Elected to EAA Chapter Board of Directors

[AcroGimp]

So the President of my EAA Chapter asked if I'd run for the Board and I was elected last week.

For any of you who are (or have been) EAA members, what would be your suggestions on things to focus on for expanding chapter membership, particularly bringing in younger folks as in 20's to 40's?

EAA 14 has some of the best facilities in all of EAA other than OSH, with a bunch of hangars, a great UFO (Unified Flying Octogenerians) pilot community, and some good build and restoration projects along with an interesting collection of flying experimentals and factory builts.

Looking forward to serving.

'Gimp

 

[EppyGA]

It is not a problem just affecting your Chapter. I've just been elected President for our Chapter and we face a similar issue. Our core member base is all aging and many of them are giving up their medicals and selling off airplanes.

We have a very strong Young Eagles program averaging around 2-300 per year. We're hoping to emphasize flyout events that will get a younger crowd involved. We're going to give a try to some aviation trivia nights and a couple of other ideas were kicking around.

Good luck to you.

 

[AcroGimp]

It is not a problem just affecting your Chapter. I've just been elected President for our Chapter and we face a similar issue. Our core member base is all aging and many of them are giving up their medicals and selling off airplanes.

We have a very strong Young Eagles program averaging around 2-300 per year. We're hoping to emphasize flyout events that will get a younger crowd involved. We're going to give a try to some aviation trivia nights and a couple of other ideas were kicking around.

Good luck to you.

Yeah, it's an epidemic. I'm the youngest regularly attending member out of over 200 total members (average 30-40 every Saturday), and I'm a pup at 43.

We have a very active Young Eagles program, host a lunch every Saturday, pancakes on Young Eagles day once per month, and have recently organized monthly fly-outs as well, but the old guys are dying off.

Seeing more LSA types and guys surrendering their medicals so they can keep flying. Our UFO group is almost 10 guys and they are all sharp as a tack with some amazing flying stories.

We have to find a way to bring more pilots up or the freedoms we enjoy are going to fade away with the passing of the old guard I fear.

'Gimp

 

[frfly172]

Marketing is very difficult in aviation. Most eaa chapters are the older pilot population. Work t he air shows and continue with the young eagles. Start a recruitment drive with rewards to members who bring in new members.

 

[N2124v]

Follow up with anyone that comes to a meeting for the first time.

 

[John Baker]

The two single biggest obstacles that are killing GA off are the costs and the mind numbing regulations, both of which increase every year. Most of the older folks have the money and the patience to put up with it all, but few of the younger want to take it on once they discover the hoops and the costs.

Neither of these issues can be successfully addressed by anyone, so GA is doomed to be mostly grey hair for now and into the foreseeable future.

Going overboard and spending your resources and efforts trying to attract youth into aviation sounds to me, like a wast of time and money, only a very few can qualify to handle the demands.

Myself, I think the EAA target should be the older folks who have the ability and the patience to accomplish the mission, buying or building an airplane, and being able to legally operate it.

There is an old thing in retail that you never advertise heavily during slow times when people are not buying and when you do advertise, advertise the things that they want, not the things you want to get rid of.

Young folks are not buying into aviation, but the older ones still are...that should be where your efforts are directed. Sure the older ones die off in a few years, but they can and do give aviation a few of their best financial years.

Target and cater to those who are fifty or over, answer their bucket list. The young ones will one day come of age, but trying to convince them to spend money they do not have, or expecting them to bend to the will of the regulators just does not make sense.

Granted you can wave five or ten young eagles and proclaim what a huge success the program is in its ability to cull a very few from a herd of millions, but they are not what is going to keep the EAA and GA viable, there just are not enough of them.

Face it, GA is for older people, they have the money and the ability to deal with the nonsense found in FARS, not so in most of the young.

-John

 

[silver-eagle]

Socialize with fly outs, young eagles, shows, FAA seminars, meetups, hookups, tweets, facebooks... Advertise in the local rag and cable any and all events.
Even with some 200 members in one chapter I belong to, we hardly ever get a big crowd at the monthly meetings and the monthly fly out breakfasts attract 6 to 8 people. I miss most of them anyway since I work Sundays.

 

[teamcoltra]

It seems to me that our society is growing more tolerant and perhaps even progressive within the younger demographics. So when younger people like myself come out (and bring my girlfriend out) to a EAA event and am told "my lady" can "go do puzzles with the other women"... it is a turn off.

I have listened to a lot of hanger talk which always makes hanging out in pilot lounges and stuff not interesting to me. I deal with enough ignorance in my life, I don't need to pay a lot of money to subject myself to more.

I am not saying to sacrifice your beliefs, I am not saying embrace Obama, but just avoid sentences that start with "I'm not a racist but..." and "Your lady should..." -- you know the little things.

 

[LDJones]

It seems to me that our society is growing more tolerant and perhaps even progressive within the younger demographics. So when younger people like myself come out (and bring my girlfriend out) to a EAA event and am told "my lady" can "go do puzzles with the other women"... it is a turn off.

I have listened to a lot of hanger talk which always makes hanging out in pilot lounges and stuff not interesting to me. I deal with enough ignorance in my life, I don't need to pay a lot of money to subject myself to more.

I am not saying to sacrifice your beliefs, I am not saying embrace Obama, but just avoid sentences that start with "I'm not a racist but..." and "Your lady should..." -- you know the little things.

And therein lies the problem, not just for aviation, but our nation. The perspective of 50-80 years of life experience isn't worth considering. Too bad, but probably irreversible.

 

[teamcoltra]

And therein lies the problem, not just for aviation, but our nation. The perspective of 50-80 years of life experience isn't worth considering. Too bad, but probably irreversible.

Your life experience is great, racism and bigotry is less so. If you are against gay people, thats fine but don't try to tell me that you have realized that gay people are evil because of your years of experience. If you are trying to be inclusive and you want more people to join, then you shouldn't make disparaging remarks against any group.

I grew up Conservative, I know the rhetoric and even understand a lot of it. I disagree with it now, but I can understand why a person would feel the way they do... and when I listen to it I typically am polite and engage and usually present my views from a conservative perspective and everyone is happy.

I don't believe that being sexist is the same as being Conservative. My girlfriend doesn't need to go to the "girls table" unless she wants to... and I understand that the comment was probably meant to be helpful but could have probably been said much better "If you are not interested in listening to people just talk about planes some people are putting together a puzzle".

I wasn't able to convince my girlfriend to come out to more events and I wasn't going to go without her. The EAA wont be getting any of my money or support. The question was asked "how can we recruit more young people" and I am answering the question. If you think these behaviours are a intregal part life, then by all means don't follow it.

In the end it's a group of pilots, not the local republican club.

 

[dell30rb]

It is not a problem just affecting your Chapter. I've just been elected President for our Chapter and we face a similar issue. Our core member base is all aging and many of them are giving up their medicals and selling off airplanes.

We have a very strong Young Eagles program averaging around 2-300 per year. We're hoping to emphasize flyout events that will get a younger crowd involved. We're going to give a try to some aviation trivia nights and a couple of other ideas were kicking around.

Good luck to you.

If any of your members have 18-30 year old daughters, bribe them to attend these flyout events. I guarantee this will work.

 

[dell30rb]

I wasn't able to convince my girlfriend to come out to more events and I wasn't going to go without her.

 

[teamcoltra]

lol something like that.

 

[AcroGimp]

Teamcoltra, I am sorry you had such a negative experience, especially since it is totally outside my experience across half a dozen chapters throughout the US over the past 25 years.

That said, I am going to request, respectfully, that you take the attitude you display and start a new thread if you want to attack the EAA Chapter you visited and keep that out of my thread.

I have heard the message you provided, and since that is not an issue in my chapter (or any chapter I have ever visited or belonged to) it is not something that needs to be discused further here.

Thanks

'Gimp

 

[airguy]

I wasn't able to convince my girlfriend to come out to more events and I wasn't going to go without her. The EAA wont be getting any of my money or support. The question was asked "how can we recruit more young people" and I am answering the question. If you think these behaviours are a intregal part life, then by all means don't follow it.

So in this short statement, you admit that you would like to attend more events, but you let someone else talk you out of it. Do you completely capitulate all free will to this person? Are you so easily swayed by anothers opinion that you are willing to allow them to direct your life for you?

My wife does not share my intense passion for airplanes - but she understands it and respects it, and never questions when I'm doing something aviation related. In kind, I never question her passion for photography even though I personally have no interest in it. This sounds more like a relationship problem than an EAA problem.

Now back to the original thread - congrats John - go do us proud!

 

[pmanton]

So the President of my EAA Chapter asked if I'd run for the Board and I was elected last week.

EAA 14 has some of the best facilities in all of EAA other than OSH, with a bunch of hangars, a great UFO (Unified Flying Octogenerians) pilot community, and some good build and restoration projects along with an interesting collection of flying experimentals and factory builts.

Looking forward to serving.

'Gimp

I was a member of your chapter for a short time while we were fixing up a rental house in SD. At that time you regularly hosted Boy Scouts, explorers, etc.
There was also an active Young Eagles program. Are you still doing stuff like that.
Here's a snap shot of some young chaps going through a plane.

Paul
Salome, AZ

 

[AcroGimp]

I was a member of your chapter for a short time while we were fixing up a rental house in SD. At that time you regularly hosted Boy Scouts, explorers, etc.
There was also an active Young Eagles program. Are you still doing stuff like that.
Here's a snap shot of some young chaps going through a plane.

Paul
Salome, AZ

Young Eagles every 2nd Saturday, we have a lot of Navy Cadets come out during Young Eagles days. Lunch every Saturday, guest speaker once a month, and now scheduling a group fly out once a month.

EAA 14 has some great facilities and a few interesting members like Ray Cote, the winningest pilot in Formula One Air Racing.

Thanks Paul

'Gimp

 

[asgcpa]

Acrogimp

First congrats. I'm 52 so I cant give advice what 20 something would like, but my flying club has a wide range of events from simple hot dog lunches in the hangar to educational classes. Have a wide range of events....

 

[denverpilot]

I've had a friend trying to get me to an EAA 301 meeting for years and/or involved in their huge YE events. Here's why I don't go...

- Chapter meetings on Friday nights. Really people... I'm going out to dinner with my wife after a long work week.

- Internet. Seriously. I'll plop by here and spend a few hours chatting with y'all from wherever I'm sitting at the times I have a bit of "free time". Driving 30 miles to sit in a room these days is completely unnecessary. Video conferencing hasn't quite gotten good enough to do the whole meeting virtually.

- YE events are by nature early morning events. I don't do early mornings. Ha. Never have. To go get the airplane out and fly it over to FTG would mean something like a 06:00 show time at APA, especially in "preheater season".

- Dues. It isn't a big deal but I hate them. I doubt they'd ever say a word if I showed up for years and never paid, if they actually have them, but that's not my style. If they're asking for a few bucks for coffee and donuts, I'll cough it up. Just saying its a minor annoyance.

- I've already had to resign from all the CAP "jobs" I held this year due to work constraints. I'd feel a little guilty not taking those back up first before going to a more social type thing.

Stuff that's a draw to going...

- They get the best speakers in the area by far. Seriously. Good stuff.

- There's a lot of really awesome people there. People anyone would be proud to know and/or be associated with.

Bottom line: Time. That's why so many meet-in-person organizations are losing membership except from the retired crowd. I'm just frakkin' busy. Even when I'm not busy, I'm often on-call. Committing to anything while on-call is possible but adds headaches and drama I don't need.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Geico266]

The two single biggest obstacles that are killing GA off are the costs and the mind numbing regulations, both of which increase every year. Most of the older folks have the money and the patience to put up with it all, but few of the younger want to take it on once they discover the hoops and the costs.

Neither of these issues can be successfully addressed by anyone, so GA is doomed to be mostly grey hair for now and into the foreseeable future.

Going overboard and spending your resources and efforts trying to attract youth into aviation sounds to me, like a wast of time and money, only a very few can qualify to handle the demands.

Myself, I think the EAA target should be the older folks who have the ability and the patience to accomplish the mission, buying or building an airplane, and being able to legally operate it.

There is an old thing in retail that you never advertise heavily during slow times when people are not buying and when you do advertise, advertise the things that they want, not the things you want to get rid of.

Young folks are not buying into aviation, but the older ones still are...that should be where your efforts are directed. Sure the older ones die off in a few years, but they can and do give aviation a few of their best financial years.

Target and cater to those who are fifty or over, answer their bucket list. The young ones will one day come of age, but trying to convince them to spend money they do not have, or expecting them to bend to the will of the regulators just does not make sense.

Granted you can wave five or ten young eagles and proclaim what a huge success the program is in its ability to cull a very few from a herd of millions, but they are not what is going to keep the EAA and GA viable, there just are not enough of them.

Face it, GA is for older people, they have the money and the ability to deal with the nonsense found in FARS, not so in most of the young.

-John

John is on point. Young Eagles is not going to fill the ranks of EAA Chapters. It is a feel good program for those giving the joy rides. I'm not knocking the program, but it is misguided to think those tweens are going to become pilots due to a ride in an airplane. Pretty sure their allowance does not include flight training.

What you need to do is recruit old people who have always wanted to fly. 40 something's who have the disposable income to start training, building, or attending meetings.

 

[Dave Siciliano]

Congratulations for being elected to that leadership role in that fine organization. I tip my hat to you.
Not quite on point, but my biggest concern is TFRs; seem to be 29 today and I've seen as much as 50 in one day. For someone that flies on long, cross country flights, that gets to be a real mess; especially, for a GA guy that doesn't have operations, a co-pilot or any other back up. Now, if you really want to get me started, look at the bottom of the FAA's TFR web site! I can't rely on what's there. Completely ducking any responsibility. One ought to be able to log onto that site and have some record of reviewing TFRs, just like getting approved weather at various approved sites. I should not have to call Lock Mart before every leg of a flight to prove I reviewed TFRs. All agencies duck and any misstep falls right on the pilot.

Best,

Dave
============================================
Depicted TFR data may not be a complete listing. Pilots should not use the information on this website for flight planning purposes. For the latest information, call your local Flight Service Station at 1-800-WX-BRIEF.

 

[kimberlyanne546]

So the President of my EAA Chapter asked if I'd run for the Board and I was elected last week.

For any of you who are (or have been) EAA members, what would be your suggestions on things to focus on for expanding chapter membership, particularly bringing in younger folks as in 20's to 40's?

EAA 14 has some of the best facilities in all of EAA other than OSH, with a bunch of hangars, a great UFO (Unified Flying Octogenerians) pilot community, and some good build and restoration projects along with an interesting collection of flying experimentals and factory builts.

Looking forward to serving.

'Gimp

John,

I belong to 2 EAA chapters and to EAA National. I love the EAA.

Some unique things I have seen that might help you:

We recently did a "hangar crawl". Started with a BBQ lunch for $5 to go to the chapter and then we literally went to hangars to see experimental and non experimental planes, some flying, some being built. Not only did we have a huge crowd, being around at the airport and walking for so many hours drew younger "spectators" to see what we were on about.

I think perhaps using Facebook or meetup or non-traditional ways to "find" these young pilots would be a good thing.

They are out there, but just hiding in the shadows.

Good luck, I just got voted in to a Board of Directors aviation thing myself (not for the EAA). A lot of people call me the cheerleader of aviation because I bring in more pilot members than most. I constantly mentor (and take up) student pilots, mechanics, and anyone with an aviation interest. My website was made to encourage pilots to stay flying.

I'm sure you will do well.

Best,

Kimberly

 

[ClimbnSink]

Acrogimp here is what you do, set up a couple of gopros around an open house/YE eagle event, recruit a nonpilot acquaintance(age range of choice and as outgoing as you can find) to come by and express interest in flying at the end of the day watch the video and listen to the audio. You'll find your answer. We're a bunch of snobby pricks. Plus all that cost and regulation stuff John said.