Mike Hamilton-Macy, candidate for FRA chairman.

**andy_kane** · 30th January 2009, 21:52

Joey before Mike answers your question, some facts about the FRA forum.
It is probable that this website is virtually the most visited website on our sport in the world.
When running well it receives over a million hits per month with a record 120000 unique visits in that timespan

**pressure** · 30th January 2009, 22:02

Hi, It has been suggested to me by a roboteer that the FRA has a stand at each event, with leaflets info etc and someone to answer the publics questions, this is a great idea and I (if elected) will be promoting it at the first opportunity, MIke.

**typhoon_driver** · 30th January 2009, 22:08

Mike,

That last one is definately a good idea. I can think of at least 2 occasions at different events where I was asked how you get started so I pointed them in the direction of this forum but having no material to throw in their direction I have a feeling the information went in one side and straight out the other.

Andy, WOW I didnt realise that the forum received those kind of traffic figures. That is impressive

**anukhet** · 31st January 2009, 00:27

quote:

We attend events regardless of the organisers and try to maintain a political position of sitting on the fence. The same connot [sic] be said of the current FRA commitee, we have already lost one organiser as a result.
(Source: http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/discus/messages/59/14615.html?1231020981 http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/disc...tml?1231020981) Posted Jan 1 2009)

The above was posted on 1st January 2009. Are you still of this opinion? And, should a number of current committee members be re-elected in any position, how would you, as the new Chairman, effectively deal with it? - remembering your earlier suggestion of changing the constitution to bar them from voting on matters concerning EOs.

**pressure** · 31st January 2009, 09:08

Morning Karoline, the comment you have quoted does not relate to the issue discussed, at length, previously on this post.
As to working with current commitee members if they are re-elected, yourself (quite likely) included, i have no worries about that. I am sure we can all work together for the good of the sport and the community.

**m2xt** · 31st January 2009, 11:15

Andy,

Im not disputing your figures as regards hits, its just that different ISPs have differing ways or representing traffic. Many consider a unique visit as per day, so 120,000 could represent 4,000 uniques per month assuming they are all regular visiters - still excellent of course. The forum is now of such a size with such a diverse range of topics, a large percentage of which is idle chatter and non-robot related, that it is hardly surprising that Google etc.. has many links to the forum. A more useful statistic is the number of page views per visit.

The reason for mentioning this is I do feel that encouraging new blood is vital to the continuation of the sport and is an area that I have seen little progress over the years. So Mike, do you have any further thoughts on how to encourage new blood into the sport?

Thanks

Paul

**pressure** · 31st January 2009, 11:31

Hi Paul, At events, alongside an FRA stand there could be a build your own robot stand with a few, part built machines showing components like drill motors etc so people could see how easy a basic machine is to build. Perhaps a printed, step by step guide to obtaining components and construction might encourage them to start.
As I mentioned earlier schools and colleges are fertile ground for sowing the seeds of interest, maybe a program for approaching them on a national scale could be launched. MIke.

**swanaldo** · 31st January 2009, 12:53

Mike. I wonder what your thoughts are on bringing the community back together. There are lots of people that have robots that dont do events, people who will go to 1 event but not the other, and people in the middle who just want to play robots and have a good time. We all know there is a split which i hope can be repaired and the whole community brought back together. I know its a mountain to climb but can you tell me what you would do to try and build bridges.

**simon_windisch** · 31st January 2009, 13:17

Hi Mike,

This might sound like a strange request, but can you please link to a photo of yourself. I dont know you from Adam, but I might remember who you are from one of the events Ive attended if I saw your photograph.

Simon