Chip Bearden[_2_]
August 16th 10, 08:49 PM
Like many in the competition community, I'd occasionally been critical
of the SSA staff in the past not so much for not understanding what we
competition pilots do (sometimes it doesn't even make sense to me) but
for their apparent lack of interest even when we had contests across
the road from SSA HQ in Hobbs.
Well, the Standard Class Nationals were an eye opener. In addition to
their day jobs as SSA staffers, many in the office were seen early in
the mornings and after closing time volunteering for contest duties,
including helping host several great dinners. They also did a great
job opportunistically corralling younger crews into stuffing
envelopes, etc., during the rain.
Most gratifying, however, were the SSA staffers who headed out on
retrieves (of which there were many in this weather-plagued ordeal).
I'm embarrassed to admit I landed out three times. On two occasions my
not-yet-driving-age daughter arrived in our van driven by the husband
of SSA Chief Admin. Officer Denise Layton. Denise herself would have
come but she was on another retrieve each time.
Then on the last day, SSA Member Services specialist Donna Head
underwent a baptism by fire involving taking down three strands of
electrified barbed wire (with the farmer's permission), backing the
trailer through a ditch to overhang the field, and dragging the glider
across the furrows through brute force (stopping frequently to rest)
to get it to the trailer. She may not have had any experience on
retrieves before this (although she clearly had a lot of hours driving
a trailer) but she maintained her good humor vastly better than I did.
And she's well trained now!
Thanks, SSA staffers (and families), for going above and beyond. I
wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to see another contest in
Hobbs. That makes it even more remarkable to know that you've
committed to trying to have one there every year going forward.
Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA
of the SSA staff in the past not so much for not understanding what we
competition pilots do (sometimes it doesn't even make sense to me) but
for their apparent lack of interest even when we had contests across
the road from SSA HQ in Hobbs.
Well, the Standard Class Nationals were an eye opener. In addition to
their day jobs as SSA staffers, many in the office were seen early in
the mornings and after closing time volunteering for contest duties,
including helping host several great dinners. They also did a great
job opportunistically corralling younger crews into stuffing
envelopes, etc., during the rain.
Most gratifying, however, were the SSA staffers who headed out on
retrieves (of which there were many in this weather-plagued ordeal).
I'm embarrassed to admit I landed out three times. On two occasions my
not-yet-driving-age daughter arrived in our van driven by the husband
of SSA Chief Admin. Officer Denise Layton. Denise herself would have
come but she was on another retrieve each time.
Then on the last day, SSA Member Services specialist Donna Head
underwent a baptism by fire involving taking down three strands of
electrified barbed wire (with the farmer's permission), backing the
trailer through a ditch to overhang the field, and dragging the glider
across the furrows through brute force (stopping frequently to rest)
to get it to the trailer. She may not have had any experience on
retrieves before this (although she clearly had a lot of hours driving
a trailer) but she maintained her good humor vastly better than I did.
And she's well trained now!
Thanks, SSA staffers (and families), for going above and beyond. I
wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to see another contest in
Hobbs. That makes it even more remarkable to know that you've
committed to trying to have one there every year going forward.
Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA