Re: New UK SIG Group

"Nick Pedley" wrote

> As someone who regularly helps run large events (mainly Scout camps etc),
I
> must say that I wouldn't touch the running of the IPMS Nats if I also had
to
> pay for the accommodation. If I was to give up around a week of my time to
> run something I wasn't getting paid for but was being enjoyed by hundreds
of
> others I would expect something in return, if that means free b&b then so
be
> it.

It's not that I object to the committee having their costs paid it was that
they did so AND charged IPMS members to get into the show, if they hadn't
made a balls up of the finances in the first place they wouldn't have needed
to bring in the charge, thus upsetting many, many members in the process. I
shudder to think how many members were lost to the society over that
decision, I personally have never managed to find anyone within the IPMS
(other than the committee) who agreed with it.

> > and not forced us to
> > pay for the privilege of actually making the show what it is, after all
> who
> > would go to a show consisting of only traders?
>
> Very true. As I didn't have to pay for entry this year I will consider
> renewing my membership more than if I'd had to pay *as well as being a
> member*. Still not sure if it's worth the £20 though.

I still keep hearing the slogan "don't ask what the IPMS can do for you, ask
what you can do for the IPMS" bandied about. Quite honestly this is a recipe
for disaster! People join societies because it is of value to them, not the
other way around. I would happily pay 30 or 40 GBP if we got a decent mag
out of it, a members only area at the Nats (one that charged reasonable
prices instead of the sky rocket ones at this years show), plus other
benefits, but we don't get anything of any read value from the society in
return for the membership fee. I pay half the 20 GBP for my membership the
Fleet Air Arm Society and get far more value for that than I do the 20 GBP
for the IPMS, it does make you wonder.......
>
> Nick Pedley
> P.S. I need some FAA reference books, can you tell me what's best by email
> please?

Let me know what area you're interested in and I'll let you know.

Steve