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<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>
<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=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
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=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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