Conference vmszoo::rc

    BEST OF LUCK.

    Well, now that I am back from vacation, I will update you...
    
    (I never made it to the meeting, so I didn't see what happened.
     I am not a Bedford resident, so there wasn't anything I could
    contribute at the meeting anyways.)
    
    Well, we lost this round.  Our field is now closed for the time
    being.  Apparently, the complainer took a video tape of flying.
    While he was talking, he played the video tape at a sufficiently
    obnoxious volume that he got his point across.
    
    We already have a lawyer involved, and it looks like we will fight
    this one to the end.  But, realistically, the minority usually wins
    these cases. 
    
    Does anyone know of a nice field in Southern NH??
    
    jeff
    

    This Sunday, a camaraman and crew from the local cable company
    is supposed to be at our field in Salem to film our club flying,
    if the weather permits.  This will then be broadcast over the
    local access cable channel as a kind of documentary of "Big
    Kids Having Fun" or Hobbies or something.  At any rate, our feeling
    is that the type of exposure that we get will be very positive for
    the local hobby and do something for public relations.  We have
    been having problems with the neighbors over the last three years,
    but have gradually been getting them to swing over to our side,
    by inviting them to the field to watch,  restricting the side of
    the field that we fly on, restricted flying hour (10 am to dusk),
    notifying them of fun flys, etc.  It has been alot of work but is
    finally paying off.
    
    Ken
    

Hi Ken,

From my experience be very very careful. The "Big Kids with Toys" is all well
amongst ourselves but it is not something we should let go outside our own
group. If the general public; Local, State, or Federal Government see this as
our objective as playing with "Toys" it can severely damage our image when
asking for assistance, seeking recognition, or simply defending ourselves
against some Ratbag resident who complains about anybody having fun. 

Make sure your Club designates a well spoken articulate member to follow the
Camera team all day. Promote us as a group of "Sportsmen" participating in an
internationally recognized sport. If this our image it is much easier for us to
be taken seriously. Also only let your best pilots fly during the filming. 

We in Oz have suffered in the past at the hands of a so called "Sportsman" Ian
Chapel, he used to play cricket (that's the civilized world's Baseball!!!!) for
Australia. On one occasion a camera crew attended a Drag Boat Race, during the
lunch break some Model Boat's put on a very good display. Unfortunately one
boat suffered radio problems and hit the bank and disintegrated. A replay of
that incident was screened on at least 4 occasions with quite derogatory
comments amount modeling in general. That was the only part of the modeling 
display that hit the screen or warranted comment.

That is only one of many such bad reporting incidents. The Station is not
interested in promoting you it is looking for a story and will use what ever
suites it's end irrespective of what suites our sport. 

We have to look after ourselves and ensure they only see what we want them to 
see. If you have an incident and a model break's, walk in front of the camera 
and spoil the shot, thats not what we want the public to see.

Wish you the best of luck anyway, give us a report on the day please. 

John. 

    This week, the TV special that was done on our model club last November
    was finally aired.  I will have to say that the Salem High School
    Media Center that produced the documentary did an excellent job
    of portraying the kind of image that we want for the hobby/sport.
    It emphasized the complexity of our craft, and showed us as a group
    of responsible people that were concerned with safety, and noise,
    and were generally interested in the welfare of everyone concerned.
    
    I have not yet had any feedback from anyone other than club members,
    but the people in the club were favorably impressed with the 
    film.
    
    Ken
    

    Ken,
    
    Congratulations!  Hope the film produces some very positive results
    for yer' club.  Say, I just had a thought;  you didn't happen to
    get the documentary on video-tape, did you?  If so, I'd love to
    see a copy to get a greater feel for R/Cing in the great northeast.
    
    Adios amigo,	Al
    
    BTW, I have VHS equipment.

Does anyone know whatever happened to the SNHRCC flying field situation?  Did
they get the field in Bedford reopened, or are they at a new place?

Also, who can I get in touch with for information on joining SNHRCC.

-scott

    I haven't been to meetings in a few months...  Although there is
    a meeting tomorrow night, in the Hudson Memorial School caf.  This
    is the annual "show and tell" night.  Members bring their winter
    creations and "Best Model" is voted on.
    
    People are currently flying in Milford, NH.  I will find out about
    the Bedford field....
    
    Scott, please stop by the meeting.  Directions are in here somewheres.
    If you can't find them, let me know...
    
    cheers,
    jeff
    

    This reply is from Joel Jaffe @mko - I am in SF and borrowed someones
    terminal.
    
    There is a move afoot to establish another club in the Merrimack
    area. Some of the sport fliers of SNHRC object to the leaderships
    lack of diligence in securing a field and feel it is due in part
    to their primary interest in pattern and their use of other field
    in Mass. I have heard that this new club has a field in Merrimack
    and is accepting applications for new members.

I went to the SNHRCC club meeting last evening and indeed they are a 'club
without a field' (although it sounds like members are temporarily using a
couple of sites).  Finding and securing a new field was obviously a major topic
at the meeting and they seem to have several leads.

The new club sounds interesting, especially if they already have a field.  If
you have any more details, let me know.

-scott

    Yes, please tell us more about the new club...
    
    FYI - The "semi-private" pattern field that was used 2 years ago
    by some of the pattern flyers is no longer available.  Yes, the
    fact that they were using it was a little disturbing to many...
    
    In regards to the "old" field...  The club president is going to
    talk to a different lawyer to see if anything more can be done.
    From the sounds of it though, the field only has a couple of more
    "useful" years left in it.  Apparently the farmer is starting to
    think of alternative uses for his land.  So a long court battle
    at this point would not win us a flying field.
    
    An important point was made at the meeting last night...  How many
    flying fields are actually zoned for recreational use??  Without
    the proper zoning BEFORE you start flying, you are flying on borrowed
    time.
    
    Well, as Scott said, the club is pursuing 2 field alternatives,
    as well as looking for more.  One of the alternatives is the local
    landfill, the other is a flood plain in Milford, NH...
    
    Cheers,
    jeff
    

    Ah !!  Finally back in Merrimack at least until Monday.
    
    I recieved an application for the new Club, the Flying Eagles. On
    the back was a map with directions to a flying field. The location
    is off DW highway just north of Continental. I breezed by and the
    site is open enough and far away from houses and streets. It sits
    on industrial property next to a seldom used railroad . The field
    is clay but it was mentioned that plans for seeding have already
    been made. Dues are $20 with a $10 initiation. VAXmail me your name
    and home address and I will see that you recieve an application.
    
    Joel the Novice