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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It may very well be in pattern's interest that the
NSRCA remain healthy, but I am my own driving force. I don't fly to win the
district championship, and I don't attend the Nats at this point. Before the
NSRCA came around, there were still AMA rules for pattern. Contests were held. I
could make an argument that the NSRCA in it's current form is the reason that
pattern stuggles. I'm not saying that, but evidence exists to support the claim.
I tried to go read the history of the NSRCA to find out exactly what year the
organization was formed, but the link to the NSRCA history article is not
working. All I know is when I first started in pattern in 1990, the NSRCA was
hardly around, and I frequently attended contests with 40 - 50
contestants.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've been holding my thoughts on this, but I
think it needs to be said: the thought of the AMA allowing the NSRCA to make
changes to schedules or rules without going through the AMA rules process scares
me. Although I have been an NSRCA member for 2 years, I never once felt that the
NSRCA leadership was really looking out for my interests. If the rules proposal
comes up to allow the NSRCA to have that level of control, I
will vehemently oppose it with the AMA, and encourage all of my
friends to do the same.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Matt</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=ed_alt@hotmail.com href="mailto:ed_alt@hotmail.com">Ed Alt</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org
href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">General pattern discussion</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, February 01, 2009 2:02
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Why did
you join the NSRCA?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Matt:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Probably the most important thing to understand
about supporting the SIG that promotes your interests in Precision Aerobatics
before the AMA. It is also the case that the majority of contests are
being organized and run by NSRCA members, as are judging clinics, championship
point systems and year end awards. I don't want to make this long
winded, but NSRCA is the driving force behind what we do in Pattern, so
on that basis alone it is in your interest as a Pattern competitor to see it
maintain a healthy status. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ed</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=mjfrederick@cox.net href="mailto:mjfrederick@cox.net">Matthew
Frederick</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org
href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">General pattern
discussion</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, February 01, 2009 2:53
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Why did
you join the NSRCA?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>All very good points. I too have not renewed
yet this year because being a member was not of much value to me. The main
reason I was a member was to get the K-Factor. 3 times last year I did not
get my copy in the mail. Furthermore, as pointed out below, the internet
has eliminated the need to post contest results in the district
columns. Nothing wrong with a narrative about the contest, but wasting space
with pictures and results that have already been perused by those who care
on the internet is just that, a waste. I know how much we struggle for
content, but it's a waste of the organization's money to print 34 pages of
stuff nobody really needs to read again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Matt</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=davidmichael1@comcast.net
href="mailto:davidmichael1@comcast.net">davidmichael1@comcast.net</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org
href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">General pattern
discussion</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, January 31, 2009 1:55
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Why
did you join the NSRCA?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
<P>Some good discussion today. Hope I can add a different
perspective. I joined NSRCA last year- part way through the year-
with the plan to begin flying some pattern (I flew one pattern
contest and six IMAC). I still plan on flying in a couple pattern
contests this year and in the future.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>I tend to agree that pattern and IMAC are just different- but it's
still precision aerobatics at its heart. Having said that I think
that the IMAC guys have been much more active in promoting their cause and
making sure that the organization gives value back for the
membership. I also agree that IMAC has the real advantage of high
end money events (TOC, Masters, Tuscon Shootout and now Clover Creek)
but this is kind of a chicken and egg thing- is IMAC big because of the
events or is it the other way around? And there is no discounting
the value of having so many IMAC planes of all sizes available on the
market right now- but again, why is that? More people like them.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Having said all this, I do believe NSRCA can improve, raise visibility,
its value and membership if it wants to. I do not mean any of the
following to offend or belittle the work that has been done by NSRCA
officers or volunteers- but I think it is worth saying that what
NSRCA membership offers, the K-Factor and the website- the big three
marketing vehicles- is not where it needs to be anymore.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>1) I haven't yet re-joined NSRCA- if I do it will be just to
support the organization, so the question in my mind is "is it worth
joining?" After trying it out, my perception is that the
value, to me, of an NSRCA membership is not that
great. I understand that the organization provides new
sequences every few years and a voice with the AMA- but what else?
Part of growing an organization is merchandising what you have done for
its members. I may be missing the value- so I say advertise what
NSRCA membership offers- if it's not enough then the NSRCA needs to figure
out how to fix that. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>2) I know now that it is plainly stated but I have to mention that I
didn't like that the membership ended at the end of the year- I
didn't get a full year out of my membership. I would like to see
memberships end on the one year anniversary- not the calendar year.
By the way, when I sign into the IMAC site it says what my membership is
good through and I can print out a membership card anytime.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>3) Honestly, I see the K-Factor as "old news" by the time I get
it. These days the expectation is to get news instantly- for
example contest results or articles. With sites like RCU and Flying
Giants, you can even get mid-contest results after the first
day. The IMAC site, by comparison, provides quick updates on
contests results and an archive of past contests.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>4) I think the NSRCA website needs to be more robust and be
updated more frequently if it is intended to attract and keep
members. I thank all who have and are working on the site now- but I
am struggling to find a way to say this without offending or being
ungrateful- so I'll just say it- take a look at the IMAC site and
compare: <A href="http://www.mini-iac.com">www.mini-iac.com</A> </P>
<P> </P>
<P>5) For what it's worth I would like to see new sequences every year and
unknowns. I mentioned this about a year ago on this same list and
the majority of responses were against unknowns. If I recall
correctly there were many who felt that they wouldn't want to have an
unknown decide their placing. To me, sequences that change annually
and being able to fly an unknown is a true indicator of your flying
skills- as opposed to just getting good at a set of manuevers that you
have been flying for 2-3 years over and over again. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>Dave</P>
<P> </P>
<P><BR>----- Original Message -----<BR>From: "Anthony Romano"
<anthonyr105@hotmail.com><BR>To:
nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org<BR>Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009
10:15:29 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern<BR>Subject: [NSRCA-discussion]
Why did you join the NSRCA?<BR><BR>
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Lots of interesting discussion here but not a lot of solutions.
Maybe a survey of the membership as to why they join the NSRCA. <BR>
What is the value of the K-factor to the members? What is the draw of the
K-factor to our advertisers? <BR> <BR> Maybe even the more
fundamental question of why are we drawn to pattern over the other various
R/C disciplines now available. Knowing your customer is the key to making
a sale.<BR> <BR> For me I was drawn to the sleek airplanes and
the elusive grace and smoothness of a pattern flight. Nothing gives me the
same satisfaction of the Zen of that effortless great round. <BR> As
for the NSRCA I join to support pattern and help the efforts of all the
people who work so hard to make these events
happen.<BR><BR>Anthony<BR> <BR><BR>
<HR>
Windows Live™ Hotmail®:…more than just e-mail. <A
href="http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_explore_012009"
target=_blank>Check it out.</A>
<BR>_______________________________________________ NSRCA-discussion
mailing list NSRCA-discussion@lists.nsrca.org
http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
<P></P></DIV>
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