Too bad my crystal ball is in the repair shop.

I just had a private e-mail about my previous posting...in this e-mail
it stated that perhaps contest organization was moving away from
fostering the sport. Well, of course, who said that contests should
be run out of the goodness of one's heart, and be willing to take
financial losses that weren't of their own making? Who said that
contest organizers had to be non-profit? who said that if I were
willing to organize a contest, that I shouldn't be making a profit?
(although the point of my previous post wasn't whether or not I made
any profit, that is BESIDE the point). I also heard from another
contest organizer that they "cooked" the books to make it look like
they earned less money because they didn't want glider pilots to know
that they ran a good AND profitable contest. I have had another
glider pilot tell me to stop ordering meals, if that was the
problem.

Why should an organizer run at a loss to be "good" for the sport? Why
do the people who make the rules protect the pilots who race, but not
the organizers who hold the races. I don't think it is good for the
sport to have contests with only 6 participants, I don't think it is
good for the sport to cancel a contest, but I would rather cancel the
contest then have it boil down to that few. Most contests are run by
a club, and I agree that this is exactly where contests should be
run! However, what incentive does a club have besides a little fun
and a LOT of hard work, if they aren’t sure they can break even or
make a profit. Most clubs can’t afford to host a contest, if they
can’t make a profit. And why should they?

The problem is simply that people do not indicate whether or not they
are really going to show up. The secondary issue, is what is there to
gain from organizing contests. I am sure that the pilots who
regularly participate in contests would like to keep organizers
running them for their benefit......in order to race...but let's get
real folks....the rules are for the glider pilots, and don't do
anything to protect the organizers. The attempt to "raise" the
deposit was obviously a rule that did nothing to stop the trend. I
don't mind pilots registering, and then changing their minds, I do
mind pilots that don't tell the contest organizer that they decided to
not show up. Their paltry deposits, don't make up for the "no-call-no-
show" aggravation.

Whether or not I made a profit at any one contest shouldn't even be
asked in this discussion. It is totally none of the business of the
people in rec.aviation; friends, or the rules committee. The only
people who SHOULD ask, are the people that ran the contest, and the
contestants that did show up. The process should be so protected for
the organizers, that they always make a profit; otherwise there is no
reason for anyone to organize a contest at all. THEN how good would
it be for the sport? how many people would we have rising out of the
regionals to fly in the nationals and represent us in the worlds?

I want to continue organizing contests, and teaching clubs how to run
contests and opening up new contest sites. I want there to be future
contests, but this disturbing trend evidenced by Dansville (a great
group, and organizer) is not suprising, and they should not be shamed
because they did the only business-like thing they could. If we don't
run this like a business, then there won't be any future contests for
glider pilots to race. that would be the worst part, no contests, and
the 4% dropping even further, because there would be no opportunity to
make racers out of any more glider pilots.

Micki