Terry,You have a valid point regarding our dropping numbers this summer. Individuals took it upon themselves to disqualify a multitude of pullers due to conflicting rules. We agreed to postpone enforcing this until it could be settled post season. By fortune or misfortune, I missed that pull, but would have gone ape over it. The rules committee will settle this dispute. However, this incident only reflects larger club issues that are being addressed outside of the rules committee. The rules committee was formed (yes, at the last meeting) to explore the possibility of creating a speed limit class for larger horsepower cut tire tractors. If you would like to draw similarity between the NATPA rules and what we may propose, go ahead as it was the best way I could think to compare to what we may do. I would stop short of calling it crap. I have been personally exploring the possibility for such a class since creating Farm Stock (which sent hook numbers skyrocketing). I have had numerous conversations and visited clubs, exploring what Clintonia might offer to allow more participation. There is massive support to make this not only a well attended class for outside pullers, but to allow many within our fine club to take their turn as well, keeping higher performance machines above our intermediate levels. Financial support is not an issue since pullers would pay their fee like any other class. Our hook numbers were down, but less than similar clubs. In fact, we have one of the largest �little� clubs in the state. We supported ourselves fine this summer, but decided to make the jump and invest in improvements for our home track such as sled, track, and lighting. I fail to see how �a few years ago there was a class for everyone�, when not much has changed since then, only the addition of the great Farm Stock class. I�m sure we may have discussed this, although I don�t recall the specifics. AC is one of our newest members. He attended Fowler pulls this summer as my guest, before joining our club. He attended several meetings where these topics were explored in detail. Should we add a class, he and several of his friends are chomping at the bit to come join in the fun. He may have been an �outsider� (we call them �guests�), but under observation, a large portion of our participants are not club members. They play an important financial role. Clintonia has never been exclusive. This is why it is vital to keep an ear to the ground and see what people want these days. Discussion of this new class is not gossip; simply it is what members on the rules committee have been discussing and gathering feedback on. I will agree with you that maintaining our current friends is a top priority and we have issues to tackle. But there are only so many of us. As the sport grows, we can also welcome new blood at several levels. I will be working with Clintonia to improve the running of our pulls, enforce a clear defined set of rules, and bringing in new people. It happened for Farm Stock, it will happen for high h.p.. The only thing I dread is working diligently to bring in guests and new members to our pulls, then having a few bad apples spoil first impressions. I�m sure we have our disagreements on what we can and cannot handle, but I�d welcome your help improving our already great club. Thanks for the suggestions Terry. Ethan Berry
|
