2013 SSA Convention

Hi y'all in US-Gliderland,
are the location and dates for the 2013 SSA convention already fixed? Looking at the SSA web-site, it still shows the info for the 2012 convention in Reno.
Thx,
'GM'

On Wednesday, December 19, 2012 10:49:19 PM UTC-8, GM wrote:
Hi y'all in US-Gliderland,

are the location and dates for the 2013 SSA convention already fixed? Looking at the SSA web-site, it still shows the info for the 2012 convention in Reno.

Thx,

'GM'

Conventions are now biannual, there will be a 2014 convention. None in 2013.

Darryl

yep. boo hiss.

On Thursday, December 20, 2012 3:07:41 AM UTC-5, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Wednesday, December 19, 2012 10:49:19 PM UTC-8, GM wrote: Hi y'all in US-Gliderland, are the location and dates for the 2013 SSA convention already fixed? Looking at the SSA web-site, it still shows the info for the 2012 convention in Reno. Thx, 'GM' Conventions are now biannual, there will be a 2014 convention. None in 2013. Darryl

Not even a mini-convention like we had in Philadelphia in 2011? Dang!
Perhaps that should be announced by up-dating the SSA web-site....
'GM'

On Thursday, December 20, 2012 5:57:09 AM UTC-7, GM wrote:
On Thursday, December 20, 2012 3:07:41 AM UTC-5, Darryl Ramm wrote:

On Wednesday, December 19, 2012 10:49:19 PM UTC-8, GM wrote: Hi y'all in US-Gliderland, are the location and dates for the 2013 SSA convention already fixed? Looking at the SSA web-site, it still shows the info for the 2012 convention in Reno. Thx, 'GM' Conventions are now biannual, there will be a 2014 convention. None in 2013. Darryl



Not even a mini-convention like we had in Philadelphia in 2011? Dang!

Perhaps that should be announced by up-dating the SSA web-site....

'GM'

We have a todo list of SSA web site updates, this is among them.

Petition your SSA Directors if you want to return to the annual 3 day SSA Conventions with seminars, sailplanes on display, vendors with gliding goodies, Condor demo booth and more, See the list at www.ssa.org under "Governance." You can e-mail blast the entire list of Directors if you like.

The SSA Directors at the Little Rock Convention in 2010 voted to hold the full convention every two years, against the protests of myself, Bob Wander and Denise Layton at SSA HQ, who reminded us that conventions are actually profitable for the SSA and she has a "Convention Manual" at Hobbs for organizing the event. My understanding is that they went to two years to accommodate the wishes of a few vendors who felt it was a hassle to bring display sailplanes across the USA for a 3 day event, not necessarily the SSA membership. As I recall, the SSA Directors referred to some surveys but most every SSA member I talk to wonders why the convention schedule is now biennial. I travel around the USA attending soaring events and conducting site safety surveys so I talk to many SSA members, probably more than most Directors. I resigned as a SSA Director at Large effective DEC 31, 2012.

No matter what the reason for the biennial conventions, an annual SSA Convention is a wonderful experience, mainly because of the new people you meet face to face (instead of on r.a.s.) and the renewed friendships.

Sadly, a SSA Convention is often the place where you will interact with someone for the last time, especially our older mentors like Dick Johnson, Paul Schweizer, Gus Briegleb, Charlie Spratt, Chris O'Callahan and so many more.

I posted this to r.a.s. on DEC 10:

Through a Soaring Society of America Board vote, it has been decided to have the winter SSA Board Meeting in Houston, Texas on Saturday, February 23, 2013.

The host hotel is the Hyatt North Houston, The toll free number is 800-233-1234.
Please ask for the SSA rate which is $89.00.

The Hyatt North Houston is located north of Sam Houston Parkway at Imperial Valley Drive, about 8 miles southwest of Bush International Airport (IAH)
and provides free shuttle service.

Since there is no SSA Convention (until winter 2014), there will be a dinner followed by a short annual membership meeting and presentation of SSA awards. Dinner reservations required.

I'll be there!

Posters, please note that "biannual" means twice a year. "Biennial" means every two years.
This may be the reason the FAA dropped the term "biennial" from the FAR 61.56 Flight Review rule and added "24 months." It is not a BFR, it is now a FR. In any case I know what you mean.

On Thursday, December 20, 2012 8:57:22 AM UTC-7, Burt Compton - Marfa wrote:
Petition your SSA Directors if you want to return to the annual 3 day SSA Conventions with seminars, sailplanes on display, vendors with gliding goodies, Condor demo booth and more, See the list at www.ssa.org under "Governance." You can e-mail blast the entire list of Directors if you like.



The SSA Directors at the Little Rock Convention in 2010 voted to hold the full convention every two years, against the protests of myself, Bob Wander and Denise Layton at SSA HQ, who reminded us that conventions are actually profitable for the SSA and she has a "Convention Manual" at Hobbs for organizing the event. My understanding is that they went to two years to accommodate the wishes of a few vendors who felt it was a hassle to bring display sailplanes across the USA for a 3 day event, not necessarily the SSA membership. As I recall, the SSA Directors referred to some surveys but most every SSA member I talk to wonders why the convention schedule is now biennial. I travel around the USA attending soaring events and conducting site safety surveys so I talk to many SSA members, probably more than most Directors. I resigned as a SSA Director at Large effective DEC 31, 2012.



No matter what the reason for the biennial conventions, an annual SSA Convention is a wonderful experience, mainly because of the new people you meet face to face (instead of on r.a.s.) and the renewed friendships.



Sadly, a SSA Convention is often the place where you will interact with someone for the last time, especially our older mentors like Dick Johnson, Paul Schweizer, Gus Briegleb, Charlie Spratt, Chris O'Callahan and so many more.



I posted this to r.a.s. on DEC 10:



Through a Soaring Society of America Board vote, it has been decided to have the winter SSA Board Meeting in Houston, Texas on Saturday, February 23, 2013.



The host hotel is the Hyatt North Houston, The toll free number is 800-233-1234.

Please ask for the SSA rate which is $89.00.



The Hyatt North Houston is located north of Sam Houston Parkway at Imperial Valley Drive, about 8 miles southwest of Bush International Airport (IAH)

and provides free shuttle service.



Since there is no SSA Convention (until winter 2014), there will be a dinner followed by a short annual membership meeting and presentation of SSA awards. Dinner reservations required.



I'll be there!



Posters, please note that "biannual" means twice a year. "Biennial" means every two years.

This may be the reason the FAA dropped the term "biennial" from the FAR 61.56 Flight Review rule and added "24 months." It is not a BFR, it is now a FR. In any case I know what you mean.

The change was a concession to the European manufacturers who were finding it very expensive to support an annual convention in the US and the German Aviation Exhibition at Friedrichshafen, which was every other year. After the SSA took the decision, the Friedrichshafen show went annual. However the glider manufacturers did stay away from that show in 2012 after supporting SSA Reno, planning on attending Friedrichshafen in 2013, then returning to the US in 2014. Yes, the conventions are money makers, but the Philadelphia conference was a money loser. The weather was a factor, but the lack of eye candy was a larger factor. SSA members just didn't show in the requisite numbers. Personally, I find the three day format too short to provide a venue for other workshops. I'm a bit surprised at the number of people that just attend for a day or two. I'd typically there for five days and would spend a week. I know it's hard to get away for others, but there is much opportunity lost for additional committee meetings and face to face contacts in my opinion. Newly selected 1st Vice Chair Gerry Molidor (former IAC head) implores upon the SSA leadership about the importance of this type of contact at Air Venture, within the Type Club Coalition, and other venues. It's something we should bring to the SSA conventions also.

To that end, the SSA has had access to other venues and services that could meet some of these goals. However, there has been no rush to adopt webinars and other forms of digital media, apart from a few notable individual efforts. The world has changed the way organizations and people are interacting. To give some idea of the penetration, the SSA office recently sent letters to nearly a third of the membership who have no listed e-mails or whose e-mail addresses have bounced to SSA e-News. The response has been good so far, but a few thousand more would be even better. We'll see how it goes.

Frank Whiteley
SSA Secretary
970-330-2050 7am-10pm MST

On Thursday, December 20, 2012 12:37:45 PM UTC-6, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Thursday, December 20, 2012 8:57:22 AM UTC-7, Burt Compton - Marfa wrote: Petition your SSA Directors if you want to return to the annual 3 day SSA Conventions with seminars, sailplanes on display, vendors with gliding goodies, Condor demo booth and more, See the list at www.ssa.org under "Governance." You can e-mail blast the entire list of Directors if you like. The SSA Directors at the Little Rock Convention in 2010 voted to hold the full convention every two years, against the protests of myself, Bob Wander and Denise Layton at SSA HQ, who reminded us that conventions are actually profitable for the SSA and she has a "Convention Manual" at Hobbs for organizing the event. My understanding is that they went to two years to accommodate the wishes of a few vendors who felt it was a hassle to bring display sailplanes across the USA for a 3 day event, not necessarily the SSA membership. As I recall, the SSA Directors referred to some surveys but most every SSA member I talk to wonders why the convention schedule is now biennial. I travel around the USA attending soaring events and conducting site safety surveys so I talk to many SSA members, probably more than most Directors. I resigned as a SSA Director at Large effective DEC 31, 2012. No matter what the reason for the biennial conventions, an annual SSA Convention is a wonderful experience, mainly because of the new people you meet face to face (instead of on r.a.s.) and the renewed friendships. Sadly, a SSA Convention is often the place where you will interact with someone for the last time, especially our older mentors like Dick Johnson, Paul Schweizer, Gus Briegleb, Charlie Spratt, Chris O'Callahan and so many more. I posted this to r.a.s. on DEC 10: Through a Soaring Society of America Board vote, it has been decided to have the winter SSA Board Meeting in Houston, Texas on Saturday, February 23, 2013. The host hotel is the Hyatt North Houston, The toll free number is 800-233-1234. Please ask for the SSA rate which is $89.00. The Hyatt North Houston is located north of Sam Houston Parkway at Imperial Valley Drive, about 8 miles southwest of Bush International Airport (IAH) and provides free shuttle service. Since there is no SSA Convention (until winter 2014), there will be a dinner followed by a short annual membership meeting and presentation of SSA awards. Dinner reservations required. I'll be there! Posters, please note that "biannual" means twice a year.. "Biennial" means every two years. This may be the reason the FAA dropped the term "biennial" from the FAR 61.56 Flight Review rule and added "24 months." It is not a BFR, it is now a FR. In any case I know what you mean.. The change was a concession to the European manufacturers who were finding it very expensive to support an annual convention in the US and the German Aviation Exhibition at Friedrichshafen, which was every other year. After the SSA took the decision, the Friedrichshafen show went annual. However the glider manufacturers did stay away from that show in 2012 after supporting SSA Reno, planning on attending Friedrichshafen in 2013, then returning to the US in 2014. Yes, the conventions are money makers, but the Philadelphia conference was a money loser. The weather was a factor, but the lack of eye candy was a larger factor. SSA members just didn't show in the requisite numbers. Personally, I find the three day format too short to provide a venue for other workshops. I'm a bit surprised at the number of people that just attend for a day or two. I'd typically there for five days and would spend a week. I know it's hard to get away for others, but there is much opportunity lost for additional committee meetings and face to face contacts in my opinion. Newly selected 1st Vice Chair Gerry Molidor (former IAC head) implores upon the SSA leadership about the importance of this type of contact at Air Venture, within the Type Club Coalition, and other venues. It's something we should bring to the SSA conventions also. To that end, the SSA has had access to other venues and services that could meet some of these goals. However, there has been no rush to adopt webinars and other forms of digital media, apart from a few notable individual efforts. The world has changed the way organizations and people are interacting. To give some idea of the penetration, the SSA office recently sent letters to nearly a third of the membership who have no listed e-mails or whose e-mail addresses have bounced to SSA e-News. The response has been good so far, but a few thousand more would be even better. We'll see how it goes. Frank Whiteley SSA Secretary 970-330-2050 7am-10pm MST

You're right, there is an incredible lost opportunity for face to face contacts within the rank & file SSA membership when there is not an annual convention. My personal opinion is that if the European builders can't afford to attend the convention every year, then they shouldn't. But i'm in the minority "hard core" membership who attended Philadelphia and had a great time..

The change was a concession to the European manufacturers who were finding it very expensive to support an annual convention in the US
That is understandable from their point of view but I bet that the majority if the SSA members attending could care less about the latest shiny toys from across the pond, since they are way out of financial reach - me included.

Yes, the conventions are money makers, but the Philadelphia conference was a money loser. The weather was a factor, but the lack of eye candy was a larger factor.
The weather was definetely a factor for those flying in. I drove in from SC w/o problems but the lack of eye candy (the long-winged type) - really?
I agree with what others posted reg. their reasons to attend - meeting friends, taking in the papers, seminars and presentations, etc. Therefore, an annnual convention with an alternating format would be the right thing to do.. To avoid the weather trap, consider places which are statistically less likely to be frozen over and/or snowed in the January/February timeframe. Even the US-vendors could attend these mini-conventions - I know that Paul Remde was in Philadelphia and had most of his wares on hand. Its all doable!

Uli

On Friday, December 21, 2012 6:26:17 AM UTC-7, GM wrote:
The change was a concession to the European manufacturers who were finding it very expensive to support an annual convention in the US

That is understandable from their point of view but I bet that the majority if the SSA members attending could care less about the latest shiny toys from across the pond, since they are way out of financial reach - me included.



Yes, the conventions are money makers, but the Philadelphia conference was a money loser. The weather was a factor, but the lack of eye candy was a larger factor.

The weather was definetely a factor for those flying in. I drove in from SC w/o problems but the lack of eye candy (the long-winged type) - really?

I agree with what others posted reg. their reasons to attend - meeting friends, taking in the papers, seminars and presentations, etc. Therefore, an annnual convention with an alternating format would be the right thing to do. To avoid the weather trap, consider places which are statistically less likely to be frozen over and/or snowed in the January/February timeframe. Even the US-vendors could attend these mini-conventions - I know that Paul Remde was in Philadelphia and had most of his wares on hand. Its all doable!



Uli

It would seem so, however, there are desirable venues where SSA conventions are not held because the numbers just don't work. It may have been hasty to abandon the conference venue after a sample of one, but that's where we are for now. As for me, I'd be at a conference.

Frank Whiteley