I want to thank everybody who came down to the 51st annual Fresno contest. Because of so few competitors we had to use guys as judges multiple times and it always makes a CD's job easier when people jump in and help out readily. Also want to thank Luke for providing the computer and helping to set up the scoring platform (as well as being our IT guy for the day!). Jon Bruml for loaning us his printer, and Frank Capone for bringing down some of the contest paraphernalia that we needed but were lacking. Thanks to Ron D. who provided support even though he left Friday afternoon to repair some damage... Also couldn't have done it without my wife who handled the scoring duties and was the gopher in the morning when we realized we were short a few items.

I want to apologize to those who attended, the event did not go as smoothly as I normally like my contests to go... We started late and had issues with generators and other equipment. Much of this could have been avoided by better preparation on my part. That is except for the generator issues, the main one worked fine on Friday, and just decided to give up the ghost when we need it most... if I get a chance it's going to meet the working end of a baseball bat later today! [>:] j/k

As I said earlier, this was the 51st annual Fresno pattern contest... that's quite a streak. And it looks like it has come to an end. Over the last five years or so we have seen the attendance decline year after year with only one exception, 2009. Of the last three contests that I have CD'd in Fresno we have gotten as many 15 contestants, and as few as 11. I don't think this is something we are going to do in the future, or at least something that I'm not going to do. With so little support and participation, it's unfair to ask the club to provide use of the field for so few modelers. It's not about money, if we had 50 contestants and only took in $50 for the club, they would be happy just to provide the venue for people to have a good time. But with only 11, and no local member participation... it's just not fair, even if they haven't said anything yet.

Since the loss of Arvin for the District Championships, Fresno was named the venue for this year's contest in October. I think the club would be happy to provide the venue in the coming years for the District Championships, but I think we have had our last Spring contest.

Tom M