In the UK there is considerable resource put into the juniors moment to
attract youth to the support. This is very successful, and IMHO a very
worthwhile investment.

As I see it a bigger issue is retaining members through their mid to late
20s. Typically at this stage in life their are external factors affecting
membership retention ( careers, mortgages, wife / husband, children, etc).


So should clubs invest in creating and environment / infrastructure where
the airfield is a "family friendly environment". Static caravan parks for
members, so that the family can stay for the weekend and BBQ in the evening
with friends, etc. Make each weekend like a holiday for the family and
allow yourself more time to fly?

I, and I suspect many others find that gliding is wonderful, but the
friendships and social aspect of our sport also play a considerable role in
enjoyment of the sport (particularly in the UK where the weather is crap
for 11.5 months of the year!)

Just a thought.....



At 13:21 13 August 2014, SCVihlen wrote:
I learned to fly sailplanes while stationed with the USAF in Germany.
I've
=
been soaring in the US since 2000 and with my airline job have many
opportu=
nities to visit clubs around the world. My take on one of the factors is
th=
at the US is so large and clubs spread so far apart. Many times not near
me=
tropolitan areas. The club I've belonged to is an hour and forty minutes
ea=
ch way. The next nearest clubs are at least twice that distance and more.
I=
t's just a huge commitment to make a day at the club happen.=20

Now, my experience in Europe where I've flown internationally the most
(Ger=
many and England) There is a club every 30 miles. Usually, there's public
t=
ransportation available from town to the club which makes it very
accessibl=
e even for me on layovers. Imagine if here in the US we had this kind of
ac=
cess to our club field and facilities. Europe is not the US and this is
the=
limitation we have. There are many reasons membership is dwindling, but
I
=
wanted to put this part of the equation out there.

Steve Vihlen