Good points Bob. I wonder if AMA keeps records of former members say as far
back as well the beginning of AMA. If so, how hard would it be to do a
little marketing?
Bill C
On Jun 18, 2016 3:31 PM, "'Bob Clemens' rclemens2_at_rochester.rr.com
[Indoor_Construction]" <Indoor_Construction_at_yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
>
> “No point wasting time trying to make AMA events mirror SO. After all
> there are only 50,000 kids flying SO.”
>
> The truth is that number means almost nothing. Sadly increasing our
> indoor free flight ranks have been poorly served by SO student fliers,
> virtually none of whom have ever gone on to fly in ANY AMA FF event,
> indoors or out. Can we face the truth that free flight model planes of
> almost any sort hold no special lure for these kids. And how many years has
> SO featured a model plane event of some sort? Over 20, and I’ve been
> involved as mentor and event supervisor at the district, state and national
> level during this time (as well as giving many indoor flight demonstrations
> to kids), so I believe I have a legitimate view of SO’s unfortunate
> non-production of FF modelers. Ron Williams is absolutely right when he
> described “...a bunch of old (hey- I’m 84) and middle aged... guys
> believing that the future of indoor lies in the hand of a bunch of kids.” I
> see no reason to place any validity in the continuing pipe dream of
> successfully recruiting young indoor fliers by ANY conceivable means or
> models. The future- and we know it- will never be a land rush no matter
> what. Whatever the future of indoor free flight may be lies with recruiting
> adults, as Ron said. This can be done by letting those who’ve never seen
> even a simple rubber model fly (in a gym for five minutes- wow!) that free
> flight modeling exists as a fun hobby. Another group, the post-60 guys, can
> be approached by stirring up their memories and skills. These are the folks
> we’ve all run into from time to time that utter that classic statement: “I
> tried to make those when I was kid. I made microfilm in our bathtub.”
>
> Here’s my question: What is the indoor community doing to actively promote
> the hobby to the general public? Flight demos at schools, science fairs,
> scout meetings, maybe between halves at a basketball game? Publicizing
> the spectator factor of their meets to the general public; getting TV and
> newspaper coverage of a flying session or a particular modeler? I doubt it,
> or at least I never hear about these outreaches that could let folks know
> what we’re all about. As is, indoor flying is like some sort of secret
> society, virtually invisible to the outside world like some lost tribe from
> an Indiana Jones movie. If they don’t know we exist, what kind of interest
> and growth, of any amount, can we expect?
>
> Bob Clemens
>
>
Received on Sat Jun 18 2016 - 16:09:39 CEST
This archive was generated by Yannick on Sat Dec 14 2019 - 19:13:48 CET