SSA National Convention, every year, every other?

Eric,

I don't know. There's a part of me wanting to attend every convention.
But it's hard to complete the value proposition. The closer to home,
the easier it is to justify, if just to hang around with a bunch a
glider pilots for a few days. I guess I don't have a sense that I'm
missing anything important by not attending other than the chance to
see old friends and make new ones -- but I get alot of that during the
contest season. If the convention offered value I couldn't get
anywhere else, I'd be there every year. What constitutes value? I
guess I'm open to suggestions.


Eric Greenwell wrote in message ...
Chris OCallaghan wrote:


If I had the sense that a convention had many new, interesting
products and insights to offer, I might be enticed to make it a
regular pilgrimage. Under the current formula, I'm coming once every 8
years.

But would holding it every two years result in more new things to see or
talk about? I doubt that the manufacturers, vendors, or speakers would
be making/doing more just because the conentions were held less often.
Wouldn't it still take 8 years to get enough new things to entice you?

Another possibility is to hold a mini-convention every other year with
speakers/meetings only. These could be held in most modest sized towns at a
fraction of the cost to the SSA and attendees.

The SSA convention historically attracts some 800 attendees, probably 600
who attend every year and only 200 or so fresh faces.

For those who support the organization with booths etc, it is almost never
possible to do better than break even. The present down-sizing of membership
makes future attendance questionable.

--
Thomas Knauff
Knauff & Grove, Inc.
Schempp-Hirth Sailplanes
3523 South Eagle Valley Road
Julian, Pa 16844
Phone (814) 355 2483
Fax (814) 355 2633
www.eglider.org
"Pete Russell" wrote in message
...
Or you might make more of an effort as you would know you won't get a
chance
the next year.

Pete

"Dave Rolley" wrote in message
k.net...
I go when I have the time available to go and the event is within a
day's drive, or the airfare is cheap enough.

Since 1988 that has happened three times.

Shift to a two year or longer cycle and the likelihood of the stars
aligning just right decrease.

Dave Rolley

How about one year on one coast, one year on the other?
When will it be close to MY house?

I woulda gone, but 2000 miles is a Loooong way...

I think you'll find people vote with their feet...
--

------------+
Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA

Mark James Boyd wrote:
How about one year on one coast, one year on the other?
When will it be close to MY house?

Ontario next year.

I woulda gone, but 2000 miles is a Loooong way...

I think you'll find people vote with their feet...

So far, there have been enough votes to make money for the convention,
though some of the exhibitors aren't so lucky. I did see large sales at
the SeeYou booth though. Nothing like announcing a new product at half
price!

--
-----
change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

Exhibitors can write off the cost/expanses for the trip. Not that such a "good
deal" makes it worthwhile. But it is a bit less painful for some that can have
the benefit of write-offs.
GA

What about changing the schedule to start on Friday instead of Thursday and
run through Sunday instead of Saturday. Turnout on Thursdays is always the
lowest and most people can travel back Sunday evening if they want to stay
through the end. For exhibitors it doesn't matter if you shift one day to
the right (same number of days off), you just take off on a Monday after to
travel home instead of the Tuesday/Wednesday of the week before to get there
to set up beforehand.

HE
ENTEC
"Nolaminar" wrote in message
...
Vendors complain about the cost of SSA Conventions.I can't argue with them
but
it is CHEAP when compared to any other conventions.
Oshkosh cost is "off the chart'. It is a major money making event for
EAA.
An outside air convention during the flying season would be great. Need
good
weather, willing host and no conflict with contests.
GA

Hi,

Being somewhat new to the soaring supplies business (2 years), I really like
having a booth at the SSA convention every year. It is expensive and I
don't necessarily sell enough at the show to be worth my while, but I do get
a lot of sales after the event. The main benefit for me is that I get to
meet many of the customers I've been selling to, and establish relationships
with new customers. It is very nice to meet people face to face rather than
via e-mail!

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring Supplies

"Pete Russell" wrote in message
...
I think every other year would be best. I think some people out there may
be
under the impression that you can actually make money off soaring speaking
as a vendor look around do you see anybody in the business driving fancy
cars most people just scrape buy. I work 51/2 days a week at a regular job
just so I can pay all the bills. most of the people at the conventions
aren't there to buy anything just see what's new and see old friends in
fact
it's mostly the same people year after year. I am already on the at least
every other year program the problem is that I may have missed some
potential customers in the years I did not attend . I think you also need
to
look at the design cycle of the new products I think if you went to two or
three year cycles you would see more new products at each show and vendors
would actually try to have new products ready for the show this would make
it a much more exciting convention.

Pete
Sage Variometers