Why is there requirement for SSA membership card at US contests registration?

To someone/anyone out there who cares,

I imagine that of our SSA membership information (member expiration date, etc) in held an SSA database under our member profiles. This same profile auto-fill's our contest registration forms when we do online SSA contest registration, etc. If this is true, then why are we requiring SSA member content pilots to produce a hard copy of their SSA membership card at multiple steps in the contest registration process?

At current, SSA membership card hard copies are currently required at two points in the contest registration process: 1) the pilot is "encouraged" to print copies of their SSA membership cards in order to mail it into the contest managers with their other registration information (signed registration form, insurance, copy of pilots license, etc). Furthermore you are required to bring the hard copy membership card to the contest site and show it to the contest manager before being officially registered. Should this card really be required? Is it even necessary anymore?

Why not create a validation process which occurs when the contest registration form is filled out at SSA.com? At this point, website developers could easily do a comparison to the membership database (member profile) and confirm that the pilot is paid up thru the end of that particular contest. If that query is "true", that pilot can complete his/her registration without any requirement for a hard copy of the membership card. The registration form could perhaps contain a new field which simply compares the pilots SSA paid membership period to the contest dates, confirming that pilots SSA membership to all contest officials without any requirement of a hard copy at any point in the process. If that query is "not true", developers can simply not allow the currently non-member pilot to complete his/her contest registration until the membership is brought up to date thru that period via a POS prompt to update SSA membership before completing his/her contest registration. This should be a fairly simple project.

Just a thought for whomever is responsible for this process within the SSA? Having to find the membership card all the time is a pain. I usually lose it in some contest folder, somewhere, at some point in the season and have to call/email the SSA for a new copy, etc.

Anyone else have thought about the SSA membership card requirement for contest registration?

;-)

Sincerely,

Sean

Maybe the contest registration process is already being changed. I just registered for 2014 Mifflin R2, and my SSA card was already in the pre-filled out registration document. However, it was also listed as part of what is required to be sent to the Organizer.

-John, Q3

On Friday, January 3, 2014 1:25:26 PM UTC-5, Sean F (F2) wrote:
To someone/anyone out there who cares,

I imagine that of our SSA membership information (member expiration date, etc) in held an SSA database under our member profiles. This same profile auto-fill's our contest registration forms when we do online SSA contest registration, etc. If this is true, then why are we requiring SSA member content pilots to produce a hard copy of their SSA membership card at multiple steps in the contest registration process?

At current, SSA membership card hard copies are currently required at two points in the contest registration process: 1) the pilot is "encouraged" to print copies of their SSA membership cards in order to mail it into the contest managers with their other registration information (signed registration form, insurance, copy of pilots license, etc). Furthermore you are required to bring the hard copy membership card to the contest site and show it to the contest manager before being officially registered. Should this card really be required? Is it even necessary anymore?

Why not create a validation process which occurs when the contest registration form is filled out at SSA.com? At this point, website developers could easily do a comparison to the membership database (member profile) and confirm that the pilot is paid up thru the end of that particular contest. If that query is "true", that pilot can complete his/her registration without any requirement for a hard copy of the membership card. The registration form could perhaps contain a new field which simply compares the pilots SSA paid membership period to the contest dates, confirming that pilots SSA membership to all contest officials without any requirement of a hard copy at any point in the process. If that query is "not true", developers can simply not allow the currently non-member pilot to complete his/her contest registration until the membership is brought up to date thru that period via a POS prompt to update SSA membership before completing his/her contest registration. This should be a fairly simple project.

Just a thought for whomever is responsible for this process within the SSA? Having to find the membership card all the time is a pain. I usually lose it in some contest folder, somewhere, at some point in the season and have to call/email the SSA for a new copy, etc.

Anyone else have thought about the SSA membership card requirement for contest registration?

;-)

Sincerely,
Sean

On Friday, January 3, 2014 1:25:26 PM UTC-5, Sean F (F2) wrote:
To someone/anyone out there who cares, I imagine that of our SSA membership information (member expiration date, etc) in held an SSA database under our member profiles. This same profile auto-fill's our contest registration forms when we do online SSA contest registration, etc. If this is true, then why are we requiring SSA member content pilots to produce a hard copy of their SSA membership card at multiple steps in the contest registration process? At current, SSA membership card hard copies are currently required at two points in the contest registration process: 1) the pilot is "encouraged" to print copies of their SSA membership cards in order to mail it into the contest managers with their other registration information (signed registration form, insurance, copy of pilots license, etc). Furthermore you are required to bring the hard copy membership card to the contest site and show it to the contest manager before being officially registered. Should this card really be required? Is it even necessary anymore? Why not create a validation process which occurs when the contest registration form is filled out at SSA.com? At this point, website developers could easily do a comparison to the membership database (member profile) and confirm that the pilot is paid up thru the end of that particular contest. If that query is "true", that pilot can complete his/her registration without any requirement for a hard copy of the membership card. The registration form could perhaps contain a new field which simply compares the pilots SSA paid membership period to the contest dates, confirming that pilots SSA membership to all contest officials without any requirement of a hard copy at any point in the process. If that query is "not true", developers can simply not allow the currently non-member pilot to complete his/her contest registration until the membership is brought up to date thru that period via a POS prompt to update SSA membership before completing his/her contest registration. This should be a fairly simple project. Just a thought for whomever is responsible for this process within the SSA? Having to find the membership card all the time is a pain. I usually lose it in some contest folder, somewhere, at some point in the season and have to call/email the SSA for a new copy, etc. Anyone else have thought about the SSA membership card requirement for contest registration? ;-) Sincerely, Sean

I send a photocopy of my life membership card with my docs and have never been asked to present proof of membership at registration.
FWIW
UH

On Friday, January 3, 2014 1:25:26 PM UTC-5, Sean F (F2) wrote:
To someone/anyone out there who cares,


I couldn't find my membership card when I got to the registration desk at a contest a couple of years ago. The card had stuck to another document. The experience made me realize how unnecessary the card should be when registering online.
- Robin RF