Grey areas at the AGM

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

I was studying a vast grey area at the AGM today, fear not, it was the VAST sea of grey hair in the place, are most members of senior age?? its the same with club AGMs, where have the younger end gone?

BUT ANYWAY, an AGM like it should be, bit of humour, sensible reports, lot of info, and mince pies!!!! thanks to all you guys and gals on the big table, may you continue with the enthusiasm you showed today, Mike Eccles, you should be on stage mate

thanks for sorting the back of the stage tour, the work going on there is simply stunning, didnt come? you should have

Ta Much guys and gals, a good day was had

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Alan. MIKE?? you mean the "FACE OF THE LMA "

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

he wont live that one down in a hurry, will he

[Neil Hutchinson]

And if anyone is in doubt who the Face is...................



TTFN,
Neil

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

STOP STOP, my sides are hurting, Mike, you made my day, you luverly bloke

[Denis Brown]

If he didnt do so much posing for photos he would have that Hampden ready for Kirkby. He, ll be in the fashion magazines next

[Vince Raia]

Hey Dennis, you should have been at home tending those sprouts mate, getting near christmas you know

[robbieskipton]

i guess i should be viable on this forum as one of the younger members at 26.

It is a well known fact that the LMA are senior citizens Due to the following

* Most People my age and below have limited funds to have anything deemed as a large model.
* Most People My Age, if they have got funds, seem to buy ARTF models rather than build them from a kit

The second point in my opinion is the let down to why the lma dont attract the youngsters....because....

The large model association has a name for scratch built models. therefore,it is frowned upon when someone of my age joins the LMA, and has a plane which anyone one can buy.. When that person does come to fly at a show, they are shoved up with 6 - 8 other models, giving that person less enthusiasm thus not bothering with the LMA Again.

A thought for the future is this ( And i have been thinking of this for a while)

As well as the Proficiency exam... Maybe we should have some kind of other exam where the pilot flies his model to the best of his ability and he can be watched to see how entertaining it is, rather than the earn you stripes method which the lma operates without knowing it!. this way the lma may attract younger members as everyone will get a fair shot at the entertainers roles at shows! instead of the left or right hand circuit ensemble which is visible at every show! ( Dont get me wrong, there is nothing better than watching some prestige models flown well doing circuits, but common, the average club model doing it gets tedious! (6ft and under)

I am in no way slating the lma here or its methods of operations, but this has been touched on may times before ( Every year i think....)

[robbieskipton]

i guess i should be viable on this forum as one of the younger members at 26.

It is a well known fact that the LMA are senior citizens Due to the following

* Most People my age and below have limited funds to have anything deemed as a large model.
* Most People My Age, if they have got funds, seem to buy ARTF models rather than build them from a kit

The second point in my opinion is the let down to why the lma dont attract the youngsters....because....

The large model association has a name for scratch built models. therefore,it is frowned upon when someone of my age joins the LMA, and has a plane which anyone one can buy.. When that person does come to fly at a show, they are shoved up with 6 - 8 other models, giving that person less enthusiasm thus not bothering with the LMA Again.

A thought for the future is this ( And i have been thinking of this for a while)

As well as the Proficiency exam... Maybe we should have some kind of other exam where the pilot flies his model to the best of his ability and he can be watched to see how entertaining it is, rather than the earn you stripes method which the lma operates without knowing it!. this way the lma may attract younger members as everyone will get a fair shot at the entertainers roles at shows! instead of the left or right hand circuit ensemble which is visible at every show! ( Dont get me wrong, there is nothing better than watching some prestige models flown well doing circuits, but common, the average club model doing it gets tedious! (6ft and under)

I am in no way slating the lma here or its methods of operations, but this has been touched on may times before ( Every year i think....)

[robbieskipton]

----P.S----

Maybe at shows the lma should have an under 30's section of the show for 40 - 50 minutes ( Maybe in the dinner break) when us wipper snappers can have a go, and call it the up and coming show pilots section of the show, to try and attract young members... ( the wipper snappers can fly any model as long as above 6ft in wing span in this section of show)

[Tony Collins 1073]

Maybe they should all get warbirds Robbie. They'd be guaranteed a slot then.

[robbieskipton]

Wonder if Santa will get me one:) or does he know better? I've been good tho lol

[stewart clifford]

I agree with some of your points there Rob, theres a lot of tat going round in circles at many of the shows(not just LMA shows). Theres a lot of "halo factor" aswell and thats not just pushing away younger pilots/members it's also having an effect on the punters too, you hear all too much people saying that the shows are becoming boring. A prime example of this is Wings and Wheels, years ago it was the show the world an his dog attended, now you wouldn't care if you missed it. The nats showline also got run into the ground but now it's run by two people(Manny and Ali) who have listened to the punters and pilots and have created something more along the lines of a fullsize show. They adopted a policy of quality not quantity, the best models and pilots DISPLAYING their aircraft rather than just throwing 4-8 random models up and letting them scream round in a circle for 7 minutes. We must remember the visitors are parting with almost a tenner just to come through the gate not to mention all the other expenses, they want to see a show, a display.

Again I don't want to run down the guys an girls who work hard to make these things happen but I think things have stagnated to the point where they were in the mid nineties.
I do think that if pilots were actually made to do their proficiency test on all the types they wish to display then maybe that would thin things out a bit.
Someone who shall remain nameless(ex LMA committee) once said to me that Cosford should be reserved for pilots who've not only proven their capabilites over a couple of years but should also support the LMA by flying at all of the smaller shows too. As it seem that so many crawl out of the woodwork to get the glory of flying at "The big one".

But what do I know I'm just 34

[robbieskipton]

jUST TO CLARIFY when i said Senior Citizens in my post it doesnt mean pensioners, It is to say that most of the folkes in the LMA are a lot older and more experienced than myself. No offence meant.

[Bob Thompson1894]

Since my birthday last week, I now count my age in Centigrade, not Fahrenheit, and therefore have reached the age of 21. Can I join you Robbie? Us kids have to stick together. I mean, I'm wid your posse, bro...respec? yo.....

[robbieskipton]

Even im too old to understand that.... where is a chav (BURBERRY CAP WEARING kid) when you need one to translate

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

21 Centigrade = 79 Faranheight Bobs either 69, or 70 years of age, and whats all this macho bull in my jokey thread?????

[robbieskipton]

its wasn't the age thing i was referring to.... its "I mean, I'm wid your posse, bro...respec? yo" ha ha

[Bob Thompson1894]

get down wid da kids Robbie!
Alan- 21 is 69.8......

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

hence the 69 or 70 bit, you langar loony