MPBA

[Andy CoburnParticipant @andycoburn42970]

Hi

Just wanted to let everyone know that the MPBA has refreshed its online content. The new website design features include a Forum and User Blog together with one of the most up to date Club Directory and Event Calendars on the web.

http://www.mpba.org.uk

The Facebook page has also had a refresh and is a lot more active

**LINK**

[Andy CoburnParticipant @andycoburn42970]

New digital content

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Yes, quite a bit of work has gone into revamping the website. I hope it will attract more support now.

Colin

[Andy CoburnParticipant @andycoburn42970]

We have some new faces for the new year and are working to bring everything up to date. The website and Facebook revamp is a start.

A

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I have registered and made a couple of posts.

Colin

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Andy,

If as you say, (on the MPBA site) it will be possible to bake their forum read only to the public then we could encourage people on this forum and on Mayhem to get some sort of debate going on how the MPBA could usefully support the scale side of the hobby in what is now a very changed environment from what it used to be. Glynn Guests has suggested that the old judging rules are no longer very relevant and perhaps confusing when you try to apply them to modern construction techniques and the use of computers etc. and I think he is right on that.

Personally I would love to see the reinstatement of some interesting navigational courses. There is no need to reintroduce intense competition with all the old 'pot hunting' aspects but a bit of friendly rivalry would not go amiss and navigating around a well designed course with its docking etc. was always challenging and far more interesting than aimlessly running your model up and down the pond which is all that seems to happen at most events these days.

Colin

[Andy CoburnParticipant @andycoburn42970]

Hi Colin. I think I have fixed it so the Forum is publicly viewable now and have moved the menu item to the Public Menu.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Andy,

Yes, that seems to be working OK. Well done.

I have been talking to Glynn about this. Need to have a bit of a think about the best way of taking things forward. It should be possible to promote the website in the magazine. Editor Paul Freshney is away at the moment but I will raise it with him on his return.

Colin

[Andy CoburnParticipant @andycoburn42970]

Colin,

That's great. Thanks. I have let the rest of the NEC know. Hopefully we can generate some new ideas.

Andy

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I have put up a post on Mayhem:

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,57624.0.html#new

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 18/03/2017 19:46:56

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin

As I'm not a Mayhem'er and as life is too short to be on all the forums, I would agree with most of Kinmel's observations regarding the MPBA + the categorization of peoples interests into neat areas of interest such as power or sail is restricting the number potential members, I consider myself to be an all round model maker who floats all kinds of power/electric/sail boats, fly's aeroplanes and runs model railways.

I do however belong to the BMFA for the 3rd party insurance, as electric flight is easy on the local sports field.

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Not quite sure what you mean Ray, there is nothing to stop MPBA members participating in as many branches of the hobby as they wish but obviously at individual events you are unlikely to be able to combine r/c scale with tethered hydros for example. Model Yachting has always been separately administered as it evolved down a different route.

Although there are 'general' modellers such as yourself, I think most people tend to develop an interest in particular categories of models and even subdivisions within those categories such as warships for example. However the only barriers are those that people erect for themselves!

There has always been a bit of an attitude of 'what does the MPBA do for me?' And depending on your particular interests it might be 'not much' or 'quite a lot'. But the 'MPBA' is not an entity in its own right. It is just people who are members of model boating clubs holding national positions to help take a wider view of the hobby. I am not very active at the pondside these days but I still keep up my membership because I do think it is important to have a degree of national representation to help safeguard our hobby collectively and also when interacting with other organisations and authorities. If more people were willing to accept a role beyond just involvement with their local clubs then it might be possible to develop our hobby further in a positive way.

The old r/c navigation events held under MPBA auspices gave the opportunity to actively navigate your model round interesting courses which were great fun and to me, added an extra dimension to my modelling. I would like to see more of that rather than today's tendency just to sail round the pond in aimless circles which I find rather boring. We don't have to reintroduce the strong competition of the 70s & 80s but driving your boat around a fair but challenging course and carrying out realistic docking actions to me really does enhance the pondside experience and I think it makes it more attractive to spectators as well.

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin

As the generation of modellers/competitors from the 1970's & 80's are now in their 70's & 80's mobility becomes the issue.

I'm 61 and one of the youngest members of AMBO racing the Thames Sailing Barges round the south east clubs, but I won't be doing it in 10 years because of the logistics.

If there is a place for the MPBA as a National body maybe the spectrum should be widened to include leisure and scale sailing called the MBA. on the same basis that all the disciplines are covered on this MB forum ?

I'm a member of the MYA for RG65 racing, but many of the ready built yachts that are sailed at club level are not in the recognised classes ie. Victorias which are raced under informal rules at my club Chantry.

Maybe food for thought

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Maybe merge the MPBA and the MYA then! General model boating national; umbrella. The individual sections can carry on as usual but total membership would increase.

Colin

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