ORIGINAL: ira d
ORIGINAL: bw5493
Instead of just hosting a NATs in Muncie every year, why doesnt AMA host regional events every year, where they go to say a club in Oregon this year and hold a competition, and have
PR folks contact the local media where say the local channel 7 weather guy broadcasts live from the flying field helping to draw spectators to the event. The local channels thrive on promoting local events and it costs nothing for the clubs or AMA for it. Then next year its in Idaho, or Washington, and do the same for all the region/districts. I am an AMA life member, and I can say I have never even seen our districts reps... ever. It should be their jobs to bring light to the clubs that exist, and to promote and help others. To me everymonth, the district rep talks about some smuckity-smuckity what ever at a location 500 miles away, yet its in his back yard. Our club's events, even the sanctioned ones, never even get looked at for coverage. So because we are treated like red- headed ugly stepchildren, most folks dont care about AMA outside of the insurance.
I dont fly at Muncie, couldn't care if the Muncie flying field exists or not. If the AMA wants growth, it has to start at the grass roots local levels.
My .02
I think your suggestion is 100% on track, I also have suggested something similar that being that the AMA should work with local clubs to try to establish a site in
each district that would be on the lines of the Muncie site as far as events and facitlies.
Sounds very good in dream land. To cut to the chase, just WHO in this country is going to pay the bills for that moving around the country? Where are all the tools (trucks, tents, equipment of all sorts) going to be kept in good supply after each season? OH I suppose the equipment will be kept in the South in winter, and in the North during the other months. JUST Who will keep it all ready to party?
Well, Ol'Pards, I will bet anyone that it won't be any RC Modelers because they generally will not even cut grass on their club fields, yet they can P & M big time when it isn't cut. I have many good stories to that effect, but I bet you know them pretty well yourself.
For bw5493, your program is impressive. The problem is such programs are temporary. When I resigned as the AMA Dist. VI DVP I had a great District Team Competition Fun Fly going. Club teams to the State Event and State Teams to the big District Event. As soon as I was gone, well so went me, the banker. Never to be heard of again.
That Gentlemen is why your pie-in-the-sky day dreams are just that, DAY-Dreams. RCers P&M about everything that cost a penny other than the latest fad on the market which they just must have. OTOH I have seen in the mag MA that many folks are donating to AMA. The lists are in the magazine. Yet, whaaaat will happen when AMA asks for multi-millions to build some flying fields? How many of you have ever played with the real estate developments for, say just 100 acres, to build a facility. Phase 1, then Phase 2, then neighbor, and local restrictions and the shelling out of $$$$$ to get the licenses. Politicians don't do anything for nothing. Squeaky wheels have to be greased. Not every group of Club Officers can see beyond their noses and your dues monies are like certain other funds, they evaporate quickly.
Read this soon. Ken will accuse me of politicking, yet I hope it is simply educating.
[8D] [:-]