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Pat (Gleason),
I think what we mean by "video games" is that the current generation of children tends to be more comfortable sitting in their homes playing video games, computer stuff and texting their friends. Our generation of children played outside and were more physically active. Heck things like the fact that Seafair was on all three (and we only had three) channels from the time trials through the final heat really helped to promote the sport.
With our generation of kids not everyone made the "team" no matter what the sport. With todays generation everyone gets to make the team irregardless of how qualified they are to participate. There is an "entitlement factor" that todays kids expect.
Times have certainly changed. I think in many cases parents are happy to have their generation of children not need to do anything else other than video games and texting. It is less expensive for them in this down economy.
I think we all agree that we need to attract new people and then retain them. Hopefully old racers will return when the time is right for them. I still think that it is the financial aspect that deters new members. It is hard to lay out that much money and then be told you can't use your boat and motor etc. except after you driven for and unknown number of miles, and only during a test session lasting a few hours, then in maybe one heat where it is possible that if you don't make the "cut" you are done for the day.
Boat racing is an expensive hobby. We need to reduce the costs to get people involved. We also need to "show" this sport to people. New Folks in Boats is a great way to do this. We need to advertise our races, APBA should pay for this advertising by giving each club some kind of reimbursement for the expenses that the club pays to promote the sport. Perhaps a portion of the membership dues from people within a specific region should be returned to the region to help promotion expenses. The more members a region has the more money would be paid to it.
I think what we mean by "video games" is that the current generation of children tends to be more comfortable sitting in their homes playing video games, computer stuff and texting their friends. Our generation of children played outside and were more physically active. Heck things like the fact that Seafair was on all three (and we only had three) channels from the time trials through the final heat really helped to promote the sport.
With our generation of kids not everyone made the "team" no matter what the sport. With todays generation everyone gets to make the team irregardless of how qualified they are to participate. There is an "entitlement factor" that todays kids expect.
Times have certainly changed. I think in many cases parents are happy to have their generation of children not need to do anything else other than video games and texting. It is less expensive for them in this down economy.
I think we all agree that we need to attract new people and then retain them. Hopefully old racers will return when the time is right for them. I still think that it is the financial aspect that deters new members. It is hard to lay out that much money and then be told you can't use your boat and motor etc. except after you driven for and unknown number of miles, and only during a test session lasting a few hours, then in maybe one heat where it is possible that if you don't make the "cut" you are done for the day.
Boat racing is an expensive hobby. We need to reduce the costs to get people involved. We also need to "show" this sport to people. New Folks in Boats is a great way to do this. We need to advertise our races, APBA should pay for this advertising by giving each club some kind of reimbursement for the expenses that the club pays to promote the sport. Perhaps a portion of the membership dues from people within a specific region should be returned to the region to help promotion expenses. The more members a region has the more money would be paid to it.
, your shot at politics will come if you want, but for now ignore it all.
lol
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