I'm a proponent of R/C events, all of 'em. Those are things that keep the hobby strong and enjoyable.

What I am beginning to find is there are really a lot of R/C events, both locally and nationally. No matter how hard you try, there are always competing events for the same date you may want to run a contest. If it isn't a club's well known fun fly event... it'll be Joe Nall.

Our club has 4 events scheduled this year.
There are at least 3 other clubs with "similiar" events scheduled within 30 miles... fun fly, builders contest, scale events, float fly, pattern event, ect., but there are only 2 IMAC contests within 200 miles of our club... the 2 we are hosting. The other IMAC events are several hours away and of course, have the associated expenses (hotel, fuel, food, misc.).

My point, IMAC is a distinctive R/C event with several classes, has broad appeal, offers everyone the opportunity to participate, and has a full up, nationally recognized organization behind it. The challenge IMAC leadership has is stimulating more IMAC contests from the all ready established R/C Clubs across the country.

There are examples of states (with hundreds of R/C clubs) and not a single IMAC contest is hosted in the state. Just check across your regions and look.

If a well defined/organized event, mini-mac, is what stimulates an R/C club to host an IMAC contest... "giddie-up"! If your club feels the limit for the mini-mac event is 1.20 sized birds... advertise 1.20 as the limit and coordinate with your regional director to make it happen.

You'll probably get lots of questions if you decide to run a mini-mac event. If I fly my 1.20 bird in your event, will the points I earn in your event be credited towards my IMAC regional standings? (You can bet there will be more questions like this to follow.)

However, if mini-mac is just another fun fly, float fly, open house, builders contest, loosely organized type of event... "off with it's head"! IMAC should avoid association or sponsoring events that don't promote or foster what IMAC has to offer the R/C community.

The IMAC I know today is well organized and is targeted as to what it offers the R/C community. IMAC should stay focused on what it is today and work hard towards targeting R/C clubs to begin their full support and association with IMAC.