On Oct 7, 9:55 am, Udo wrote:
On Oct 7, 6:54 am, Dan G wrote:

On Oct 6, 11:04 pm, Andreas Maurer wrote:

No member in my club pays more than 600$ per year for gliding, all
costs included.
Lots of young people, too.

Bye
Andreas

I'll bite. How does you club make that work? If we paid the same, we'd
cover barely a third of the cost of our rent, insurance, staff costs,
maintenance, fuel etc.

Dan

I have visited a few German clubs about 8-9 years ago and talked to
the people that run those clubs. I will list what stood out in my
mind.

I noted the following with one clubhttp://www.lsgerbsloeh.de/

This club is surrounded by a relative large population base.
They maximizing the use of the field.
The Field is used to grow hay.
All flying equipment is self insured but for Liability.
The Insurance money is invested and is generating income.
They own a single dual winch, plus one tow plane.
When the need arises the rent additional tow planes.
They stage air events twice a year and the local population is
invited.
This is promoted extensively. It combines an air show with active
participation, complete food services it is common to have 20000
visitors. It generates around 25000 Euros net for the club.
Planning is long-term.
The fleet is update regularly.
The club is in the forefront of generating high calibre contest
pilots. Also the club holds twice a year regular flying seminars which
are attended by Dutch, Belgian and Danes that bring there own
gliders.
Within the club cross Country flying is stressed at all times.
A limited number of none pilot, mostly teenagers about 8-10, are
invited to join each year. If you are under the age of 16 , the
parents are involved as to what is expect of there child,in terms of
time and other commitments, besides the weekend flying.
The facilities are nice which includes and indoor / outdoor
restaurant,
in a park like setting, which is run by the club with full services on
the weekend, generating funds.
Since its humble beginning in 1954 the club had to move twice and has
been at this place for at least 35 years.

All this has been accomplished over time without outside help.
The club has received on numerous occasions the title Centre of
excellence award.
Udo

We had a young Czech glider pilot here for a couple of years building
power time and ratings. He's now flying regional European airlines.
His club owned the airfield and leased out several buildings for
commercial/industrial use which resulted in the club operating at
_minimal_ charges.

Frank Whiteley