Unfortunately, in any association which relies on members volunteering to give up time and money to 'govern' the hobby, there will always be 'ulterior' motives for some people offering to serve. The NEC have such members and although they are (theoretically) working to improve the Association can, and do, often get sidetracked from important issues with petty 'differences'. There is nothing worse than a model boater who is vehemently against another model boat discipline - more so than if they were 'passing judgement' on a person involved in a completely different hobby!
The MPBA is LARGE and diverse, and it is this very diversity which causes problems occasionally. A serious difficulty seems that, very often, the NEC are not even aware of any problems until they get out of hand! There is NO mechanism for feedback apart from individual NEC members bringing comments back from meetings with members. But where do these meetings happen - at the side of the lake with maybe a few of the section followers.
It would be nice if ordinary people (not necessarily MPBA members) had some way of expressing their views and what they want from a National association supposedly representing them. It seems that the only way of expressing concerns is to "vote with your feet" and not join/rejoin but this defeats the object in that the NEC STILL do not know what the problem is!
This is where the Mayhem forum is invaluable. Were it not for this, many of us would not even be aware of Ernie's difficulties, much less be able to comment on them!
Given the circulation of such magazines as Model Boats and Marine Modeller, one would expect the membership of the only 'official' National body to have memberships of many thousands. Perhaps the MPBA, who have been given the recognition of being the governing body, should ask themselves why many model boaters refuse, or can't be bothered, to join?
Obviously I have my own reasons for not renewing my membership and do not propose to air them here, but it is a great disappointment that there is no way to express my feelings. One suggestion may be to hold MPBA "surgeries" where questions from ex/potential members could be answered by someone in "authority" (even an MPBA forum may prove invaluable).
Ernie, I hope you will keep us informed of proceedings as the outcome may effect or interest many of us.
Danny
