A proposal to increase membership, cross-country pilots, competitors,and world champions (USA).

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 opportunities to visit clubs around the world. My take on one of the factors is that the US is so large and clubs spread so far apart. Many times not near metropolitan areas. The club I've belonged to is an hour and forty minutes each way. The next nearest clubs are at least twice that distance and more. It's just a huge commitment to make a day at the club happen.

Now, my experience in Europe where I've flown internationally the most (Germany and England) There is a club every 30 miles. Usually, there's public transportation available from town to the club which makes it very accessible even for me on layovers. Imagine if here in the US we had this kind of access 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

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