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#1
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Youth Members in your (US) Club
Hi all,
I need your input on an issue that has led to an ongoing, heated debate ever since my son joined our soaring club at age 14. He begun taking lessons and soloed during a youth soaring camp organized by another club this summer. A small but vocal group of members are stricktly against youth- and family memberships. Kids under 18 are considered a liability, a hazard to themself during the operation and just not desirable members in their minds. All kinds of half-baked legalities are being cited i.e. that the club could get dragged down finacially if a minor would get hurt and a suit be filed by the parents, etc. I can't shake the impression that these guys would like to have a 'good 'ol boy county club with planes'! (Heck, the golf carts are already there!) Therefore my questions: Does your club have a youth/family membership category with reduced dues and/or waived initiation fees? Does your club have a youth program? Have there ever been any legal/insurance issues with minor members in your club? Any input is appreciated. (you may reply privately, if you don't want to discuss this on the net) Ulrich Neumann |
#2
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We support youth soaring with a discounted membership rate.
Most of the income to the club is from youth taking flying lessons. Our group insurance covers us, but in the event of a parental law suit for injuries.. no club is safe from financial ruin, could even happen if an adult is hurt and a disgruntled wife who hated flying finds a lawyer. Our instructors are pretty good evaluators of flying capability and attentiveness of the student, adult or otherwise. We've actually had to discourage more adults from learning to fly, then the youths. We've actually "kicked out" some adult rated pilots for their risky flying and not willing to change. They lead a poor example of professionalism for our kids. We have not had any legal problems with any of our members, youth or adult. BT "Ulrich Neumann" wrote in message om... Hi all, I need your input on an issue that has led to an ongoing, heated debate ever since my son joined our soaring club at age 14. He begun taking lessons and soloed during a youth soaring camp organized by another club this summer. A small but vocal group of members are stricktly against youth- and family memberships. Kids under 18 are considered a liability, a hazard to themself during the operation and just not desirable members in their minds. All kinds of half-baked legalities are being cited i.e. that the club could get dragged down finacially if a minor would get hurt and a suit be filed by the parents, etc. I can't shake the impression that these guys would like to have a 'good 'ol boy county club with planes'! (Heck, the golf carts are already there!) Therefore my questions: Does your club have a youth/family membership category with reduced dues and/or waived initiation fees? Does your club have a youth program? Have there ever been any legal/insurance issues with minor members in your club? Any input is appreciated. (you may reply privately, if you don't want to discuss this on the net) Ulrich Neumann |
#3
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"Ulrich Neumann" wrote in message om... Hi all, I need your input on an issue that has led to an ongoing, heated debate ever since my son joined our soaring club at age 14. He begun taking lessons and soloed during a youth soaring camp organized by another club this summer. A small but vocal group of members are stricktly against youth- and family memberships. Kids under 18 are considered a liability, a hazard to themself during the operation and just not desirable members in their minds. All kinds of half-baked legalities are being cited i.e. that the club could get dragged down finacially if a minor would get hurt and a suit be filed by the parents, etc. I can't shake the impression that these guys would like to have a 'good 'ol boy county club with planes'! (Heck, the golf carts are already there!) Therefore my questions: Does your club have a youth/family membership category with reduced dues and/or waived initiation fees? Does your club have a youth program? Have there ever been any legal/insurance issues with minor members in your club? Any input is appreciated. (you may reply privately, if you don't want to discuss this on the net) Ulrich Neumann My club supports both youth and family members with discounted joining fees and dues (50%). You are no more likely to be sued by a parent than a widow(er) in the event of an incident. If you are training to approved standards and documenting such training, there should be no issues. If there are holes in that picture, there are other, more serious issues that need tending to. Youth programs can consist of simple support/relief to formalized full-ride, merit/performance based youth programs such as Harris Hill Soaring or Texas Soaring Association, that go beyond simple fee reduction. Youth programs and club planning will be on the club track program on Friday at the 2005 SSA Convention. Frank Whiteley |
#4
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Our club actively supports youth soaring and family memberships. We
recognize that as we look at out young members we are looking at the future of soaring. Our support includes not only discounted membership, but a very active youth scholarship program which is entirely supported by donations, mostly from members, not dues. The club also supports the local CAP cadet soaring program and allows them use of our facilities without charge. The "Soaring Magazine" Milestones column each month also provides a thumbnail sketch of many club's support of youth activity. Skip Guimond |
#5
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Hi, at my club here in the UK we see things similar to yourself.
We do get a fair amount of youngsters in during the summer months (school or college hols) but they drop off during the term times. One point that seems to fit a fair amount of returnees though is that they went gliding during their youth. So if your guys want to cut off older members in later times, let them carry on. Probably like most hobbies/sports you see the same as we do, a declining youth level and older and older pilots? This point affects even the instructor levels and is a source of much anguish in the sport. I suggest you put some of these "older mentality" guys out to grass! Malcolm... (aged 53 and 3/4's) "Ulrich Neumann" wrote in message om... Hi all, I need your input on an issue that has led to an ongoing, heated debate ever since my son joined our soaring club at age 14. He begun taking lessons and soloed during a youth soaring camp organized by another club this summer. A small but vocal group of members are stricktly against youth- and family memberships. Kids under 18 are considered a liability, a hazard to themself during the operation and just not desirable members in their minds. All kinds of half-baked legalities are being cited i.e. that the club could get dragged down finacially if a minor would get hurt and a suit be filed by the parents, etc. I can't shake the impression that these guys would like to have a 'good 'ol boy county club with planes'! (Heck, the golf carts are already there!) Therefore my questions: Does your club have a youth/family membership category with reduced dues and/or waived initiation fees? Does your club have a youth program? Have there ever been any legal/insurance issues with minor members in your club? Any input is appreciated. (you may reply privately, if you don't want to discuss this on the net) Ulrich Neumann |
#6
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#7
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Hi,
A quick note about our club policies. At Memphis Soaring Society all memberships are FAMILY memberships. This means that spouses and children are included in one initiation fee. There is the additional fee for the SSA memberships of the additional family members, but that is small. Our club encourages the sport and glider port as a family activity. We have a small number of youth who are actually flying at this time. In the short time that I have been a member (2.5 years) there have been no incidents where youth has been a factor. With that being said, my spouse has said she has no intent of ever seeing the gliderport. Oh well..... I do think this is a great policy for a club to take. Somewhere deep in the charter of this club it is stated one purpose is to provide flight training for the lowest cost possible. Now from my personal viewpoint. I began flying at 15 (power) and only wish this sort of club had been available. This is an aging sport, we MUST encourage youth soaring or this sport will wither. The affiliation with CAP is well meaning, but most kids do not wish to march in uniform to the barked orders of some wanna-a-be colonel who probably never served a day in his life. (My apologies to some of the few stellar squadrons out there) I think that clubs that promote youth flying are clubs that are working to insure their own futures. (Just a personal opinion) I am going to enclose the url to our club's website if anyone is interested. In closing,,, please forgive me for my self-serving promotion of our club..... To the Ulrich,,, I hope you are able to find encouragement for your son from your organization, after all, it is in THEIR best interest also. and btw....send me your mail address email. I think I never sent you the mylar I promised last year for root seals. Take Care and Fly Safe, Joe Hyde http://www.memphis-soaring.org/ "Ulrich Neumann" wrote in message om... Hi all, I need your input on an issue that has led to an ongoing, heated debate ever since my son joined our soaring club at age 14. He begun taking lessons and soloed during a youth soaring camp organized by another club this summer. A small but vocal group of members are stricktly against youth- and family memberships. Kids under 18 are considered a liability, a hazard to themself during the operation and just not desirable members in their minds. All kinds of half-baked legalities are being cited i.e. that the club could get dragged down finacially if a minor would get hurt and a suit be filed by the parents, etc. I can't shake the impression that these guys would like to have a 'good 'ol boy county club with planes'! (Heck, the golf carts are already there!) Therefore my questions: Does your club have a youth/family membership category with reduced dues and/or waived initiation fees? Does your club have a youth program? Have there ever been any legal/insurance issues with minor members in your club? Any input is appreciated. (you may reply privately, if you don't want to discuss this on the net) Ulrich Neumann |
#8
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"Joseph L. Hyde" wrote in message .. . Hi, A quick note about our club policies. At Memphis Soaring Society all memberships are FAMILY memberships. This means that spouses and children are included in one initiation fee. There is the additional fee for the SSA memberships of the additional family members, but that is small. Our club encourages the sport and glider port as a family activity. We have a small number of youth who are actually flying at this time. In the short time that I have been a member (2.5 years) there have been no incidents where youth has been a factor. With that being said, my spouse has said she has no intent of ever seeing the gliderport. Oh well..... I do think this is a great policy for a club to take. Somewhere deep in the charter of this club it is stated one purpose is to provide flight training for the lowest cost possible. Now from my personal viewpoint. I began flying at 15 (power) and only wish this sort of club had been available. This is an aging sport, we MUST encourage youth soaring or this sport will wither. The affiliation with CAP is well meaning, but most kids do not wish to march in uniform to the barked orders of some wanna-a-be colonel who probably never served a day in his life. (My apologies to some of the few stellar squadrons out there) I think that clubs that promote youth flying are clubs that are working to insure their own futures. (Just a personal opinion) I am going to enclose the url to our club's website if anyone is interested. In closing,,, please forgive me for my self-serving promotion of our club..... To the Ulrich,,, I hope you are able to find encouragement for your son from your organization, after all, it is in THEIR best interest also. and btw....send me your mail address email. I think I never sent you the mylar I promised last year for root seals. Take Care and Fly Safe, Joe Hyde Surprisingly, wear of the uniform was one of the big draws to CAP (according to a survey). My local CAP squadron does scant little, if any, flying. Other squadrons do much better. Explorer Scouting may be an opportunity to organize a youth group with an aviation emphasis. See http://www.learning-for-life.org/exp...ion/index.html Frank Whiteley |
#9
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F.L. Whiteley wrote:
Surprisingly, wear of the uniform was one of the big draws to CAP (according to a survey). My local CAP squadron does scant little, if any, flying. Other squadrons do much better. Explorer Scouting may be an opportunity to organize a youth group with an aviation emphasis. See http://www.learning-for-life.org/exp...ion/index.html Frank Whiteley A survey of teenagers at large? I'd find that real surprising, unless the uniform was a hoodie, baggy pants and an MP3 player (girls or boys). I would imagine very different results if you just surveyed the CAP kids. I think the sport (in the US) would benefit greatly from courting more than the pre-ROTC teens. For most kids a big attraction of soaring might be that its not *uniform*, not the same thing all the other kids are doing. CAP and Scouts offer a straight forward avenue into this population, and I'm all for utilizing it, but I don't think we are best served by acting like a branch of these organizations. Skate parks! That's where we can go to get access to a different crowd of kids. I'll try it if Salida ever gets flight instruction going again. Shawn P.S. Frank, don't they fly the K-21? |
#10
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"Shawn" wrote in message ... F.L. Whiteley wrote: Surprisingly, wear of the uniform was one of the big draws to CAP (according to a survey). My local CAP squadron does scant little, if any, flying. Other squadrons do much better. Explorer Scouting may be an opportunity to organize a youth group with an aviation emphasis. See http://www.learning-for-life.org/exp...ion/index.html Frank Whiteley A survey of teenagers at large? I'd find that real surprising, unless the uniform was a hoodie, baggy pants and an MP3 player (girls or boys). I would imagine very different results if you just surveyed the CAP kids. I think the sport (in the US) would benefit greatly from courting more than the pre-ROTC teens. For most kids a big attraction of soaring might be that its not *uniform*, not the same thing all the other kids are doing. CAP and Scouts offer a straight forward avenue into this population, and I'm all for utilizing it, but I don't think we are best served by acting like a branch of these organizations. Skate parks! That's where we can go to get access to a different crowd of kids. I'll try it if Salida ever gets flight instruction going again. Shawn P.S. Frank, don't they fly the K-21? Actually, I think the uniform was the adult attraction. There is a class 'b' CAP uniform which consists of the CAP hat, wing T, and shorts. BDU's and Blues are fine, in their place. I agree, there's a lot of baggage to drag to the airfield in CAP and Scouts. Exploring has diverged from Scouting, per se. There's a large soccer organization on a former turf farm a few miles south of our club. It's packed every weekend. I think there must be at least a dozen fields. Frank |
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