SSA Conventions. Return to every year?

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 5:03:39 PM UTC-5, Burt Compton - Marfa Gliders, west Texas wrote:
Seeing old friends, making new friends and putting faces to names in this age of sterile social media communication is a reason why the SSA Directors might consider a return to the annual SSA Conventions of the past. Just because you might be my "friend" on Facebook doesn't necessarily mean that we know each other. (No emoji required here.)
When is the last time we spoke with mentors like Paul Schweizer, Dick Johnson, or German pioneer Peter Riedel? Was it at the annual SSA Convention? It's not all about the preferences of the vendors, it's also about the PEOPLE!
With the aging out of our members, let's consider a return the annual SSA Conventions. Perhaps a mini-convention in the "off" years may be an option, like the fantastic "Soaring Symposium" series offered in the past by Ed Byars and Bill Holbrook. Many of you may not know these names but they were important people in the history of the SSA. Yes, I'd volunteer to help make it happen.

After a good amount of feedback from exhibitors, the SSA BOD elected to move to a full convention every other year. The expectation was that more local events would fill the gap. That has not come about.
There was one attempt at a more modest convention in Philadelphia that had table top displays and a full speaker list. A snow storm did not help attendance.
There is a lot to be said for this concept. No big convention center is needed. Any big hotel can be a site.
Maybe this concept should be revisited.
FWIW
UH

There is a lot to be said for this concept. No big convention center is needed. Any big hotel can be a site.
Maybe this concept should be revisited.
FWIW
UH

A large hotel with multiple rooms for presentations would be a great venue.

+1

On Monday, February 24, 2020 at 4:19:16 PM UTC-5, S9 wrote:
There is a lot to be said for this concept. No big convention center is needed. Any big hotel can be a site.
Maybe this concept should be revisited.
FWIW
UH

A large hotel with multiple rooms for presentations would be a great venue.

+1

How about at Sun-n-Fun in Lakeland, Florida every other year in cooperation with EAA? (Just down the street from Seminole Lake Gliderport.)

We could use the help manning the SSA display...

Paul A.
Jupiter, FL

Due to the huge crowds of enthusiasts at Sun 'n Fun, hotel rooms are scarce and the demand means the hotel rates are at their highest. No thank you.

This isn't the worst idea. Hotels are probably expensive right around Lakeland Linder Airport but I'll bet we could find something reasonable just a little ways out. Fwiw, BGA has an annual Winter lecture series.

Burt, I respectfully disagree. As UH mentioned this way we have the opportunity to host regional, and local seminars on the odd years. John Derosa and the Chicago Glider Council host an excellent event for example. There was a seminar I missed this winter about ridge flying out east that I wanted to attend (that would have benefitted from an odd year date in my opinion.) By doing it this way we can support the SSA and local organizations with better attendance.
I think though that your real point was how much you enjoyed seeing old friends. Why not host an event in Marfa next winter and give us a reason to come see you?

Doug

Imagine if the Women's Worlds would've been in Europe instead of Australia. We wouldn't have gotten to listen to the amazing presentation and experience such pride in Little Rock. Instead it would be a distant 18 month memory by the time we had our next gathering.

How lucky for Mike Koerner (2019 Barringer), David McMaster (2019 Kolstad), and so many others that they earned their well deserved awards in a convention year. Unlike Jim Lee and Jacob Fairbairn, both of whom deservedly were awarded last year via US Mail I guess, or maybe a local club meeting.

In May 2016, Daniel Shazam set a still standing WORLD RECORD 1000km flight in a 1-26. But there was no convention until Feb 2018. Sorry you didn't get your standing ovation in Reno Daniel. You earned it.

Imagine how different this convention would've been if Perlan had flown to 76,000 feet in 2019 instead of 2018...

While instrument makers and glider manufacturers may not have new products to release every year, there are still pilots out there achieving, clubs evolving, new sites being explored, and plenty of information to be shared. An annual gathering is the only way in my opinion.