RCHA Membership Declined :-(

[waveydavey]

For £14 each it won't break the bank, but will help Stuart to build the RCHA into something we can all use and gain from.

Even if it doesn't help the RCHA I believe my £14 is going towards a good cause. I didn't see too much advertising of the RCHA, I don't buy any other RC mags apart from MHW and RotorWorld, did the RCHA advertise outside of the forum? There must be hundreds of people don't even know of heli addicts

[Stuart]

Listen firstly its a hobby aka sport depending on how you view it.

Secondly the idea of an alternative option to the BMFA was put in a poll to the members of this forum and a greater % voted in favour than against.

Rightly or wrongly is purely a matter for each persons opinion. The reasons being that not all heli flyers are satisfied with the BMFA's efforts thats a fact and you'll never get away for now - things may change but for now its not.

The RCHA is a by product of the forum so there is a link between them and RCHA members do have there own private forum on here to debate and discuss ideas that can help us grow and develop. This just as this forum is helps us to keep very much intouch with our members directly and not rely on word of mouth or bits of paper we can get pro-active much quicker in my view this way.

RCHA members should all have recieved there lanyards (if you haven't got yours please let me know as we didn't record delivery them to save costs @ £1.13 postage each it isn't cheap sending out over 150) and stickers and we don't do a magazine why, online is faster more cost effective and as we get bigger and bigger we will get into more editorial aspects but always online - but we did hold a charity event raising nearly £400 for Linc & Notts Air Ambulance we have not had an event to raise any money for us. We also at the same event had the world record attempt that many on here came too and took part in.

We are starting our first set of reviews with the FBL Velocity 90 which is 50% built - so we will start to give members some detailed feedback on the building aspects soon enough before getting into flight testing.

With regards to advertising on here - its been mentioned many times before why google ads are run here and we have against any forum far less than any other forum and soon to become less in Feb. How many adverts do you see in the BMFA mag ? - I don't get it but from memory a fair few.

The RCHA is not meant to be in direct competition with the BMFA were not aiming to be 30k+ members. We are focused on the 5k+ that are heli orientated the fact that this site gets monthly more unique visitors per month than the actual total BMFA membership just shows how much that view it and are not registered but on the otherside of the coin every day more and more members join.

The bottomline is - I'm doing this for the betterment of the hobby, for the members of here who asked for it and because I strongly believe that for too long things have been left to mull along and every year you can go and see a few competitions but there needs to be a unique element for each event otherwise your indanger of seeing the same pilots and the same format at every event and to me I think well what's the point.

I want too see something fresh - fun and on the edge if I want to see set manouvers then I'll watch f3C/N its not my cup of tea and it won't wow newcomers in my view. Yes it appeals to some - but I suspect only once your into the hobby and find your feet you start to understand what elements you favour.

This is why RCHA is working towards a massive event in 2012 to highlight the diversity of the hobby the passion and community spirit that it can build and spark the imaginations of as many kids as possible to take the leap and join in the fun.

We have the likes of Tareq Alsaadi, Daniel Jetschin, Raquel Bellot, Matt Botos, Lukas Riva all up for the event and more with hopefully a strong scale element and as well some factory pilots. We are also hoping to have some static jets and a fixed wing display also. The main focus being heli's but were trying to show the diveristy and get the kids/families onboard.

Its dis-appointing we can't do the insurance aspects for members - but its not the end of the journey by a long way. I'd rather in 5 or 10 years from now people recognise us the 'Making the difference', for looking ahead to the future and reaching out to the families, raising for charity, quality unbiased detailed reviews on products, the achievement scheme that tests your skills and most importantly listens to its members and is able to adapt and develop to ensure its doesn't loose touch.

I'll cose this thread for the sake of peace - I've just spent two days with my family up in the wilds of northumberland come home to find this thread all over the place so I hope I've put a more calmer stamp on it to close it off.