Revisiting declining membership

I do not believe that very many of us feel well served by having the SSA
office in Hobbs, but in Wisconson, among all the political hogwash that goes
on there. Give me a break. I have belonged to EAA much longer that SSA, and
I would drop EAA in a heartbeat, but never SSA. The feeling of getting a
true direct vote for SSA directors, and to have some influence if one so
desires is great. Take a good look at EAA structures, if you do not live
close to Oshkosh, or have a famous name........you are a NOBODY and very
likely to stay that way!!! so if you want to move Hobbs, then why not think
of a real and viable soaring site. Harris Hill comes to mind very
quickly!!!!!!

"Terry" wrote in message
ups.com...

snoop wrote:
"what if the SSA became a division of the EAA, similar to the Vintage,
Classic, Warbird divisions of the EAA.

Just curious for
thoughts.========================================= =============

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI)-a division of the
EAA with approximately the same number of members as the SSA-could
serve as an example. NAFI publishes its own magazine, has its own web
page, sells its own merchandise, sends out email blasts to its members
on a monthly basis, and generally promotes professional flight
instruction though achievement awards such as the Master Instructor
program. This is accomplished with a small staff located within the
infrastructure of the EAA in Wisconsin. Sound familiar?

NAFI runs on volunteers, as do many of our alphabet groups. Every year
a general call goes to the NAFI membership to help man the booth at
Oshkosh and Sun 'n Fun. In 2002, I was at Sun 'n Fun as a
volunteer for NAFI. We had about 20 members manning our booth, all
there to help, and to hopefully see the airshow. With such a large
group, all participants frequently took breaks.

During the day, I found the SSA table manned by Burt and Kathy Compton
who had apparently became the usuals for these events. Why doesn't
SSA have a similar system to request such a level of volunteering,
instead of relying on the regulars? Two people to man a booth for the
entirety of the event will ensure that no one ever volunteers.

SSA recently made a call for volunteers in many areas. In an area that
fit my particular expertise, I tried to volunteer but two months after
my initial contact-no response or action has occurred. The apparent
lack of interest is puzzling.

When I renewed my membership in SSA last year, I made a suggestion like
your's. Mr. Wright had just assumed his position and asked for
forbearance while he revitalized our organization. This past year has
shown many improvements, with many more remaining. Such a merger might
cure some of the problems that are directly related to a lack of
infrastructure. Hobbs is a terrific soaring site, but is it
appropriate for our membership? I think not.
Terry Claussen
SSA member since 1979

I would like to see something in the middle of the country.
I don't think the Hobbs location is necessarily bad in
itself, it just doesn't seem to be near a major
city. Yes it'd be great to get the $200 Southwest
ticket and fly to Hobbs to Hobb-Nob.

But if I recall, there is some super lease deal on
the building, so I imagine moving would be a
difficult (financial) decision.

In article ,
BGMIFF wrote:
I do not believe that very many of us feel well served by having the SSA
office in Hobbs, but in Wisconson, among all the political hogwash that goes
on there. Give me a break. I have belonged to EAA much longer that SSA, and
I would drop EAA in a heartbeat, but never SSA. The feeling of getting a
true direct vote for SSA directors, and to have some influence if one so
desires is great. Take a good look at EAA structures, if you do not live
close to Oshkosh, or have a famous name........you are a NOBODY and very
likely to stay that way!!! so if you want to move Hobbs, then why not think
of a real and viable soaring site. Harris Hill comes to mind very
quickly!!!!!!
--

------------+
Mark J. Boyd

Mark James Boyd wrote:

I would like to see something in the middle of the country.
I don't think the Hobbs location is necessarily bad in
itself, it just doesn't seem to be near a major
city. Yes it'd be great to get the $200 Southwest
ticket and fly to Hobbs to Hobb-Nob.

But if I recall, there is some super lease deal on
the building, so I imagine moving would be a
difficult (financial) decision.

I believe the terms are $0.00/month rent and we own the building after
20 years. It sounded good at the time we had to make the decision (I was
on the SSA board at the time), and it still sounds good.


--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

After 20 years, we can sell the building and move to a better location.
We either are very close to 20 years, or already there.


Eric Greenwell wrote:
Mark James Boyd wrote:

I would like to see something in the middle of the country.
I don't think the Hobbs location is necessarily bad in
itself, it just doesn't seem to be near a major
city. Yes it'd be great to get the $200 Southwest
ticket and fly to Hobbs to Hobb-Nob.
But if I recall, there is some super lease deal on
the building, so I imagine moving would be a difficult (financial)
decision.


I believe the terms are $0.00/month rent and we own the building after
20 years. It sounded good at the time we had to make the decision (I was
on the SSA board at the time), and it still sounds good.

One bit of EAA history that I do know is that when Poberenzy wanted to
expand out of the Hales Corner building, he only wanted to build a
bigger version of the Hales Corner corrugated hangar. The board pushed
to look further into the future and thus the beautiful museum that is
in Oshkosh exists.

Our library at the SSA headquarters consists of a couple walls of book
shelves, with boxes full of books sitting on the floor. Imagine our
offices, let's say in a suburb of Denver, or Dallas, or in Mr.
Greenwells location. Can you see all those soaring people visiting day
in and day out, volunteering their talent and time. Imagine guys like
Dick Johnson, in Dallas being able to visit and help out with history
projects whenever he wanted to. See where this is going.

Imagine Charlie, and Charlie lite getting on a non-stop flight straight
into DFW, or DEN, or ABQ, or wherever, and in twenty minutes being at
headquarters.

More thoughts?

"snoop" wrote in message
ups.com...
One bit of EAA history that I do know is that when Poberenzy wanted to
expand out of the Hales Corner building, he only wanted to build a
bigger version of the Hales Corner corrugated hangar. The board pushed
to look further into the future and thus the beautiful museum that is
in Oshkosh exists.

Our library at the SSA headquarters consists of a couple walls of book
shelves, with boxes full of books sitting on the floor. Imagine our
offices, let's say in a suburb of Denver, or Dallas, or in Mr.
Greenwells location. Can you see all those soaring people visiting day
in and day out, volunteering their talent and time. Imagine guys like
Dick Johnson, in Dallas being able to visit and help out with history
projects whenever he wanted to. See where this is going.

Imagine Charlie, and Charlie lite getting on a non-stop flight straight
into DFW, or DEN, or ABQ, or wherever, and in twenty minutes being at
headquarters.

More thoughts?

Soaring history is really archived at NSM and starting at the SWSM. The SSA
staff probably doesn't need hangar talk from a bunch of well meaning, but
likely annoying drop-ins. If you have volunteered and coordinated to work
on a specific project, by all means, do it, but if you want to put energy
into growing soaring, try your own backyard first. Growing soaring happens
at the grass roots level. I joined my first club (I already had an interest
and had taken a soaring flight) when I noticed their black on hot pink 8.5 x
11 poster on the bulletin board of the local USAF post office. It simply
stated "We reckon if you can drive a car, you can fly a glider" and had a
graphic on an SHK (serial nr 1, of which I later owned a share) and the club
name and contact details. I was there mid-week after I got a car only to
find they flew normally at the weekends. But I was back 9am on the
Saturday.

I see no pressing need to move the SSA to a higher cost of living area when
the budget is so tight. Turning it around financially will take some time.
Please login to the member area and review the ex-Com and board minutes and
review the eNewsLetter or copies of the Dennis' Missile.

Frank Whiteley

When the SSA moved to Hobbs in the 80's, Hobbs was the center of the U.S.
soaring universe. A world championship had just been held there, and it was
where every glider pilot dreamed of flying out of for pleasure of competition.
At that point, the buildings remoteness did not seem so far fetched.
Now, I fear that Hobbs is a dying sight. The recent implosion of the NSF, as
well as having a well run, but truly disappointing (Weather wise) Standard
class nationals will not be forgotten in the near future. There are simply too
many large egos down there competing with each other to make it a viable
solution for holding contests in the near future.
On the other hand, the city is FULLY supportive of the soaring movement. Can
anyone else recall being at a glider contest where each contest got at least a
full front page article in the sports section of the local paper, and the
contest results broadcast on radio and TV every day, right along with baseball
and basketball scores?
My point is this; without Hobbs as a sight for large contests and get
together, having our headquarters down there is pretty much useless and
inconvenient for everyone. I believe that the soaring sight, and the SSA
headquarters are joined at the hip. Either someone needs to step in and
revitalize Hobbs as a soaring sight, or I fear that both that beautiful
airport, as well as our national headquarters are doomed to fail.
-Mitch

I remember SSA HQ in Santa Monica, California. When passing through Los
Angeles area, I would always stop at the office to say hello to the friends and
staff.
I wonder how many others enjoyed the old facility at SM Airport.
Sure, it might be easier to visit the office if it was in Atlanta, Dallas or
Chicago.
But would that really make a difference?
I doubt it.
We dream of comparisons with EAA. In Oshkosh?? Get serious
GA
( SSA for about 45 years)

At 10:30 27 January 2005, Keith W wrote:

'Jack' wrote in message
oups.com...
This thread took off on course but meandered off to
a dying cu. I agree
that Hobbs at least needs to be a soaring site.

What's needed is NEW MEMBERS. People come into this
sport and leave
with frightening regularity. They will come in and
get their license,
and disappear after a couple of years because - in
my humble opinion -
1.) the cost of competitive sailplanes is too high
- 2.) the cost of
operating a new sailplane per hour can be outrageous
- 3.) too many FAI
pilots fly in lesser classes, and don't share their
knowledge with
fledgling competitors - 4.) they get scared off early
due to cost - 5.)
Hell, it just costs a lot of money to do this in most
places.


One other that I haven't seen here (and which was a
prime reason for me
ceasing to be active) was the very small return on
investment of time. I
belonged to a members club, where the day was spent
in self-help pushing and
pulling before your own time came. I was at the club
at least once each
weekend, from early to late, and a look through my
log book shows I got an
average of around one quarter of an hour flying for
each day spent! (And
that did not include the days spent working in the
hangars due to rain or
wind preventing flying, or the evenings helping at
the group air experience
flying, as those did not result in an entry in the
log book.)

Although I got to the 'B' certificate (solo, but not
clear of the airfield),
the personal return to me never really compensated
for the guilt of not
maintaining the house and doing all those other domestic
jobs that refuse to
go away! 8-)

Keith
(Still interested in soaring, and an avid lurker, but
probably the only way
I'd get into the air in future would be via power)

Wonder what the ratio of work to flight time was for
Orville? What is the time ratio between laboring and
eating? How about courting and mating? Real thrills
don't charge at us constantly; if you flat line a peak
it becomes a plateau. I like soaring and I like hanging
out with the club members, and I enjoy working on the
equipment. The sailors who sail all their lives enjoy
working on the boats almost as much as sailing them.
If it is all drudgery except the flying, it won't
be enduring; find your passion and stick with it.

snoop wrote:


Imagine Charlie, and Charlie lite getting on a non-stop flight straight
into DFW, or DEN, or ABQ, or wherever, and in twenty minutes being at
headquarters.

More thoughts?

I can imagine the Charlie's doing that, but I can't imagine why they
would want to spend all that money, spend hours at airports fighting the
security lines, the baggage lines, the rental car lines, and the traffic
between the airport and wherever the headquarters ended up, which would
most likely be much further away the 20 minutes (do you know where the
Denver airport is now?).

Have you asked the Charlie's if they mind the headquarters being in
Hobbs? I've not heard either of them ever mention it. In fact, the only
people I hear complain about the location are people with little reason,
other than curiosity, to visit it. For example, the Directors I know
never mention it.

I have visited it several times, and folks, it's just an office. With
telephones, fax machines, email, web sites, post office, Fed Ex, etc,
there is very little need to visit the office.

Instead of spending the money that you would on that trip to Denver,
DFW, etc, where you suggest the office be located, spend it going to an
SSA convention. You'll enjoy it a LOT more, and you will still be able
to talk to several of the office staff, including Dennis Wright, because
they'll be there, too.

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Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA