On 7/15/2020 10:34 AM, joel!!!!@yahoo,com wrote:
On Monday, July 13, 2020 at 10:27:22 AM UTC-7, wrote:
Volunteer Tow-pilots and CFIG wanted to join Sandhill Soaring Club, a
501(c)(3) not profit gliding club located in Gregory, Michigan, about 30
mins from Ann Arbor, Lansing, and western portions of Greater Metro
Detroit.

Fleet: (1) SGS-233; (1) ASK-13; (2) Grob 103 Twin II; (1) DG-505; (1)
Open Cirrus; (1) Std. Cirrus; (1) Scheibe SF-25C Motorglider; (1) Piper
Pawnee towplane; (1) L-19 Bird Dog towplane (Cessna 305A); (1) Winch

Note About the Fleet: Competent pilot-members may rent club aircraft for
use at camps, glider club fly-ins, and SSA Sanctioned Regional and
National Contests.

Non-refundable Initiation Fee: $500 Monthly dues for CFIG and Tow-Pilot
Specialist Members: $22.50/month

Standard Tow Rate (2,000' AGL): $22

Glider Rates vary from $20-50/hr; see:
https://www.sandhillsoaring.org/dues-fees

Website: www.sandhillsoaring.org

For more information, Contact Chris Schrader at (612) 210-5524
I usually don't post to chat boards but in this case I will - apologies if
this is a repeat-- I started flying gliders at Schweizer Soaring school,
Elmira, NY circa 1965, fell in love with the sport, after a three hiatus
returned to the States and joined HHSC Harris Hill Soaring Corporation.
There was an established monthly duty roaster according to member
qualifications. The Junior members were in charge on their own group with
adult supervision - instructions was for free, club owned sailplanes had
minimal fees. Income was generated primarily from tourist income. I worked
my way up the ranks to become a CFIG the payback by instructing for free.
We all pitched in where we could -- I have been out of soaring for decades-
age and health but -- ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS GONE?

My short-form take is, "Yes!" (They are gone. Time moves on. Things change.
Etc. As to "Why?", everyone has their list.) That said: I received my
instruction free; it's still available in some (percentagely preponderant?)
clubs; I'm glad it is!

With "the obligatory - and in this instance, regretful (as opposed to
unapologetic!) - head-nod" toward contributing to thread-drift, I'll throw in
my overview on what IMO is "a somewhat religious topic" within the soaring
community...i.e. one's view is "faith-based."

FWIW...

There seems to be two schools of thought regarding the question: Should club
instructors provide their services for free, or be allowed to "charge for
professional services rendered"? Both have already been put forth in this thread:

- The "Should be free/Give-backers" school, and;
- To not allow "professionals to charge professionally" is: an insult; taking
advantage of them; puts the future of the club at risk; etc.

IMO, there ain't no resolving the difference in opinions - they just are.

Bob W.

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