In 2011 we conducted a formal survey for the SSA on the Convention –

From a total of 351 respondents (which is statistically significant for the soaring community):

55.2% preferred a convention every two years
40.8% preferred every year
2.9% every three years
1.1% every four years

Most commonly cited reason for an every other year convention was that not enough changes for an every year event… the exhibits and presentation sessions are repetitious.

Concerning a scaled down “off-year” event with no exhibits:

29% were interested or very interested
71% ranged from somewhat interested to not interested

Bob