Attracting the kids

On Aug 15, 3:00 pm, Jim Beckman wrote:
Another consideration - does your particular club exist
to provide everything for everybody? Or does it, more
like my own, provide the cheapest entry into soaring,
including cross-country trips, and then leave it to
the individuals to move themselves into higher performance
gliders? The second approach is a lot cheaper than
the first.

I see this point of view lot - that a club is either practically a
commercial operation where everything is on a plate, OR everybody has
to do everything themselves and only the most determined need apply. I
say: there is a middle way, and it's one a lot clubs do in fact take.
You charge a *moderate* amount of money for membership and flying, and
then use that money wisely. You might get one or two GRP two-seaters,
which as Bill says are a world away from old 2-33s. You might employ a
full-time instructor or two and a tug-pilot in the week, so people are
guaranteed instruction if they come to the airfield during the week,
and perhaps you could run courses (and charge a nice premium for
them). You might get a Discus or similar to give people who are
progressing something to aim for to use, and then enjoy flying when
they get there before buying their own ship. You might, again as Bill
says, get a winch and introduce your local area to a cheaper and
downright more fun way to get airborne.


Dan