by Wayne Matthews, Chairman  --- 

Hello to all members. Well, the 2009 season is just around the corner and the IMAC Sequence Committee (ISC) is already hard at work compiling new Unknowns for this year. We had very little rest over the holidays as we had to prepare to transition over to the new IMAC website and learn the system from the ground up.

2008 was a “hot-bed” of activity for us as we processed over 204 Unknowns for the National/International Unknown program. These Unknowns were provided to IMAC contests spanning the globe including AMA, Australian, British and Canadian Nats. In addition, we had volunteer ISC members who wrote Knowns & Unknowns for the Clover Creek Invitational contest. Added to this, we also formulated, tested & refined 33 known proposals for the various classes of which the Board of Directors selected 5 for the 2009 contest season.

We started out in 2008 with 12 members. From the North Central: Tom Wheeler & Kurt Koelling, North East: Andy Kane, South East: Joseph Cutright, Ty Lyman, Wayne Matthews, South Central: Ryan Gonsoulin & Eddie Bernaldez, South West: Mike Stoner, Joe DeRenzi & Tim Attaway, Australia: Steve Richardson. During the latter part of the year, Joe DeRenzi and Ryan Gonsoulin resigned from the committee and we were fortunate enough to add 3 new members bringing us to a present total of 13. The additional members are, Australia: Mick Dakers, South Central: Dean Nistetter and South East: Pride Grimm.

Seeing that we didn’t get to go on a retreat to Paradise Island in the Bahamas (as yet) we would like to bring you all up to date on the new process of obtaining IMAC National/International Unknowns for your contest starting with the 2009 season. The process is very simple, however, care is needed when filling out the form on the new IMAC website.

Your gateway will be on the front page of the website on the right section there will be a tab for “CD’s”. Hovering on this tab will magically create a drop down list which will have an “Unknown Request” link. You will have to log in prior to entering any information in the request fields. The required information is pretty simple but it is important to know that there will be only ONE person assigned to receive all the Unknowns that will be dispatched by our librarians to his/her email address. That individual will be called the Unknown Manager and his/her relevant information (Name, Phone & email address) MUST be filled out correctly. If not, he/she probably will not receive the Unknowns at the designated time. The new system will not allow a split of dispatch to various individuals. A minimum of 10 days prior to the contest is required for processing.

Once the form is filled out and the “Submit Request” button is pressed a series of automated functions will take place. Firstly, the Unknown Manager will receive an email advising that IMAC has received the request. Subsequently, the Unknown Manager will have to reply in order to CONFIRM that they have received IMAC’s email. Without this confirmation nothing will happen. So on contest day there will be panic all around!! Try to prevent this.

Now, the manual part rolls around for the ISC. Members will write your set of sequences for the desired weekend. Once this process is complete and the sequences are double checked, the librarians will select and convert the files into .PDF (Adobe) format and save the files with a unique password. This password will be sent to the Unknown Manager on the Monday before the contest in an email with links to download the Unknowns. As soon as the links are pressed the files will be downloaded to the Unknown Manager’s computer, however, without the password, the files will be locked up tighter than an oyster’s clamshell. Just refer back to the email for the password & “viola” they will be open!!

Roy Barrow has worked tirelessly to streamline the secure system and the ISC is now up to speed on the format. Naturally as with all new ventures we may experience “hiccups”, however, let us not panic under duress. I can be contacted at any time before 3:39am EST if you don’t receive your Unknowns (I’m only kidding). Giving me 2 hours of rest may be to your contest’s advantage.

On another note: IMAC has not, as of this date, received written permission from the relevant authority (Aresti Systems) to be able to produce and display a set of legal Unknown maneuvers for the Sportsman/Intermediate/Advanced/Unlimited classes. As such, it would be fool-hardy to do so given the options.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the ISC for their dedication to excellence. I would also like to thank Joe DeRenzi and Ryan Gonsoulin for all the hard volunteer work they have done on the ISC for IMAC. It is very much appreciated.

The ISC will strive to continue providing quality material for the entire IMAC membership not only within the USA but internationally. We look forward to seeing you all “on the line”.