About the Governance of the Soaring Society of America

JP & Chris—

Thank you for your clarifying replies. I am not questioning the good that you do for the sport and getting youth involved.

But I do think there is a larger problem -- that the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing – that is indicated in those meeting minutes. I think this is where we got into trouble as an organization 10-15 years ago. Everyone was just doing their own thing, and no one was keeping the big picture in focus. I think the SSA is lacking an overall strategic leadership. All of the individual parts are important, but if there is no collaboration, what is the purpose of the SSA?

For example, did you know that we (business members of the SSA) in conjunction with the EAA are providing free introductory ground school classes (a $100 value) for anyone that has taken a Young Eagles flight? The SSA wasn’t interested in talking to us about this because we are a for-profit company. Just in 2019 we have had 28 youth sign up and take the first phase of online ground school with us.

I think we have a larger problem than just getting more young people to fly gliders.

Rhonda Clerkin
www.GLIDERBOOKS.com