NAMBA Propwash 04-2023 Web.pub

PROPWASH 6 April 2023 As a District Director, Vice-President, President and Past President I was able to serve on the NAMBA Board of Directors for almost 30 years. I learned a lot about model boats and even more about model boaters. During that time, the same problem came up time and time again. The very same problem just could not be corrected. This problem tends to drive some members away. This same problem keeps new people from joining NAMBA. Perhaps you have heard me say “It is not about me. It is not about you. It is about us.” This is what we need to keep foremost in our plans and thoughts. Looking at the populations of the USA and Canada, combined there are less than 400 million people. Of this huge number, less than 3000 people are members of the model boating organizations. Another way of looking at it is 0.0000075% of the population are members of model boating organizations. We have to cooperate, working together, to protect model boating’s future. Yet, we have some members that openly speak terribly about others. We have some members that try to prevent others from their club, races, and events. At different races we have had some members completely lose their tempers, threaten another member, and even try to hurt another member. There are boaters that have cheated to win. Cheating takes advantage of the honest members. Once, when I penalized a racer for cutting a buoy, I was invited to meet him in a parking lot for a fist fight. Another time I was threatened with a lawsuit. Does this in anyway make you think of a family friendly atmosphere? I don’t think so. These are examples of the model boating problem just will not go away. Is it pride? Is it machismo? It is the need to win at all costs? I wish I knew the reason. If you are a NAMBA member, you should be treated with respect and fairness at any NAMBA sanctioned event. You should be treated with respect and fairness at any club activity. And, you should also treat any other member with respect and fairness. Now, how do we get to the point that we all treat each other respectively and fairly? We have to remember that this is a hobby. If you lose a race, it is just a model boat race. You will still get to eat dinner. If you think you were mistreated by a bad call, remember, it is just a model boat race. You did not lose a paycheck. Our hobby should be, above all, fun. It should be fun for you and the people around you. That includes the other racers, their families and the spectators. If you are not having fun, maybe you should take a time out. Spend the time helping others, or just become a spectator. The worst thing you could do is prevent someone else from having a good time. When spectators see you have fun with your model boats, they will be more interested to learn about our hobby. Just as the NAMBA members long ago in Spokane drew me in, you will help draw in others. I can honestly say that I have made my nearest and dearest friends through model boating. I have also met some people I will avoid at any model boating event. I will try to treat every one with respect. But, I will spend my time with the boaters that help everyone have a good day. Over the years, I have been lucky enough to have raced in 12 countries including across North America. The problems we have at races here are also the same problems they have across the world. Some people are willing to give up their dignity over a boat race result. Will this problem ever disappear? I doubt it. But, as long as we do not excuse the poor behavior of others; as long as we accept that some people cannot control their tempers; as long as we do not require bad behavior to end at our events; this problem will continue. I was at a race in Norway, the World Championships, which lasted two weeks. Racers scheduled their family vacations, rented RVs, cabins at the race site, and hotel rooms to attend the full event. One racer flipped off a judge. He was disqualified for the entire event. That meant his entire family vacation was spent at the race site and he was not allowed to compete. He could not be in the pit area with his friends. I asked the judge if he thought the punishment was too much. The judge told me, “Model boating is a gentlemen’s competition. If you can’t be a gentleman to everyone, you can’t be here.” It really is up to each of us to take a look in the mirror. Are we actually making the hobby a more family-friendly activity? Are we promoting our hobby to the spectators? Are we helping each other to have fun while running our model boats? In a population encompassing hundreds of millions of people, why are less than 3000 people drawn to organized model boating? We can think of many excuses. The cost is too high. It takes too much time. There isn’t a race near my house. The biggest reason is how we behave amongst each other. And, we must correct that problem if we want model boating to continue and grow. Living Life Right By Kelly Canto NAMBA District 3 New Member Communications Director When you can wake up in the morning and drive your golf cart to the pond, you know you are “living life right”! That’s how they do it at Castaways Boat Worx Fast Electric Boat Club in The Villages, Florida. This club is full of great men and women that get together regularly to test their boats and enjoy each other’s company. Members meet on the north end of The Villages every Tuesday and Thursday to run boats. Then again on the southern end of The Villages every Monday and Wednesday. Races are held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month. They enjoy life, enjoy each other, and love RC boating!