Bill Daniels wrote:


seems to have failed. I think the reality is that we recruit new glider
pilots one-by-one. They can be from any demographic.

I'd suggest that we look closely at those we fail to recruit since failure
is often the best teacher. When you talk to them their first answer will
be
"it costs too much". That's a standard, easy answer and, while it can be
true, it's usually not the real reason they are walking away.

Bill, i agree with most what you are saying, except that. The clubs in
France have tried a lot to solve the problem using the techniques you
describe below. They have websites, phones, people try to be friendly,
gliderports try to be nice, etc. etc.

But the absolutely *most* important reason why they don't recruit, is that
it is too expensive in time and money. There are people having money but not
time, people having time but not money, but people having both are mostly
retirees, and experience shows that, contrary to what has been said by
other posters, gliding is *not* a sport for retirees.

The reason why it is too expensive is because gliders and towing are too
expensive, period. In clubs here everything else is basically ensured by
volunteers and is gratis.

Press
further
and you hear more truthful reasons. They aren't flattering but you have
to listen.

"This place is a dump". "Why would I want to hang around here?" is near
the
top of the list. When viewed in that light, you have to admit that most
airports are at best industrial slums. Gliderports seem to be the worst.
Why is it that almost every gliderport is at the end of a long washboarded
dirt road? Try spiffing up the place with some paint and landscaping.

"It's not too friendly around here", is another often heard complaint.
What
every glider operation needs is a designated "official greeter". This
person is probably the most important on the field. Make it a real job.

"You guys are hard to find", is a third. My experience is that if the
operation has a phone, it rings three or four times an hour with people
asking for information about gliding. Usually, these calls end up on an
answering machine. Even at commercial operations with a staff, the person
answering calls sometimes has little real interest in soaring beyond
selling a ride. With simple techniques like call forwarding, anyone,
anywhere can
take those calls. Get club members to take calls on a rotating basis. An
informed, enthusiastic human voice answering questions goes a long way to
getting a new member.

These are just three ideas, but implemented together, they could go a
long way toward a turnaround.

Bill Daniels