Post by gnat on Aug 12, 2014 9:09:17 GMT -7
I have finally had enough of stupidity and stubbornness. I plan to campaign for change on this very small but important issue. Those of you that have been there understand the frustration. I'm tired of being terrorized by tradition
Dear Sirs and Members of IPMS,
First let me say that I have been a member of IPMS for about 12 or 13 years and I appreciate my membership. I have gained friends, information, and skills that have helped me have a lot more fun with my hobby. Without the IPMS I probably would never have gotten half of any of those, specially the friends I have made. So with that being said I feel I have to address an issue that crops up annually at the IPMS National Convention.
Let me begin by saying that one of the best parts of IPMS is the National Convention. I have attended Atlanta, Kanas City, Omaha, Columbus, Orlando, and Hampton. I plan to attend Columbus again next year and Columbia the following year ( I already have my room reserved). It’s the best way I know of to meet my old friends and see the best scale models on the planet. I appreciate all the hard work and effort that it must take to put on one of these shows every year. I also appreciate the work of the people involved from the individual club members to the IPMS administration. I come from a long distance for it and always wind up having a lot of fun.
Now for the issue that has really been bothering me. They say that its not over until the fat lady sings, however, at the Nationals its not over until Messrs. Devins and Pappas have sung and that is usually around 10:30 PM and has been much later than that , remembering Atlanta.
Since I enjoy the Nationals I want to participate which means bringing models for the competition. Flying the unfriendly skies isn’t an option mainly because I build in 32nd scale and larger and travel with 2 other members that bring copious numbers of models. That means driving to the venue. Judging from the cars in the parking lot a lot of other members do as well.
The whole process normally goes very smooth until right at the end when the whole experience is nearly ruined by the congregation around the model room door. After 6 conventions this has become almost intolerable. I appreciate traditions but in some cases tradition needs to change. It seems utterly ridiculous for more than a hundred people to be standing around that door at that late hour with their models been held hostage to tradition. They are angry and tired, they want to go home and a few times some very bad arguments have broken out and at one convention it came to some pushing and shoving. So I say again, This must change.
I have heard every lame argument for keeping the banquet a dinner starting at 7 PM. But, really it always boils down to “We have always done it this way”. Those that promote this are also the same ones encouraging the modelers to remain in the room and talk about their models after the banquet. Surely they jest! In Hampton there weren’t 20 models left on the tables 15 minutes after the doors opened and this has been the case at every show I have attended in the past. No talking, no camaraderie, not a lot of smiling, just a bunch of grumpy bleary eyed men and women wishing they were in bed or well on the road to home. The issue goes deeper than that for me personally . After the shows I am faced with extremely long drives home. From Hampton it was a 14 hour drive. The shortest drive I have ever had was 6 hours. We modelers aren’t getting any younger in fact most of that room is bald or white headed and those drives get more tiring every year. Every hour gained on Saturday gives me more time to recover on Sunday at home.
This all has a very simple fix. Just make it a lunch instead. The tradition is upheld. We eat together . All the old hands and workers still will get a pat on the back, all the prizes will still be awarded, Devins and Pappas won’t be so hoarse at noon. All the awards could be put out Saturday morning by opening the doors at 10AM rather than 9AM. The public will be more likely to view the winners. People might be more prone to stay around for a few hours when they aren’t worn out . I would even go to the luncheon though I’m not big on rubber chicken.
I’ve talked with many of the membership about this issue both while standing around at that door and before and they agree wholeheartedly that a change needs to be made.
Sincerely,
David C. Morris, DDS
IPMS# 42701
PS: After writing this letter I thought it might be more relative to the event planners if they see that I am not the lonely voice in the wilderness so I have solicited signatures.
Dear Sirs and Members of IPMS,
First let me say that I have been a member of IPMS for about 12 or 13 years and I appreciate my membership. I have gained friends, information, and skills that have helped me have a lot more fun with my hobby. Without the IPMS I probably would never have gotten half of any of those, specially the friends I have made. So with that being said I feel I have to address an issue that crops up annually at the IPMS National Convention.
Let me begin by saying that one of the best parts of IPMS is the National Convention. I have attended Atlanta, Kanas City, Omaha, Columbus, Orlando, and Hampton. I plan to attend Columbus again next year and Columbia the following year ( I already have my room reserved). It’s the best way I know of to meet my old friends and see the best scale models on the planet. I appreciate all the hard work and effort that it must take to put on one of these shows every year. I also appreciate the work of the people involved from the individual club members to the IPMS administration. I come from a long distance for it and always wind up having a lot of fun.
Now for the issue that has really been bothering me. They say that its not over until the fat lady sings, however, at the Nationals its not over until Messrs. Devins and Pappas have sung and that is usually around 10:30 PM and has been much later than that , remembering Atlanta.
Since I enjoy the Nationals I want to participate which means bringing models for the competition. Flying the unfriendly skies isn’t an option mainly because I build in 32nd scale and larger and travel with 2 other members that bring copious numbers of models. That means driving to the venue. Judging from the cars in the parking lot a lot of other members do as well.
The whole process normally goes very smooth until right at the end when the whole experience is nearly ruined by the congregation around the model room door. After 6 conventions this has become almost intolerable. I appreciate traditions but in some cases tradition needs to change. It seems utterly ridiculous for more than a hundred people to be standing around that door at that late hour with their models been held hostage to tradition. They are angry and tired, they want to go home and a few times some very bad arguments have broken out and at one convention it came to some pushing and shoving. So I say again, This must change.
I have heard every lame argument for keeping the banquet a dinner starting at 7 PM. But, really it always boils down to “We have always done it this way”. Those that promote this are also the same ones encouraging the modelers to remain in the room and talk about their models after the banquet. Surely they jest! In Hampton there weren’t 20 models left on the tables 15 minutes after the doors opened and this has been the case at every show I have attended in the past. No talking, no camaraderie, not a lot of smiling, just a bunch of grumpy bleary eyed men and women wishing they were in bed or well on the road to home. The issue goes deeper than that for me personally . After the shows I am faced with extremely long drives home. From Hampton it was a 14 hour drive. The shortest drive I have ever had was 6 hours. We modelers aren’t getting any younger in fact most of that room is bald or white headed and those drives get more tiring every year. Every hour gained on Saturday gives me more time to recover on Sunday at home.
This all has a very simple fix. Just make it a lunch instead. The tradition is upheld. We eat together . All the old hands and workers still will get a pat on the back, all the prizes will still be awarded, Devins and Pappas won’t be so hoarse at noon. All the awards could be put out Saturday morning by opening the doors at 10AM rather than 9AM. The public will be more likely to view the winners. People might be more prone to stay around for a few hours when they aren’t worn out . I would even go to the luncheon though I’m not big on rubber chicken.
I’ve talked with many of the membership about this issue both while standing around at that door and before and they agree wholeheartedly that a change needs to be made.
Sincerely,
David C. Morris, DDS
IPMS# 42701
PS: After writing this letter I thought it might be more relative to the event planners if they see that I am not the lonely voice in the wilderness so I have solicited signatures.
