We've also been to lots of places we wouldn't have otherwise gone. Unfortunately, we never seem to give ourselves enough time to be tourists, we just show up, race and go home (our loss).

Since we're talking about opinions regarding organizational behavior, here are a few of mine...

It's unfortunate that the IWCA racers chose to stay home from the Mega. I think it would have sent a FAR better message if they went to AZ anyway.

Without rehashing the old stuff, there were serious efforts made to allow the IWCA rules, but there were unforeseen complications, and a decision was made as time was perceived to be running out. That doesn't change the fact that we (the HCA officers and Board) really wanted everyone there, and want this to work in the future.

To me, staying home just says, "If I can't have it my way all the time, I'm not playing." That is very a pre-adolescent attitude, and is very hurtful in the long run. You'd get a lot more respect if you showed up and demonstrated through your actions that you're serious about making it work in the future. To me, that's not "giving in," it's making an effort to help the thing evolve.

I see the same sort of issue in respect to ISAF and coming up with all sorts of cute names for events because "Worlds" is forbidden. It would be far more productive to work to meet the ISAF requirements to eventually be able to have a "Worlds" than to "throw it in their face" and have work-arounds. The very problem of multiple NA events for the same class is why ISAF is so serious about Worlds.

Having said all of that, Rick's last post does show that we may be headed in the right direction, let's see how 2010 shakes out. But, unless the planning and discussion starts now, I wouldn't be expecting a different outcome.

Mike