SSA Membership

I read on the website that last year the SSA folks in Hobbs hand
stuffed 10,000 mailers that were sent to potential members. And, that
the results were less that satisfactory to them. This seems to me to
me a very significant effort by a very small number of already
overworked people.

We all whine and carry on about how other people spend our money trying
to increase the SSA membership and maintain it over the long haul -
without perceived success. How mismanagement has caused the long term
viability of SSA to become questionable. That bad decisions have been
made in the past where SSA missed opportunities to better our lot in
life. That because of the market potential there are just not enough
people to recruit, etc, etc. We make suggestions how "they" could
do things differently that would solve these various problems. But, we
never seem to individually step up to the bar and state what we
individually might be able to do to help alleviate some of these issues
and help ourselves.

I believe we must keep it simple and assume more responsibility for the
future of the organization at the grass roots level. And, of course, I
have a suggestion. Since membership is a big issue because of the
income it produces and the future cash flow for the organization, I'm
starting there.

Each of us comes in contact with at least 1 or 2 people a year at our
work or in social settings that show a genuine interest in soaring.
Especially, if we as individuals project the enthusiasm and excitement
we ourselves feel about our own involvement. People love to be
associated with, and involved in, activities that are fun and
rewarding. It's even better when they can share it with others that
have the same interest. When we determine their interest is genuine
and if they have the potential to become involved in the sport of
soaring, I suggest that as an individual we sponsor (pay their first
years dues) that individual. They will then get a monthly reinforcement
of their interest from the magazine. Good marketing practice. And, we
should follow up (individually) to make sure they are introduced to an
operation(s) where they can get involved and learn to soar. We should
introduce them into our local organization where they can experience
encouragement and accolades for their accomplishments from other pilots
and, the social aspects that go along with soaring.

I believe this focused marketing has a much better potential of
increasing both the SSA membership and the membership of our local
organization than a shotgun approach from a national organization.
Plus, we get to have control over our own promotional dollars, and
experience the success and failure of how we spend them. Kind of
sounds like soaring doesn't it?

Bill
Nashville, TN