in principal i agree except the guys/girls who turn up to go for a fly or book a TIF (rather than AEF) are the ones we convert. they already have the same yearning you had - to fly!
this gets back to what mike b. talked about. i think people then sum up what your club offers, is the clubhouse clean? etc etc and then decide yeah or nay. if the club disn't new member friendly you will always crash and burn.
any advertising we do needs to give information as to where they can fly a glider. you won't convince someone who doesn't have the desire (perhaps deep down) to take part in an activity they consider to be for adlenalin junkies.
rob
--------- Original Message --------
From: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Aus-soaring] Flying Flicks and attracting members
Date: 04/08/04 12:24
I agree.
Fellow glider pilots can watch gliding and flying videos all day, although
admittedly it can be like watching paint dry.
Whenever I have shown non flying people people gliding or power flying
flicks, their eyes glaze over and they wonder when it will stop (much like
taking on AEF up on a hot bumpy day).
Simon's precis is a good start.
My experience is that there are a small percentage of people in the general
populace who wish to fly and will actively seek out ways of learning how to
aviate. I actively sought out to learn how to fly and was keen to learn
powered flight from a young age (until I learned of the cost). I was made
aware of the Adelaide Uni Club via my Dad who knew a work colleague who was
a tow-pilot at Waikerie. I had the impression that glider flights would be
like glorified paper planes (i.e. only airborne for a few minutes).
Nevertheless, glider flight was better than no flying at all. I was hooked
from day one and haven't been able to shut up about it since (that was
1987).
Trying to capture Joe public seems a much different and inefficient
exercise. Most AEFs that I have flown have been either Birthday Gifts or
friends/family of current glider pilots. It is rare where you have Joe
public stopping by the airfield asking to go for a flight and even rarer
that such people become members.
If I describe a typical summer's gliding day (hot, dusty and long) or winter
(wet, muddy, cold and long) most people find this a turn off (I don't blame
them).
For me, gliding is so much fun that I am willing to put up with the less
glamorous aspects of the day.
My daily rave,
Michael T.
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