I think you're missing the point. Only by working on making sure you attract and retain members at your club can things improve overall.
We have too many clubs that are simply not viable today. I can't put a minimum membership number on it though. These "small" clubs need to look at their options before it is too late. Are there several clubs in the area (within 200k !) in a similar situation ? Rather than having 3 small clubs disappear, could we have 1 large club emerge from these ? The resulting big club will have less costs per member, less time per member to run it and be more fun. I.e., offer a better product to potential "customers". It then stands a chance of growing. I am one of those who "just wants to fly", but recognise that unless I do put something back, I won't be able to for long. My biggest issue is ensuring that the balance that is needed gives me enough flying for me to be willing to do this. In a large club, this is possible. In a small club, there is no chance. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Wayne Carter Sent: Friday, 16 December 2005 09:07 To: [email protected] Subject: [Aus-soaring] numbers snip- I guess he can - but to what purpose? I really don't care whether gliding in Australia is growing, shrinking or tying itself in knots. I would like MY OWN CLUB to continue in existence and it seems to be doing that very nicely, with relatively stable numbers - perhaps slightly increasing. I've introduced a few friends to gliding and every now and then other members do and the club chugs along nicely. I don't care if gliding becomes more popular. It appears it was much more popular in the late 70s but since it has shrunk from then, that popularity clearly didn't translate into a better gliding experience for many of the members - because they left. It seems to me that if we all try to make sure that our own club stays a happy, solvent organisation which provides as far as possible an affordable and enjoyable gliding life for those who wish to be part of it, then that is the best we can do. Growth will then take care of itself. By which I mean - it will happen if that is what makes people enjoy gliding more. And if not, it won't. The only thing I can do about the state of world gliding is to help keep my own club viable. That's all you can do too. The rest is gum-beating. Graeme Cant When we drool over a 50+, dream of a 70+ and imagine a possible 100+ L/D ship -all quite feasable- we must face reality that the technology used in our sport is at the expensive forfront of aviation design. When this technology is safely available to the public we buy it, but there must be a large base of consumers to keep it economically viable, thus the increase in participants is essential. When the old ships are damaged, and there are few replacements, even your club will go down, as a new ship will cost even more, due to declining sales. Can you imagine what the cost of the first new model Holden off the line is? $B! -yet we pay only $20k+. Although our own lifespans will see gliding easily accessable, our kids and grandkids will not unless the figures are changed. Safe, Wayne _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
