NATs Banquet - Moved to Friday

[Dennis Adamisin]

The 2016 NATs Awards Banquet has been moved to FRIDAY evening 7pm, 22-July instead of its traditional Saturday night.  The venue will again be the Horizon Center in Muncie. We will recognize all of the award winners determined for the competition up to then.  Top 5, Jr, Sr, & Walker Cup will be awarded on the field Saturday.

The idea to change the night of the banquet has been kicking around for at least a couple years - see the link to a post by Bill Rutherford from August 2014.  Note that the opinions voiced were not unanimous, so there is some risk here.  However, the Awards Banquet has seen is attendance deteriorating.  Worse, it has been losing money at least the past two years - that is not what we need. The rationale that I think applies is that Saturday afternoon is a travel day for many competitors, others cannot justify one more night's hotel expense; whatever the cause(s) I think the opportunity to make a change is indicated.

Hopefully this will help rekindle interest & attendance.  If not then the 2017 Event Director can change it back...

http://stunthanger.com/smf/open-forum/nat's-stunt-banquet/

[bill rutherford]

In that case I will be there  Bill Rutherford

[Dave_Trible]

Me too.  I like it.  Not much to do Saturday afternoon waiting for the banquet and yeah another nights stay at the motel for no other reason- bravo!

Dave

[frank williams]

Bravo Dennis
I'll attend my second in 30+ years of Nats attendance.  Never could afford the extra vacation time and motel.  Good Call.

[Joe Gilbert]

The right thing to do in my opinion.

[peabody]

Wasn't it the day of appearance judging for a while?

[Paul Walker]

There will be around 5 pilots and their helpers who might not attend. Since you need a head count early in the week, I will have to decline. Others who think they have a shot at the top 5 might opt out also.

One of the drawbacks.

[Howard Rush]

I see the Nats as a national championships and the banquet as an award ceremony for the national champion.  Having the banquet early and excluding the top fliers will save people from having to be at the Nats a few more hours, but I think it misses the point.

[bill rutherford]

Howard, How it excludes is beyond me. Everyone can come that wants to. For most of us it is a lot more than a few hours. It is seven hours of waiting for banquet then another night in a hotel. The Walker cup is awarded at the field and most of the others have been given out. The banquet is more than the top five fliers.

[Curt D Contrata]

One option we discussed years ago was to have a catered cookout at the field immediately following the fly-off. That way, it retains its purpose of celebration and satisfies those who want to get on the road in the afternoon.

Curt

[Mike Haverly]

OK, well here is another slant on it.  While I appreciate those that have to drive a long distance and for many that is pretty normal.  Last weekend those that attended the Northwest Regionals drove from all over the Western USA, Arizona, California, Idaho, Colorado, various parts of Canada etc.  That's part of the deal.  Many left right after the contest opting out of the awards at its conclusion.

Personally I have opted out of the PAMPA banquet the past couple of years to catch a flight back to Seattle on Saturday evening after the top five fly-off.  This year I made different plans and decided to stay the extra night.  The plane flight is the same cost but another night in the hotel and, oh yeah, another day of car rental.  Also, part of the deal.

Friday is still OK with me but I can certainly see Paul's and Howard's points in both cases.

[Derek Barry]

I agree with Paul and Howard, it doesn't make much sense to have an awards banquet before the contest is finished. I think a big part of the decline was due to being put into the AMA garage for a few years. The only reasons I ever sign up is for the slight chance that I might win the Walker Cup and to congratulate the other winners. I am not sure if I will attend this year (which would be the first time in many years), more than likely I will join Paul in practicing for the finals instead of going to a pointless, incomplete, awards dinner. Assuming I make the top five this year...

Derek