Promote your glider operation

There is something wrong when we are organizing task groups to look at
digital media, but we don't think it's worth our time and/or resources to
have a significant presence at the largest aviation event in the world -
Oshkosh.

If we really want maximum exposure for our sport, we should make the SSA
convention part of the annual Oshkosh event. Not only would we have all of
the displays there for non-glider pilots to see, but we would also be able
to network with all of the key people in the FAA, AOPA, etc. who are going
to be there anyway.

Mike Schumann

"Frank Whiteley" wrote in message
...
On Nov 24, 10:33 am, MickiMinner wrote:
I think all of the above posters have the right idea...the concept is
to "grow" the sport,
but nobody has any grasp of what the numbers are of active glider
pilots,
instructor pilots, new rides, FAST offers, Calls to local glider
ports,
rate of activity.

I do believe that statistics, numbers need to be compiled.
We can't figure out if we need pull marketing, viral marketing,
publicity campaigns, and any other types of publicity until we know
what we are pushing for!
One Example of what we need to know:
Do we want to approach pilots with power tickets? Do we have better
success with youth? or better success at converting the power pilot,
or do we have a better success rate with the person that calls for a
"joy ride".

Omri has a a great idea that an individual giving the ride should have
the passion and personality to address the needs of the person
enquiring and taking a test ride.

the bottom line for me, is that we need to compile some data. Regular
surveys of the clubs, or reporting of how many calls/rides/instruction
requests/new members. Can't market what you don't know.
just my 2cents
Micki

Pulling hen's teeth while herding cats;^)

Actually, part of the digital revolution is that we are at the cusp of
such data retrieval. Most operations are likely using some sort of
accounting software from which reports may be derived. How, I've also
heard from COBM that commercial operators will be unlikely to share
such data. Among chapters, many are non-profit entities and must
provide information upon request (though may charge reasonable re-
production costs). However, past performance is not prediction of the
future. Both commercial operations and clubs can change in appeal and
performance, usually to a knee-jerk reaction to some event or a change
in internal politics, so I'm not sure a study will help market, though
it may help define what works.

Part of the problem has been the difficulty to keeping current contact
information for chapter leadership. The clubs & chapters committee
compiled that information and surveyed for about 110 chapters under
Dave Newill. However, club and chapter leadership changes every year
or two. The committee also used the WTF contact info to try and have
chapters complete some online information updates. We eventually got
about forty inputs out of 140 clubs and chapters, yet it remained time
intensive. This year the SSA office included a request for chapter
leadership functions in the chapter renewal process. Response has
been very good, thank you very much. Doug Easton has recently
provided the committee with a leadership view which will help us
communicate better with chapters.

Statistics and data collection is part of that digital media
experience that I've included within my draft proposal for formation
of an SSA Digital Media Working Group. This group will hopefully
examine, propose, and implement actions to leverage audio, video,
imagery, web techniques, social networking, webinars, mentoring, and
story boarding to place some strategic on-target, on-message links to
our sport and organizations. Internal data collection and
introspection is part of the mix. Annually I submit an input to the
world gliding report, but it's very limited due to the lack of
resources available.

As John Seaborn mentions, this will take some aggressive and committed
volunteers. I agree. We have significant individual talent and
effort out there. If we could get those individual to put ten or
twenty percent of that effort into a focused package of strategies
with a national, regional, and local emphasis, we'd move forward
rapidly. Without that framework, I think hiring national marketing
expertise would not give us the results hoped for. We need the
resources first. Yesterday, while sorting through some Soaring
magazines with a soaring friend, he mentioned that the SSA staffed a
marketing expert in the late 1970's. Before my time as an SSA member
(1980), so perhaps someone else can give us a history lesson on Sunny
Vesgo, "The Sunny Side" column, and the eventual outcomes. I'm told
there was much dis-satisfaction at the end of the day.

As far as what may work, see my committee post on the SSA web site
today on Leveraging the SSA FAST and SSA Introductory Membership for
chapter growth.

Frank Whiteley

There is someone in Wisconsin (near Oshkosh) who showed interest in
organizing a soaring presence, suggesting the Learn to Fly Pavilion
with CAP, USAFA, etc.. His name was given to the SSA (AOPA) board
member and to the chair of the Growth and Development Committee. I
believe there is interest, but involvement will probably continue come
from voluntary efforts, like many other initiatives and programs
within the SSA. Many are done by groups, a few as individuals. I've
previously suggested Sun 'n Fun. Not as large, much cheaper for large
display areas which sailplanes need, but still a good sized event.
Soaring was represented at the AOPA summit in FL earlier this month.
No idea if a local interests were served, but the SSA Governor for
Florida was there with a DG-1000 on display. I know Philadelphia
Glider Council made good use of a local AOPA meeting a few years
ago.

As for me, I've never been to Oshkosh nor Sun 'n Fun. However, I was
the vendor relations person for three good-sized EAA Regional Fly-ins
and helped with two others, and had a soaring presence at each.
During those five years, I'm aware of one father and son pair that
joined a local club, dropping out within the first year. Done mall
displays and other presentations, too. There's a place for mall
action. Don Ingraham has pretty much figured that out and it takes a
bit more than a display, you need to be offering something else, rides
as gifting options. I've seen his concept video. The finished one
should attract attention on a good sized projection screen. Local
efforts generate local results. National efforts are a bit harder to
measure. Even 800soaring.com says interest is waning on the glider
ride action, but I think that's because fewer operations, both clubs
and commercial, are willing to redeem these rides. So he sells
balloon rides.

Soaring was represented at Oshkosh for several years, mainly through
voluntary efforts and donations, sometimes with SSA backing. Can
someone point us to a bump in growth of the sport as a result? If so,
that would help close the loop on the effectiveness of being there.
Should soaring be there? Yes. However, if we could be half a dozen
other places for the same expense, which way should we go? Tough
choices all around. After all, it really comes down to money, and
there are competing proposals and a rather limited budget. Only one
of the digital media factors involves an expense, the online webinar
service. Up to now, SSA has not expended anything. I have a service
that I've offered to particular soaring seminars and presentations.
So far the only taker has been the one we tested last spring here in
Colorado. They are available on a subscription basis at a fraction of
the cost of the Oshkosh soaring booth. Perhaps soon we will do both
and much, much more.

Frank Whiteley

On Nov 26, 3:22*pm, "Mike Schumann" mike-nos...@traditions-
nospam.com wrote:
There is something wrong when we are organizing task groups to look at
digital media, but we don't think it's worth our time and/or resources to
have a significant presence at the largest aviation event in the world -
Oshkosh.

If we really want maximum exposure for our sport, we should make the SSA
convention part of the annual Oshkosh event. *Not only would we have all of
the displays there for non-glider pilots to see, but we would also be able
to network with all of the key people in the FAA, AOPA, etc. who are going
to be there anyway.

Mike Schumann

"Frank Whiteley" wrote in message

...
On Nov 24, 10:33 am, MickiMinner wrote:



I think all of the above posters have the right idea...the concept is
to "grow" the sport,
but nobody has any grasp of what the numbers are of active glider
pilots,
instructor pilots, new rides, FAST offers, Calls to local glider
ports,
rate of activity.

I do believe that statistics, numbers need to be compiled.
We can't figure out if we need pull marketing, viral marketing,
publicity campaigns, and any other types of publicity until we know
what we are pushing for!
One Example of what we need to know:
Do we want to approach pilots with power tickets? Do we have better
success with youth? or better success at converting the power pilot,
or do we have a better success rate with the person that calls for a
"joy ride".

Omri has a a great idea that an individual giving the ride should have
the passion and personality to address the needs of the person
enquiring and taking a test ride.

the bottom line for me, is that we need to compile some data. Regular
surveys of the clubs, or reporting of how many calls/rides/instruction
requests/new members. Can't market what you don't know.
just my 2cents
Micki

Pulling hen's teeth while herding cats;^)

Actually, part of the digital revolution is that we are at the cusp of
such data retrieval. *Most operations are likely using some sort of
accounting software from which reports may be derived. *How, I've also
heard from COBM that commercial operators will be unlikely to share
such data. *Among chapters, many are non-profit entities and must
provide information upon request (though may charge reasonable re-
production costs). *However, past performance is not prediction of the
future. *Both commercial operations and clubs can change in appeal and
performance, usually to a knee-jerk reaction to some event or a change
in internal politics, so I'm not sure a study will help market, though
it may help define what works.

Part of the problem has been the difficulty to keeping current contact
information for chapter leadership. *The clubs & chapters committee
compiled that information and surveyed for about 110 chapters under
Dave Newill. *However, club and chapter leadership changes every year
or two. *The committee also used the WTF contact info to try and have
chapters complete some online information updates. *We eventually got
about forty inputs out of 140 clubs and chapters, yet it remained time
intensive. *This year the SSA office included a request for chapter
leadership functions in the chapter renewal process. *Response has
been very good, thank you very much. *Doug Easton has recently
provided the committee with a leadership view which will help us
communicate better with chapters.

Statistics and data collection is part of that digital media
experience that I've included within my draft proposal for formation
of an SSA Digital Media Working Group. *This group will hopefully
examine, propose, and implement actions to leverage audio, video,
imagery, web techniques, social networking, webinars, mentoring, and
story boarding to place some strategic on-target, on-message links to
our sport and organizations. *Internal data collection and
introspection is part of the mix. *Annually I submit an input to the
world gliding report, but it's very limited due to the lack of
resources available.

As John Seaborn mentions, this will take some aggressive and committed
volunteers. *I agree. *We have significant individual talent and
effort out there. *If we could get those individual to put ten or
twenty percent of that effort into a focused package of strategies
with a national, regional, and local emphasis, we'd move forward
rapidly. *Without that framework, I think hiring national marketing
expertise would not give us the results hoped for. *We need the
resources first. *Yesterday, while sorting through some Soaring
magazines with a soaring friend, he mentioned that the SSA staffed a
marketing expert in the late 1970's. *Before my time as an SSA member
(1980), so perhaps someone else can give us a history lesson on Sunny
Vesgo, "The Sunny Side" column, and the eventual outcomes. *I'm told
there was much dis-satisfaction at the end of the day.

As far as what may work, see my committee post on the SSA web site
today on Leveraging the SSA FAST and SSA Introductory Membership for
chapter growth.

Frank Whiteley

So how to we turn these good ideas into tangible action at a national
level? What is the mechanism by which new initiatives are taken up by
the SSA? Who ya gonna call? As a start, I will pledge $100 to any
fund earmarked for gathering some of these statistics and creating an
action plan. I want to save my sport from extinction. Anyone else?

On Nov 24, 12:26*pm, "Matt Herron Jr." wrote:
So how to we turn these good ideas into tangible action at a national
level? *What is the mechanism by which new initiatives are taken up by
the SSA? *Who ya gonna call? *As a start, I will pledge $100 to any
fund earmarked for gathering some of these statistics and creating an
action plan. *I want to save my sport from extinction. *Anyone else?

Mat, get with Frank W. We don't need the $100 as much as we need
someone to call and collect information. There's only about 200
glider operations in the US but it's amazingly difficult to contact
them and get current information. Last winter were never able to
contact about 15% of them.

The "contact difficulty" problem goes a long way to explain our loss
of members. There may be lots of people out there who want to fly
gliders but who can't contact a club near them. We gotta make that
easier.

Bill D

On Nov 24, 10:33*am, MickiMinner wrote:
I think all of the above posters have the right idea...the concept is
to "grow" the sport,
but nobody has any grasp of what the numbers are of active glider
pilots,
instructor pilots, new rides, FAST offers, Calls to local glider
ports,
rate of activity.

I do believe that statistics, numbers need to be compiled.
We can't figure out if we need pull marketing, viral marketing,
publicity campaigns, and any other types of publicity until we know
what we are pushing for!
One Example of what we need to know:
Do we want to approach pilots with power tickets? *Do we have better
success with youth? or better success at converting the power pilot,
or do we have a better success rate with the person that calls for a
"joy ride".

Omri has a a great idea that an individual giving the ride should have
the passion and personality to address the needs of the person
enquiring and taking a test ride.

the bottom line for me, is that we need to compile some data. *Regular
surveys of the clubs, or reporting of how many calls/rides/instruction
requests/new members. *Can't market what you don't know.
just my 2cents
Micki

Miki, I absolutely agree accurate, current statistics are needed. The
first thing I did was to conduct a survey by calling and e-mailing all
the organizations listed with the SSA. That's where the numbers in my
earlier post came from. The responses weren't universal but there was
enough to extrapolate the rest with pretty good accuracy. It would
really help if soaring organizations kept their data on the "Where to
Fly" list up to date.

What jumped out was our aggregate annual training capacity doesn't
exceed 2000/year and may be as low as 1000. At any given time only
about 300 - 400 new students can be accepted - that's with business as
usual.

Commercial operations generally fly any day the weather is flyable
with northern operations putting in about 180 days a year and southern
operators about 300 days a year with limited opportunity increase that
number.

Clubs tend to only operate on fair weather weekends which averages out
to less than 60 days a year. The big opportunity to expand the
training capacity without adding equipment is for clubs to stage
training camps that run 14 days straight. Some clubs do several of
these camps a year.

I could only find 179 tow planes but I'll allow that I might have
missed a few which is why I said 200 tugs. Winches can increase our
"uphill capacity" significantly and are well suited for training.

We actually have plenty of instructors but a lot of them aren't really
active instructors. The SSA might bring some back to active status by
organizing a group instructor liability policy. I think it would also
help if more attractive training gliders were available. (Some of us
old guys are too creaky to fold ourselves into the back seat of a 2-33
or L-13.)