Presidents Report November ’22
Happy Holidays
As this year comes to a close, we can look back on everything we accomplished throughout the year. We have a lot to be thankful for and even more to look forward to in the upcoming year. We tried somethings a little different than in years past. So, was this year a success? Will we do any of those things again in the future?
When we look at what makes things successful, we have to consider what our goals are. My goals for the Club are to grow our membership, increase participation at club events, and increase the perceived value to the membership, and keep our dues affordable for everyone. We also wanted to try something to not only increase participation, but something that might help with insurance premiums too.
So, let’s talk about what we are trying that is new and different. Well in just a couple short weeks we should have the 2023 Short Wing Piper Club calendar available in the club store! They will sell for $10 each and every month has a different and exciting Short Wing picture to look at for the whole month. We asked for pictures from the members and they come through, so I am excited to continue this from year to year if the membership wants them. After all who wouldn’t want a picture of your plane featured on a calendar for a whole month?
Additionally, we teamed up with the Northeast Comanche Tribe on their weekly Thursday evening Zoom meeting. Some of these Zoom meeting will get you Wings credits that will help get you better insurance premiums and you never have to leave your house to take advantage of it. A lot of the topics carry over directly to our planes and some of them may not pertain directly to our Short wings, but it is information that may help you down the road. This is all being done for your benefit and doesn’t cost you anything but a little time.
The convention was different this year in the we started later in the week and went through the weekend. The convention was well attended, but one of the most exciting things for us was the number of first-time attendees! We haven’t seen that many first-time attendees since I have been attending the conventions. So, we as a club are doing something right! Maybe it was the location, or maybe it was the time of the week, or just maybe we are getting people interested in participating. No matter what the reason, it is you the members that are making this a great event.
We also had a great showing at Air Venture Oshkosh. Both your President and Vice President were there at the type club table to meet you and answer your questions. It is an honor and humbling for me to sit at that table and meet member after member or sign up a new member. But one of the greatest feelings for me, is to meet someone that was a member way back and have them join the club again! That tells me that the membership is doing a great thing and bringing back members that left the club years ago for whatever reason.
Not to forget the Southwest Regional. They also had a good turnout this year and a good time was had by all. I have not had the opportunity yet to attend the Southwest Regional, but it is on the list of things to do. When I hear about those that attended and enjoyed their time meeting other members and just catching up, it makes me want to be there.
So, was this year a success? Yes, it was! We did some really great things and enjoyed making new friends and rekindling old friendships, and visiting new places. Did our dues go up this year? No, they did not, although almost everything is costing more, your officers and Board members are working to bring you the best product possible without costing you more. That just increases the value of your membership! Our membership fluctuates because every membership has a different expiration date, but over all we did not lose membership. I was even able to make it to a couple different chapter meetings and meet new people and make new friends. So, you have all made this a great year not only for the club, but also for the membership.
Looking forward, we have an exciting year lined up for you. The Carolina Chapter lead by Steve Culler is working hard on the 2023 convention and it is promising to be a great one! The Vagabond turns 75 this year and we want to have some at the convention. Another thing about 2023 is it was 120 years earlier a couple of brothers that lived in Ohio made the first powered controlled flight, right down the road from our convention site! Another exciting thing we have up our sleeve is a 2024 calendar. The difference between what we did for this year and what we want to do for next year will be the fun part.
What we want to do is sell advertising for the calendar to help pay some of the cost. We want to have a mail in airplane show with winners announced at the end of the year and maybe some prizes awarded. This mail in airplane show will provide us with the pictures for the 2024 calendar and get people active in club activities. The vision would be you submit several photos of your plane in high resolution. At least one on the ground with a scenic backdrop, photos of the interior, and in flight. With all of these photos being high resolution, we can use them on the calendar too. The concept being the main page a photo of the plane in flight with smaller pictures in the bottom corners for the interior and sitting with a nice backdrop.
With 2022 winding down and everyone getting ready for the Holidays, we want to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! While everyone is relaxing and basking in the joy of the Holidays, we will be working on making 2023 even better! Remember that elections for President and Secretary are this year as well as a special election for Treasurer. If you have not made your nominations, get them to the Secretary now. We have some momentum and we want to keep things moving in the forward direction.
I am honored to serve you,
Steve