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Category: Archive 2010

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1. Membership and Participation
   
2. Beat the Vart
3. Barron Field Schedule
4. Lost Hills Alert

AMA President Dave Mathewson’s recent column in Model Aviation magazine showed that retaining and recruiting model aviation enthusiasts is not confined to Free Flight. Dave says that AMA membership is declining and the average age is increasing. Dave also mentions that revenue coming into the AMA is falling and efforts to change this have not been successful.

In the article, Dave goes on to say that the AMA needs to change if it is to survive. He puts it very well in the following quote.

“Organizations that succeed do so because they are willing to shift to a new paradigm, the ones that fail are those that refuse to see beyond the traditional ideas…not accepting the status quo will create an environment where innovation and entrepreneurial spirit will flourish.”

I like what Dave said, and I believe that it applies to the FAI Free Flight community.  

The current direction and momentum of FAI Free Flight is most likely not sustainable. The age of the fliers is going up, the cost of models is getting exorbitant, and there are few new members joining.

The question is do we (the FAI community) have the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit to change?

I believe to ensure the survival of FAI Free Flight requires all of us to think outside of the box. Can we make the sport more appealing, cheaper, less complex, (but still challenging), healthier, greener, respected, mainstream, commercial, etc, etc?

How about a Brainstorming session? Solicit and encourage everyone to put forth any ideas to further FAI Free Flight. No restrictions on ideas, no negative commentary, just positive energy.

I will take the first step and toss out an idea. This summer, how about a fun “contest” using the alternate technology BMFA rules? The event could be seven rounds, the first three rounds on Saturday starting late in the afternoon, the next four rounds on Sunday. The first round on Sunday will be an early morning to the ground flight. This schedule keeps you out of the mid-day sun, allows a Saturday late afternoon BBQ on the field, and gets folks home by Sunday afternoon. The entry fee will require everyone to bring an interesting Model Aviation item worth say $20. Winners of the contest get a certificate and first choice at the gifts, but every entrant gets a gift.

If we advertised this contest and encouraged those fliers who normal sit out FAI events to attend, we may just have an interesting and fun event.

Regards,

Mark F Belfield

Mark F Belfield

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