Competition is the driving force moving all life forward. Whether it be plant or animal, aquatic, avian, or earth-bound, every living thing develops and improves its survival chances through competition.
One vindictive and self-centred individual within the MAAC leadership repeatedly refers to those thatsee the value of competition as “competition types”. He sneeringly implies that these people are trying to destroy MAAC. RC Canada has been one medium that he has employed in his tirades
The destruction of MAAC appears to be well underway, but it is not competitors, nor their supporters, that are responsible for it.
Every living thing on our planet Earth is competitive. Any study of evolution will show that species development has been as a direct result of competition. Where one organism is more successful than others, it grows, prospers and thrives.
Insects, fish, plants reptiles, birds and other living creatures compete. They compete for food, living space and the right to reproduce. Many also compete recreationally. Throw a ball before a puppy and it will run to fetch it. The ball has no food value, reproductive value nor guaranteeing any other positive results. The puppy chases that ball for recreation. Fetching it is fun. Throw the ball before a couple of puppies and the effect will be even better and longer lasting. The game is now competitive. This will work with older dogs too, but the young are, by nature, competitive. People, and animals, enjoy competition throughout their lives. Friends gather for a social evening – and play cards, or dominoes! People who solve crosswords compete with themselves – how quickly can I do it? How difficult a puzzle can I solve? Even for these more solitary diversions, measurements are made, progress is recorded and noted. People run for pleasure – and when they become proficient at it what do they do? – they enter races. Even in their declining decades many live for the chance to compete. Competition is not a dirty word, competitors are not destructive people. Those who decry the competitors are the destroyers. Those are the ones whose philosophies produce decline.
Competition is the path whereby improvements occur in all walks of life. Without competition any aspect of life will wither and die.
The junior membership in MAAC is at an all time low. There are two reasons for this. First because no real effort is being made to attract them, and secondly because any competitive aspect to aeromodelling is ignored and discouraged.
MAAC used to have a thriving youth committee. At least one new club had been formed for the specific purpose of encouraging and assisting juniors. Completive flying was a vital part of that club. Specific events for juniors were developed and a lifetime of interest resulted. How many clubs today can boast a significant junior membership amongst all the grey hair?
Individual competition is prevalent in nature. Cooperative hunting is also common. Cheetahs often hunt in pairs and wolves in packs. In model flying the same occurs. Many events require teamwork, and model flyers at FAI international competitions go as teams and are representative of their countries. Individual pride in individual wins is much enhanced by a national team placing.
Outside of our hobby, youngsters take an active interest in hockey, baseball and other competitive sports. This leads all the way to the Stanley Cup and the World series.
What we need in our activity is far more attention given to juniors and to competition, not less. The infighting and massive decline in MAAC membership that we see today out bears out that that the current approach needs fresh evaluation.
Encourage some youngsters to join and compete. Otherwise MAAC is not going to turn the rapid decline around.
And just by the way, a few years ago, one of my friends attended the Weak Signals Exhibition and Swap-meet held in Toledo, Ohio. During this visit he spoke with the RC Radio Manufacturers about their development process. Each of them indicated that the requirements and desires of the competitive flyers were the driving force behind most of their facilities built into the radio transmitters. An example is more channels, channel mixing and sequencing and more. Further evidence that competition is a must.