wednesday, December 27, 2006
4:19 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] What
the NSRCA does (and could do) for me</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><!--[gte IE 5]><?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->
<DIV>
<DIV>None of this is a big deal to me.... I spent the equivalment of
the 25% dues raise on breakfast this morning,including the tip...</DIV>
<DIV>I'm a little at a loss on the meaning of "armchair pilot"....
Does that mean that you don't fly contests? If so, that would mean
that</DIV>
<DIV>you pay your dues just to get the Kfactor, and sort of stay in the
loop. That would also indicate that none of rules, changes in
sequences,</DIV>
<DIV>or anything the least bit important to an active pattern flyer would
have any affect on you....</DIV>
<DIV>Here in D8, pattern is alive and well. Considering our weather,
and geographical locations for contests, we do pretty well, and I haven't
heard any real complaints.... We draw a lot of flyers from Canada
and California to help fill in the ranks at contests. Growth is
small, but we are seeing a steady, slight increase in numbers.
That's just the way it is!!! </DIV>
<DIV>Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with being an "armchair pilot",
I'm just having a problem with understanding your complaint... I
spend thousands of dollars on planes, and around $500 per contest on
travel expenses. If I go to the Nats, that's about 6000 miles, and
two weeks of</DIV>
<DIV>time and money... $10 extra for helping the hobby I hold so
dear is sort of like the time I lose out of my life during a
sneeze!!!!</DIV>
<DIV>Look at it this way, pay the ten extra bucks, it allows you to
complain on the list... It also gives people like me the opportunity
to jump on it like a rabid dog!!!</DIV>
<DIV>I, for one, am very supportive of all the people that have always
donated their time and efforts towards running the NSRCA.... They
are taking time out of their lives to make "our" lives a little
better. They actually do have our best interests at heart, and if
all they are asking for is $10 dollars extra a year, I'm not going to
question it. If I do, I better be prepared to jump in and
help.... For what it's worth.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Rex Lesher</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>From:</B> <A
title=mailto:drykert2@rochester.rr.com
href="mailto:drykert2@rochester.rr.com">Del K. Rykert</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=mailto: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> Wednesday, December 27, 2006
10:39 AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion]
What the NSRCA does (and could do) for me</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV> Even with all the ingenious ideas,
membership, pattern attendance and <BR>contests have shrunk the last few
years. It would also seem time to trim the <BR>budget and some line
items in the organization. I would think the majority <BR>of
members would prefer at least a 2 or 3 month notice that a dues increase
<BR>was coming. Was it only decided by the board in December to raise
the dues? <BR>This last minute notification gives some the impression no
one is minding <BR>the store.<BR> A 25% dues increase
is a big jump. This armchair pilot says it is the <BR>final
straw.<BR><BR>
Del<BR> nsrca -
473<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
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