Last two cents on these issues:

1. On "the rules committee doesn't listen." From the 2013 pilot
opinion poll

Question:

Split sports class into 'club' and 'modern FAI.' 'Club' allows all
gliders below, say, 0.90, while 'Modern' allows all gliders but
tasking and handicap adjustment stop at, say, 0.92. The two contests
are co-located, and revert to a single class if less than, say, 12
pilots in each class show up.

Approve 71%
Disapprove 9%
Don'tCare 6%

Poll http://ssa.org/files/member/2012%20S...%20Results.pdf

This is about the strongest approval we get for anything. Read
through the comments. I cannot find a single one suggesting that club
be carved off and fly strict IGC rules. (I just checked again,
searching for "FAI" "IGC" and "Club" just to be sure.) I'm not sure
with this feedback how on earth we were supposed to dream this one
up.

If 50 of you really think the current proposal is atrocious, and club
had to be moved to nationals only in full IGC purity, where were you
on the pilot opinion poll? OK, well, this is our process, and be sure
that it will appear on next year's poll, if you still feel this way,
answer then.

2. On "run an IGC contest if you want." This is a good idea. Better
than an unsanctioned regional, there has long been talk that the US
should run an IGC "continental championship." With FAI classes as well
as club class, this could be a big draw for pilots with world
ambitions from all over the US and Canada, international pilots who
want good igc rankings, as well as a US team practice. Needless to
say, such contests use full IGC rules and class definitions. The
minutes of the RC meeting

http://ssa.org/files/member/2012%20R...es%20Final.pdf

record substantial support for such a contest. This idea just needs
an enthusiastic contest manager and director ready to do all the
work. How about it, Seans?

John Cochrane