New year message from the FRA

Andy,

Just picking up on a couple of your points:

Correct me if Im wrong but wasnt the vote for 13.6kg weight limit just 6. Also, you have now created two weight classes of 12kg and 13.6kg as other event organisers have stayed at 12kg although they are non-combat. Perhaps one of the FRA aims to promote all things to do with robots and education should be revised to simply combat then I would understand. As it stands there are far more UK feathers at 12kg then 13.6 but the FRA chose to harmonize with other non-UK combat feathers.

I have no doubt and fully understand that the FRA likes everyone to be a member but I fail to understand the level playing field bit.

No FRA no forum, as has been seen, operating a forum is easily implemented, if the fRA hadnt done it then Im sure one of the competitors or EOs would have done it.

Just finally as I need to rush, the insurance policy is the single biggest overhead and is what most of the members £10 goes towards. Perhaps as it is frequently raised, an explanation of what the cover provides may help win over this perennial subject of insurance has come up again as it does every year

quote:

Without the FRA you would have not recently gained the 13.6KG

featherweight change.

That still is up to the EOs. If they say 12kg then the things that

change are that the EOs wont get a spot on the FRA website to advertise

and that they will have less feathers to compete with their events.
And that change, is it a good one? I myself have personaly always said,

especialy as a sideliner in the FRA, that I dont care, I just will build to

maximise the machine to the rules. And if possible beyond.

quote:

B. To represent roboteers in negotiations with TV companies. (last TV

series no appearance monies were paid, Trophies were virtually non existent.

Basically the TV companies treated the roboteers with contempt)

I dont know what series you participated in Andy, but I found the Mentorn

crew accomodating in most part. And my main tumbs up was the catering.
Especialy Series 7 was an enjoyment for me personaly.
Yes, there was no to little chance to pricemoney. But that was known. And

that doesnt change much from 90% of the European events.
If you want money, Robot wars isnt the way to go. Its a great way to learn

new skills, the learning curve is very steep. For most of us, its a great

group of diverse people to join and to challenge our own skills.

quote:


Also someone earlier brought up the subject of free speech on this forum

again.

The moderators arent to blame. But there is a reason the evilfacebook

page came into being, as well the alternative forum. What got surpressed by

one way or another. Its back, but seemingly dead.
Weres smoke there is a fire I dare to say, please investigate that issue.

quote:

I am going to have an enjoyable year as a roboteer knowing that at this

time that the event organisers are comfortable with each other for the first

time, and that they and the FRA are also at ease with each other.


I agree on that too. I dont like politics and politicians in daily life,
And I would like to avoid simular situations in my hobby.

Paul & Mario,
For two people who at this point are NOT members you certainly seem to have a lot to say on this subject.
I would like to know why the association should waste its time answering your questions when neither of you can be botherd for whatever reasons to join as menbers. Just maybe if you did, then we may be a little more willing to help you understand how and why we do what we do.
I for one am sick and tired of people who have no intention of paticipating in the running of the association thinking they have a god given right to take issue with every tiny point of order or action we take.
Instead of carping from the sidelines may I respectfully request that you do as Andy recomended in a previous post... I.E. Put up or shut up
(personaly I would have put it in stronger terms than that!)
Anyway, Im off for a couple of weeks of not having to worry about FRA or any other robot business, I just wanted say my piece before I went, and to add to Andys final comment, I too will not be seeking re-election as chairman after 31/03/2009.

Point of order: Mario is my teammember and as such covered.

He has just as much right to speak his mind as you. He only was not allowed to vote.

does anyone else wonder where the future of this sport will go? :sad:

Im not worried. To quote the master: Much ado about nothing.

Just 2 points;

1 - The vote for 13.6kg was thrown out twice by the FRA voting members, it took a membership vote at the AGM of 2;1 to persuade the committee to agree.

2 - The liability insurance is for the set of rules that we build and run to. Should an incident at an event occur, and all of the FRA guidelines were being adhered to, it is to protect the FRA members and EO from personal liability.

trev

I for one welcome the discussion. Carping or not, if we are not doing something right then maybe that is why?

Whatever you do, there are always those that take the free sample and never come back to buy the product. Maybe they didnt buy cause they didnt like the nuts? So next time lets try one without. Surely then everyone will like that piece?

The bottom line is, as a professional body the FRA exists as the roboteers. To remain this way, the insurance has to be paid for. Period. Without the FRA we have no standard ruleset so then the organisers have to provide them... Of course the rules would then become disjointed and event organisers would be personally liable for the content of that ruleset. Someone has to pay for the insurance and I dont see why any one person should have to put their own hand in their pocket for the benefit of others who do not. Of course we will always get those few who wont.

13.6Kg was important to ensure we continue forward with a unified ruleset. 12Kg falls within that and so it does not stop 12Kg robots competing at events. This also does not limit an event organiser running an event for 12Kg robots. That, at the end of the day, is their choice. I personally think we should have a 15Kg limit just because it is a nice round metric number.

I dont understand the reasons why M2 can no longer compete but I am sure if it is a simple weight issue that most event organisers would accomodate you Paul.

Very good points Kane.

As for the 13.6kg. At the time of the AGM i saw the option for various roboteers to get a feather in with a weapon when before they couldnt due to weight. That to me was the only reason I voted in favour of 13.6kg. Had the AGM voted for 10kg (also a nice metric figure Kane :) ) I would not have minded either.

Paul: What weight is M2 at the moment, does it cover the 102kg with gas rule?

most people i know run run at 104 with gas as they take advantage of the 2% rule, although i really dont agree with that its allowed in competitions.