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Suggestions for new IAC website.
I was a CD for many years in the NE and one thing I thought would have been very helpful was some sort of "clearing house" of ideas on how to run a contest. Not just the basic info you get with the IAC package but more specific. Like how do you make a boundary sighting device or what have you tried that was successful in gaining new membership. <br><br>There are a lot of very talented people out there working on the Regional contest level. I am sure there is a wealth of ideas that would make the contests much more interesting and enjoyable. The latest Sport Aerobatics talks about loosing the "party atmosphere" in the contest banquets. We always tried to make it a very entertaining evening. Plaques and trophies for the obvious events but some "more thoughtful" awards also. Film or slide shows on the weekend activities was also a big hit. I always tried to bring as much humor to the program as possible and make it an event worth having. We made it a tradition to meet every pilot as they landed with a bottle of water and a hand shake. We even had a little "red carpet" we placed down as they got out of the airplane. It's the little things that add up and pretty soon you start getting a lot of people "showing up". In 2010 I think we had 54 competitors at the Kathy Jaffe Challenge. <br><br>Regional contests are a thankless job. It takes a nucleus of very dedicated people to make a contest a real success. The people in Chapter 52 are some of the finest in the business. Two contests a year, a world class website, judges schools and organized practices. It is always about the people. <br><br>This is a great sport and I realize that it is hard on the "wallet" and getting harder everyday. I always thought of a Contest as a party and bring an airplane along if you have one. Show the competitors and non competitors alike that you are in it for them. Give them as many reasons to participate as you can think of. The IAC website should have a place for those "reasons".<br><br>My last point is about "giving back". One of the things we tried to do at the banquet is feature a speaker. Preferably someone related to aerobatics and I must say we were not very successful. I realize that most of the top airshow pilots today have a pretty full plate, but I don't think they understand just how much of a role model they really are to the weekend competitor. I don't expect someone like Sean Tucker to start going to Regional contests any time soon but I am sure it would increase participation. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience out there that will be shared by only a select few. What a great forum to motivate a new competitor. <br><br>Ron Chadwick <br><br><br><br>
Last edited by Ron Chadwick; 11-19-2011 at 01:32 AM.
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