Hi Aussies
I have been intrigued to read all the copy about your membership problem,
as it is seen by what must be a representative cross section of the
Australian gliding movement.
We have been conducting a one-man war on the same subject against the
International Gliding Commission, supposedly our leaders of the sport that
are supposed to be administering it for every soaring pilot world wide
(Not just the 2% competition pilots that absorbs their total being).
For those whop haven't read the January issue of Gliding International, I
thought they might be interested in reading what we feel about the falling
membership.
I personally used to keep the membership records for IGC for over 20 years
and during that time I saw the world population decrease from 130,000 down
to less than 100,000 now.
We are interested in any constructive comments.
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FROM OUR JANUARY 2017 ISSUE
NEW LEADERSHIP NECESSARY
WORLD MEMBERSHIP LOWEST EVER
There isn't a gliding country in the world that
can claim a sustained or an increasing membership
over the past 25 years
The earliest authentic world survey report on flying members is the one
published in 1990 where it was claimed that the total of soaring pilots
(world wide) amounted to 130,000. Now 27 years later there is a reasonable
estimate (in lieu of any published data) that the current total is
approaching 100,000 or less. Whether this 2017 figure is correct or not,
it is well known that the average gliding club membership has fallen by
30% or more over the last 25 years which is nothing less than an appalling
situation. The consensus of opinion is that our sport is going backwards
at an alarming rate.
Regrettably, our controlling body, the International Gliding Commission,
an FAI arm, seems to be totally oblivious to the situation which they will
deny. So lets be more specific. A review of the annual meeting decisions
for the:
2014 A.G.M. meeting shows that motions passed were:
Records: 3 Decisions,
I.G.C. Ranking list: - 1 Decision,
Championships: 25 Decisions,
Sporting Code : 6 Decisions,
Awards: 1 Decision
Next Meeting: 1 Decision.
Matters relating to membership: NIL
2015 A.G.M. meeting records shows that motions passed were:
Records: 3 Decisions,
I.G.C. Ranking list: - 3 Decision,
Championships: 17 Decisions,
Sporting Code :11 Decisions,
Awards: 3 Decisions,
Next Meeting: 1 Decision.
IGC Meeting format: 1 Decision,
World Championships: 1 Decision.
Matters relating to membership: NIL
2016 A.G.M. meeting records shows that motions passed were:
I.G.C. Ranking list: - 3 Decisions,
Championships: 10 Decisions,
Sporting Code : 3 Decisions,
Awards: 3 Decisions,
Next Meeting: 1 Decision,
IGC Meeting format: 3 Decisions,
World Championships: 16 Decisions.
Matters relating to membership: NIL
It is obviously clear that our I.G.C. delegates to a man/women are
obsessed with competition matters with the future of the sport being left
to decay - whatever. Is this probability what delegates (who are selected
by national associations) have been instructed to let happen? That is
doubtful! I.G.C. is obviously dedicated to administrating the sport, for
less than 2% of the glider-pilot population.
The time has arrived to give membership degradation I.G.C.'s top priority.
It should be pointed out that I.G.C. several years ago passed membership
responsibility to a group in Greece. Out of sight, out of mind! Little or
nothing has been heard from the group who have tabled one report showing
membership totals by country. It only confirmed already known declines -
nothing else.
There is an aviation body that has successfully challenged the falling
membership problem - the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) of
Oshkosh fame. The Experimental Aircraft Association and Sporty¹s Pilot
Shop report that more than 40,000 young people have enrolled in Sporty¹s
Learn to Fly online course as a follow-up to their flights in the EAA
Young Eagles program. The Sporty¹s course, which was first offered to all
Young Eagles in 2009, allows young people to take the FAA sport,
recreational, and private pilot ground school courses at no charge. Their
courses are the next step for the approximately 70,000 Young Eagles flown
each year by volunteer pilots, according to EAA officials. Since the Young
Eagles program launched in July 1992, more than 2 million young people
have been flown by 50,000 pilots.
³Sporty¹s long term support for the Young Eagles program is truly
outstanding,² said Brian O¹Lena, EAA Manager of Young Eagles. ³Sporty
understands the Young Eagles mission and provides a way for kids and teens
to explore aviation using the most up to date training technologies
available today. This means that more than 40,000 young people have had
the opportunity to pursue their dreams of flight.² The concept for the
free online courses was developed with input from EAA pilots who had been
flying Young Eagles. Those pilots reported that many of the young people
want to discover more about aviation, but lacked access to reliable and
professional resources.
Sporty filled that role by offering its online course at no charge. The
goal is to build the next generation of aviators and boost student pilot
entrants with a group already engaged in the Young Eagles program, EAA
officials explain. ³There¹s no better way to ensure a robust aviation
community than by attracting new young people to the pilot ranks,² says
Sporty¹s President Michael Wolf. ³Sporty¹s Learn to Fly the online course
in tandem with EAA¹s Young Eagles program which provides a tangible and
measurable way to achieve that goal.²
Young Eagles receive information on how to register and begin the Sporty¹s
courses immediately after their flights. The instructions and login
information allow young people to get involved quickly. What¹s next?
³Reaching more kids and offering aviation opportunities is a 21st century
must! All of us at EAA understand the urgency to get more people involved
in flying,² O¹Lena said. ³The Young Eagles Program is celebrating its 25th
anniversary year in 2017 and thanks to the support of Sporty¹s, the most
successful youth aviation program in history will continue well into the
future.²
Check out the program in
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Reddit
It is not suggested that the EAA program in its present form will suit
the gliding movement, but it can be the basis for developing a similar
program for gliding.
One of the EAA programs is the production of a certificate for the kids at
various stages of their course. Certificates have considerable influence
on a young person¹s self image, especially when they are more likely to
see themselves as pilots. It¹s an expense and a hassle. But when you think
about the resources being mobilised to organise the flight itself, and the
importance of the goal to creat a next generation of soaring pilots, then
it will all be well worth it.
Finally I would like to conclude with discussing the admirable attempt on
the membership problem by Australia's administrators. Their aggressive 12
months campaign to recruit new members resulted in attracting 532 new
members. Regrettably the 532 new members equated to the exact number of
resignations they experienced from the existing membership. At least they
tried ! The new member source as recorded was via: ex Airforce Cadets 95,
Friends 85, Overseas 76, Aviation other 66, Website 55, Re-joining 29, AEF
16, Google 10. National Magazine 3, Other 98.
And then there is the large German club that has lost 30 percent of its
members this past season between May and October. They tried to find a
common reason, but without success.
But meantime, there is a lot to be said for clubs with simulators, that
cost nothing to run, but certainly attract hoards of youngsters keen to
get involved in Aviation. A great source of new members!
Final Comment: Gliding's administrators should take a lesson from the EAA
program instead of their present 'do nothing' regime! Creating a similar
program for gliding will not be cheap, but the money can be found - after
all - do we have an alternative?
Thanks for reading this!
JOHN ROAKE
EDITOR
GLIDING INTERNATIONAL.
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