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Why is Soaring declining



 
 
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  #11  
Old April 14th 04, 11:11 AM
Scott
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As a newcomer to soaring (I have a grand total of 0.5 hours under my
belt), I was turned off to SSA simply by the (what I consider) high
membership dues. Yes, I can afford it, but having never seen an SSA
magazine, I am reluctant to fork out the cash to see if I like their
publication. Maybe they should offer a trial membership, something like
$10 for 3 months (a one-time deal). EAA has done this and I think it is
working. I don't really need to pay $64 for the privilege of soaring,
so there has to be some incentive to join. Just a thought...

Scott


Bill Daniels wrote:
"John H. Campbell" wrote in message
...

Agreed. But my intended point was that the vision was wrong. The focus
of the article was "how can we get the SSA to grow" where the focus
should have been "how can we get the sport to grow".


Point taken, and I am among those constantly lobbying for SSA to shoulder
systematic PR for the sport (staff member, press room,...). However,
consider Bob Wander's point from years ago already that SSA membership is
the most convenient tool there is to draw people in! For a mere $64 (less
than the cost of a one-time ride at many operations) and a few clicks


online

or moments filling out a card, new prospects get 12 months of propaganda.
Like the HYCBAGP tri-fold says (originally written back in 1978 or so


IIRC)

"There's more, but there isn't room to say it here. What do you do next?
We suggest... you become a member of (SSA)..."





So, John, SSA membership causes soaring to grow? Isn't it the other way
around?

I don't think I have ever known of even one new glider pilot to come to the
sport through the SSA. On the other hand, hard working commercial soaring
operations promoting rides to the public are probably responsible for 90% of
the few new pilots we get. If they could get a little help with that
promotion from the SSA, they could do an even better job.

Bill Daniels

Bill Daniels


  #12  
Old April 14th 04, 02:47 PM
JJ Sinclair
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Maybe they should offer a trial membership, something like

Good idea, Scott. I suggested that the SSA give a free 1 year membership to all
newly licenced glider pilots. Nothing ever came of it.
JJ Sinclair
  #13  
Old April 14th 04, 02:49 PM
Bob Greenblatt
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At the risk of encouraging him, Lennie's recent post to this thread is the
most logical and reasoned of any of his (and most everyone else's) that I
have read recently. Thanks Leninie, good points.

--
bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcom --fix this before responding


  #14  
Old April 14th 04, 03:54 PM
Eric Greenwell
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JJ Sinclair wrote:
Maybe they should offer a trial membership, something like



Good idea, Scott. I suggested that the SSA give a free 1 year membership to all
newly licenced glider pilots. Nothing ever came of it.
JJ Sinclair


Sounds like a good idea. Maybe it's time to suggest it again - new
management, elected and appointed.
--
-----
change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

  #15  
Old April 14th 04, 05:07 PM
Shawn Curry
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Bill Daniels wrote:
"John H. Campbell" wrote in message
...

Agreed. But my intended point was that the vision was wrong. The focus
of the article was "how can we get the SSA to grow" where the focus
should have been "how can we get the sport to grow".


Point taken, and I am among those constantly lobbying for SSA to shoulder
systematic PR for the sport (staff member, press room,...). However,
consider Bob Wander's point from years ago already that SSA membership is
the most convenient tool there is to draw people in! For a mere $64 (less
than the cost of a one-time ride at many operations) and a few clicks


online

or moments filling out a card, new prospects get 12 months of propaganda.
Like the HYCBAGP tri-fold says (originally written back in 1978 or so


IIRC)

"There's more, but there isn't room to say it here. What do you do next?
We suggest... you become a member of (SSA)..."





So, John, SSA membership causes soaring to grow? Isn't it the other way
around?

I don't think I have ever known of even one new glider pilot to come to the
sport through the SSA. On the other hand, hard working commercial soaring
operations promoting rides to the public are probably responsible for 90% of
the few new pilots we get. If they could get a little help with that
promotion from the SSA, they could do an even better job.


Bill you got me thinking (remembering really). I was an SSA member when
I was 15 for one year, intending to learn to fly. Even with a glider
operation within bike riding distance at that time (Old Black Forest) I
didn't start to fly until I was in my late 20's. Money wasn't the
issue, I was an industrious teen. Such an easy catch and they still
missed me for a dozen years.

Shawn
  #16  
Old April 14th 04, 06:03 PM
Bill Daniels
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"Shawn Curry" wrote in message
news:lldfc.36026$wP1.136994@attbi_s54...
Bill Daniels wrote:
"John H. Campbell" wrote in message
...

Agreed. But my intended point was that the vision was wrong. The focus
of the article was "how can we get the SSA to grow" where the focus
should have been "how can we get the sport to grow".

Point taken, and I am among those constantly lobbying for SSA to

shoulder
systematic PR for the sport (staff member, press room,...). However,
consider Bob Wander's point from years ago already that SSA membership

is
the most convenient tool there is to draw people in! For a mere $64

(less
than the cost of a one-time ride at many operations) and a few clicks


online

or moments filling out a card, new prospects get 12 months of

propaganda.
Like the HYCBAGP tri-fold says (originally written back in 1978 or so


IIRC)

"There's more, but there isn't room to say it here. What do you do

next?
We suggest... you become a member of (SSA)..."





So, John, SSA membership causes soaring to grow? Isn't it the other way
around?

I don't think I have ever known of even one new glider pilot to come to

the
sport through the SSA. On the other hand, hard working commercial

soaring
operations promoting rides to the public are probably responsible for

90% of
the few new pilots we get. If they could get a little help with that
promotion from the SSA, they could do an even better job.


Bill you got me thinking (remembering really). I was an SSA member when
I was 15 for one year, intending to learn to fly. Even with a glider
operation within bike riding distance at that time (Old Black Forest) I
didn't start to fly until I was in my late 20's. Money wasn't the
issue, I was an industrious teen. Such an easy catch and they still
missed me for a dozen years.

Shawn


You know, that's a shame. Young people are the easiest catches - if we
cater to them.

I've actually been called names for spending time with young people,
listening to them and encouraging their flying.

We're really our own worst enemy. Sad...

Bill Daniels

  #17  
Old April 14th 04, 06:31 PM
Tim Mara
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there is one very solid reason soaring is declining.that is the lack of
qualified gliding instructors!
If any of us expect to keep soaring alive it's not only recruiting new
members, but also, and more inportantly, having someone available to bring
these new recruits to the poinyt where that can actually get certification
and eventually fly and own their own gliders....
tim



  #18  
Old April 14th 04, 08:28 PM
Bill Daniels
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Posts: n/a
Default


"Tim Mara" wrote in message
...
there is one very solid reason soaring is declining.that is the lack of
qualified gliding instructors!
If any of us expect to keep soaring alive it's not only recruiting new
members, but also, and more inportantly, having someone available to bring
these new recruits to the poinyt where that can actually get certification
and eventually fly and own their own gliders....
tim


Yep, and a lot of instructors are quitting because they are fed up with the
back seat of a 2-33.

Bill Daniels

  #19  
Old April 14th 04, 10:21 PM
Tim Mara
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Default

I'm not a fan of flying from the back of a 233 (I really don't like the
front in a 233 any better :-)
but that really isn't the only thing that is losing instructors.....When I
became a CFI I had hoped and even planned on training enough new glider
pilots that some would eventually take over and become instructors
themselves, thereby giving back what was given to them..very few ever
did...a lot of KUDOS to the ones that have.....
Glider pilots (not all) in general are a self centered group of
"individuals" that's why we like flying along in our single seaters, using
one man rigs, flying motor gliders and so on......all of these things
contribute to being self sufficient and well, self centered....we hear the
chant on how to save soaring, promote the sport, but generally followed by a
chant, "so it'll still be there for me"..
Giving back and instructing others is a challenge, it's a lot of effort and
has few rewards outside of seeing another happy new pilot on his way to new
adventures....but without finding more new instructors to take the lead we
will continue to see the decline in our favorite pastime....and all the
promotion and advertising we do nothing.
tim

"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
news:lhgfc.134640$gA5.1578464@attbi_s03...

"Tim Mara" wrote in message
...
there is one very solid reason soaring is declining.that is the lack of
qualified gliding instructors!
If any of us expect to keep soaring alive it's not only recruiting new
members, but also, and more inportantly, having someone available to

bring
these new recruits to the poinyt where that can actually get

certification
and eventually fly and own their own gliders....
tim


Yep, and a lot of instructors are quitting because they are fed up with

the
back seat of a 2-33.

Bill Daniels




  #20  
Old April 14th 04, 11:04 PM
Bill Daniels
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Well, maybe we should take advantage of their self-centered nature and offer
them an interesting two-seater to train people in. Even altruistic CFI-G's
need some rewards beyond just seeing new pilots grin. There's not enough
money in instructing to ever make a difference.

Bill Daniels

"Tim Mara" wrote in message
...
I'm not a fan of flying from the back of a 233 (I really don't like the
front in a 233 any better :-)
but that really isn't the only thing that is losing instructors.....When I
became a CFI I had hoped and even planned on training enough new glider
pilots that some would eventually take over and become instructors
themselves, thereby giving back what was given to them..very few ever
did...a lot of KUDOS to the ones that have.....
Glider pilots (not all) in general are a self centered group of
"individuals" that's why we like flying along in our single seaters, using
one man rigs, flying motor gliders and so on......all of these things
contribute to being self sufficient and well, self centered....we hear the
chant on how to save soaring, promote the sport, but generally followed by

a
chant, "so it'll still be there for me"..
Giving back and instructing others is a challenge, it's a lot of effort

and
has few rewards outside of seeing another happy new pilot on his way to

new
adventures....but without finding more new instructors to take the lead we
will continue to see the decline in our favorite pastime....and all the
promotion and advertising we do nothing.
tim

"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
news:lhgfc.134640$gA5.1578464@attbi_s03...

"Tim Mara" wrote in message
...
there is one very solid reason soaring is declining.that is the lack

of
qualified gliding instructors!
If any of us expect to keep soaring alive it's not only recruiting new
members, but also, and more inportantly, having someone available to

bring
these new recruits to the poinyt where that can actually get

certification
and eventually fly and own their own gliders....
tim


Yep, and a lot of instructors are quitting because they are fed up with

the
back seat of a 2-33.

Bill Daniels





 




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