About the Governance of the Soaring Society of America

[[email protected]]

It's been brought to my attention that some members have asked where they might find documentation relating to the governance of the SSA (on its website). I hope this sheds some light and puts to rest any notion the SSA is not transparent. As the Director of Region 6 it is my opinion that the SSA is largely transparent about its funding and expenditures. This I believe is a testament to its past and present leadership, the organization's Executive Committee, Phil Umphres, and its Chairman, Ken Sorenson.

While one may rightfully critisize the organization's website and user experience, the organization's financial statements are available to the public for anyone to see and download in .PDF format. See: https://www.ssa.org/BudgetAndFinance

Additionally, the organization's Board Meeting agendas, Board Meeting minutes, and Executive Committee meeting minutes are available too.

See: https://www.ssa.org/BoardReports.asp (Board Minutes and Executive Committee Minutes)

See also: https://www.ssa.org/Bluebooks (Board Meeting Agenda and Volunteer Committee Reports)

Members may also access information about the SSA Foundation. Here's a link to the page where you can click on and access the SSA Foundation's Financial Reports and Trustees' meeting minutes: https://www.ssa.org/Foundation?show=blog&id=3740

John Godfrey chairs the SSA Foundation and in my opinion has done an incredible job as the Chair of the foundation's independent Board of Trustees. I'm confident this entity will continue to preserve and grow the foundation's assets on behalf of the SSA and its membership.

Lastly, I can tell you Denise Layton and the staff at Hobbs do an amazing job of servicing our membership. If you have questions about something, please don't be afraid to call and ask. If you're considering making a donation to the SSA's Eagle Fund and want to know more about how those funds may be used or where the greatest need is, Denise and the staff can help you with that too. Likewise, your Regional Director provides you yet another line of communication to the organization's leadership and staff. Please know we're here to serve you and help preserve and grow this wonderful sport.

Sincerely,

Chris Schrader
SSA Director, Region 6

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

I will say, I became a "life member" many decades ago.
Way before "Al Gore" invented the Internet (US slam here......;-))

Sheesh.........did multiple posts before my browser allowed me to post......

Dang it........

I have kicked money to SSA since then since I became a life member based on what a yearly cost vs. when I thought I would drop out.
I want to keep the SSA going.
A modest contribution here and there later is cheap to keep them going......

[Tango Eight]

https://www.ssa.org/Join

It's not really all that hard.

T8

[[email protected]]

"Its not that hard"

No but it is obscure. I have the same issue, most sites have a "renew" button to take you directly there, its usually right at the top maybe should be right next to the login button :)

CH

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

On Friday, December 21, 2018 at 1:30:16 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> "Its not that hard"
>
> No but it is obscure. I have the same issue, most sites have a "renew" button to take you directly there, its usually right at the top maybe should be right next to the login button :)
>
> CH

SSA Home Page. Hover on "The SSA" Second item down is "Join the SSA". Step 1 is for Joining. Step 2 is for Renewing. It does say that you have to log in to be able to renew. Yep, there is not a "RENEW" or "JOIN" button on the homepage. But, it is just a hover away. And there is a checkbox so you can set it up to renew your membership automatically. So, there shouldn't be a need to "re-learn what you forgot from last year" if you are willing to check the box.

But then again, I have become adjusted to clicking here to go to the USA OLC Daily Score page shortly.

No system will ever be perfect in the eyes of all users. But when you have issues, please bring them up with the SSA or your Regional Director, or State Governor. We do listen to you if you will take time to tell us what you think, and we will keep trying to improve the organization.

Have a Merry Christmas,

Steve Leonard
Region 10 Director, SSA

[Frank Whiteley]

On Friday, December 21, 2018 at 12:30:16 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> "Its not that hard"
>
> No but it is obscure. I have the same issue, most sites have a "renew" button to take you directly there, its usually right at the top maybe should be right next to the login button :)
>
> CH

If you are logged into the SSA web site, the Join page presents as renewal options. If you are not logged in, it presents as a Join page.

So, yes, it can be a bit confusing.

Frank Whiteley

[[email protected]]

On Friday, December 21, 2018 at 2:08:05 PM UTC-5, Tango Eight wrote:
> https://www.ssa.org/Join
>
> It's not really all that hard.
>
> T8

"Please use this form for New Memberships only. If you wish to renew a membership please log into the SSA website first."
- and no further instructions.

From the home page, if you manage to find "join" in the drop-down menus, you get this: https://www.ssa.org/HowToJoin - where it says:
"Renew your membership online by clicking here [leads to the page you mentioned]. You must sign up as a new member, but in the instructions box, please advise you are renewing your membership. You can also call the SSA office to renew."

I rest my case.

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

On Friday, December 21, 2018 at 2:55:51 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> On Friday, December 21, 2018 at 2:08:05 PM UTC-5, Tango Eight wrote:
> > https://www.ssa.org/Join
> >
> > It's not really all that hard.
> >
> > T8
>
> "Please use this form for New Memberships only. If you wish to renew a membership please log into the SSA website first."
> - and no further instructions.
>
> From the home page, if you manage to find "join" in the drop-down menus, you get this: https://www.ssa.org/HowToJoin - where it says:
> "Renew your membership online by clicking here [leads to the page you mentioned]. You must sign up as a new member, but in the instructions box, please advise you are renewing your membership. You can also call the SSA office to renew."
>
> I rest my case.

As I said before, "No system will be perfect in the eyes of all operators".

I am logged in. I hover on "The SSA" and select the "Join" drop down. I get a page that allows me to do one of two things:

Renew Full Membership
or
Renew Full Membership and sign up for automatic renewal

As with any website I have seen, if you are a member AND logged in, the options are tailored to what members want. Try it when logged in. It is set up this way so new members Join and existing members Renew.

If you have not created a login or have troubles, there is a button at the top right that can help you. It is called "Login Help".

In regard to the "no further instructions" comment. Would it be helpful to standardize the language so we don't have some places saying "Log In" and some saying "Sign In"? People like myself expect to see common verbiage and I will see what can be done about this. But the "Sign In" or "Log In" is the blue box top right on the page.

Steve Leonard
Region 10 Director, SSA

[Tango Eight]

On Friday, December 21, 2018 at 3:55:51 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> On Friday, December 21, 2018 at 2:08:05 PM UTC-5, Tango Eight wrote:
> > https://www.ssa.org/Join
> >
> > It's not really all that hard.
> >
> > T8
>
> "Please use this form for New Memberships only. If you wish to renew a membership please log into the SSA website first."
> - and no further instructions.
>
> From the home page, if you manage to find "join" in the drop-down menus, you get this: https://www.ssa.org/HowToJoin - where it says:
> "Renew your membership online by clicking here [leads to the page you mentioned]. You must sign up as a new member, but in the instructions box, please advise you are renewing your membership. You can also call the SSA office to renew."
>
> I rest my case.


It has its own great big icon on the SSA home page. Look again. Stay out of the drop down menus. Right side, sixth item down under Soaring Essentials.

T8

[[email protected]]

On Friday, December 21, 2018 at 4:28:22 PM UTC-5, Steve Leonard wrote:
> On Friday, December 21, 2018 at 2:55:51 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> > On Friday, December 21, 2018 at 2:08:05 PM UTC-5, Tango Eight wrote:
> > > https://www.ssa.org/Join
> > >
> > > It's not really all that hard.
> > >
> > > T8
> >
> > "Please use this form for New Memberships only. If you wish to renew a membership please log into the SSA website first."
> > - and no further instructions.
> >
> > From the home page, if you manage to find "join" in the drop-down menus, you get this: https://www.ssa.org/HowToJoin - where it says:
> > "Renew your membership online by clicking here [leads to the page you mentioned]. You must sign up as a new member, but in the instructions box, please advise you are renewing your membership. You can also call the SSA office to renew."
> >
> > I rest my case.
>
> As I said before, "No system will be perfect in the eyes of all operators".
>
> I am logged in. I hover on "The SSA" and select the "Join" drop down. I get a page that allows me to do one of two things:
>
> Renew Full Membership
> or
> Renew Full Membership and sign up for automatic renewal
>
> As with any website I have seen, if you are a member AND logged in, the options are tailored to what members want. Try it when logged in. It is set up this way so new members Join and existing members Renew.
>
> If you have not created a login or have troubles, there is a button at the top right that can help you. It is called "Login Help".
>
> In regard to the "no further instructions" comment. Would it be helpful to standardize the language so we don't have some places saying "Log In" and some saying "Sign In"? People like myself expect to see common verbiage and I will see what can be done about this. But the "Sign In" or "Log In" is the blue box top right on the page.
>
> Steve Leonard
> Region 10 Director, SSA

By "no further instructions" I meant that it _only_ says "If you wish to renew a membership please log into the SSA website first." That does not explain what to do next. It could have said right there: "After you login this page will look different and will include a renewal option." I tried that now, and indeed it leads to a renewal checkout. That is different from (and an improvement on) what it looked like when I renewed last year. But that contradicts what it still says in the first "join" page: [to renew] "You must sign up as a new member, but in the instructions box, please advise you are renewing your membership" - which is how it used to be done.

[Jim St. Clair]

The SSA site should be updated. The join link is buried in a list of links on the right margin. Most organization sites have a prominent join "call to action" button in a color that stands out and contrasts to other colors on the page. Look at the AOPA site for example https://www.aopa.org and see the bright orange JOIN NOW button at the top of the page. Can't be missed.

[[email protected]]

I was taking a look at the most recent meeting minutes and came across this paragraph.

"Director Maleady addressed, as Treasurer, that he has no idea how the Youth/Junior Committee is spending, how they’re raising money, and ended using a $5,000 donation from the museum in putting on a camp. We were not aware of it. Director Schrader offered that CEO Layton was aware of it. Director Maleady said they were aware after the fact and that the museum wanted to give the money to the club and not the SSA because they feared the SSA would misuse the money. The plan was that some of the money would be used to reimburse the pilots that flew with juniors. Director Maleady also mentioned that Director Whiteley approves expenditures. Director Whiteley interjected that he had nothing to do with the junior camps and contest financials. This discussion taken off line."

In the spirit of transparency, can you please explain the results of the discussion that was “taken off lineâ€�?Â*Can you please explain how the Youth/Junior Committee is spending money? Also, can you explain why the museum “feared that the SSA would misuse the moneyâ€�?

Rhonda Clerkin

[JP Stewart]

On Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 12:05:04 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> I was taking a look at the most recent meeting minutes and came across this paragraph.
>
> "Director Maleady addressed, as Treasurer, that he has no idea how the Youth/Junior Committee is spending, how they’re raising money, and ended using a $5,000 donation from the museum in putting on a camp. We were not aware of it. Director Schrader offered that CEO Layton was aware of it.. Director Maleady said they were aware after the fact and that the museum wanted to give the money to the club and not the SSA because they feared the SSA would misuse the money. The plan was that some of the money would be used to reimburse the pilots that flew with juniors. Director Maleady also mentioned that Director Whiteley approves expenditures. Director Whiteley interjected that he had nothing to do with the junior camps and contest financials. This discussion taken off line."
>
> In the spirit of transparency, can you please explain the results of the discussion that was “taken off lineâ€�?Â*Can you please explain how the Youth/Junior Committee is spending money? Also, can you explain why the museum “feared that the SSA would misuse the moneyâ€�?
>
> Rhonda Clerkin

Hi Rhonda,

Excellent and fair question - I can certainly see how reading that in an isolated context would leave a lot of questions open. Unfortunately, I was not at the board meeting so I cannot speak to the events in the report but can help clarify a few factual elements. :)

- In order to further encourage soaring among those under 26 and build a strong foundation for the future of the sport, the SSA's Youth/Junior Committee began organizing a yearly contest to bring together young pilots and provide mentoring opportunities. Both anecdotal accounts and empirical data (going back to similar camps hosted as far back as 2005), show that the retention rates among these pilots are extremely high. In fact, not only do a large majority of these pilots continue soaring into adulthood (even with kids, changes in jobs or careers, and growing families), but many have given back to the sport in ways that are almost unimaginable – some becoming CFI-G and/or DPE, others have become commercial operators, professional pilots, aerospace engineers, or leaders in their local glider clubs, and a majority of former Junior campers continue to fly cross-country or participate in regional and national soaring contests to this day (a handful winning one or more national championships and/or having been selected to the U.S.. Team, either as a Junior, or the Women’s Team, or to the U.S. Team).

- Recognizing that even with the SSA's junior rebates, the cost and difficulty of participation (hotels, gliders availability, hull insurance costs, food, transport) is still a significant barrier to entry for many (especially the younger juniors), the committee choose to establish a two-seat class (where juniors fly with experienced mentors in gliders provided by the organization) and a traditional, racing single-seat class that’s recognized by the SSA as a sanctioned regional contest (awarding ranking points to the entrants).

- To further lower the barrier, the contest would provide resources beyond what is expected at a traditional regional contest (i.e., pooling housing and food costs), and the organizing committee found generous sponsors who further subsidized the costs to the juniors (for example the Rick Walters Scholarship Fund and the National Soaring Museum).

- These camps have been very successful. Since 2016, 54 Juniors have participated in the four events that were hosted at Texas Soaring Association, Harris Hill, Sandhill Soaring Club, and Williams Soaring Center. They included many firsts - contest, task completion, landouts, regional wins, etc.

- Director Whiteley authorizes disbursements in the management of the flight training scholarships and not for the event - this is what likely lead to the confusion in the board meeting. To avoid any conflicts of interest in the organizing committee, expenses and documentation of such for the event are submitted directly to the SSA office for approval and disbursement and the accounting is managed through normal SSA processes.

- The comment "because they feared the SSA would misuse the money" is missing critical context. There was a concern in initial discussions that the donation may just go into a general donation bucket that could be used for the SSA's general operating expenses and not go 100% to the junior event. After clarification that the donation would go into a restricted account for the 2018 junior camp/contest expenses only (and any leftover monies would remain with JYC to fund future junior camps), the NSM chose to make it's $5,000 donation directly to the SSA and no further concerns were raised after that clarification."

I hope that helps - please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions.

Best,
JP Stewart
Youth/Junior Committee Co-Chair

[Christopher Schrader[_2_]]

Rhonda,

My apologies. This was brought to my attention earlier this week and this is the first chance I’ve had to respond in earnest.

I’m not sure why exactly but Richard Maleady, who was appointed Treasurer in January of 2018, wasn’t aware the SSA’s Junior/Youth Committee (“JYC�) had been soliciting donor funding (with approval from ExCom and the Board since early 2017), to help fund Junior Camp Contests and supplement any funding that had been coming from the Contest Committee's Junior Rebate Program. I should note, the newly created Development and Fundraising Committee was aware of JYC’s fundraising activities too, as I also sit on that committee, and at least two others who attend ExCom were involved in some capacity or another with the setup and testing of donor portals that were launched on the SSA and U.S. Junior Soaring websites in February 2018. In any event, my best guess is Richard probably wasn’t familiar because they were relatively new initiatives that preceded him and things were running smoothly, and they continue to do so today. See the end of this promotional video commissioned by the SSA at JYC and the Growth & Retention Committee’s request: https://youtu.be/RZEIUC0YiPM

As for what was said during the meeting, I attempted to correct the record, and as memory recalls Richard still didn't have an accurate understanding of what transpired so in order to move the meeting along it was agreed that Richard and I would move the conversation off-line so I had a chance to bring him up to speed. Off-line we discussed that JYC had solicited donations from individuals and from the National Soaring Museum (“NSM�), to fund the 2018 Junior Camp Contest and future camps, and that such donations largely helped subsidize the camp such that JYC didn't take a draw from the Contest Committee's Junior Rebate Program in 2018. There were concerns at NSM that if a donation was made to the SSA that it might not be used as earmarked for JYC but rather might be used for general operation expenses. This was resolved between Denise Layton and I, and we agreed that the donation be made to the SSA's JYC and earmarked to fund the camp as intended. As a Director, and with Denise's approval, I gave assurances through JP Stewart to Kevin Christener of the NSM that such would be the case and that the funds would be utilized by JYC to fund the 2018 camp, and any leftover monies would be held by JYC to fund future Junior Camp Contests. Director Maleady and I agreed that in the future I (or somebody else from JYC), keep him apprised of our activities.

I hope this answers your questions relating to oversight and sheds some light on Richard’s comments. As reported his comments would have led me to have had some questions about what transpired too.

With that said, I’m a strong proponent of JYC and U.S. Junior Soaring. I firmly believe the SSA/Costello/Purduski/Stoffel Youth Flight Training Scholarships (a separate program from the Junior Camp Contest), the Junior Camp Contest, and other JYC initiatives are an integral component of growing the sport. Essentially, we’re developing the future leaders of this sport.

Sincerely,

Chris Schrader, SSA Director Region 6

Committee Assignments:
Growth & Retention (former Chairperson)
Clubs & Chapters
Junior/Youth
Development & Fundraising

[[email protected]]

JP & Chris—

Thank you for your clarifying replies. I am not questioning the good that you do for the sport and getting youth involved.

But I do think there is a larger problem -- that the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing – that is indicated in those meeting minutes. I think this is where we got into trouble as an organization 10-15 years ago. Everyone was just doing their own thing, and no one was keeping the big picture in focus. I think the SSA is lacking an overall strategic leadership. All of the individual parts are important, but if there is no collaboration, what is the purpose of the SSA?

For example, did you know that we (business members of the SSA) in conjunction with the EAA are providing free introductory ground school classes (a $100 value) for anyone that has taken a Young Eagles flight? The SSA wasn’t interested in talking to us about this because we are a for-profit company. Just in 2019 we have had 28 youth sign up and take the first phase of online ground school with us.

I think we have a larger problem than just getting more young people to fly gliders.

Rhonda Clerkin
www.GLIDERBOOKS.com