The Electric Charging Station Poll is now closed. The committee wishes to thank all those who participated. By participating you share in the development of the club to meet the needs of you, the members. The poll was –
At the 2012 AGM, four options for the relocation of our flying site were put to the members. Option C was accepted and amongst other things, included a proposed electric charging station. The committee want to determine how many members fly electric models and to nominate whether they are in favour of this proposal.
Of the 35 members eligible to vote, 22 members voted. The poll results were
In Favour: 16
Against: 6
There was provision in the poll for members who voted to provide feedback. A synopsis of the feedback is shown below.
YES VOTE (16)
Feedback from those who voted in favour of the proposal.
- We should provide facilities for all facets of our hobby. There is also the safety aspect. We don’t want any vehicles “going up in smoke”.
- I like the idea of a charging station. I have charged batteries from my car, but it is not something I really like doing.
- With the increase in electric models, this can only be a bonus for club members and improves the Club’s image.
- Great idea to have a poll re an electric station which I support.
- As I use a similar system at home on solar panels I can recommend this. Secondly it would save bringing a 12 volt battery with me to the field.
- Electric models are the way of the future; this is indisputable. If we want to have a club that wishes to attract new members then catering for electric models is the way to encourage them to join our club.
NO VOTE (6)
Feedback from those who voted against the proposal.
- As any glow or diesel modeller has to bring his own fuel to the field, so should electric modellers, i.e. 12v batteries.
- We should put in a control line circle for the people we dont see at the field. This may be a cheap alternative to lure new young members as its cheap and teaches all aspects of the hobby. Remember where it all started!!!
- Circle for control line models. Promotion of club to get more members.
- I have answered no based on the amount of funds we may or not have left in our piggy bank and also the small amount of members that would end up using it anyway Maybe a bit further down track.
- We can get more people turn up for a control line day. It also opens up a cheaper avenue for other people. When people come to fly control line they will see RC and most likely get into that also. Why should the club pay for electric stations when they don’t pay for Nitro fuels!
Summary
The Yes votes were based on safety, club enhancement of facilities, attraction of new members and recognition of the fastest growing sector in RC modelling.
The No votes centered predominantly on an alternative use of funds being a control line circle and using control line models to attract new members. The call to use funds to establish a control line circle is is somewhat surprising given the committee’s position on this has been made clear i.e.
- The committee fully supports control line flying (evidenced by the establishment of a “circle” at the old site (albeit on the main strip).
- Earlier this year, members of the committee raised the subject of establishing a separate control line circle. Committee discussed the establishment of a “dedicated” control line circle and all committee members (and some members) are aware that there is a cereal crop being planted again in the area surrounding our new clubhouse. This will occupy the total area that the last crop used.
- Also discussed at committee is that until the new cereal crop is harvested in 2014, a new control line circle cannot be established. Having said that, there is nothing preventing control line modellers flying on the new strip in the same manner as they did on the old one.
The “promotion of the club to get new members” is a view shared by all members regardless of their discipline. Unfortunately this is a problem facing all clubs, not just ours. We need to encourage more young people to participate in the hobby but we know only all too well from our own members that we can get young people to come to the club but getting them to stay is another thing. There are so many competing pastimes for youngsters to participate in that it is difficult to attract them to our hobby and then retain them. Let’s see if the MAAA Strategic Plan provides some answers and most of all, support to clubs to assist clubs in attracting and more importantly, retaining new members.
The view that the club should not pay for a charging station “because we don’t subsidise fuel” misses the point of the project. The objective is to provide as many facilities for existing members (whether they be electric or IC) and an attraction for potential new members. Unlike fuel, this is not a weekly expense that the club would be expected to pay. This is a club asset and with the exception of replacement over time (typical of most assets), there will be no ongoing, regular expenses; it will be a one off cost.
OPINION: Electrics can be a cheap way to get into RC. An electric glider that can be flown in just about any condition (they’re flown at the field now), complete and ready to fly with flight battery, charger and a 6ch 2.4 gHz TX/Rx combo would cost about $150 delivered. Granted the Tx/Rx is not a lifetime purchase but the reviews are largely very good and would certainly allow a person to get a feel for the hobby and decide if they want to continue and invest more time and money into the hobby. There are many more examples of cheap packages that will provide a low cost entry into RC Flying.