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This thread really rings a bell for me. It seems to me that I'm not
able to fly some of the other airplanes in my stable, because I need to
spend all my time practicing, then, during the season, I'm gone nearly
every other weekend to a contest. (Barring some unforeseen disaster,
or course!)
<br>A couple of years ago, I read in one of the K-Factor columns that the
columnist "spent at least 4 evenings a week at the minimum practicing"
(His terms, not mine) At a contest last April, one of the Masters people
told me that he practices *every* afternoon after work, and, because he
has his plane with him, he frequently flies before work also. (He works
on/near airports who will permit him to fly his models on site.)
<br>Just the people at my local club who see me practice, remark on "how
much flying is needed." Of course, I require a good deal more than
most folks!<G>
<br>And, a flyer John Ferrell and I are/were tutoring for the Sportsman
Class commented after I had showed him an Intermediate sequence:
"You mean THAT is the next class I have to fly after Sportsman!!??"
Same subject; many different takes.
<br>I do feel that Bob's questionnaire, if answered by former pattern flyers,
can have considerable value.
<br>But, to ask the general hobbyist why he isn't in pattern, will elicit
answers that will be so wide ranging and diffuse as to be confusing and
not meaningful, IMHO. (I can probably sit here and without leaving
the computer think of a dozen reasons I shouldn't be in pattern!<G>
<br> I can also name the only reason I *am* in pattern: I enjoy it!
<br>Bill Glaze
<br>RC Steve Sterling wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE> <span class=791450217-27102002><font face="verdana">Tom,
you have a point about the "just plain tired." In our club, one of the
most frequent excuses is the level of commitment required-- time, equipment
and money. Its not true in district 8, since you can easily be competitive
in Sportsman with a 4 star or Tiger 60, a minimum of practice and attendance
of two or three meets. But its the impression it takes a lot of time, equipment
and money that we are fighting. In reality, the District 8 Sportsman Champion
flew a fun-fly Wonder for 3 of the 4 meets he attended. The District 8
Intermediate Champ flew a 20+ year old Hippo Tippo. Neither practiced more
than once a week. Somehow, we got to turn this lore that it takes a $2k
airplane and abondoning the family to fly pattern.</font></span><span class=791450217-27102002></span><span class=791450217-27102002></span><font face="Tahoma">-----Original
Message-----</font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b> discussion-request@nsrca.org [<A HREF="mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org">mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org</A>]<b>On
Behalf Of </b>Thomas C. Weedon</font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, October 27, 2002 1:10 AM</font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><b>To:</b> discussion@nsrca.org</font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><b>Subject:</b> RE: bureaucratic organization!</font>
<br>
<blockquote dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><span class=130450009-27102002><font face="verdana">Just
a few comments in responce to the questions concerning Pattern Drop Outs.
One reason not mentioned is, "Just plain tired". Tired of trudging hundreds
of miles every other weekend, coming home late on Sunday nights and having
to get up early Monday morning an fighting yourself back to work, tired
of coming home from work most every night, skipping dinner, packing up
the plane and heading to the field for practice, tired of meeting deadlines,
tired of .... (you name it). Our hobby has a way of wearing some people
down. I guess that's why I look foreward to winter up here in the North
county. I can then spend some time on my other hobbies. </font></span><span class=130450009-27102002></span><span class=130450009-27102002><font face="verdana">Now,
for the lighter side, we are seeing a resurgance in Pattern activity up
here in D4. Our latest problem, "Too Many Contests". That's great!!!! So,
Pattern will have a great future, long after I'm gone, and that makes me
feel satisfied. How about you all?</font></span><span class=130450009-27102002></span><span class=130450009-27102002><font face="verdana">Tom</font></span>
<blockquote dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<div class="OutlookMessageHeader" dir="ltr"><font face="Tahoma">-----Original
Message-----</font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b> discussion-request@nsrca.org [<A HREF="mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org">mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org</A>]<b>On
Behalf Of </b>Bill Glaze</font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, October 26, 2002 12:58 PM</font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><b>To:</b> discussion@nsrca.org</font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><b>Subject:</b> Re: bureaucratic organization!</font>
<br> </div>
Certainly not original thinking on my part, but identifying similar organizations
who are having current success in the areas we want to increase, would
be a good way to start. Polls are interesting and useful, and sometimes
indicative, but in many cases it is difficult to really pinpoint the truth.
Problem is, analysis of information obtained.
<br>Some respondees themselves may not be able to answer the question of
why they dropped out; another difficulty is that there probably could be
1,000 different answers from 1,000 different people.
<br>I was favorably impressed by the K-Factor poll I received; it at least
recognizes there is, in fact, a problem. I feel it was very well done.
<br>Bob's idea of a poll is a good start; at least it isn't addressing
the choir, it is addressing former choir members to find out why they quit,
and addressing other members of the congregation to find out why they haven't
joined the choir.
<br>I have doubts about the number of responses; I certainly hope they
are many. That in itself will be interesting.
<p>Bill Glaze
<p>John Ferrell wrote:
<blockquote TYPE="CITE"><style></style>
<font face="Arial">You have defined
the problem in usable terms.</font> <font face="Arial"><b>If </b>growth
is a good thing<b>Then</b> identify the popular direction and pursue it<b>Else</b>
the future is random or essetially adrift.</font> <font face="Arial">Since
the potential subject base is not inclined to respond well to surveysgathering
the necessary input will be tedious.</font> John Ferrell
<br>6241 Phillippi Rd
<br>Julian NC 27283
<br>Phone: (336)685-9606
<br>Dixie Competition Products
<br>NSRCA 479 AMA 4190 W8CCW
<br>"My Competition is Not My Enemy"</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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