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