Hello all, I am wondering why clubs are said to want young people so badly. I think I qualify as a "young person" (14), and until I did some show-and-tell and got solo rated, I received absolutely zero respect from all but a few of our club's members. On several of the AMA threads, I read that there were a few special junior discounts available to juniors to try to get them started in r/c. Yesterday, I, along with 4 other members, visited a boy scout camporee. We had volunteered at the last meeting to do a flight demo for the boy scouts. I noticed that the members who accompanied me to this comporee were not too interested in being extremely friendly and welcoming. Instead they seemed to be more worried about the kids not stepping on their airplanes(even to the parents). Surely this isn't the proper attitude to take?
As I said before, when I started out at our club, I got very little or no respect just because I am not as old and probably not as wise as the rest of our members. Once I got solo rated, and had visited several meetings (consecutively), I felt comfortable enough to give a presentation about two scratch-built electric parkflyers I built. This seemed to give me some status among the rest. Then, I showed up at out fall fun-fly and probably flew more flights and had better landings than just about all of the attenders (is that a word??). I had to quit because of a low battery. Next, I volunteered for this comporee. When I got there, I was shocked to find that I was being treated truly as an equal. But if I was, why weren't all the boy scouts who are "needed" in our club? Is it because they are afraid that when the older members pass, our club will fall too? Or do they "see themselves" in us kids? Basically, from what I've read, the clubs seem to be recruiting young people. Why don't their actions follow this? Thanks, Andrew

P.S. No crashes in front of some 300 boy scouts.

You will find over time that the older members have seen a lot of younger members talk big and never show anything. They say they wan't to get more young members, but from what I have seen, some never want to give the young ones any respect. I think you will find over time, like I did a long time ago, as you grow with the hobby and get better and better, you will get a lot more respect from a lot of the members, but some of the old ones will never give you respect. They will always see you as a punk kid, and even though you can out fly some with your eyes closed, they will still look at you as that rookie kid.

I have been flying since I was 10, and now that I am almost 38, there are still some of the old timers that still look at me as a kid of 10. Don't worry about it. Have fun and do the best you can. You will earn the respect of the members that matter. It all comes in time.

Thanks, FLYBOY, for the kind words.


I wonder though, why do they say they want young people to begin with? Is it "because they are afraid that when the older members pass, our club will fall too? Or do they "see themselves" in us kids?" -Andrew

From my experience, I would agree with Flyboy on many points. I am only 33 but flying since I was a pre teen also. I remember a few wonderfull "old" (like I said relative - as they were probably 30ish but seemed OLD to me!) guys that took me under their wing and taught me a lot of what modelling is about.

But, I also know personally some older fellows that despise young kids coming into the club. Why? I dont know. But I personally try and get as many young people into the hobby as I can (I run a two week summer school for midel building in August each year, build with a group of 6 to 8 kids in my shop once a month during the winter, etc) and love to see anyone, but especially kids, get involved with model airplanes.

My newest student, a 15 year old whiz-kid, learned to fly this summer and he builds like a seasoned modeller too. He is allready doing intermediate aerobatics and I hope next summer is flying the pants of off ME. I wont be embarrassedbut I encourage it.

However I have seen some in my club even try and discourage a potentially great flyer from progressing "too" far, ie, they didnt want their stident to become better than they were. Thats pretty insecure and childish. But I guess its an ego thing

As for being respected? I myself am one of the youngest members of our club. (not to toot my own horn) I am also the best pilot, most prolific builder and I dabble in many aspects of the hobby (from jets to 1/2A to building engines). I stopped trying to get any responses from these guys (not all of them but a majority) years ago. I could bring out a large scale scratch built model of my own design and not one comment, but one of the bunch brings a new cub or trainer and they are all over it. I might add, I am not from the same town as the "majority" of the guys and allways have seemed a bit of an outsider. That being said, I do have a great group of friends I fly with (3 or4) and try and just have fun, forget about the others.

So, my advice is just have fun, stand up for yourself and your talents and let your flying speak for yourself!

And try and get a friend into the hobby, someone your age. It is so much more fun with a friend...

Andrew Coholic

Our club is another of those who actively recruit young people. We are as a group
happy to see the progress these "kids" make. I know we have tried to get some younger people in the club and they disappointed us. But when they didn't show up for free use of our trainers, never attended a club meeting or showed any interest in anything but an occasional buddy box session we just let them go but not by picking on them, just a casual not following up on where they were. We do have younger member, now 14, who bids fair to be one of the best pilots in the club. I'm jealous but happy for him being so good and he is welcomed at all meetings and takes occasional ribbing about his latest flights. I think we have found the solution for younger members, a club mentor who takes personal interest in the new guy on the block and very large involvement of the parents. Our new kid, member for almost a year now, is one of the entire club's favorite members and is constantly being praised for his latest accomplishments. After reading posts about all the problems that some clubs seem to have I guess we are just one of the rare exceptions. Our focus is on flying and getting more people involved, as well as keeping our flying site. I really feel lucky to be a member.

we did a show and the little brats where running under the fence, then leaping over all the planes lined up.!

any new pilot at our club is treated fairly, but does have to prove themselves that they will continue to fly and be a active member, lot of people on RCU talk of students they train and then go. all that effort for nothing.
the younger members at our club, Me Cartman, Jamie etc are now more than outflying our older friends and it's not frowned upon.
there was a "old guy" that was really tough on new members, but once you got to know him and he knew you would stick around and take the "banter" he was the best person to know in the club.

The older pilots, like myself, are slowly dying off, leaving a void in the hobby that's not being replaced at an equal rate. For the hobby to continue, we need new people, preferably younger than 20 or 25, to continue on and to initiate the breakthroughs that are happening more and more frequently. Many of us are retiring, many without enough extra capital to continue in the hobby.

Quite a few of us oldsters resent change for some reason. Perhaps it's the understanding within ourselves that we can no longer fly as well as we used to, and that the new "kid" is blowing our socks off with his ability after a year or less of flying experience. Perhaps we understand that the influx of youth highlights our own ageing process.

In any case, don't let the sour grapes crowd get you down. Be yourself, show a little respect where it's due, say thank you to those willing to offer help, ignore those that are overly critical, and enjoy, enjoy, and enjoy again this wonderful hobby.

I guess I wonder why anyone, young or old, would have to prove ANYTHING to ANYONE in the club. Obviously safety is an issue, but as far as being a club junkie, who cares? If a new person wants to join the club to FLY (the main reason I would think) why would you put pressure on them to earn your respect? Most people want to get along and like each other, but expecting everyone to gain your personal approval is a little ridiculous. This will run most people off I would think.

I agree! Why all this Respect business. You don't need anyones respect. Respect is vastly overrated! Just fly and ignore the old goats. (I am one of them.) And quit your complaining!

i dont think its an issue of respect, as much one of disrespect. i dont care whether you respect me or not, just dont show disrespect. if you dont respect me, or even like me, thats fine, but a person can keep the attitudes at home. thats what it comes down to, if a 13 or 14 year old shows up at the club, and you think hes too young and should go play video games with rest of the kids then go ahead and think it, but if he paid his dues and has AMA, and is looking for help in all the right places (you know admiting that he doesnt know it all, and isnt cocky) then keep your opinion at home. see not about earning respect, its about the old koots not showing disrespect.

I want them cause they go out into the bushes to pick up your pieces.

Minnflyer, yup thats a benefit too! They are allways eager to help carry stuff, load the truck and trailer, etc.. My new flying buddy/student Brandon makes a great pal at the field. We spot for each other at fun flies, and he is so into all apsects of modelling (we even do control line). Next year I want to get him started in IMAC.

Why do I like/want to see more kids in the hobby?
I guess its nice to see a "kid" actually take pride in working towards something I find so darn rewarding. To see a bit of myself 20 years ago, its too friggin' neat To see someone new discover that the hobby is more than just buying a plane and flying it a few times, it is so much more...

Regarding respect, I agree I dont NEED to garner anyone else's respect but it is nice to aknowledge when someone reaches a milestone - ie, gets their wings, does a certian aerobatic manouver, builds a sweet plane, etc. Thats what being part of a club is supposed to be about IMO.

AJC

Good point Minn.....Sometimes they clean off my planes too.......

You will find that many people do not like change. Having new or different people in a club brings about change. Clubs need members to stay alive and it may be viewed as popular to want to reach out to the young but that entails change. I have seen the same thing when women come to the field and want to learn to fly. Usually they are the wife or girl friend of someone new, but they are not giving the same level of respect as their male counterparts.

I think this hobby should be open and available to all who have an interest. I know it took a lot to get someone to even give me a chance to qualify and solo so I could fly at our clubs field. My motto is to help any and all pilots regardless of skill level. I had the opportunity a couple of months back to help out a very skilled pilot who got something in his eyes. He tried to land his plane while squinting to get the trash out of his eyes. I asked him if he wanted me to keep his plane in the air because I saw that he was having a problem. He said thanks and we had a very enjoyable visit after he landed.

How many people would have bothered to walk up to someone, a stranger, and ask if they needed help. To me this is the essence of the hobby. Help others to enjoy the experience as well as enjoying it yourself.

It sure is fun to see the look on the old geezers' faces when a kid outflies the pants off 'em! (I'm closer to geezer age, at least relative to them.)
But having the young fliers is at its' best when you get to teach them. To see the look on their face when they begin to get the hang of it is priceless. If you can get Dad involved at the same time it's much better. When a kid has neither much money nor transportation he usually isn't going far in RC without a parents' help. When they have the hobby in common it's great for both of them. I speak from experience here, my son just turned 14. We've spent a lot of time together with the planes that may not have happened otherwise.
RC modeling definitely isn't for everybody, but for the ones with a real interest it sure is a lot better than some of the other things that are presented for teenagers to become involved in.
I have a new kid starting tomorrow. He has flown once so far, and did great!
His Dad, who is a full scale pilot, will be with him. On their first flight, the boy did much better than ol' Pop!
Don't let the geezers bother you with their apparent lack of respect. Some will come around, some don't want to. Have fun and fly safe; set a good example for the other young folks that may be watching you.

Larry

Jim if you lived in North Carolina I would personally make it a point of letting my 4 1/2 year old take up a battle floyd without a training cord when you were flying! If you didn't respect him you would hopefully get tired of him buzzing you and leave![sm=punching.gif]