Rod Hightower and EAA

[steveinindy]

you know who was GIVING rides in his T-6 until dark? Rod. He flies for fun!"

Can I join your flying club? Please? LOL

Take a look at your chapter. What is the average age? Twenty years ago what was the average age? - 20 years younger than today?

The chapter I was "part of" 20 years ago has about the same median age (mid to late 40s). The chapter's gotten bigger but a lot of the same ol' guys are still around so the average age is kind of skewed a bit.

The chapter I'm sort of involved with now has about the same median age as the group I hung around with as a kid. I'm 31 and most of the guys are in their late thirties to fifties with a smattering of older folks (one of whom refers to that little subgroup as the "Ragtag Ragwing Rascals" because they are the "classic airplane part" of the group). I haven't seen any kids around that weren't with a member parent.

We missed a whole generation in chapter recruitment.

Technically, wouldn't that most directly be a problem at the chapter level and not necessarily directly the fault of the national organization?

Rod on the other hand is a much larger man in size and energy. He is outwardly passionate and “walks the talk”. EAA needs a charismatic leader for the next crucial 20 years. Exactly (IMHO) what aviation needs.

You want to know why the EAA will never be another AOPA? Because our leader has more passion and exuberance than anyone I know in the upper echelon of AOPA. Don't get me wrong, I like and respect the guys at AOPA but they are a lot "drier" than Rod. He comes across as an oversized aviation addicted kid who never grew out of it. Chad, you can tell him I said that too.

[MEdwards]

Chad, Part of the problem as I see it, is that most of us have not had any opportunity to meet and get to know Rod. Certainly with an organisation as large as EAA it is not possible for everyone to get to know him well, but there may be a way for the " masses " to have an opportunity to speak with him in a sense of the word. Perhaps he could host a live web chat for 1 or 2 hours per month, thereby giving all the members a chance to ask the questions that are most important to them. This would certainly help improve his image. It would definetly help him to be seen as more aproachable and help lessen the us against them attitude that I have sensed on so many of these threads. If he seen as being more available to the members at large it would be a great chance to really learn what is on the minds of the membership first hand. Your thoughts ?????.Randy Powell

Unfortunately, after what we've learned this week, all during Rod's webcast I'd have visions of his "Communications Specialist" sitting at his right hand, feeding him cue cards.

Other posts on this thread indicate that would not be the case. Unfortunately the Big Business feel of the job posting, "branding" and all those Harvard Business School buzzwords, makes me wonder where the organization is going, and how far I want to go with it.

[steveinindy]

Unfortunately the Big Business feel of the job posting, "branding" and all those Harvard Business School buzzwords, makes me wonder where the organization is going, and how far I want to go with it.

Just out of curiosity, wow would you have worded it? I used to hire folks for an ambulance service. You either use those buzzwords or your posting doesn't show up in Internet job search engines. You should see how some of the descriptions for EMTs and paramedics make the job sound especially given that an EMT has, on average, under 150 hrs of job related training.

[Kyle Boatright]

Can someone post a link to the job listing that has been quoted in this thread? I can't find it on the EAA homepage. Was it an old listing, has it been pulled, or did I just miss it?

[Frank Giger]

I don't see what the whole big deal is about.

If I were to sit down at the counter of a Waffle House next to the head of the EAA I would think it absolutely stupid for a requirement that either of us recognize one another.

Ditto the head of the AOPA or any other nationwide alphabet organization.

So, let's review the options:

A) Advertise yourself for the membership to have them get to know you and you're whoring yourself for the masses or are a self-important martinet.

B) Simply handle business without a bunch of PR crap and you're an aloof out-of-touch elitist that isn't working with transparency.

This is why I never want to have any sort of political job - one can never win.

Plus we'll never hear the unvarnished truth that Job One is keeping the organization's coffers full and the membership numbers padded, as both equal political clout....you know, so they can influence Congressmen and Senators to protect us GA pilots in general and homebuilders in particular?

They really don't care if they piss me off with feature articles of fancy new business jets (and snub the fact that at Airventure last year there was a homebuilt Morane replica right next to it to show lineage; I guess Mac couldn't lower himself to even look at something with a price tag under a million dollars or without electronics that would shame the Space Shuttle).

You know what? I'll live. In fact, I'll laugh it off as they do the things that really matter to me like fend off user fees or the stupid NTSB recommendations for homebuilt certification.

[RV8505]

So Rod is looking for a Excutive Assistant! So what?!

[Jalsup]

So Rod is looking for a Excutive Assistant! So what?!

I think people are just poking fun at how the job is titled and written - with the "branding" buzzwords and such.

[Joe LaMantia]

Well said Frank!

I danced around that very point in my post, you nailed it in what I hear in actual hangers!

Joe

[Burtles]

Can someone post a link to the job listing that has been quoted in this thread? I can't find it on the EAA homepage. Was it an old listing, has it been pulled, or did I just miss it?

It has been pulled within the last 24 hours perhaps as a result of the on-line and off-line chatter! Google still has it cached:

Title: Communications Specialist
Department: Marketing
Reports To: President/CEO
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Location: Oshkosh, WI
SUMMARY
This position provides direct support to the CEO as that position's personal "press secretary," communications liaison and brand advocate. This position is to provide strategy and implementation for the CEO's internal and external communications. This position will also be expected to travel with the CEO and assist in event management and coordination pertaining to the CEO's event-specific role.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Develop the CEO's personal brand and align with the organization's brand.
• Create internal and external public relations/communication strategies that help channel and deliver the CEO's personal/corporate brand.
• Build strong media relationships to secure CEO press opportunities.
• Write the CEO's personal/corporate messaging using channels such as press releases, social media posts, video scripts, speeches, etc.
• Work in collaboration with EAA's marketing department and its Senior Communications Advisor as a liaison between marketing/communication efforts and the CEO's communication initiatives.
• Assist in coordinating all CEO's appearances, including press conferences, Grassroots Pilot Tour, gala dinners, program launches, Chapter visits, etc.
• Seek opportunities to elevate brand awareness for the organization via the CEO's communications.
• Pitch brand and programs to media to attain editorial/speaking opportunities for the CEO.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum three years experience in a communications role (preference on experience with employee/internal communications)
• College diploma or university degree in marketing, communications, journalism, or related experience in the field
• Experience in developing and executing communication strategies and tactics
• Excellent writing and editing skills that translates across several business units
• Proven ability to develop effective relationships and gain credibility across all levels of the organization and diverse client groups
• Ability to question and propose alternatives for communications that need to be developed and delivered
• Familiarity with the features and benefits of different communications methods
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a large number of tasks and responsibilities
• Strong influencing skills as this position advises and partners with individuals at all levels in the organization
• Active listening skills and the ability to identify areas of development, as well as create an action plan and deliver results
• Ability to maintain information in confidence and exercise good judgment
• Demonstrate ability to work in a dynamic, fast paced, changing environment
• Ability to thrive under pressure and deliver communications within tight deadlines
• Proven ability to operate independently with minimal direction

[Kyle Boatright]

It has been pulled within the last 24 hours perhaps as a result of the on-line and off-line chatter! Google still has it cached:

"No, really. We didn't post a job to push Rod's personal brand. Really. How would that look to the membership?"

"What do you mean they found out?"

;-)