Minutes of the SSAS Board of Directors

Minutes of the Meeting
SSA Board of Directors
Embassy Suites Hotel
Dallas, Texas
September 12, 2009

The Board of Directors' meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Dallas, Texas, by Chairman, Phil Umphres.
Directors in attendence were: Phil Umphres, Dianne Black-Nixon, Jim Kellett, Al Tyler, Stephen Northcraft, Charlie Minner, David Coggins, Jay McDaniel, Jonathan Gaffney, David Pixton, Peter Smith, Burt Compton, Geoff Weck, Chris O'Callaghan, Ken Sorenson, Bernald Smith and Cindy Brickner.
Directors absent were: Ron McLaughlin, John Dezzutti.
Visitors were Peter Brown from Anchorage, Alaska, SSF Trustee, Terry Ribble from Conference Direct, Pat Costello from Costello Insurance, Denise Layton CAO, and Judy Blalack, SSA accounting, and Penn Smith, SSF Trustee.
Agenda Item 1.0 Welcome and Opening Remarks
Chairman Umphres welcomed everyone, and announced the first order of business was to nominate John Lubon to fill the term of Dennis Fisher in Region 6. It was moved by Weck, seconded by Black-Nixon and approved unanimously.
Agenda Item 2.0 Consent Agenda
Chairman Umphres announced a correction to the approval of past minutes, and asked that September 8, 2009 Executive Committee minutes be removed from the consent agenda since they had not been submitted.
Minutes of Sept 26, 2008 ExComm
Minuts of Sept. 27, 2008 Board
Minutes of October 21, 2008 ExComm
Minutes of Dcember 2, 2008 ExComm
Minutes of Jan. 2, 2009 ExComm
Minutes of Jan. 20, 2009 ExComm
Minutes of Jan. 23, 2009 Board Meeting
Minutes of Feb. 10, 2009 ExComm
Minutes of Mar. 17, 2009 ExComm
Minutes of March 17, 2009 ExComm
Minuts of April 14, 2009 ExComm
Minutes of May 26, 2009 ExComm
Minutes of July 14, 2009 ExComm
Minutes of August 18, 2009 ExComm
Approval of Awards Nominations – Sorenson asked for the removal of the Kennedy nomination from Consent Agenda.
Appointment of SSF Trustees - Stephen Dee, Ron Ridenour for a term through December 2012
Appointment to Hall of Fame Vetting Committee - Bob Gaines for a term through 12/31/2012. Burt Compton for a term of 12/31/2010 replacing Dean Carswell’s seat.
Brickner moved, Pixton seconded for consent agenda approval. Motion carries.
Agenda Item 3.0 Report by Pat Costello on SSA Insurance Program
Costello reported on towing between reciprocal Group Plan, clubs may be made for hire in the future. A program change was requested in Region 2 by Black-Nixon and Coggins in Region 10. Kellett reported he also has the same problem in Region 4 on reciprocity for training issues.
Costello reported that in the future under Airport Liability, it will include equipment licensed for the road and anywhere in the policy area.
A new coverage to commercial operations in a customer's aircraft is in effect. 1 million and 100k passenger, 25k non-owned hull, under $500 per year.
Many customers build a credit of 20 – 25% over years. Within 30 days on claims free credits, this can be extended to coming back within 6 months on a new glider.
Program renewal retention ratio – 94%.
Umphres comments on review of change of carrier and thorough analysis presented to ExComm by Costello, and advised the Board we would be continuing with Chartis/AIG.
Bernald Smith comments on continuing efforts of improvement under management of Pat Costello over the decades. David Volkman insurance chairman also supported the review and changes.
4.0 Chairman’s Report – Umphres
Chairman Umphres advised the SSA is stable now. The challenge now is to build on improving programs. He commented the focus now is in improving Soaring Magazine, and will address this in the coming term.
5.0 Chief Administrative Officer's Report – Layton

Layton reported on the web site projects – Work on the Sailplane Directory began Jan. 2009, but due to the death of Dean Carswell, the group had switched to archiving digital Soaring Magazines. Layton advised work was being done on this and hoped within weeks to have beginning magazines on-line.

Layton advised SSA member David Robertson gave a $25k donation to accomplish these projects.
Thank you process? Robertson declined the recognition, and was listed in Eagle Fund donation. Minner/Sorenson moved to express the Board’s appreciation for this donation.
Umphres notes the access to archived Soaring Magazines on the website was decided to be a log-in member benefit for access.
Layton searching for a western 2012 Convention site. Recommends using Reno.
Region 11 wants to support this. Compton questions the alternate schedule, and
Layton notes we will poll the members concerning going back to an annual convention.
McDaniel moves, Tyler seconds to approve Reno as the site of the 2012 SSA Convention. Motion carries.
O’Callaghan offers the idea of AOPA Summit participation, and Umphres advised local Tampa pilots will participate in the AOPA Summit this winter at zero cost. We will exchange publishing the Summit advertising, and AOPA will cover the Little Rock SSA Convention.
6.0 Treasurer’s Report – Pixton
Pixton reported the staff continues to run the office at under budget for Expenses. The Audit statement will be passed out to directors and this was the second year of an unqualified opinion from the audit on clean processes and procedures. Analysis of membership data concludes we are changing tracking data for ‘people’, not delivery addresses for income suppositions. The SSA saw growth in Student members in early season, Full Member growth in middle season. Tracker reporting change will occur.
Pixton reported the June and July reports held the same trends. Net capital balance had a tiny decrease in July. Revenue at plan, expenses under planned rate. Postage and printing up a little bit. Down $8k in net assets the end of July.
Pixton presented the 2010 Preliminary Budget and advised it was reduced by $12k for the Chapter Rebate Program, and $30k in dues from the Life Member Trust had been elliminated to leave corpus in place. The SSA will receive convention revenue in 2010, and magazine ad revenue due to the convention, an increase in donations from ’09 Eagle Fund is predicted, due to member interaction at the upcoming SSA Convention.
Revenue side of FAST certificate. This summer M-ASA entered into a FAST program with the Naval Academy for 75 flights per week for 6-8 weeks, to the order of $30,000 through the SSA FAST program.
Very few cash needs have been expressed by Committees for the upcoming year. Please forward these items to Layton or Pixton for implementation. The budget has been padded with $10k for committee work. $47k positive balance for 2010 year end at this moment.
Umphres states we should plan ahead budget wise for different staffing for an Executive after Layton chooses to exit. Transfer of some responsibilities to a paid executive. Can expand some programs with planning, $10k for committee programs. Paget for Publicity requested document upgrade for PR handouts.
Expects $31k income from Convention, not available in 2011. Some years have lesser income for a non-convention year.
It was discussed Dennis Wright's evaluations were based on member growth, so obscured statistics were reported from that data period.
7.0 Election of Officers and Directors for 2010 – Umphres for Committee
The nominating committee includes one Board member for presentation, but Dezzutti was unable to attend the meeting due to inclement weather so Chairman Umphres will present the proposed slate of officers.
7.1 John Lubon for Dennis Fisher replacement seat in Region 6.
Handled at top of meeting.
7.2 Directors at Large – seven seats to be filled.
Nominees are:
Jonathan Gaffney for NAA
Dave Pixton, Treasurer
Peter Smith, NSM
Burt Compton
Chris O’Callahan
Misti Roland
Gerry Molidor
Slate drops off Geoff Weck and Ken Sorenson (2012 WGC CD) demands alternate time focus.
Nominations will be welcomed from the floor for DAL.
ExComm candidates are: Tyler, Brickner, Pixton, Dezzutti
Treasurer, Secretary, Chairman: Pixton, Roland, Umphres
Northcraft suggests leaving nominations open until after lunch.
Minner questioned the size of the board and thought FRTF had recommended decreasing the number of directors.
Umphres refers Minner to Bylaws for process of changing. DAL increased to 7,
Regional Directors seats combined and reduced to one per Region.
8.0 Committee Reports
Incomplete and some filed late. Layton reports it always has been this way.
Highlights of reports to be summarized by ExComm leadership.
8.1 Pixton
Insurance has changes as reported, Budget report as reviewed individually, Volunteer Development no action but with Umphres participation to develop writing efforts fro magazine and AOPA website. Daniels on AOPA blogs. O'Callaghan reports 1000-1500 daily hits to Let’s Go Flying and a few hundred read the Soaring blogs. Val Paget had an article published in Subaru magazine.
Sorenson advised there should be more recognition of volunteers. The only folks who knew he was a Director At Large, are present Directors. He felt we needded to recognize and publicize Directors and Officers and committee heads on an ongoing basis – Governors, Recordkeepers, etc. Committee reports should appear in Soaring Magazine after the meeting? Sorenson also asked about having a Volunteer of the month. Layton reported she tried that when she was Editor and only received enough response to have it for three months.
8.2. Brickner
Bricker advised her reports for affiliates, COBMs, FAI and State Governors were all in her reports with nothing more to add.
Northcraft – suggested a letter be sent to IGC that wrong data versus OO statements is a process gone the wrong way. Technology has made this process harder.
Action Item - Letter from Committee, through Chairman back to IGC about this matter. Gaffney advised he doesn’t know about details of claims, but can push for changes if there is a problem.
B.S. Smith reported on GNSS Committee work with a dozen people working on re-writing the Sporting Code, and World records being handled through the FAI. He advised
1000 km in a Sparrowhawk had been set by Jim Payne this week. COTS also in the purview of the National organization, and Marc Ramsey is on GFAC Committee.
O'Callaghan – advised this was a 15 year problematic process. Silver Badge is the marketing badge. The first reward should be on a national equivalency, rather than international standards so it won't impede participation.
Sorenson suggested replacing the Silver Badge requirement to OLC requirements with an observer to bypass the badge system.
Umphres acknowledged importance of this program.
Minner – also a problem with USAFA participation to qualify for contest entry
in processing time.
8.3 Northcraft
Northcraft advised the Pegasus situation was resolved, FAA will do nothing on 3000-hr life limits as the U.S. is the only country in the world this affects. Owners may apply for STC to extend life for fatigue testing results. There are 52 in the USA, 5 have >2500 hours. The only solution for owners is to sell the Pegasus to out of country owners.
Northcraft reported the Small Aircraft Directorate supervisor over the glider desk had engaged in good conversation on service levels with him.
National Transponder code of 0000 is an internal process and an ADS-B test program is to begin the first of 2010.
There is an ADS-B initiative on VFR only equipment thanks to Bernald Smith's efforts.
Airport issues continue to be problems. Three or four this year have problems with glider operations on runway incursion issues. Need national level discussion with operation safety and ADO for design standards for flight operations to take place. SSA will need to visit Washington to handle this at the top. Northcraft will handle this action.
RTCA – B.S. Smith reported Next Gen is airline oriented and will affect all of us.
New Administrator is a former union boss of Smith. The battle of the World is airlines running the aviation communities. AdHoc Committee is ‘not’ moving.
Parachute Committee has woken up to be unhappy with EASA. Airlines in charge!
15 minutes break – back at 10:25.
8.4 Al Tyler
8.4.1 Awards:
McDaniel – he is reviewing the process for all Awards selection, and an effort to publicize the process of nominations and selections will be done. McDaniel advised the Eaton Award process in 2009 was varied from the official rules, and he had re-instituted the proper procedures. A request will be sent to Directors in October, McDaniel will collect the ballots and vet with Peter Smith and present the nominations for voting in November, with the announcement happening at the SSA Awards Banquet.
Tyler – advised the Spratt Award committee was responsible for selecting a volunteer in support of racing. Spratt chose committee members. Trophies are at the SSA office awaiting future presentations.
McDaniel advised the next item of business was the Nomination for Exceptional Achievement of Kennedy. Due to lack of a motion there was no action taken on this award.
8.4.2. Contest Committee
On-line contest enrollment program has been worked on by Seaborn and Easton. The Board owes these two volunteers a thank you for their efforts.
Approval of 2010 National sites.
Sports Class, Parowan
18-Meter Class, Ceasar Creek
15-Meter Class in Uvalde
Minner moved, Coggins second to approve. Motion carries.
Rules Committee will meet in mid-November, send comments to Ken.
Considering OLC flight for entry qualifications for Regionals.
Number of entry decisions for Team will be decided by a phone conference the next week after the Board Meeting.