Mike Schumann wrote:
When you have an organization of this size, the back office is a real
problem. The group is too large to run with volunteers, but barely big
enough where professional management is efficient and affordable.

That is the advantage of becoming affiliated with a larger organization,
whether it is the EAA, AOPA or someone else. It provides an opportunity to
leverage the existing professional back office infrastructure of that
organization, so that the SSA volunteers can focus on what they love:
soaring.

It may be that what the SSA needs is professional management, but I
would submit that the mangaement not be under the EAA or AOPA umbrella
(umbrellas don't protect you in ill winds). I'd bet most people have
never heard of an association management company (AMC). The AMC model
of association management may be just what an association of SSA's size
and type of governance needs. You have economies of scale on your side
with an AMC. For more info on AMCs: www.iaamc.org.