On Friday, October 7, 2016 at 10:35:25 AM UTC-6, wrote:
I'm not a current participant, but I look forward to competing in the future. I find the discussion of native/international rules interesting.

As an analogy, alpine ski racing in the United States separately maintains its own set of equipment rules. This is costly, confusing, and leads to various growing pains when young athletes move to international competition.. Much of the membership would prefer the simpler, unified international ruleset, but a small mafia with the free time to join committees in the US continues to reinvent the wheel for their own purposes. It appears common sense is prevailing and the trend over the last few years has been towards normalization.

Some here have discussed the issue of licensing fees. Surely one does not need to pay the international license fee for every competitor in order to photocopy the rulebook. I have participated in several sports where rules and methods are copied by one organization without fees paid to belong and be ranked in the original organization. Running a local ranking system is much simpler than running an entirely separate set of rules.

I don't personally know Sean or Tom Kelley but when Tom replied with a variety of petty personal attacks I was not impressed.

I believe the biggest problem with a separate set of rules is the negative impact on performance at events that matter by the few who excel to that level. The results (or lack thereof) speak for themselves. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_..._Championships

Hopefully I'll compete with some of you in the future,
Garrett McEwen

PS: Tom, how many youtube followers do you have? I just checked and the SSA official youtube account has 362 followers. That's approximately half what an average teenage girl has. Maybe lets not harass a guy that actually tries to share Soaring with a broader audience in the US.

Trust me, my posts weren't made with any thought of you in mind. But I don't do "You Tube videos", don't belong to any "Cults" or "Coop" attempts. The only "expert" certificate I have deals with qualifying with a handgun during the 6 years I spent in the Vietnam war.
But I do have over 50 years in this sport so I can understand your post as you state as it comes from someone "extremely naive". During this 50+ year time frame our sport has grown to where it is now. I encourage you to briefly look at its past.

Recently, this last summer, we had several World Class pilot's show up in Nephi( where we held 3 Nationals combined) to try to make the event financially successful for the contest organizers. In years pass each National would fill to 65, not anymore. We had 62 total. The World Class pilot's who came had no problems adapting to our rules and one ended up at the top of the score sheet in "Open Class". Others have done the same. We hear no complaints.

The past members of our rules committee, including the SSA BOD, and so many others, not only have freely given their time but are all highly educated, successful professionals in their selected fields. Very capable to lead our sport IMHO.

Maybe a reread of Seans first post might be in order. But my first post tried to give insight to Sean in response to his "feelings". I did do a little "jab" at the end, but he is a champion sailboat racer. All meant in fun. Some may have read it differently. I meant it as no harm, no foul. I apologize if taken differently. Some readers don't hear the "voice" behind the words and apply their own.

But I will stand by my second post as it was made with "sarcastic humor" in mind. Also I won't hide from my posts by changing my SSA address or email address as other's have done.

Evan, T8, makes a valid statement. I thank him for that. That with the past and present SSA BOD along with the present and past members of the rules committee I will always support and give "Thanks" to. They also are NOT members of a "Cult", but "Open" minded individuals who have volunteered their time in many areas of our sport. Myself, along with well over 25 filled logbooks, hundreds of students trained, etc., doesn't even come close to the time they have given to keep our sport alive and trying to grow. They will welcome you at whatever event you choose, as I.

I encourage you to "learn" more, gain knowledge and become educated, also review the many topics freely discussed on RAS. In the end, the wheel will still go around, around and around ending up at the same place it started. That's why I brought up the You Tube "views", as a friendly reminder to Sean, as you have shown, as so little interest is seen. His time might be better spent raising funds/studying, etc. for his chosen endeavors. But it is his choice and my mistake in trying to help.

Best. Tom #711.