T8 -

As a newbie, I agree with some of the points you're trying to make;
but your tone is a little abrasive. I think it is coming across that
way out of annoyance at the blogger in this case, but some newbies
might think you're aiming at them.

I would put it this way: Its nice to hear from newbies and encourage
them to participate, but if they've never been in a competition then
their opinions on how contests are run or how classes are organized
should be taken with a grain of salt. Its not that Newbies can't have
good ideas - but people with experience who have seen the processes at-
work are much more qualified to make good judgements and suggest
realistic/meaningful changes and improvements. If someone wants to
make change, they should get involved and do it from the inside of an
organization - not try to impose change on others from the outside.

The good news about today's information-age is that even if the
newbies are excluded from the "official" SRA surveys and stuff, there
are still a bunch of ways for our feedback and ideas to be seen and
heard by competition pilots and organizers. I've thrown out a bunch
of ideas and opinions here on RAS in the last week and not a single
SRA person has told me to sit down or shut up - so I don't feel like
I'm being EX-cluded. I just hope that any dumb statements that I make
or stupid ideas that I propose are respectfully critiqued by those
folks, so that I learn and understand more. :-)

Take care,

--Noel