Cheapest Club (was Best Gliding Club Website)

On 13 Nov 2003 08:52:31 -0800, (Craig
Freeman) wrote:

Look around, the most active clubs with the best equipment
have higher than average dues and flight fees. If it does not cost much
thats most likely what it is worth.

Maybe it's like that in the US, but here in Europe it's definitely the
"bang for the bucks" ratio that counts.

Apart from that, in Germany usually (I'd estimate 95 percent of the
cases) the choice of the glider club to join is based on the people,
not on the equipment.



Bye
Andreas

Andreas Maurer wrote in message . ..
On 13 Nov 2003 08:52:31 -0800, (Craig
Freeman) wrote:

Look around, the most active clubs with the best equipment
have higher than average dues and flight fees. If it does not cost much
thats most likely what it is worth.

Maybe it's like that in the US, but here in Europe it's definitely the
"bang for the bucks" ratio that counts.

Value is always important. Unfortunatly the tendency in too many cases
is to try to operate so cheaply that a club does not have enough money to
make a pop, much less a bang. I am afraid that is commiting suicide for
the club.

Apart from that, in Germany usually (I'd estimate 95 percent of the
cases) the choice of the glider club to join is based on the people,
not on the equipment.

Here clubs are so spread out it is not a choice of which club as there
is usually just one to pick from. However I think that good equipment
and friendly people are equally important. Not to slight the importance
of either but to emphisize both as nessesary qualities of a good club.

Craig-

On 14 Nov 2003 07:55:35 -0800, (Craig
Freeman) wrote:

Value is always important. Unfortunatly the tendency in too many cases
is to try to operate so cheaply that a club does not have enough money to
make a pop, much less a bang. I am afraid that is commiting suicide for
the club.

Well... it is certainly possible to operate cheaply and to make enough
money to keep a club alive and healthy, but probably an important role
is the sheer number of members - and this is where Europe, especially
German or England with its dense population has a huge advantage over,
say, the US.
I'm often amazed about the extremely high costs and the comparably
very poor value that is being offered by clubs in the US - maybe this
is a vicious circle.


Here clubs are so spread out it is not a choice of which club as there
is usually just one to pick from. However I think that good equipment
and friendly people are equally important. Not to slight the importance
of either but to emphisize both as nessesary qualities of a good club.

From what I've seen most people here join the first club they visit,
without ever comparing it to other clubs. It's extremely rare that
someone leaves a club (and joins onother one) because he doesn't like
it (which points out how important community is on this side of the
pond).


Bye
Andreas

Andreas Maurer wrote in message . ..

(which points out how important community is on this side of the
pond).


No, it doesn't. Read your own statement, and if you don't see
snobbery, it's because you're blind to it.

Our sense of community extends far beyond some wisp like activity,
usually extending to the REAL community we just happen to live in.