Previous articles in this series

I have already written that the USHPA Competition Workgroup should restart its process (good luck on that) by looking at the goals that they are trying to accomplish with their reworking (slash and burn) of the competition system. Sure there are some general goals in the strategic plan, but that's the problem, they are too general. It's hard to measure how well you are doing when you measure your progress against a vague goal. Let's get specific.

First, here are the competition goals from the 2005 (geez, how time flies) USHGA Strategic Plan:

Promote sense of community by promoting fly-ins and competitions.

More competitions at the local and regional level need to be fostered and encouraged.

Fly-ins also need to be fostered and encouraged at the local level.

Competition Committee to work with Membership and Development Committee to develop programs to increase the number of fly-ins and unsanctioned "fun' competitions.

Competition Committee to develop program to increase the number of Sanctioned competitions, focusing on Regional and National Level. This includes a comprehensive review of the USHGA Competition System and how it can be revised to support the long term goals of the Association.

The point of competitions and fly-ins, as far as the strategic plan is concerned, is to enhance "internal marketing," to retain members (so that we can grow the USHPA), by promoting a sense of community through competitions.

So let's just say that the general goal here is to increase number of competitions (and fly-ins) and participation in competitions.

Can we refine this?

How about these goals? There are currently three well known "regional" competitions: The Chelan Cross Country Classic, the King Mountain meet, and the Team Challenge. Let's have a goal of having four additional similar regional competitions in 2009. And four more in 2010.

Let's list what the USHPA can do to strengthen these competitions to make sure they continue and get increases in participation and implement those items on the list (see here: http://ozreport.com/12.229#0).

Let's find at least four meet organizers/clubs in California, Utah, Wisconsin, and the Northeast who will put on meets similar to these meets in their region and give them the support from the USHPA that they need to it in 2009 or 2010. Let's add four more regions the year after that making sure that we give them the support that they need as well as supporting the existing regional competitions.

Goal: Let's get a west coast version of the Team Challenge going.

Let's take the Team Challenge model and see if one of the LA clubs wants to put on such a competition.

Goal: Double and triple participation in "national level" competitions in 2009 and 2010.

Sanction the Florida Ridge meet, the Flytec Meet, and the Santa Cruz Flats Race meet. Implement the suggestions listed in the URL above to support these competitions. Put large ads in the magazine for them. Contact the meet organizers and see what they need to help make their meets successful.

This is just the beginning of the discussion re refining the goals, finding the strategy, and coming up with the tactics to implement these goals. The means that I have outlined here require the commitment of an individual (so far that is the Competition Committee Chairman) to make the connections needed to get this to work.