I am one of the dual members. I enjoy the people and events across North America and to be a part of those activities, I have joined both IMPBA and NAMBA. The small rule differences don't make any difficulties. It is running boats with friends that makes everything good.
I do not think that combining the organizations is a good idea. It is too easy to get lazy when you are the only game available. Both organizations try to meet their membership needs. Neither is perfect, but we try to do what is best.
Membership is falling for a number of reasons. Most of the organization members are not hard core racers. Many just like to run their boats on the weekends with friends. Others are only involved in club activities. But, the organizations are headed by racers and the rules are basically directed at racing.
I believe for the memberships to grow, we have to turn our attention more to the boaters who just run for the fun of it. Those people who are having a good time are more apt to get into club races and then into travelling to other races. To attract potential members we have to make boating fun for them. Too keep them as members, we have to not run them off.
Temper tantrums, loud swearing, threats against each other have to stop. We need to treat each other decently and with respect. You may be at the local pond testing your setup for a District race and another club member is running slowly around the buoys. He/she has the same right to run around the buoys as you. Instead of telling him/her how important it is for you to test because you are a racer, make an effort to take turns on the water.
As far as the costs of model boating, we are competing with other activities to gain interest. Millions of people play golf. A new set of quality golf clubs can cost $3000 to $5000. Then there is the golf cart. Green fees are anywhere from $50 per day to $350 per day. Hundreds of thousands of people shoot trap and skeet. A high end shotgun can cost over $30,000. So, while we are upset about the price of fuel, glow plugs, engines, hulls, etc. the cost to a boater that runs for fun is comparably inexpensive.
To attract the families looking for an activity, they have to see that it is fun for everyone. And, they are watching us to see how we behave.
Finding a place to run our boats is not easy. That is why it is so important to keep the sites we have. We have to respect the owner and the owner's rules. We need to make the effort to clean up after ourselves. We need to show our appreciation to the site owner. It does no good to complain to the owner about parking, trees, or other inconveniences. Why should a city park cut down trees to make it easier to run your boats? Our ability to cooperate and be friends with the people who actually own/manage our sites is absolutely necessary to keep those sites available to us.
To grow model boating, we first need to be good citizens, respecting others. If we can do that, we will keep our sites, find new sites, attract new members and not run off the people who run model boats for fun.
I do not think that combining the organizations is a good idea. It is too easy to get lazy when you are the only game available. Both organizations try to meet their membership needs. Neither is perfect, but we try to do what is best.
Membership is falling for a number of reasons. Most of the organization members are not hard core racers. Many just like to run their boats on the weekends with friends. Others are only involved in club activities. But, the organizations are headed by racers and the rules are basically directed at racing.
I believe for the memberships to grow, we have to turn our attention more to the boaters who just run for the fun of it. Those people who are having a good time are more apt to get into club races and then into travelling to other races. To attract potential members we have to make boating fun for them. Too keep them as members, we have to not run them off.
Temper tantrums, loud swearing, threats against each other have to stop. We need to treat each other decently and with respect. You may be at the local pond testing your setup for a District race and another club member is running slowly around the buoys. He/she has the same right to run around the buoys as you. Instead of telling him/her how important it is for you to test because you are a racer, make an effort to take turns on the water.
As far as the costs of model boating, we are competing with other activities to gain interest. Millions of people play golf. A new set of quality golf clubs can cost $3000 to $5000. Then there is the golf cart. Green fees are anywhere from $50 per day to $350 per day. Hundreds of thousands of people shoot trap and skeet. A high end shotgun can cost over $30,000. So, while we are upset about the price of fuel, glow plugs, engines, hulls, etc. the cost to a boater that runs for fun is comparably inexpensive.
To attract the families looking for an activity, they have to see that it is fun for everyone. And, they are watching us to see how we behave.
Finding a place to run our boats is not easy. That is why it is so important to keep the sites we have. We have to respect the owner and the owner's rules. We need to make the effort to clean up after ourselves. We need to show our appreciation to the site owner. It does no good to complain to the owner about parking, trees, or other inconveniences. Why should a city park cut down trees to make it easier to run your boats? Our ability to cooperate and be friends with the people who actually own/manage our sites is absolutely necessary to keep those sites available to us.
To grow model boating, we first need to be good citizens, respecting others. If we can do that, we will keep our sites, find new sites, attract new members and not run off the people who run model boats for fun.
