Problems with the publication deadlines and the agreed upon number of issues.

[barnstorm2]

Dear PRA Members,

As you know the PRA magazine joined publication with Powered Sport Flying last year in an effort to improve the PRA's published content and to expose our sport to even more pilots and aviation fans.

Until now this arrangement has been highly successful and with other efforts has increased PRA membership by over 20%.

However, we have also experienced problems with the publication deadlines and the agreed upon number of issues.

Powered Sport Aviation agreed to give us 12 issues a year, but has combined two of these issues and now may publish this issue so late that it negatively impacts the PRA's #1 income source and event the national convention.

We are writing to let you know that the PRA BOD is looking at number of options to resolve these issues and will keep you posted on any changes that are made.

Thank you!

Popular Rotorcraft Association Board of Directors.

.

[All_In]

Thanks for keeping us informed!!

[barnstorm2]

Thanks for keeping us informed!!

You are very welcome.

It is a serious situation.

We were initially VERY happy with the publication.

The look of Rotorcraft turned out to be very professional and slick and the increased exposure of homebuilt rotorcraft had immediate positive effects.

However, the PRA was told we would get 12 issues and it now looks like we will only get 11 this year.

The biggest problem being the publisher has failed to publish the 2 magazines just before the National Convention our largest event and a critical fund raiser for the PRA.

.

[Chuck Roberg]

I realize this is very irritating considering the convention and all. But I think we should stay the course with the new magazine.

I really believe the long term benefits will far outweigh the current problem. I think we should stay the course for a year then revisit the current arrangements again.

[GyroRon]

I agree with Chuck.

It's not like PRA members don't know we have a convention each year and where it is held. I can't imagine a pra member would sit down in July to read the magazine and say all of a sudden.... oh look at this, there is a convention next month, I should try and go.

Of course knowing that what is posted may not be the full story, there could be more to the story ... IDK

[L_Butler]

While the delivery may be inconsistent, the new magazine has been a tremendous improvement. There have been more issues per year, color photos, and a bonus of other aircraft articles. I wonder how long it will be until Bill Fortney discovers that there are part 103 gyros also?

In the May issue there is a full page ad for the Mentone convention on page 41. That's a reasonable advance notice in my book. It may also have been in other issues, I didn't check.

Also in the May issue the editor's page bemoans the problems they have had with the post office regarding slow delivery and postal rates. As I recall this was also a problem when Rick was publishing "Rotorcraft".

The post office is going to continue to struggle with postal rates and delivery for the next few years as more information is being transmitted electronically. I am willing to accept the occasional delay for the ability to hold the paper in my hands and read it at my convenience at any location of my choosing.

Since most of the articles aren't time sensitive anyway it doesn't bother me to have an occasional late delivery.

Larry

[barnstorm2]

I would like to thank all of you for your input and your patience.

.

[Arnie Madsen]

With all the changes (on both sides) of the magazine issue , I am willing to let things be less than perfect until the dust settles and we all get used to each other. I confess to being a rotorcraft purist but have enjoyed the glimpse into how the rest of the world flies in sport aviation. Cords and parachutes and Rotaxes and whatever.

I can't help but think of how those folks get a glimpse into our aircraft and must find something interesting.

I have enjoyed each magazine. I go straight to the rotor section and afterwards read about the guys that are crazier than us. :)

Some of them hang on ropes that do not even have a noose. That must take some skill :)

[gyroplanes]

I haven't been getting my e-mail notice of the "radio" program on Tuesdays. I have forgotten to listen in and subsequently don't know if they were cancelled. Maybe our publisher has been overwhelmed?

[barnstorm2]

It's not like PRA members don't know we have a convention each year and where it is held. I can't imagine a pra member would sit down in July to read the magazine and say all of a sudden.... oh look at this, there is a convention next month, I should try and go.


This would be true for the 'regulars' at Mentone but 2 months ago people new to the sport or the event would have been making plans.

Also, the magazines were to include registration forms, costs, BOD ballots and bios and other critical timely information.

The magazine is our #1 cost and it just negatively affected our #1 source of revenue.

.

[Not Yet]

If you can talk the publisher in to doing first class postage, I for one will gladly pay extra for it.

[Brent_Brown]

I joined PRA again and got the last MAG. It is very nice to see the other flying stuff too. It have Sun &Fun and Bebsen Day in it not a bad deal.

[Friendly]

Tim,
The convention at Mentone is the #1 source of income for the PRA?, that is more than the membership?

[barnstorm2]

Tim,
The convention at Mentone is the #1 source of income for the PRA?, that is more than the membership?

No, that is not counting the membership fee.

.

[ms80831]

So it's the number #2 source overall.

What are our options at this point?

...Mark...

[GyroRon]

No basically, the money that comes in from the dues is used primarly to pay for the magazine. Don't remember the numbers off hand, and they have likely changed anyway since this new magazine deal came into being, but it was something like 42-45 dollars out your 50 dollars dues, went strickly into paying for the magazine.

This meant that the PRA would make 5-8 dollars per member.

The convention on the otherhand, between camping, registration, and vendors fees, and lastly net profits from the food shack.... all that money was pure income.

either way, I can't see this magazine thing being a problem for Mentone attendance. I can see it might have caused a problem with the elections and so on, but you know what...... That stuff should be done ONLINE in the first place. Do we need " outsiders " who are reading the new magazine to have exposure to our sport with the limited amount of space we are alotted, or have that valueable space taken up with stuff about elections and whatnot?

I shouldn't say much more. I haven't renewed my dues yet and presently am a expired subscriber / member....

[Exterminator]

Ron, you now can renew online... 24 hrs a day. :noidea:

[barnstorm2]

That stuff should be done ONLINE in the first place. Do we need " outsiders " who are reading the new magazine to have exposure to our sport with the limited amount of space we are alotted, or have that valueable space taken up with stuff about elections and whatnot?.

I agree that the elections should be online and I would go a step further to say magazine back issues and a great deal of other content should be online also.

Hopefully, John Rountree will overcome his technical problems and have a new page for us soon.

.

[WHY]

Hi Tim

I could chaulk this up to just "growing pains". Hope it will pass.

Tony

[GyroRon]

Tim, I really like John, and appreciate all the time he has spent doing what he has done, but don't you think it's been long enough.... I am thinking it's about time a paid professional was hired to get the website and all these things in order. Been hearing about how things were going to happen via the web for 2 and half years now and still nothing

[Jazzenjohn]

Tim, I understand that you are disappointed by the differences between what you thought we would be getting with the magazine merger compared to what we are getting, but realistically, sending a bunch of inserts in the mag for about 1/4 (or less) of the readers is very expensive, the number of issues is no less than before and, if we get 11, actually more than before. The quality is very high and it's color, and there is far more content, so, I don't have any complaint about it at all now.

I agree with Ron about the website. It shouldn't take this long. Give it to someone who will actually do it, farm it out, or give up on it.

[Dean_Dolph]

I think at this time that not having the board of director election ballot available for the members prior to Mentone is probably the most disappointing to me. I'm assuming that there will still be an election.

I'm surprised, but glad, to hear of the increase in membership as a result of the magazine. It seems a little strange to me that there is this increase when people can just get the mag without joining the PRA. Maybe people are starting to understand that the real value of the PRA isn't the magazine but the intangibles such as representing us with the FAA.

There is one other item, if true and I have no reason to believe it is not, that disappoints me and that is the PRA doesn't get any revenue out of the new mag from the rotorcraft vendors or others who placed ads in the old PRA mag. Then apparently it was a surprise to the new publisher that the PRA is an international organization so he was going to have to pay international mailing rates for those outside the U.S. The fact that the change over happened relatively quick is probably the reason for all this. But, I don't think any of this means it was a bad decision and the new mag certainly looks good. I just hope that the new 20% sticks with us and even more join.

Now, as far as the web site; give John a break!

There were at least three PRA web masters before John offered his services. Two and a half years seem like a long time but the other three made an effort for probably 10+ and we never did get it right. I'm not knocking their effort since they did what they could, the best they could. People 10 years ago didn't have the feel for the value of a web site like they do now so didn't attach as much import to it.

If I recall correctly, one of the first thing John did was ask his customers (us!) for input. This should have been done before he even got involved. Input provides the shape and model for the web site and if the customer doesn't know what he wants then it is difficult for the web designer. So, there was an on going evolution going on before John got involved and he accelerated it. Those who think the web site development should have been paid for and finished quicker should have been the first to volunteer for a web site funding drive. If the PRA had been financially able then we wouldn't have needed John or any other volunteer. And that brings up a point, John also acts as the PRA volunteer coordinator which takes time away from web site work.

The value John adds is that he is one of us. That means he is responsive to our wants, he understands what we are asking for and then spends the most important thing he has, time, working for us. I, for one, appreciate his efforts and look forward to the product he delivers.

[Doug Riley]

The rocky transition of the magazine is deja vu all over again.

When Bensen cut the PRA adrift in 1973, the California crew who took over (Bob Thomas, Ken Brock, et al) did not receive the materials and support they had expected from North Carolina. They got magazines out anyway (some of the most interesting ones in PRA history, in fact), but it was a wobbly time for the old mag.

[NoWingsAttached]

Perhaps if we stress the need with our new partners to be sure next year's summer issues are not combined or mailed late...

What is preventing our PRA from mailing out voting ballots? (money, most likely)

The new distribution of gyro info and pix to our cousins in the air is the perfect mix. We now reach those who will cross the line from chutes etc and enter the gyro class.

Speaking from my own experience, I was NOT looking for a gyro when I got into this sport. I was looking for a cheap Dragonfly or some other form of 90 mph ultralight aircraft. I STUMBLED upon used gyros and when I realized they were far cheaper and far more maneuverable, I jumped ship. I am a happy convert.

There will be more.

[RotoPlane]

Now, as far as the web site; give John a break!

The value John adds is that he is one of us. That means he is responsive to our wants, he understands what we are asking for and then spends the most important thing he has, time, working for us. I, for one, appreciate his efforts and look forward to the product he delivers.

I completely agree with you Dean. John has also been hit with a bunch of extra work because of the new Microsoft changes....something which seems to never end. I am grateful to him for all he has and is doing for the PRA.

[phantom]

I have recieved two and both were contaminated with things that were not real flying machines because they didn't have rotors but I am going to wait for one year and see what happens before I give up my PRA membership. I hope I am the only one who feels this way.

Norm

[RotoPlane]

Well Norm.....my last issue was waaaay back in May....nothing since. Just received my renewal notice saying "you won't want to miss a single issue....". Right.

I've decided to also give it one more year and see what happens....

[getut]

I'm surprised, but glad, to hear of the increase in membership as a result of the magazine. It seems a little strange to me that there is this increase when people can just get the mag without joining the PRA. Maybe people are starting to understand that the real value of the PRA isn't the magazine but the intangibles such as representing us with the FAA.

Dean,
I'm glad to hear that you are surprised by this. I've been beating the free information drum for what little time I have been in the sport. Locking the information up in any way shape or form is the worst thing that can happen to us. Its probably the reason why things are in a dire straits as they are as it is.

I also now have some evidence to support my drum beating. We have had EXCELLENT response from making the Chapter 13 newsletter available for free. We've had more interest in the 3-4 weeks that we have done that than in the entire rest of the time I have been a member in the Chapter. That will definitely translate into more work for the CFI's at some point in the future.

There simply is no other form of aviation where the information is held as tightly to the chest as it has PREVIOUSLY been in the gyro world. Magazines, pictures, newsletters, and members active in the community FREELY offering information is like gold. It is absolutely the best advertising that can be done. In fact, its probably less like advertising and more like drug dealing. They get enough information to become hooked, then the next steps of actually joining the local and national clubs and seeing a CFI for lessons are the natural progression into full blown dependency.

[WHY]

Greg

Your idea about a "mailing of ballots" by itself by PRA just might be a good solution next year if the postage is not to much, (going up you know).

Tony

[PW_Plack]

...We have had EXCELLENT response from making the Chapter 13 newsletter available for free. We've had more interest in the 3-4 weeks that we have done that than in the entire rest of the time I have been a member in the Chapter...

An interesting debate usually breaks out if you try to move to make your chapter's newsletter available online. Many members will fear others will stop paying dues and just get the newsletter free off the website. Yet, if you ask those very people if they intend to stop paying dues, most will pause, reflect for a moment, and agree there are more important reasons they support the group.

If your chapter (or non-PRA-affiliated group) is chartered on the premise of growing the sport, encouraging wider distribution of your newsletter is a great tool to do that. If you need to make the case that your group is worth supporting with dues, there are these two basic approaches regarding the newsletter:

"If you join and support us with dues, you'll receive our chapter newsletter for the coming year."

Or...

"By supporting us with dues, you'll help make it possible to reach hundreds of newcomers with our chapter newsletter in the coming year."

I know which I'd rather sell!

The fact is it's tedious to remind yourself to go to the website and download the newsletter when a new one comes out. Getting it sent by e-mail or snail-mail without having to remember each month or quarter is a logical benefit to reserve for dues-paying members. But for the newbie who's just becoming interested and finds your website, having access to news of your next meeting and recent activities is very compelling.

We make it a point to reply to anyone who inquires about Chapter 2 with the latest newsletter in PDF form as an attachment, and a suggestion to join the group to receive it automatically each month. Newcomers seem very excited to get it. Especially if you combine it with the ability to join and pay dues online, as we do through the website using PayPal, you may be surprised how many people will be moved to join right then and there.

I'm not at all surprised to hear that PRA has had membership growth as a result of wider exposure in PSF magazine. This could be partly from disenchanted former members returning because of the improved magazine, but it surely is at least partly a result of the other recipients of the magazine being exposed to gyroplanes and the PRA. The challenge now becomes bringing them value for the extra $13/year they pay to be PRA members, above the $37 they were already paying to get the magazine.

Making the electronic version of your chapter's newsletter available free for the download also does at least two other things I like. It keeps some pressure on the group to create all the other member benefits a chapter should be providing. And it holds the potential to increase your circulation, which could eventually reach the point at which support from advertisers may be possible.