My own personal experience:

25 years ago I took a glider ride at the Durango, CO Soaring Club and loved it. At the time I couldn't afford nor had the time to pursue it so eventually forgot all about it.

Fast forward to 2012 where I was searching YouTube for videos of Glider slope soaring (I was looking or R/C glider videos not real glider videos). The search returned a hit to one of Bruno Vassel's gliding videos. I watched that video, was mesmerized, and over the next several weeks I watched every single one of Bruno's videos, searched for and found a local club, joined, and here I am today.

I say all of that to confirn that in at least my case the "accidental" discovery of some great gliding videos on YT was definitely responsible for my entry into the sport.

Maybe something free and simple we could do is to just put a link to letsgogliding.com in the description box of all of the gliding videos we post. At least that way we provide casual viewers with a very easy way to get more information.

RS

On Wednesday, February 20, 2013 2:57:27 PM UTC-6, Sean F (F2) wrote:
The fact is that the SSA will eventually come to the realization that it probably needs to begin understanding the value of investing in production of its own marketing/promotional video's. Perhaps instead of a magazine a months video? This does not need to come at a huge cash price... What is a better use of time and money? Producing a magazine mailed to only our membership, or a public video released each month?



Change takes recognition and comprehension of the value, leadership & management and focus.



Communicating only with static websites, bumper stickers and other similar methods are about as effective as one might imagine. Short of that there are a tremendous number of great video's (personal, professional and throughout Europe, Australia, South Africa, etc) that tell incredible stories and inspire young & old (definition of inspi "to draw forth or bring out") to consider take action. This action could be as definitive as scheduling a glider ride or lesson to spending more time researching the sport and what its all about. Marketers call it an "impression!" We could call it survival (think 20 years down the road).



Sean

F2