Highlander
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Posts posted by Highlander
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33 minutes ago, RainingOil said:
...the NCC by all accounts had no oversight, and now that a little is being applied, everyone is quitting. You guys are upset you don’t have the unlimited power you once had, and I get it; that’s hard to take. But really as you said, you resigned over this, so it’s up to the rest of the membership that is still in to carry on and figure it out.
Not at all. One of the most, of many, frustrating issues in this the latest, and most serious, scandal is the lack of knowledge among the general IPMS membership and others of the former NCC's scope and depth of work in preparing and conducting the annual contest. And the efforts the former NCC made to invite and include the EB and, in some cases, the host chapter ... in its deliberations and decisions. I offer that if you don't show up for a meeting, it is disingenuous to complain that the deliberations were not transparent.
One example, of several, was the attendance for the annual NCC public meeting held, usually, on the Saturday afternoon of a Nats. The agenda included both old and new business. The entire NCC was present to respond the attendees questions and suggestions. Items were recorded for further action. Attendance was sparse. Against this background, I have heard multiple complaints about the inaccessibility of the the NCC to IPMS members. In some cases, when informed that the annual public meeting was open to all for direct interaction, the response was that the complainant had other, more attractive things to do.
Note that I said "former NCC". Because the NCC of the past no longer exists and its replacement has not been created. I think we can all look to those who demolished the NCC and the way it conducted the annual contest over 50 years to deliver a new, improved, nearly perfect, completely transparent, smoothly conducted contest that will please everybody.
It will be a blessed relief for some of us to attend Nats to enjoy ourselves. And not be vilified for being imperfect during our hours and hours of volunteer work each Nats and for contributing years and years of service to IPMS.
Addendum:
"....by all accounts." So every account of the NCC confirmed that it had no oversight? Accounts by whom? When? In what forums? Because that's not what happened if you were sitting on the NCC. That allegation feels like a strawman used to justify the purge and elimination of the former NCC.
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I see you chose wisely in selecting a Marine subject.
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Or scratchbuilt?
If you live outside the USA, coming to a National Convention might be fun. -
If you haven't taken them to a Nats, I suggest considering it. Perhaps the Miscellaneous category?
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Great advice from Gil on the decals ... I'm amazed that they are the originals. For a 1984 kit it is an incredible build. Kudos.
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Freakin' impressive.
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Wow. In a good way.
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Nice little vignette.
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That is a busy paint job ... an unusual approach. But a good result.
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That kit has always been a POS. You've done a remarkable job.
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I have found the Maid of Orleans to be a problematic subject. First, the models were not very good and she is a tough subject to paint. I think you've done the best I've seen. She comes across having minimal makeup which creates a more reatistic and historic tone. The subdued, desaturated color scheme only strengthens the impression.
A very, very good bust.
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Yes, thank you.
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It is essentially a matter of geometry and optics. In an ideal judging world, each model would be placed on an individual stand perfectly lit by several banks of dedicated lights -- where the judges could walk completely around it, view it up close, view it from afar, view it from above, and view it from below. Would require a venue about the size of Utah and a budget about twice that of the US's..
But with multiple models on tables which allow only one side from which a judge can view (sometimes two), covered with models, some of which are only inches from each other, some of which are teetering on the edge, some of which are at the absolute back of the table, some of which are lighted and some of which are in the darkness -- it becomes absolutely necessary to move models.
Add to that the common practice, not yet mentioned, by contestants who enter their entries later or who decide that their chances for recognition are improved by optimal placement -- moving other entries already on the table. Yes, I said, "...common...". Cause I've seen it hundreds of times.
Models get moved. Some out of necessity, some out of convenience, some of out competitiveness. With the introduction of reality, we do the best we can.
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On 5/7/2023 at 6:42 PM, EFGrune said:
Once again the local committee has taken the NCC's category listing and modified it for their use, deleting pertinent information...
And, once again, the judges have to adjust on the fly ... attempting to advise which category an entry should be placed in, moving an entry to another category, and, believe it or not, trying to serve the membership in the best way possible given the changing definitions and circumstances. So, consider a little slack when definitions are ambiguous and categories are not perfectly clear.
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Really smart move by using a photo as a model ... for your model.
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Your color choices are a strong point.
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Nice, indeed.
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Yes, very nice.
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Nice. Sculpt and painting.
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Apparently, it is due out soon. Any word of mouth or links to what we'll be seeing ... and the quality?
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49 minutes ago, josephporche said:
... undersized venues. ... Embassy suites have nice facilities but will never be large enough. .... these facilities may seem priced right but DO NOT meet the needs of our convention.
As I have pointed out elsewhere, $225 for a room is what my wife is paying for a quilting convention this year. And registration for another convention I just attended was a flat $100 ... plus additional fees for classes and such. I don't know if IPMS members are truly cheap bastards, or it they haven't kept up with the reality elsewhere.
In my mind, the ES breakfast is the biggest attraction -- it would cost about $30 for DW and myself ... or more ... if we had to purchase it separately.
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From Facebook: Holiday Inn Express a few hundred yards down the street and within walking distance. Made my reservation last week.
If true, then the system has already broken down. See from above: Like the Embassy Suites, I will be linking their dedicated reservation websites (with the IPMS code already programmed in) to our website - www.nats2023.com at the same time as the Embassy Suites link.
Note that I said, "If true." Of course, the reservation cited could be at a non-Convention rate.
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To paraphrase and modify Pareto's Principle, 90% of the complaints come from 10% of the commenters. Many of whom won't participate anyway.
My advice:
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This sums it up perfectly
in About the IPMS/USA National Convention
Posted · Edited by Highlander
Just got off Facebook. My initial reaction was to post there. But i decided that I've simply had enough. Naive as I may be, i was, and after all I've already heard, surprised and dismayed by the vitriol aimed at the former NCC. Simple nastiness. By those who know little to nothing about the issues at hand. However, the interweb and all.
I contemplated the myriad of suggestions about improvements and changes and training and certification and procedures and rejudging, some of which contradict others, that are now on the table. Nowhere did I see a suggestion about who was going to accomplish all of them. Or any of them. Or one of them. Could be the professional judges, as one poster suggested. Or the EB. Or other, this time, ethical volunteers. But one thread, I intuited, permeated all of the suggestions .... somebody else will need to do it.
Time to saddle up and head into the sunset. All of us old guys and unethical volunteers and stubborn elitists and enemies of the people.
Oh, and, believe it or not, the NCC has nothing to do with the distance between contest room tables. Or the weather.
Addendum:
I went back to Facebook. Because I'm a masochist. In the various derogatory and demeaning posts, I found two of particular interest. One asserted that those who deny wrongdoing are demonstrating their culpability. Thus the former NCC is guilty. Another stated, in essence. that failure to speak up to deny wrongdoing demonstrates culpability. Thus the former NCC is guilty.
Two points. First, it's all my fault. Cause I went back to Facebook. Second, Orwell was right. He pointed out that ... “Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.” And, Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia.