SSA Executive Committee Teleconference
Meeting Minutes
August 25, 2011, 7:00 p.m. EDT
712-451-6000, pin 490031#


Present: Chair Al Tyler, 1st Vice Chair/Treasurer David Pixton, Vice Chair Cindy Brickner, Vice Chair Dianne Black-Nixon, Chief Administrative Officer Denise Layton, Vice Chair/Secretary Frank Whiteley
A quorum being present, Chair Tyler called the meeting to order at 1903EDT
Agenda item 1 – Open action item review (Whiteley)
See open action item list.
Agenda item 2 - Approval of July 14, 2011 Executive Committee meeting minutes. Director Brickner moved/Director Pixton seconded. Approved.
Agenda item 3 - Treasurer’s report (Pixton)
Director Pixton sent July forecast and statements. Single biggest thing is membership drop in June/July, however a middle of August pull shows number back up again. Thus when the reports were rolled it shows decrease in dues revenue. Break even at net capital. Revenue streams are falling off a bit, but Chief Layton is controlling costs well. Still to decide if office HVAC and renovations will be taken as period expenses or capitalization. Balance sheets look good, forecast bottom line is $147K with a slight positive on normal operations.
Agenda item 4 - Chief Administrative Officer’s report (Layton)
Chief Layton had nothing apart from what was reported under the open action list.
Sep 19th deadline for reports for SSA fall meeting Blue Books.
Agenda item 5 - Magazine survey (Whiteley)
As suggested previously, the SSA office will make a regular mailing to 300 members who don’t have or don’t provide e-mail addresses. If needed, Doug Easton can create a filter. Director Whiteley also suggested that EXCOM members nominate members known to them as mail participants and that he personally had one in mind, a long time SSA member who shies away from PC’s and the Internet. Director Black-Nixon also mentioned a similar member.
Director Whiteley mentioned he’d spoken with SSA Editor Coyne about the duration of the survey and recommended 45 days, which will span more than one issue.
Director Brickner, who had not seen a draft, expressed concern that the August issue might result in some skewed results due to the volume of racing news. After some discussion, it was agreed that the survey would not go active until the September issue was in distribution.
Directory Whiteley will send draft copies of the survey to the EXCOM and the others in the development group after a few additional edits and some formatting. Nothing is etched in concrete yet.
Agenda item 6 - Information swap with Soaring Cafe (Tyler)
Moved to September EXCOM meeting.
Agenda item 7 - Keynote speaker for Reno Convention (Layton)
Chief Layton reported that Randy Babbitt was invited but we were turned down. They offered a stand-in. She reported that Director Northcraft was consulted but he objected that the stand-in would not be of interest. Thus we need ideas.
Director Whiteley suggested Barry Schiff, in part due to his recent AOPA column on the value of glider training. Director Black-Nixon offered that she had a long standing e-mail relationship with him and would feel it out.
Agenda item 8 - Policy on third party reselling of FAST packages (Whiteley)
Discussion over the recent activity and approach of Headband LLC dba Soaring Sports as an SSA Business Members and attempts to approach clubs and commercial operators with an interest to selling gift certificates based on SSA FAST packages. There had been considerable public and personal discussion over the past problems with the predecessor company, skepticism of reform, and multiple objections to any SSA relationship with Headband LLC.
A consensus arrived at that the SSA FAST package is an SSA product and brand available to SSA clubs and business members that have opted-in and not available to third-party resellers.
Director Whiteley queried how the FAST packages were costed in our financials. Director Pixton offered they were in the Cost of Merchandise. No one had an actual cost of the package.
Director Black-Nixon moved that the SSA refund the Business Member monies be refunded to Soaring Sports and their membership be canceled with the suggestion that they approach the SSA board in two or three years when their performance can be reviewed. Director Brickner seconded. Carried.
Agenda item 9 – Eagle Fund reception at Reno Convention (Whiteley)
Director Whiteley offered that some discussions with membership revealed that donors do not expect anything back and that the potential for sending the wrong message was there for a closed reception. He recommended an open, pay as you go reception would be a better scenario. An identifying tag, indicating an Eagle Fund donor, would be fine. Need to explore how many years would be so recognized.
Director Black-Nixon recommended referral to the SSA Foundation, as it’s part of their responsibility. All agreed.
Agenda item 10 – Cloudstreet, A Soaring Adventure (Tyler)
HYPERLINK "http://www.cloudstreethd.org/Home.html"http://www.cloudstreethd.org/Home.html
Chair Tyler offered that the SSA had provided a letter of support, but had no funds at the time.
Director Whiteley said last proposed action he recalls was that former chair Umphres was going to contact Barron Hilton about support. However, it’s believed that contact information for Barron Hilton through his staff was provided to the project leads.
The initial cost projection was $200,000. Director Whiteley commented that it’s possible that technical advancements may have altered that, however, stabilized helicopter mounted cameras do not come cheap. We don’t have any idea what hour-long PBS productions cost, but noted that the project is no longer listed on the Albuquerque PBS web site.
Chair Tyler will follow-up with project people about contact with Barron Hilton.
Director Black-Nixon will discuss with an SSA benefactor.
Agenda item 11 – League of Silent Flight, AMA Special Interest (Tyler)
HYPERLINK "http://www.silentflight.org/"http://www.silentflight.org
The SIG to the AMA for Soaring
Director Whiteley asked if the LSF was the only AMA soaring component. No one knew for sure, but they are the group that runs the annual competitions within the AMA.
Chair Tyler said the LSF thought that affiliate status with the SSA would cross pollinate youth interest.
Add to fall meeting of full board. Presentation anticipated.
Agenda item 12 - Other business
Soaring Safety Foundation
Letter to membership on safety, circulate to EXCOM
SSA leadership needs to impress upon SSF to enhance, re-vitalize their program.

SSF board meeting in Reno, open? Suggest SSA board members attend.
Engage some of the other SSF members.

Ron Ridenour is newest and approachable.
Agenda item 13 - Date of next meeting
September 29 1900 EDT.
There being no other relevant business, Director Brickner moved to adjourn, Director Black-Nixon seconded. Adjourned at 2029EDT.