Report from the Chairman of the Soaring Society of America, Inc. Ssa Winter Board of Director

REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE SOARING SOCIETY OF AMERICA, INC.
SSA WINTER BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING
FEBRUARY 3, 2011 - RENO, NV
Submitted by: SSA Chairman Al Tyler
I would like to submit this report as an addendum to my report submitted two months ago in SSA’s Fall Board of Directors meeting. The items below list matters deemed significant enough to warrant the attention of the Board since the last meeting.
I. Overall Assessment
As projected in the financial forecast SSA ended 2011 close to break even after depreciation and excluding the “105 K” donation. This result again driven by our CAO’s continued efforts to control overhead. Thank you Denise. Sound accounting, budgeting/forecasting efforts by our first vice chair and treasurer David Pixton and SSA’s accounting manager Misty Lebreton are to be commended.
SSA’s membership trend continues in it’s seemingly irreversible slide reflected in these numbers (membership all categories).
12/200712,125
12/200811,761
12/200911,577
12/201010,861
12/201110,524
This year’s planned growth initiatives (funded by the anonymous donation) will have to at least arrest this decline or plans already being considered to operate SSA on a smaller scale will need to be placed in effect.
II Assessment of National Office Location
The members of this Board voted in the fall meeting to have the Chairman select a committee to evaluate the future location of SSA’s national headquarters. I am pleased to report that this committee is in place and currently at work. It was decided that the term task force better fits the charge of this committee, thus it is now formally the “SSA Headquarters Location Task Force”. The members are: Chair – Renny Rezonni, Skip Pate, Jim Short, Sterling Starr, Geoff Weck. Please join me in thanking these members for agreeing to serve on this task force that will make this very difficult and important recommendation.
The Board’s motion called for a recommendation on SSA’s future location by the end of 2012. In my charge to the task force I indicated that it might be in the best interest of the Society to bring forth a recommendation as soon as practical. Renny has indicated that the task force will strive to do so no later that June 30, 2011.
III. Contest Insurance Issue

At the direction of the Board from the fall meeting a plan was undertaken to confirm that all contestants entering SSA sanctioned contests meet the SSA’s liability insurance requirements to specifically include person’s outside the aircraft.
This was no small task. I am pleased to report that a plan to accomplish this requirement has been developed and will be in place for this year’s contest season. Ken Sorenson – SSA Contest Committee Chair and Director at Large, along with Pat Costello – broker of record for SSA’s insurance plan, are to be commended for all their hard work and efforts to develop and implement this process.
I would like the Board to note that Pat Costello has again “gone the extra mile” for the SSA.
IV. Growth and Promotion
SSA will have two major opportunities to showcase the sport this year, Air Venture and the Uvalde World’s Gliding Championships. Utilizing funds available from the anonymous donation, strategic plans are being developed to capitalize on both and to also tie these plans in with an overall nationwide growth and promotion campaign.
Gerry Molidor has arranged for SSA to have an expanded presence at Air Venture. In addition to SSA’s participation in Kid Venture he is working with EAA officials to possibly have SSA participate in a new project located at the heart of Air Venture titled “Learn to Fly Central”. This is very exciting news and I encourage each of you to thank Gerry for the great work he is doing with EAA and offer your support to his efforts. I have asked Gerry to prepare a report for this Board describing the project and it’s requirements.
Sometimes small projects take on a new direction and evolve into a major campaign. This was the case with the trailer graphics project planned to be on display at this convention. Bob DeLeon was recruited to help with the graphic design for the trailer panels and his obvious talents in marketing quickly led to an appointment to the Growth and Promotion Committee.
What started as a discussion about directing “Joe Pubic” when viewing these panels to more information about soaring (gliding) has evolved into a plan for a national “Lets Go Gliding” campaign (LGG). The direction of this campaign holds the most promise in my years on the Board to produce a positive result in growing SSA. To be successful this campaign must be packaged and sold to the entire SSA membership. The degree to which they decide to “buy in” will ultimately dictate its success.
I have asked the Growth and Promotion Committee to present a special report to the Board detailing this exciting new campaign. Thanks to Bill Daniels, Frank Whitely and Bob DeLeon for their extensive work to move this along quickly and expertly in time for a roll out at this convention.

V. Government Regulation
Increased FAA scrutiny of SSA events last year especially those involving “ramp checks” have reinforced the need to communicated directly with FAA’s upper management to determine what if any of their directives may have changed.
Stephen Northcraft was instrumental in getting John Allen, FAA’s Director of Flight Standards to accept an invitation to attend this convention and agree to be a featured speaker.
Gerry Molidor while meeting with EAA officials to explore SSA opportunities at Air Venture also made a point to discuss SSA’s approach in regard to government relations and FAA’s recent actions. Gerry’s report (from the EAA meeting) to me and copied to Stephen Northcraft detailing excellent suggested strategies and approaches to consider in dealing with FAA quickly resulted in an appointment to the Government Liaison Committee. Thanks Gerry for accepting. Gerry’s connections at EAA will hopefully help in getting SSA positioned to become more involved with government relations at Air Venture.
Stephen, Gerry and I have a meeting scheduled here with Mr. Allen to discuss policy and hopefully get a clearer understanding of current directives within FAA. I am positive that this meeting will result in an improved relationship with FAA.
VI. Recent Donations
I am pleased to announce that SSA has received two more large donations.
Cliff Robertson’s estate has gifted SSA $80,000. The check was received
in Hobbs late December.
Leonard Yerger – California member – membership expired in 1998. Mr Yerger’s estate notified SSA of his gift. The amount is not disclosed as the estate is still being probated.

VII. Survey’s
The results of the Soaring magazine readership survey are in and Howard Banks reports these initial conclusions:
Very high response of 728 or about 7% of the membership.
Clearly the outcome shows that Soaring is not only the primary membership benefit but in general well regarded.
Recognition of some improvement in past couple or so years.
In addition to detailed analysis of the responses, reader comments are often very perceptive and will serve well to help us shape the magazine further to better serve the membership.
Frank Whitely will have a report for this meeting on the training aircraft survey.
Many thanks to both Frank Whitely, Bill Daniels and Howard Banks for the many hours of work put forth to complete these surveys.
I appreciate your confidence in re-electing me to another term as SSA Chairman. Moreover, I sincerely appreciate the help and support I have received from this Board. My abilities in many areas are limited and by joining together as a team and combining talents SSA is making steady progress.
Respectfully submitted,
Al Tyler