Grass Roots, yes thats you and I
This is Conor Scolard’s Personal Opinion
I am not on a committe for the IAA or IASRA.
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Most people here bitch about the IAA or IASRA and offer nothing to help either side.
While this is a natural Irish approach to problem solving it gets us nowhere.
Most however will agree that a representative body is a good thing for the sport but won’t get off their asses to help out, whether it be membership fees or going for a position on the committee of that body. I was on the IAA committee for 1.5 yrs. I have been in 2 AGM’s and were fast approaching a third. I am appalled at the lack of responses from people to run this association.
If you don’t like the IAA and NONE of the previous committee is running for a position then surely its now your IAA if you get up and put in the effort no? I will not stand by and watch this association which has done irrefutably countless great things for our sport dies off because the "community" (which it protected) can’t be arsed. When the sport was under threat, when it looked like it was being banned, when the DOJ could have batted and eyelid and destroyed your game, sport or abuse outlet you all looked to those who could do something for you. Now is the time to do something for yourself. Help yourselves and put something back into the game which we all love, the collections that we have amassed and the friendships that we have gained.
I was part of a committee that ran the IAA with 4 people. I’ll let that settle in. 4.
The hard work is done, bilis passed and coming next month, even IASRA are now working with the IAA, plenty of affiliates, public recognition. Even internationally the IAA is regarded at an example to follow with many countries looking to coordinate efforts and not re-invent the wheel. So if even 20 of you went forward that workload spread out would be so minute that you wouldn’t be putting in the 40 hours a week that we were doing, but you might end up with 6. Bump the volunteers up to anything larger and it becomes a cake walk in comparison.
By not going forward for the most menial tasks or offers of support you are condemning airsoft in every possible form.
You the players/collectors/plinkers are the reason we have so many retailers now with an increasing number of venues to play at.
Put that same desire for a new magazine, for an extra few bb’s and redirect it to safeguarding the future of airsoft. Become a member of the IAA.
Put your pride up there with your fellow airsofters and do something together, build on the success of the IAA and spread the word of airsoft to young and old.
This is a decisive time in airsoft, this is where we make it count.
The groundwork is done, the game is set… join in and make a difference.