Hear, hear! Very much seconded. Well said, Laurie. Teal
> On 3 Feb 2017, at 10:42 pm, Laurie Simpkins <lahi...@hotmail.com> wrote: > > I have a problem with ever converting to GA or RA-Aus as they don't fly > gliders. I'm in a gliding club for that reason. I had a PPL but only used it > for towing ( one of those dumb volunteers I know) but don't have the time or > money to maintain it. > > I enjoyed your post Erich and was suitable insulted as a current GFA > volunteer<OutlookEmoji-đ.png>. > > I do wonder who we are trying to attract and how these ideas of spending vast > amount in marketing are going to keep the price down. > > > Unless we are planning to become a bunch of elitist pilots IMHO we need to > encourage the average person in to the sport and that in my eyes meaning > keeping the price down so possibly some one with a wife ,husband, girlfriend, > boyfriend, cat , dog, family and mortgage can still afford it. (politically > correct I hope). The wealthier end of market will probably just buy their own > self launcher anyway, but can still be great club members. > > The people I have introduced that where keen only had one issue and that was > the amount of spare income they had to play with. > > All loved it and couldn't tell the difference between a flying a 40 grand > twin or a much more expensive duo. Even flew some in the T53 and a Blanik and > all had a great time so maybe you don't need to learn to drive in the Ferrari > as some people I have dealt with would have you believe. > > > The club environment/structure is set up for looking after members as > opposed to turning the whole sport commercial. > > Nothing against commercial operations and I wish them all the best but many > have tried before and unless you can afford to be a private owner/ > motorglider where do you go after learning to fly. A club I assume. > > > I don't see anybody addressing the non owner club population or the more > remote clubs in these solutions. > > I doubt the guys in my state at Townsville, Bundy, Central Qld, Gympie will > want to travel to some commercial /super club to do their gliding so I wont > be surprised if the smaller clubs are more resilient than some think. Maybe > spend some marketing money there except I think a some of the punters hope > they die out. > > As for the ex members who have left the sport ( and still trying to run it or > criticize it) maybe you need to find a club that suits you and try it again. > The GFA may not be perfect but has a lot of average members trying their best > in their spare time as well. > > But then my love of gliding prevents me from leaving so maybe im blind to the > imperfections. > > > Looking forward to gliding this weekend, and for the others I hope you enjoy > what ever form of aviation you have chosen. > > > Laurie > > > > > > > > > > From: Stuart Wolf <stuac...@gmail.com> > Sent: Friday, 3 February 2017 5:42 AM > To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. > Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] MEMBERSHIP AND A WORLD REVIEW > > It would be interesting to get a survey to that effect. I have found that > with the people I have tried to recruit. Those who show an interest see it as > a high performance sport. > > Aside from the sporting aspect, what does gliding hope to offer a new member? > Cheap flying? Prices are compatible to RA-Aus. > Convenient flying? No matter about procedural changes at the club level > powered will always have the upper hand. > Professional opportunities? Again, RA aus can be converted to GA and > commercial much easier > Cost of ownership? I have much more options in Ra Australia, especially at > the lower end of the market. > > Instead of trying to copy RA aus's attraction (on which gliding will always > be on the back foot) we should be chasing the people who want what Ra Aus > doesnt offer. > > I've found that sharing tasks and talking about performance of people at > comps has attracted more follow up and continuing engagement on the topic > than the flying aspect. > > The people who I have got interested in the flying have moved on to RA Aus > for the exact reasons I've stated > > > >> On Friday, February 3, 2017, Matthew Scutter <yellowplant...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> Regarding the competition pilot vs. non-competition pilot debate, I don't >> think I've met a junior that hasn't been, or doesn't want to go to >> Joeyglide. Perhaps in the broader population competition pilots are under >> represented, but amongst younger pilots (fresh blood) it seems to swing the >> other way. >> >>> On 3 Feb 2017 2:56 PM, "Greg Wilson" <g...@gregwilson.id.au> wrote: >>> In an attempt to get a worthwhile discussion get back on track. Not my >>> ideas but a brief summary of this conversation so far. >>> >>> Perceived problems: >>> >>> GFA administration >>> Overly focused on competition carried out by a tiny minority of pilots >>> Resistant to change >>> Minimum required to deal with CASA >>> >>> Clubs >>> Membership declining >>> >>> Training >>> Volunteer based - not providing scheduled and efficient training expected >>> by younger people >>> Instructors need to be paid >>> >>> Pilots >>> Very few given L2 independent ops so vast majority permanently operating >>> under supervision of instructors >>> Gliding responsibility needs to be in the hands of the pilot, not club or >>> CFI >>> Aging pilots >>> >>> Aircraft >>> Many aging gliders >>> many out of service yet still on register >>> >>> Solutions?? >>> >>> >>> Greg Wilson >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ---- On Thu, 02 Feb 2017 21:40:18 +1100 Robert >>> Izatt<thebunyipboo...@gmail.com> wrote ---- >>> Not entirely true. Many have indicated a direction. >>> Your problem is, for 1 through 4 you have to have willingness and >>> co-operation from the clubs and the management skills at the club level. >>> Most members of a club want to enjoy the activity without having to run a >>> business. You need special or stupid people who are happy to devote >>> countless hours to this when really the club (or some members) doesnât want >>> to deal with all the hassles of larger numbers, less access to equipment >>> (glider/tug), bigger queues at the flight line etc etc etc. I have been >>> there. >>> And thatâs their right and good luck to them. >>> >>> >>> On 2 Feb. 2017, at 11:11 am, Peter Carey <ca...@ericorp.com.au> wrote: >>> >>> This has been a very deep and meaningful discussion and, to me, it was >>> enlightening and educational. Most of the contributions were well thought >>> out and clearly expressed. >>> My only problem is that the conversation was confined to defining the >>> problem and, what we should be concentrating is a solution. >>> We have done the talk, now, let's try to do the walk. >>> I am new to the game (been gliding for 40 years) and a bloody foreigner >>> (living here for 60 years) so, you have to forgive me if I am on the wrong >>> path. >>> We won't be able to solve the membership decline issue with volunteer, >>> amateur way so, we need to look for an alternative and here is one of many. >>> >>> For years the GFA has been sitting on well over a million dollars. I >>> suggest that we spend half of it on professional planning and marketing. >>> We would get an organization to >>> 1. Draw up a business plan for the GFA and for the Clubs (one each for >>> large, medium and small Clubs) >>> 2. Draw up a plan and budget for effective publicity and social media >>> campaign. >>> 3. Oversee the implementation of the above. >>> 4. The implementation should be carried out by the staff employed by the >>> GFA. >>> >>> This is my crude attempt to invite praise, abuse and expansion to the above. >>> >>> âBeside the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of >>> leaving things undone.â >>> â lin yu tang >>> >>> Peter Carey >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Feb 2, 2017 at 10:12 AM, Erich Wittstock <deepb...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> ..ahh..the sweet sound of jealousy! ;-) >>> >>> On Thu, Feb 2, 2017 at 10:10 AM, Mark Newton <new...@atdot.dotat.org> wrote: >>> On 2 Feb 2017, at 9:24 AM, steph...@internode.on.net wrote: >>> >>> > If we assume it is only age related, the register shows that the cut off >>> > year for the 600 oldest gliders is 1978. So all that "old low performance >>> > stuff" would include all the LS1s, Cirrus, Libelles, Mosquitos, Astir >>> > CS/CS77s and Hornets and some of the Jantars, PIK20s, ASW20s and LS3s. >>> >>> >>> >>> The ASH-25 first flew in 1987. That makes it a 30 year old aircraft. >>> >>> Wonât be too long before itâs classified as a vintage sailplane :-) >>> >>> - mark >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Aus-soaring mailing list >>> Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au >>> http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Aus-soaring mailing list >>> Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au >>> http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> PETER CAREY >>> Executive Member >>> The Victorian Vernier Society >>> The Society for People with a Passion for Manufacturing >>> 'sharing experience - building a better future' >>> www.vernier.org.au >>> 0412464340 >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Aus-soaring mailing list >>> Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au >>> http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Aus-soaring mailing list >>> Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au >>> http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Aus-soaring mailing list >>> Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au >>> http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring >>> > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au > http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring
_______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring
