In recent years I have become
involved with a number of different clubs. As I sat through my second AGM
of the month it occurred to me what fundamentally different attitudes prevailed
between the clubs.
One club reported a
growing membership, recognition in the community and a number of notable
successes, the other most certainly did not. One was a flying club the other not.
As I entered the flying
club AGM I was created with a room dominated with a homogenous group of older
white men, I am still not clear who the committee even was. The topics were
discussed in an echo chamber of almost identical views and narrow outlooks. I was left with the impression that any
variance from 'this is what we do and everyone else is wrong' was instantly frowned
upon.
The second AGM was for my
son’s old cricket club. At first glance, the chair and most of the
committee was at least as old as that of the flying club. My own mounting age helps me to fit in
nicely! The membership present was from
diverse backgrounds who were certainly there to help move the club in a direction
that would help them. But the diversity
brought a broad knowledge base, understanding and energy. It was clear
that the focus of the meeting was outward and future looking. New coaches and volunteer's ideas were being
celebrated and at no point was one form of cricket pitched against
another.
One very noticeable
difference struck me as the cricket club discussed what fixtures could be moved
or modified to fit in a number of matches and open days with local schools. Listening to modified versions of the game
that could be used to engage younger prospective members and allow them room
for games on the outfield.
A week earlier I had sat
through a bunch of old men saying how they and only their category of flying
should have sole use of the slope for half the weekends on the year. If a young or new pilot wanted to start the
sport or join the club- they would have to do it around them. The feeling of stagnation and a slowly dying
club was un miss able.
The point of my ramblings is not to criticise or eulogise any
individuals but to pose a question of how to help our sport to grow. Growth in participation I would suggest is
key to both keeping the sport in a healthy place as well as those who will
become competitive pilots.
On a small scale I don’t think it can be too great a shock that the
numbers of new pilots flying EPP60inch or F3F seems to have been at it’s peak
when the race coverage in general modelling magazines was also at its peak.
My own history as
sloperacer includes developing and financially supporting the champion of
champions race, to encourage top level competition.
With Willow racing I have have a mission to produce sport and race
models at a cost far lower than just about anyone else. The latter to tackle
what I perceive as a cost barrier to high performance models.
You might not think that these things have helped anyone but the
challenge is for everyone to have an open, outward looking attitude. Be inclusive, welcoming and willing to look
outside your own slope. You may well end
up with more flying mates as a result.
I love flying and the emotions is generates in me, I would love to have the problem of too many
other pilots on the slope and having to fit in around them. There are a number of barriers to new pilots
taking up our sport but putting new ones in the way seems madness.
Now to get up a hill and fly!
