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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>WE HAVE TO CHANGE THIS!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I will put forth the same suggestion that I have in the
past. REGARDLESS of how the points are determined, the wording should be
changed that they are a GUIDELINE for advancement, not a mandatory system.
PERIOD.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I.e no restrictions on which class you fly. This is
supposed to be fun. Some people will NEVER get past Advanced, or
intermediate, and yet they will be in the top 3 at most local events. But
that’s the top 3 of 5 people. And the bottom 2 there will likely
surpass them at some point and move on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Trophy hounds just don’t exist, or if they do, they don’t
exist for long. Let’s face it…we eventually get our fill and
get bored and want to move up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>But someone that used to be a great Advanced flyer…moves
to masters, but then kids, work, whatever cuts their practice time from twice a
week to twice a year, would like to come to a contest, fly advanced again and
at least feel competitive. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>This is just ridiculous that were so concerned with trophy
hounds. It’s not like they’re cheating…they’re
just better than the guy they’re flying against. Isn’t that the
goal??<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Anyhow, I think we should propose that ANY advancement system be
a quideline. Simply something to give pilots an idea of when it’s
right to move up. But don’t force it, and don’t prevent
people from flying in any class they want. Let’s try
it! If it doesn’t work, at least then we’ll have learned a
little more about what doesn’t work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>-Mark<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Earl
Haury<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:24 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Discussion List, NSRCA<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [NSRCA-discussion] Advancement System<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In the
discussion regarding the Masters sequence / length a few competitors mentioned
that increasing the difficulty would cause them to stop competing. Folks, this
needs to be addressed! We can't tolerate a system where folks are forced to a
level where they can't enjoy pattern and/or chose to quit. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>There are
generally two views of the current system. One is that it is cast in stone and
needed to force the "trophy hound" to move to the proper class.
The other is that peer pressure alone will result in proper classification. I
think that there's a third possibility, some folks prematurely move to a higher
class for the "prestige" of that class. There's likely reality /
unreality to each view which supports that some process is needed. While
there have been some changes to smooth the advancement process, nothing
has changed for a person who finds themselves in a class that exceeds their
skills. I know - there's a process to petition for dropping to a lower class,
but it's intended for hardship cases rather than being uncompetitive.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>OK - going
back to the first paragraph - how might we fix this? My suggestion is to change
the rules so that folks who gather points in the lower percentile of a class
for X number of events (or rounds, or time span?) have the option to stay where
they are, or move back a class. The current advancement rules would be applied
to folks in the upper percentile. It seems that this would provide an option
for the casual competitor to seek a comfort level and retain a reasonable advancement
process for the serious competitor. Of course there are administrative issues,
probably best to simply use data within each district, as most already track
points for district championships. A district based data set would also best
weight performance within one's local peer group.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Just my
thoughts - how about the group discussing this some.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Earl</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>No virus
found in this incoming message.<br>
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com<br>
Version: 8.5.285 / Virus Database: 270.12.19/2099 - Release Date: 05/07/09
05:57:00</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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