What turned the paper around? Any tips for others who need to get
local editorial support?

Endless repetition, and persistence. If you keep saying good stuff about
your airport to people long enough, they will hear it and believe it. It's
the only way to counter the NIMBYs and noise-nazis.

I can't tell you how many people I have told about our airport. I can't
tell you how many times I've mentioned that our airport brings in $5.7
million into our local economy every year, for the annual expenditure of
just $110,000. I started our airport user's group, Friends of Iowa City
Airport, back in 2003, and our email updates have been a very effective
conduit of information to local reporters, several of whom are FOICA
members.

As some here have accused me of, I do my best to promote aviation at every
possible opportunity. Some here mistake that as being self-promotion for my
son or for my hotel, but I'm here to tell you that (a) my son couldn't care
less about this newsgroup, and (b) if we never had another pilot from this
group stay at our hotel, ever, it would not make a detectable impact on our
bottom line.

Am I an inveterate aviation promoter? You bet. And I *do* promote aviation
for selfish reasons -- just not the ones that some people believe. Rather,
I do it so I'll have a place to park my plane, I'll have runways to use, and
FBOs to service my plane. Longer term, I want my kids to have GA when they
grow up -- and the only way I know how to do this is to keep trumpeting the
GA gospel.

And I'm not alone. We've got a good, proactive Airport Commission, a good,
proactive FBO, and a number of very good, influential airport users who are
excellent ambassadors for local aviation.

All of this, working in concert over time, has made a difference -- but it's
been a long haul. It takes patience, persistence, and a strong stomach.

And the knowledge that it can all go to pot with the next city council
election...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
wrote in message
...
On Jan 30, 8:31 pm, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pb...=2008801280321

Our local newspaper is doing a great job of helping us to promote GA.
After
years of being anti-airport, it's a wonderful thing to see.

Now all we need to do is clone this kid, and GA's future is secure.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay,

What turned the paper around? Any tips for others who need to get
local editorial support?

John