Ralph. Thanks for the summary. I think we are facing two issues as upcoming change.
1. Do we want the EOC be the powerful TYPE club that connects to the FAA with suggestions and recommendations ? 2. Do we want the information switch over to an electronic only forum, that may even be open for non-members? The first step toward the electronic information exchange was done almost 10 years ago when Tom started this list on his server and time. I consider this one huge contribution. The rest has to be decided between us and the regional directors and whatever the agreed on path is in this organization. I believe that the $30 could be put to a better use than printing a low level newspaper, especially since the EOC website is already there and it is so easy to publish online these days. Hartmut ----- Original Message ----- From: Ralph Finch To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 4:50 PM Subject: [ercoupe-flyin] Hartmut's Post: Problems with the EOC Hartmut, you hit the nail on the head: "As long as the national EOC is seeing its duties in organizing a national fly-in and publishing a monthly newsletter, I see no reason join. And so do many others. "Folks, the national fly-in and the newsletter should be the occasion where the work for our Ercoupes is being summarized, they should support the cause, not be understood as the cause." To those who spend large amounts of time organizing flyins and social events, especially Syd and Dan H: First, thanks. I have enjoyed a few of those. But you have also expressed your dissatisfaction at the lack of response. Dan, what if you had spent your many hours lobbying the FAA instead of writing the California EOC newsletters? I believe there are 3 main reasons for a type club: 1. Serve as a forum for exchange of technical information, buy/sell market, and so on. 2. Lobby FAA and other agencies for issues relevant to that type. 3. Organize social events. Before the Internet a type club was the sole main forum for #1. Now the email lists have taken over that role. Even the RV folks, which are very active, have shifted away from Van's RVator newsletter to web and email lists for tech info. Likewise us Coupers. EOC seems to do nothing about #2. All effort goes into #3, and the EOC therefore attracts the social people. But that seems to be insufficient reason for a lot of us--me included--to remain a member. As for Mark from Texas--you make a good case for avoiding EOC if you've signed up more people like you. Ralph Finch N. California
