glowplugboy
Posts: 962
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Joined: 12/26/2001
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From: Houston,
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In case you haven't read them, here they are:
Specific Recommendations for the NSRCA
Goal One: Retain current membership numbers.
This will take a lot of work.
Enhance the value of NSRCA membership.
Make membership more valuable and worthwhile for the current members.
What if a member could get back a few dollars of his yearly dues every time he makes a purchase because of being an NSRCA member?
Consider negotiating small discounts on purchases for members with vendors to the pattern community as well as major distributors such as Great Planes and Horizon. These vendors want and need our business, and offering a small discount, a free bottle of glue, or some other savings will increase their bottom line in the long run.
Example: I own a small CNC vinyl cutting business. I can offer any renewing NSRCA member his AMA or NSRCA number for half price @ $3.50 shipped and waive the initial $7.00 set up fee.
Consider ways to reduce membership annual dues and utilize available financial resources for other vital organizational functions.
Go electronic with newsletters, mailings, and communication.
Maintain inclusiveness in the leadership with representation from all classes flown, AND increase face to face contact of the leadership to the general membership of the NSRCA.
The purpose here is twofold.
First, the membership demographics will be better represented within the leadership of the NSRCA, reducing the impression only the top classes of fliers hold leadership roles.
Second, inclusive representation can expand the reach of personal, one on one contact of the general membership with NSRCA leadership. Patterning (no pun intended) itself after the current AMA district structure, I recommend that District Vice Presidents appoint capable and committed “Associate Vice Presidents” who compete in different classes from the class the VP participates in to assist in representing the NSRCA at local and regional events. Given the enormous size of the NSRCA districts, if a District VP is unable to attend an event that is a great distance away from his home, a district AVP’s who lives in the area could be that vital NSRCA leadership presence at that competition. Personal contact with the “organization” is essential to retaining membership.
Remember, the biggest pool of volunteer leaders come from fresh, new members and veteran old timers. This kind of mix can be very productive in getting things done because it helps eliminate “Groupthink”.
Consider ways to reduce the travel costs associated with pattern competitions.
• Make local contests “one day” events with a guarantee of (weather permitting) five rounds flown for all classes.
• Urge CD’s and sponsoring clubs to have the lowest possible entry fee. Example: District 6 entry fees average around $40…. Can this be reduced and still pay for contest expenses and help the sponsoring club with raising funds?
• What else?
Goal Two: Recruiting New Members
The modeling/hobby community as a whole is experiencing diminished participation, particularly with youth. Recruiting new members will be challenging, but with the right incentives, small gains are possible.
Offer NSRCA membership to first time members at a reduced cost.
Be advised, however, this is not going to be enough. A potential new member needs to know why he should join the NSRCA when all he has to do is show up at a pattern competition, pay his entry fee, and compete.
As with renewing members, brainstorm ways to enhance the value of NSRCA membership to new, first time members.
Example: Create a vendor sponsored new membership package. As a part of the “new membership package”, I would offer free of charge to any new member their NSRCA member number in 2” CNC cut vinyl, a $7.00 value, along with the opportunity to purchase their AMA number for $3.50. Other vendors may be willing to participate as long as they have an opportunity to make money from the good will generated in providing something to the value of a new membership free of charge or at a discounted price.
Have a contest in which the entire membership can send in their best “catch phrase” that will be used in an ad campaign for promotion of the NSRCA. This catch phrase needs to capture the essence of pattern.
Offer a nice prize package (provided by vendors) and/or a year’s free membership to the winner of the contest.
Example: “On the Knife’s Edge of performance; that’s Pattern Flying!”
Utilize all available funds to market the NSRCA as the premier organization for people who are interested in precision aerobatics.
Purchase banners on popular r/c websites. Solicit Model Aviation magazine for discounted advertising rates and have a monthly ad presence in this publication. Describe in detail the NSRCA and what it offers to its membership. Make sure what the public sees is first class in every detail.
Reduce the cost of getting into pattern in the two developmental classes of Sportsman and Intermediate.
Consider allowing “any AMA legal airplane” to be flown not only in Sportsman BUT ALSO Intermediate pattern. Seasoned pilots who heretofore have not flown competitive pattern may want to start out in the Intermediate class, but hesitate because of the cost of a pattern airframe. These are the pilots who have 20cc, 30cc and 50cc Extra 300 style airframes that are so popular in today’s ARF market. Letting them fly these airframes in Intermediate may increase membership numbers, AND increase the numbers of potential pilots who move up into the higher classes.
Each member is the “public face/ambassador” of the NSRCA.
It is vitally important each member enhance the public image of the NSRCA. All members, particularly officers, board of directors, prominent pilots, and event organizers should carefully consider what they say (and write), particularly in the electronic media, about issues related to pattern flying, rules, and opinions about the NSRCA. Personal attacks, feuds between individuals, and recreational arguments should be held in private conversation, not public forums. Potential members are reading these forums, too, and asking the question, do I want to be a member if this is what goes on?
WHAT ELSE??? THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Summary
This national membership survey has yielded some interesting results that suggest the membership is, with a few exceptions, satisfied with the organization. The NSRCA is not alone as a special interest organization in its experience of declining membership, but does face a unique challenge in sustaining and growing its membership with the high cost of the hobby/sport of radio controlled precision aerobatics and a bad economy being the key indicators of declining membership and participation. The NSRCA leadership and membership does have control over its ability to enhance the benefit of membership in the organization, reduce the cost of membership, and how the organization as a whole is perceived by the modeling public. Retention of current membership numbers is vital to the survival of the NSRCA, while thinking outside the box for developing creative incentives for new members to join will provide a chance for the organization to once again grow. If the leadership of the NSRCA decides to take on the challenge of retaining membership and growing the organization, it will take out of the box thinking and a tremendous amount of work and dedication.
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Questions for the Candidates... - 
