Issues with and or suggestions for this site and the Scale Masters Association

[rcphotog]

Many are asking the question ...

Why the low turn-out at qualifiers and/or lack of participation on this site ?

Today is Saturday 8 Sept. 2012, the second day of competition at the U.S. Scale Masters Championships in Rosewood, Indiana.

But where is the event coverage ? ...this harkens back to the 1980s when we / us fans had to wait months for the Masters coverage in the special issue of Scale R/C magazine in the following spring.

(1) The Masters official message / montra should not be part of the revolving news feed. It should be up on top PERMENATE.
(2) There needs to be fresh / new information/content on the home page to bring people back.
(3) The FaceBook Fan page info / link should not be part of the flashing news feed. A permenate link should be posted to the home page.
(4) What's the point of a "news feed" if you don't ever change it with more updated / current info???
(5) Anyone noticed that there is no Southwest region represented in the "Regional Info Boards" section?

Where are results from Sam Wright our man in charge of marketing and promotions? ...or does HE need another term in office too.

Yes I'm Frustraighted
Ken Young.

[rcphotog]

Promotion ...

One way is to have a permanent "presence" at local hobby shops and club fields.

A simple flyer / poster ( standardized ) could be made ( and lamenated ) to be displayed in hobby shops around the country and at club r/c fields. Most of these places have a bullentin board of some kind. Any club that has previously hosted a regional qualifier or Championships would be ( I think ) proud to have some kind of permanent banner or poster to display at their club field.

The U.S. Scale Masters used to be a very prestigous organization. It meant something very special to participate and compete. It seems that the Association is trying to be "all-things-to-all-people". It has been "watered down", diluted and dumbed down since allowing ARFs. I realize the importance of ARFs to the scale-movement, however, do ARFs represent the "best-of-the-best" in Scale-Aviation? Where's the skill in inserting a number ten screw into the canopy frame to hold it on.

I would like to recommend that there be a unique trophy awarded to the winners of "Expert" and "Team" classes at all the regional qualifiers to honor craftsmanship skills as well as flying skills. Award plaques for all others but a specially designed trophy just for winners in "Expert" and "Team". Afterall, that should be the goal....to win for your building prowess as well as flying abilities.
I just think there should be more attention focused on the build and craftsmanship.But I digress.

Have the ( standardized ) flyer / poster made up with all the necessary info and have it available for download on this site so that anyone could have it printed and laminated ( for outdoor display ) and then post it at their local fields. This is something that everyone can help out with.

In today's world of info technology there's no reason for people who fly scale models to NOT know what the Scale Masters is all about.
Having and keeping a low profile is not going to improve the numbers.

....Raise the profile

Through outreach and marketing.

Ken Young.

[wrench4alivin]

OK after New England dropped out this year had inputs with higher end competitors on eastcoast like Dave Wigley and Roy Vaillancourt it seems to be the distance the Masters Finals are with traveling -  I think unless somehow someone can get the Masters closer to the east the USSMA is gone on the eastcoast.  I live in New Jersey and the clubs I`m in and been in It is not going to happen because of expense so?. I Do Love Scale Modelling but the competitive part is fading away here. Had participated in New England,Long Island and in early 90`s Warminster Penn all no more. I guess In the future is going have to persuade the wife to move west when retiring

Jim  

[bwboland]

Ken,

You are spot on sir. We did a poor job with this year. As the Chairman I now know what I am dealing with in my tool box and I plan to change our ways!

Bernie

Promotion ...

One way is to have a permanent "presence" at local hobby shops and club fields.

A simple flyer / poster ( standardized ) could be made ( and lamenated ) to be displayed in hobby shops around the country and at club r/c fields. Most of these places have a bullentin board of some kind. Any club that has previously hosted a regional qualifier or Championships would be ( I think ) proud to have some kind of permanent banner or poster to display at their club field.

The U.S. Scale Masters used to be a very prestigous organization. It meant something very special to participate and compete. It seems that the Association is trying to be "all-things-to-all-people". It has been "watered down", diluted and dumbed down since allowing ARFs. I realize the importance of ARFs to the scale-movement, however, do ARFs represent the "best-of-the-best" in Scale-Aviation? Where's the skill in inserting a number ten screw into the canopy frame to hold it on.

I would like to recommend that there be a unique trophy awarded to the winners of "Expert" and "Team" classes at all the regional qualifiers to honor craftsmanship skills as well as flying skills. Award plaques for all others but a specially designed trophy just for winners in "Expert" and "Team". Afterall, that should be the goal....to win for your building prowess as well as flying abilities.
I just think there should be more attention focused on the build and craftsmanship.But I digress.

Have the ( standardized ) flyer / poster made up with all the necessary info and have it available for download on this site so that anyone could have it printed and laminated ( for outdoor display ) and then post it at their local fields. This is something that everyone can help out with.

In today's world of info technology there's no reason for people who fly scale models to NOT know what the Scale Masters is all about.
Having and keeping a low profile is not going to improve the numbers.

....Raise the profile

Through outreach and marketing.

Ken Young.

[Skymaster]

Hey Jim,
Mike is plannning to hold an event in Columbus next summer. I know that's still a drive, but it isnt the West coast, or even the Mint Julip.

Hope that helps,
John

[wrench4alivin]

Thanks John still a bit far but willing to consider 

Jim

[rcphotog]

My sincere apollogy to Sam Wright.

Last weekend on Saturday ( during the Finals in Indiana ) I was very frustrated that I couldn't find any coverge. I wrongly focused some of my frustration ( and the spotlight ) on one person. This was wrong of me and not helpful. My comment was ment to be criticle of his job performance and not personal. I do realize that Sam has only been in that position for a short time and as such can't move mountains by himself. No one person can do everything in marketing for a National Organization. It takes a team effort. We can all help in promoting our great hobby.

My comment about Sam* was imature and not professional or helpful in any way.

Respectfully,
Ken Young.
*see first post

[rcphotog]

Would it be possible to post an ( Organizational Flow Chart ) ?

Reason: not to point fingers but just simply so that we can see at a glance just how the Association is structured from top to bottom.

In other words, to see the size of the organization and the levels or layers of "movers and shackers".
It might help us to better understand how our national association is organized / equipped to deal with our concerns.

Also: I don't see a ( South West Region ) represented  in the regional discussion boards.


Ken.

[Skymaster]

I think we all know that the Scale Masters has had a rough time of it in recent years, and there are a multitude of reasons why that's happened. At the end of the day, changing rules, changing scoring or making a bigger organization will NOT grow the Masters. WE will!!!!! Those of us who love scale modeling!!!!!!!!!! NOT the BOD!!!! YUP there are issues, that are being addressed to bring better communication and TIMELY notifications of qualification for the finals. But if we the body of the Masters are not out intentionally seeking out individuals to bring into this part of the hobby then it's OUR OWN FAULT if the Masters dies out. There are plenty of folks who still build, go to a warbird, dawn patrol or big bird event, you'll find them!!!

Of the 30 ish guys at the finals go out and get one, only one more person to fly, qualify and show at the finals, then that number grows to 60, and that aint half bad! infact there were 60 or 70 guys that did qualify, and didn't show. It's up to us not the BOD!

[j_whitney]

Ken, check the current (just posted) newsletter - there is a TO included.  As far as Regions are concerned - they are a thing of the past.  We now have (some) Area Directors - we are trying for at least one per state.

If there is not a "job description" for ADs posted yet there soon will be.

I am really glad to see so much activity on these forums lately - I hope it does not die off as the Championships fades into the past.

Everyone reading this - please take a few minutes to look over the forum categories - there is a lot of room for input from everyone.

Jeff

[Mitchell Baker]

Yea Ken, what Jeff said...

I will be adjusting the categories as the AD's get defined and more join up.  When I set this up with the RM's I only added categories for active RM's but I might have missed one.  If there was not an RM for an area, I didn't setup a category for it since there was no one to take ownership and moderate it.

See-ya
Mitch

[rcphotog]

Since the U.S. Scale Masters does not have a "brick & morter" physical meeting place, this website is our "virtual" clubhouse.With that said, I'd like to suggest we include a ( tab ) on the home page for  mentors and people looking for mentors. If I run into someone at the local flying field that is interested in obtaining help via a mentor .. I then can direct that person to the official website and tell him/her to just look for the mentorship-tab and sign up for one in your local area.
  This will of course require people to register to become mentors in their area ( with contact info ). I too believe in the importance of mentors to increase our numbers. A mentor can be someone who just explains how "our" contests work and what seperates us from AMA or Topgun .. to someone who provides instruction in flying the ten maneuvers, assistance building a contest model - complete with the proper documentation for the judges, to enlisting help as a caller.
  A national database could then be created of experienced mentors. It would be up to each mentor to decide how much time and involvement to provide. Volunteers needed.
  My longtime freind Corey Dail draged me to contests for twenty years as his helper and caller before I began to compete. He was my mentor without knowing it. Just getting exposure to the contest environment removed much of the mystery about competing.I know my ideas are a bit wacky.....
Ken.

[Mitchell Baker]

Not a bad Idea... What would you suggest the layout of the DB would be.  Much of the info needed would be available via the normal registration.  I can add items to the profile that people can use. 

Extra info like would be needed.. ??

You can use your profile as a starting point...

See-ya
Mitch

[rcphotog]

What would you suggest the layout of the DB would be.

See-ya
Mitch

Hi Mitch,
ummmm....we could start with a simple mentorship program administered by the Association recognizing these volunteers kinda like how many r/c clubs have their own "club instructors". We would have "Association Mentors".
The Database might be simply a list  to represent districts or regions so the "mentoree" can quickly see if there are any in his/her area. The mentors would have special recognition on their profile as well as on their posting-icon-thingy below the name. I think breaking down the list by regions or "districts" is vidal.Lets make it very easy for the novice to get all the help they need.
I envision a Mentorship Program (tab) with a drop-down menu and simply two choices: Mentor sign-up and "Looking for a Mentor?"
The contact info would need to be approved by each volunteer : phone or email and maybe have boxes to check off by the mentor as to how involved they wish to be.Some people are strong builders and some flyers so let them help in the way they feel most comfortable. Some members are experts with documentation prep and others at explaining rules,guidelines and procedures.

Remember, this is just a wacky off the cuff "spitball" idea. I'm just trying to put myself in the shoes of a novice and think: what help I might need to compete?

Ken.

[j_whitney]

Ken, I think that is an excellent idea,  Of course, I am not the one that has to implement it! 

Seriously though, if this idea comes to fruition all USSMA would need to to would to make it well known.

Here's another idea:  Whenever there is a newsletter upload, print a couple of copies and post them at your LHS.
I just started mailing our club newsletters to the LHS that we deal with - I will start doing that for the USSMA newsletter as well

[rcphotog]

Hi Mitch,

Just want to say thank you for being so responsive to our nagging comments & questions
....now if only the elected Board members were as responsive

By the way, last month on the 16th, our East Coast chair - Mike Barbee asked the question, in his official thread, "why more people didn't show up to fly in the Championships?".   *** there is no way for them ( or anyone ) to make a reply to the question***

.... there is no "Reply" button

It's a little difficult to be "responsive" ( two-way communication ) when the thread is "locked". I'm sure that some members would like to respond to Mike's question ...but no "reply button"

I suppose there's a reason.

Ken.

[Mitchell Baker]

Hi Mitch,

Just want to say thank you for being so responsive to our nagging comments & questions
....now if only the elected Board members were as responsive

Thanks, I am an elected Board member, but remember it's much easier to do things for the web site, if looks like good idea, does not take a commitee, discussion or vote...   

The Board tries, but has to look at things from the overall good of the organization as a whole and work within the guidlines of the by-laws and the state and federal laws...    With most anything, one person can get lots done.. form a committee, and you stop that process hahahaha...

By the way, last month on the 16th, our East Coast chair - Mike Barbee asked the question, in his official thread, "why more people didn't show up to fly in the Championships?".   *** there is no way for them ( or anyone ) to make a reply to the question***

.... there is no "Reply" button

It's a little difficult to be "responsive" ( two-way communication ) when the thread is "locked". I'm sure that some members would like to respond to Mike's question ...but no "reply button"

I suppose there's a reason.

Ken.

Only reason is lack of understanding/training of the poster.  Those boards are for the NC and VP's to "announce" things/info etc.  Not fro discussions.  I try to give them a place they can not worry about things getting cluttered up.  Mike should have started a thread with that question in Flightline Chatter, then he could have gotten responses.  Using his announce board was good, but should have also created a thread for reply.  I was thinking about putting up a poll.  I will put that up for Mike later today for feedback..

See-ya
Mitch

[Cubcrafter]

Mitch and all of the other board members,

First thing to do is have an East Coast and West Coast Championships for 2013.

From Columbus, Ohio (Mike's and my hometown) it is 2435 miles to the site of the 2013 Championships.
I did the math and this would take someone 10 days of time and you better budget $2,500.00 to $3,000.00 for the trip.

Honestly, how many pilots from east of the Mississippi River would you expect to attend!
You probably would be able to count them on one hand and have a couple of fingers left over.

The eastern half of the membership has nothing to look forward to for 2013. Why as a CD and club would you want to deal with hosting a competitive event when no one will be going to the championships.
Make life easier and have a scale fly-in or warbird event and just have fun.

Stop all of this silly wasting of time talking about normalizing scoring and put this effort into fixing the real problems of ScaleMasters.
If you don't know what they are you shouldn't be a board member.

Larry Folk
lfolk@insight.rr.com

[rcphotog]

Regarding the suggestion of... having an East Coast & West Coast Championship

Given the reasons already stated, ie, the added expense ( not pratical today ) and finding not only one club willing & able to host a Championship event, but two,  .... might be a tall order.

An idea I've been considering:
What if we issue a "coupon" , "certificate" , "free-pass" ( good for up to three years to redeem ) to those who qualify each year on the opposite coast of the finals for a given contest season.

So, this coming season, those who live more than a day's drive away ( set whatever perameters you want ) from Alameda,Ca. could hold on to their "coupon" / "certificate" for a future time when the Championships are in their "region" ( * )

( * ) region to be determined.

We then can continue with rotating from West Coast to Mid-Continent to the East Coast.

We live in a large country but I think we can find a way to accommodate everyone.
Ken.

[j_whitney]

Larry - I am not a board member but I would be interested in hearing what your views are on what's wrong with USSMA?   Aside from no East Coast Championships.

Taking that thought a bit further - why should anyone host an AMA contest? I know it is not required for participation at the Nats, but it is highly unlikely that I will ever make it to the Nats.  One reason to host an event regardless of location is simply practice,  You can practice your flight routine all you want, but without judging input it only does you so much good.  Plus on the East Coast you can use placement at a qualifier in a resume asking for an invitation to Top Gun.  Contestst are fun too!  I enjoy contests as much for hanging out with similar-minded people as for the whole contest experience itself.

[rcphotog]

Jeff,
I completely agree with you

A regional qualifier can & should be a stand-alone contest with prizes, certificates, trophys, press coverage, good food, great atmosphere of like-minded people enjoying our great hobby.

I have met some of the best people at our local qualifier. My life has been enriched by these relationships. My first was the '07 event and since then ( because of lack of funding ) I return each year as a spectator and I try to help out any way I can. I think it's important to show up to provide moral support as well as volunteer to be a judge or simply be a mentor to a novice, when we have no model to fly.
If a contestant has not finished his competition model in time for the contest, then he ought to lend a hand to the C.D. and provide assistance and mentorship to someone just starting out. Imagine the goal to overwhelm the C.D. with support.
Ken.

[Skymaster]

Jeff,

Interestingly enough, there are at least two events that use AMA rules that are qualifiers, one is the NATS, and second is the Mint Julip. The Mint has been around for I think 35 years and has consistently had very good attendence, and that is not going to change, neither are the NATS. I also know there is talk of other events being developed for 2013 that will also use the AMA rules.

Why, cause the rules are in some ways easier to understand. Being a part of BOTH NASA and Scale Masters I can see why local fliers feel that way.

If the Scale Masters continues not be responsive to its members, it would not suprise me to see more contests going to AMA rules. They are easier to understand, just as difficult to fly well.

[Mitchell Baker]

Jeff,

Why, cause the rules are in some ways easier to understand. Being a part of BOTH NASA and Scale Masters I can see why local fliers feel that way.

If the Scale Masters continues not be responsive to its members, it would not suprise me to see more contests going to AMA rules. They are easier to understand, just as difficult to fly well.

John,

Since I was not around for the inception of USSMA, I can't say for sure, but I believe one of the reasons for it's existence was to create something that was more difficult.  And it is..  I have to disagree that they AMA rules are just as difficult to fly well, since you can use a lot more mechanical options within AMA than USSMA.  When I can get 20-40 point just for mechanical options (not exact numbers I know and depending on class)  why not prefer it.  Does not take much skill to show retracts, or flaps or multi-engine etc...

Also John, you will find that different depending on the coast.  Most of the qualifiers on the west coast are more USSMA and east coast more AMA. 

Now, that is not to say that some things could be simplified (not dumbed down) but it is suppose to be "Best of the Best" and not just some glorified fly in.

If it was not intended to be more difficult, then why not just become a SIG, merge in with NASA and forget about the champs and have the NATS.   (No I am not proposing that  )

Several years ago we established a better plan for working with AMA rules and Top Gun to match, as close as we could, those classifications with USSMA to allow them to qualify.  I spent many weeks going over rules and such to come up with the best match and we finally published a chart which matches USSMA/AMA/Top Gun classes. 

We also at the same time tried to match more to AMA rules with some of the new classes.  We came out with Advanced class before AMA.. and we thought that was going to be what it was called as well.. But they (AMA) called it Open 523. Yet, how many fly that class? Not many.  Most CD's have no clue it even exists.  Go figure... 

See-ya
Mitch

[Skymaster]

Mitch,

At the end of the day Mitch until we actually go out and get feedback from the membership as to why they don't participate in the Masters, in a fromat that all of us who are in leadership can look at it and analyize it we have NO CLUE as to what needs done to improve participation peroid!!! AND normalization of scores probably wont get us there either.

You missed my point about the flying part being more difficult in on event or another. Allow me to point out that my most successful scale airplane has been my Pitts, with one option that I can have, and not in every event. I've had to FLY my way to good scores, and NOT rely on the mechanical options. A half cuban 8 is just as diffcult to fly at the NATS, Top Gun, and the Masters. The same goes for any other maneouver, including the horizontal 8, which looks "easy" but is hard to score well in it. I'd rather fly a short quick maneouver rather than fly something that give you that much exposure for point deductions.

As I continue to struggle to find reliability in my present mount, the twin engine Skymaster, there is a lot to be said for a good RELIABLE airplane. There is a lot more bench time needed to keep all the mechanical stuff working. So is there any benefit to flying a complicated airplane. You cant win, if you can't finish.

By the way if I recall correctly, when you look back to 2006 and beyond, the Scale Masters did allow for all of those mechanical options as well. ONLY recently has the Masters taken those options out.

I'm NOT for making things easier to fly, but look at the language the rules are written in, and can we make them clear and concise.

[Skymaster]

Mitch,

Don't get me remotely wrong. I'm all in as both an AD and competitor to promote scale modeling. But there has to be a reason why guys don't come out and fly in the Masters. Lets find out and move in that direction what ever it is so that the Masters will grow back to what it once was.