SSA FRTF report feedback

[danlj]

Dear ras-ers,

I took some time last week to send a response on the Future
Restructuring Task Force final report and appendices to the task force
members and a couple of the folks on the executive committee.

I thought that the report was realistic and thoughtful and reflected a
lot of work. I'm satisfied with the work and the recommendations. (I
do believe that it should have explicitly addressed the governance
authority of the Board over the executive director; and felt that the
appendix on SSA mag was probably more prescriptive than necessary.)

It was a surprise to get a reply from one of the 8 FRTF members saying
that the task force had had ZERO (please excuse the shout) responses
from anyone else in SSA. It is not like us to be silent.

I am curious. Does this silence mean that:
A. SSA-ers are uniformly pleased with the wise and thoughtful
recommendations of the task force;
B, No one cares;
C. SSA-ers are too busy finishing out the season to read;
D. Altitude hypoxia has created a universal reading dyslexia amongst
soaring pilots.

Oh, wait; if you are reading this and comprehending it, D must be
false...

Dan Johnson
Menomonie WI
(aka monogamy)

[Bullwinkle]

On 11/12/07 6:55 AM, in article
om, "danlj"
> wrote:

> Dear ras-ers,
>
> I took some time last week to send a response on the Future
> Restructuring Task Force final report and appendices to the task force
> members and a couple of the folks on the executive committee.
>
> I thought that the report was realistic and thoughtful and reflected a
> lot of work. I'm satisfied with the work and the recommendations. (I
> do believe that it should have explicitly addressed the governance
> authority of the Board over the executive director; and felt that the
> appendix on SSA mag was probably more prescriptive than necessary.)
>
> It was a surprise to get a reply from one of the 8 FRTF members saying
> that the task force had had ZERO (please excuse the shout) responses
> from anyone else in SSA. It is not like us to be silent.
>
> I am curious. Does this silence mean that:
> A. SSA-ers are uniformly pleased with the wise and thoughtful
> recommendations of the task force;
> B, No one cares;
> C. SSA-ers are too busy finishing out the season to read;
> D. Altitude hypoxia has created a universal reading dyslexia amongst
> soaring pilots.
>
> Oh, wait; if you are reading this and comprehending it, D must be
> false...
>
> Dan Johnson
> Menomonie WI
> (aka monogamy)
>

Perhaps it's a wait-and-see attitude. The SSA was supposed to have been
fixed when Sanderson was fired, and it just got worse, didn't it?

Personally, I'm waiting to see if the promise by all the officers and
Executive Committee members to resign by 1 January 2008 is fulfilled. If
even one decides that the SSA needs their "special experience in this
difficult time" and goes back on their word, then it's just going to be the
"same ole, same ole."

Bullwinkle

[SoaringXCellence]

On Nov 12, 7:52 am, Bullwinkle > wrote:
> On 11/12/07 6:55 AM, in article
> om, "danlj"
>
>
>
>
>
> > wrote:
> > Dear ras-ers,
>
> > I took some time last week to send a response on the Future
> > Restructuring Task Force final report and appendices to the task force
> > members and a couple of the folks on the executive committee.
>
> > I thought that the report was realistic and thoughtful and reflected a
> > lot of work. I'm satisfied with the work and the recommendations. (I
> > do believe that it should have explicitly addressed the governance
> > authority of the Board over the executive director; and felt that the
> > appendix on SSA mag was probably more prescriptive than necessary.)
>
> > It was a surprise to get a reply from one of the 8 FRTF members saying
> > that the task force had had ZERO (please excuse the shout) responses
> > from anyone else in SSA. It is not like us to be silent.
>
> > I am curious. Does this silence mean that:
> > A. SSA-ers are uniformly pleased with the wise and thoughtful
> > recommendations of the task force;
> > B, No one cares;
> > C. SSA-ers are too busy finishing out the season to read;
> > D. Altitude hypoxia has created a universal reading dyslexia amongst
> > soaring pilots.
>
> > Oh, wait; if you are reading this and comprehending it, D must be
> > false...
>
> > Dan Johnson
> > Menomonie WI
> > (aka monogamy)
>
> Perhaps it's a wait-and-see attitude. The SSA was supposed to have been
> fixed when Sanderson was fired, and it just got worse, didn't it?
>
> Personally, I'm waiting to see if the promise by all the officers and
> Executive Committee members to resign by 1 January 2008 is fulfilled. If
> even one decides that the SSA needs their "special experience in this
> difficult time" and goes back on their word, then it's just going to be the
> "same ole, same ole."
>
> Bullwinkle- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I also have taken a wait-and-see attitude. I'm less concerned about
all the EC members resigning as I think that in this environment that
finding replacements (willing, excited, qualified volunteers) would be
difficult. I agree that the association needs to stop trying to be
all things to all people, but I've been in other organizations that
interpret that as "keep the contests going and screw everything
else." (I'm a "Fast Fred/Instructor Irv" type member.) The resulting
emphasis on contests alienates the casual flyer and does little to
promote the sport to future pilots. A very difficult balance that I
will be interested to see effected.

Mike

[Frank Whiteley]

On Nov 12, 7:55 am, danlj > wrote:
> Dear ras-ers,
>
> I took some time last week to send a response on the Future
> Restructuring Task Force final report and appendices to the task force
> members and a couple of the folks on the executive committee.
>
> I thought that the report was realistic and thoughtful and reflected a
> lot of work. I'm satisfied with the work and the recommendations. (I
> do believe that it should have explicitly addressed the governance
> authority of the Board over the executive director; and felt that the
> appendix on SSA mag was probably more prescriptive than necessary.)
>
> It was a surprise to get a reply from one of the 8 FRTF members saying
> that the task force had had ZERO (please excuse the shout) responses
> from anyone else in SSA. It is not like us to be silent.
>
> I am curious. Does this silence mean that:
> A. SSA-ers are uniformly pleased with the wise and thoughtful
> recommendations of the task force;
> B, No one cares;
> C. SSA-ers are too busy finishing out the season to read;
> D. Altitude hypoxia has created a universal reading dyslexia amongst
> soaring pilots.
>
> Oh, wait; if you are reading this and comprehending it, D must be
> false...
>
> Dan Johnson
> Menomonie WI
> (aka monogamy)


I hope you've also read the board and excomm minutes following this
final report. I had some initial concerns about the mix of at-large
directors to elected directors, both serving three year terms. The
board adopted one year terms for the ALD's. This defused at least one
of my objections, so I have yet to comment directly to the FRTF.

Among my observations, there was a footnote used as a reference which
was an unqualified opinion/finding of another study group. There are
volumes written about organizational and group dynamics, it was very
disconcerting to find such a weak reference used to justify an
important point. There was also a poor assertion that unqualified
volunteers should be placed on advisory committees. In the world of
non-profit organizations, advisory committees are generally built from
experts that can give qualified, competent advice to a board like the
SSA's. Perhaps that comment came from a poor experience with a
citizen advisory committee or something similar, but clearly someone
on the FRTF needs to do some additional research. I know there are
some misgivings the vision of the relationship of the board, an exec,
and committees. The power within a non-profit organization lies with
the board, however, IMVHO the strength of the organization lies within
its committees AKA its volunteers. The SSA is largely a volunteer,
membership organization. However, according to one out-going SSA
director, the SSA board's experience with some committees has been
lackluster. People will volunteer and don't follow through. Much is
said about the statement of work, but this will be some time coming.
If you volunteer, than be active, and help develop what that statement
of work will be. Those effective SSA committees are very active and
successful. However, if you think there's something the SSA should be
doing or doing better, I implore you, and any SSA member that's read
this far, to find the committee or director that has responsibility
for that item. Better yet, volunteer for that committee. You'll make
friends, get smarter, and we'll all benefit. That's how we become
greater than the sum of our parts. No one should be sitting on the
fence waiting to see how it turns out, but should give insight and
bring their talents to the table now. BTW, paying your SSA dues
affords you this great opportunity to serve directly as a volunteer.
That's a member benefit that's seldom mentioned.

OBTW, speaking of volunteers, WI has no current SSA Governor. Here's
your chance to step up!

Very best regards,

Frank Whiteley
SSA Governor, Colorado
Chair, SSA State Governors & Record Keepers Committee
SSA Clubs & Chapters Committee

[Frank Whiteley]

On Nov 12, 10:09 am, SoaringXCellence > wrote:
> On Nov 12, 7:52 am, Bullwinkle > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On 11/12/07 6:55 AM, in article
> > om, "danlj"
>
> > > wrote:
> > > Dear ras-ers,
>
> > > I took some time last week to send a response on the Future
> > > Restructuring Task Force final report and appendices to the task force
> > > members and a couple of the folks on the executive committee.
>
> > > I thought that the report was realistic and thoughtful and reflected a
> > > lot of work. I'm satisfied with the work and the recommendations. (I
> > > do believe that it should have explicitly addressed the governance
> > > authority of the Board over the executive director; and felt that the
> > > appendix on SSA mag was probably more prescriptive than necessary.)
>
> > > It was a surprise to get a reply from one of the 8 FRTF members saying
> > > that the task force had had ZERO (please excuse the shout) responses
> > > from anyone else in SSA. It is not like us to be silent.
>
> > > I am curious. Does this silence mean that:
> > > A. SSA-ers are uniformly pleased with the wise and thoughtful
> > > recommendations of the task force;
> > > B, No one cares;
> > > C. SSA-ers are too busy finishing out the season to read;
> > > D. Altitude hypoxia has created a universal reading dyslexia amongst
> > > soaring pilots.
>
> > > Oh, wait; if you are reading this and comprehending it, D must be
> > > false...
>
> > > Dan Johnson
> > > Menomonie WI
> > > (aka monogamy)
>
> > Perhaps it's a wait-and-see attitude. The SSA was supposed to have been
> > fixed when Sanderson was fired, and it just got worse, didn't it?
>
> > Personally, I'm waiting to see if the promise by all the officers and
> > Executive Committee members to resign by 1 January 2008 is fulfilled. If
> > even one decides that the SSA needs their "special experience in this
> > difficult time" and goes back on their word, then it's just going to be the
> > "same ole, same ole."
>
> > Bullwinkle- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I also have taken a wait-and-see attitude. I'm less concerned about
> all the EC members resigning as I think that in this environment that
> finding replacements (willing, excited, qualified volunteers) would be
> difficult. I agree that the association needs to stop trying to be
> all things to all people, but I've been in other organizations that
> interpret that as "keep the contests going and screw everything
> else." (I'm a "Fast Fred/Instructor Irv" type member.) The resulting
> emphasis on contests alienates the casual flyer and does little to
> promote the sport to future pilots. A very difficult balance that I
> will be interested to see effected.
>
> Mike

I think that was an initial response that would lose us valuable
experience and lessons learned. That is one reason for an Advisory
Committee for the SSA board, to retain that organizational history and
capture expert advice.

I think we fail to promote the 'sporting' aspect of soaring
overall. Soaring is an air sport and the importance of that is not
lost on the FAA. For example, an Experimental Racing Airworthiness
Certificate includes (from FAA Order 8310.2):

(33) Proficiency flights are authorized without geographical
restrictions when conducted in preparation
for participation in sanctioned meets and pursuant to qualify for
Federal Aeronautique International (FAI) or
Soaring Society of America (SSA) awards. These flights may only take
place as defined in the aircraft program
letter, and prior to the specific FAI or SSA event. The pilot in
command must submit a description of the intended
route and/or geographical area intended to be flown to the local FSDO.
(Applicability: Group I, Gliders Only)

It follows that flying for personal bests, SSA and FAI records and
awards, and competition flying should be mentored at the grass roots
level, as should many other aspects of involvement; safety, equipment,
events, clubs, recruitment, youth programs, insurance, and more. The
Contest Committees have been successful because they've had their act
together for many years and come to the SSA board meetings well
prepared with their agendas. Other committees have a less visible
role but have also been very effective. Other committees barely have
a pulse. It's really incumbent upon those groups to be effective and
relevant.

Actually, there's never been a better time to become a volunteer. The
door is wide open to new and exciting approaches and we have more
technological opportunities than ever before.

Frank Whiteley

[1LK]

Several thoughts:

1. I hope that at least a few of the exec-com members reconsider
their intent to quit; dedicated and experienced help is hard to find.
If the decisions are irrevocable, I would hope that some of them would
at least continue as board members. A case in point (not the only
one) is Doug Easton who has transformed the website and, were he to
withdraw, would be sorely missed.

2. Some planning can't be done effectively until it's known what the
resources will be; the IRS matter is not, as far as I know, settled.
If they take another big bite, resources could be even more scarce
than at present. While considerable progress seems to have been made
on the accounting front, there are still ambiguities.

3. The report is long on management-speak and short on concrete
structural solutions; I'd like to see more about the nuts-and-bolts
changes to be made, particularly with regard to the magazine. A
professional editor and art director would be a good start and this
seems to be under consideration.

4. The notion of a strong Executive Director seems a good one, but
limited resources and the need for that individual to live in Hobbs
will limit our choices; allowing the Executive Director to work
remotely would make it hard to manage the headquarters staff
effectively.

Ray Warshaw
1LK