The New EAA.........again?

[Lindberg]

Oh, we got troubles in River City. Is it permissible for a lowly rank and file member to wonder WTH's happenin'. My guess is that Rod's vision was not what others had in view, or is it the other way around. I guess that would make it the same thing. I think we should all be privy as to what just is going down since we are members of that big aviation family that were are told we are. Each year I feel more like a visitor than a member. Of course talk like this is blasphemous.

Like the CIA quote from John 8:32: "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.":rollseyes:

[Kyle Boatright]

Can you clarify what you're talking about. I don't understand at all.

[Lindberg]

Can you clarify what you're talking about. I don't understand at all.

Start with page 1 (Commentary) of December 2013 EAA Sport Aviation magazine.

[Bob Collins]

This topic is like Groundhog Day. It just keeps repeating itself.

[steveinindy]

This topic is like Groundhog Day. It just keeps repeating itself.

...and usually involving the same people doing the repeating. Now, if you will pardon me, I am going to go get the popcorn ready for this month's installment of "Why this month's issue of Sport Aviation is not like what we had back in the 'good ol' days' ". It's usually good as an idle distraction.

[wltrmtty]

I read the Commentary on page 1 in the December 2012 issue of Sport Aviation and am encouraged. From my chair, Jack Pelton appears to be a grass roots aviation guy who understands aviation in a global context. That is very good for EAA and its members. I recently took the opportunity available from the EAA website to read early issues of The Experimenter. Such tools were not available in the fifties, or sixties and seventies for that matter. I believe the changes at the EAA national level have been made for the good of the aviation community in general and EAA members in particular. I also believe these changes were made honestly and sincerely. The downside is that the EAA doesn't look like it did. We can't have it both ways.

However, here is the good news. We can still have that same camaraderie Paul and his gang experienced in January of 1953 when they published their first Experimenter. That is at the Chapter level. Get involved in a local chapter, really involved. If you don't have a local chapter near you, start one. You won't ever regret it.

[Thomas Richards]

However, here is the good news. We can still have that same camaraderie Paul and his gang experienced in January of 1953 when they published their first Experimenter. That is at the Chapter level. Get in involved in a local chapter, really involved. If you don't have a local chapter near you, start one. You won't ever regret it.

Well said.

[58boner]

Sorry but I have tried to become active in three different chapters and have not found success. My experience has been the folks at these gatherings were snobbish or more interested in the lunch than airplanes. I've had more fun hanging out with the locals at the little strip where I keep my plane. Some of them belong to EAA but have no local chapter. WTH, maybe it's me!

[martymayes]

Sorry but I have tried to become active in three different chapters and have not found success.

My experience isn't that bad but I'm not going to drive >50 miles for chapter #3.

[WLIU]

Only takes 10 members to start your own chapter.......

Best of luck,

Wes
N78PS

[steveinindy]

Only takes 10 members to start your own chapter.......

That was my own thought. I have thought about starting my own chapter because my interests are not simply in assembling a kit. It would be nice to have a chapter for folks who are interested in the design of new aircraft and improvement of existing designs. However, I don't know whether there are enough folks with similar interest around here to justify a "local" chapter per se.


My experience has been the folks at these gatherings were snobbish or more interested in the lunch than airplanes. I've had more fun hanging out with the locals at the little strip where I keep my plane. Some of them belong to EAA but have no local chapter. WTH, maybe it's me!

Perhaps it is me as well, but I have had a similar experience over the past 20+ years (since I was a kid) insofar as the "snobbish" attitude of some clubs (usually those built around fans of a particular model). The issue is that I don't see folks who are interested in the lunch as being a bad part. I have learned more about aviation over lunch with folks who have far more experience and/or knowledge than I do than I have ever learned in a cockpit. There's more to aviation than just airplanes I guess is my take on it. I could be missing the point though...

[Kyle Boatright]

Start with page 1 (Commentary) of December 2013 EAA Sport Aviation magazine.

I read 80% of it as the short version of how Pelton got the job, and 20% as his "all is well" message.

Whether or not all is indeed well will be dermined by actions, not by two paragraphs at the end of Pelton's first column. My intent is to sit back and watch for 6 months. That'll tell the tale.

[FunInAviation]

Our Chapter is strong, and is growing larger every month. We have over 300 on our roster. What's the secret? Bringing people together to socialize as much as possible. Coffee, donuts (food) and bull-sessions. Check it out:

http://www.eaa1246.org/coffeeanddonuts.asp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GbcTLt0MXc

[Bob Collins]

I haven't read the Pelton column yet. I can't seem to turn away from that great story on page 102. :D

[Lindberg]

I haven't read the Pelton column yet. I can't seem to turn away from that great story on page 102. :D

That is why you start a book or magazine from the beginning and not the end. But anyway, my comment was really more to see if there was an inside story. My opinion is that Jack Pelton is a great choice to guide EAA as we "Airventure" into the 21st century. I feel good about this move. Seems like there are many EAA members who have been unhappy with the direction that we have been going. I know too many former members who no longer belong. I'm here with my dues and bags of cash to be spent at Airventure each year until "death do us part" but I think it is healthy for some to be critical when they think something is "rotten in Oshkosh."

[Bill Greenwood]

"58"
There are many, most people in EAA or AOPA or similar organizations that are interested in flying, but not in building their own airplane. Many if these folks like to share with other pilots, owners, and just fans of flying, even if that means hanging around an airport or having a cookout lunch together, etc.
Everyone at a car show or boat show is not interested in building one themselves.

I have been a partner in building a kitplane, a Starlite, and it was enjoyable, and educational. But flying it was more interesting, it was single seat, and I was the test pilot. My partner, Warner Giles did most of the work. He had the time, more motivation, and I hurt my knee just after we started the building.
We got the kit out of the crate, and much of it was 2 fuselage halves split along a vertical axis. We epoxyed them together, and in just a couple of hours we had the basic shape of an airplane, less wings.
I was somewhat dubious about gluing two halves of a plane together, that I was going to be flying, but once the epoxy dried, it was so hard you could barely sand the excess off. I quit worrying about that part of the airframe strength.

Anyway, I glad we did it, but that is a small part of what I have enjoyed in 35 years of flying. The planes I have gotten to fly and the great people that I have met in aviation are far above just that homebuilding experince.

Of course, there are homebuilts that are far more than the little plane we built, about 254 lbs with a Rotax 337. And it flew nice, and the engine ran fine, even the sound is not too inspiring.One tough moment was trying to find a parachute small enough to fit me and that compact cockpit also.
And either way, it would be nice if a chapter could welcome all who have any interest in our kind of flying.

You mentioned that you found some chapter members snobbish, but you say you are only interested in scratch built planes, as if there is something wrong with someone who builds from kit.
Is that an feeling on your part that makes it hard to find a group to fit in with?

[Frank Giger]

Sorry but I have tried to become active in three different chapters and have not found success. My experience has been the folks at these gatherings were snobbish or more interested in the lunch than airplanes. I've had more fun hanging out with the locals at the little strip where I keep my plane. Some of them belong to EAA but have no local chapter. WTH, maybe it's me!

That's too bad; I guess I just got lucky with mine - it's the exact opposite of what you describe, except we like to eat lunch while talking airplanes and building them.

And it goes to my central idea about the organization; it's not the headquarters, it's the chapters that determine the real outlook one has on the organization and the impact it has on one.

[58boner]

[QUOTE=but you say you are only interested in scratch built planes, as if there is something wrong with someone who builds from kit.[/QUOTE]

Back up the bus. Never said that. In fact my next plane will probably be a kit. What I said in a previous post was something to the effect that the preponderance of kitplanes has changed the demographic of the EAA. There are now a lot of folks in the organization who did not build their plane, don't plan to ever build a plane, and don't want to build a plane. The only reason they have an experimental aircraft is because they bought a Vans RV-whatever someone else built because of the cost savings of operation.
These folks are not as interested in tech type articles but more inclined to be interested in the articles about flying. More flying, less interest in building an alternator from a coffee can!
And by the way chapter three was one of my less pleasant experiences although that was 20 years ago. My impression at the time was it was a bunch of Northwest Airlines pilots who didn't have time for anyone who wasn't cruising at their flight level.

[EZRider]

Jack is going to be good for the EAA. I think he is one of us, even though he came from Cessna. As far as the Chapters, I think you get out of them what you put in. I felt like an outsider at first, but as soon as I asked for help I was overwhelmed with responses. EAA is different than the old days, but so is everything else in this world. I love seeing all of the mix of aviation at Oshkosh! There is something there for everyone.

[steveinindy]

More flying, less interest in building an alternator from a coffee can!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/usafmedic45/not_sure_if_serious.jpg


My impression at the time was it was a bunch of Northwest Airlines pilots who didn't have time for anyone who wasn't cruising at their flight level.

You get the same attitude if you are interested in exceeding 5,000 ft AGL or want to talk to ATC around some chapters. It's just a matter of finding the right one or if you can't (and aren't willing to accept a middle of the road chapter), starting a new one.


There is something there for everyone.

So far as I understand it, that was Paul's original intention for the organization.

[martymayes]

It would be nice to get an update from the BOD on where they are in the process of selecting a new President. I have to assume there is nothing yet to report? Or did I miss something and Jack P. is more than an interim president? If not I can't see him doing much more than holding the controls straight and level until the new President is selected. Then once they do the "positive exhange of controls" things will happen?

[Kyle Boatright]

It would be nice to get an update from the BOD on where they are in the process of selecting a new President. I have to assume there is nothing yet to report? Or did I miss something and Jack P. is more than an interim president? If not I can't see him doing much more than holding the controls straight and level until the new President is selected. Then once they do the "positive exhange of controls" things will happen?

I have the impression that Pelton is in charge for the forseeable future. Not sure how I came to that conclusion, but that's my reading of the tea leaves. I don't have a problem with it - I don't know much about him, nor would I know much about any replacement the EAA could name tomorrow.

[Lindberg]

It would appear that Jack Pelton may be on some sort of "probation." If all goes well perhaps he may be appointed President and that would be if he even wanted it. It still seems odd. The "rank and file" EAA members are not and will not be privy to what has lead up to this arrangement. We are condemned to the "don't ask, don't tell, just pay, spend and volunteer" policy. After all, it's our organization, right?

Nevertheless, I think Jack Pelton is a good choice.

[Hal Bryan]

The "rank and file" EAA members are not and will not be privy to what has lead up to this arrangement. We are condemned to the "don't ask, don't tell, just pay, spend and volunteer" policy.

Rod left.

Jack, as the newly appointed Chairman of the Board, stepped in to the corner office as a volunteer.

That's what there is to know at this point - as Marty suggested yesterday, there's really nothing else to report.

If you're dissatisfied with the amount of information you've been given, the proper channel for that feedback is:

feedback@eaa.org

[rleffler]

Van just posted a very interesting article on the company's Facebook page talking about the recent EAA changes and giving a plug for the Experimenter.

http://m.facebook.com/home.php?refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F&refid=9&_rdr#!/note.php?note_id=539251359418574&__user=0

[Lindberg]

Rod left.

Jack, as the newly appointed Chairman of the Board, stepped in to the corner office as a volunteer.

That's what there is to know at this point - as Marty suggested yesterday, there's really nothing else to report.

If you're dissatisfied with the amount of information you've been given, the proper channel for that feedback is:

feedback@eaa.org



Well, Hal I would say that there is more to report, but for now I can accept the words of Jack Pelton as at least a hint the Rod Hightower was heading in the wrong direction when he said, “As an association we must remain focused on the original mission of our founder, Paul H. Poberezny, to welcome all members no matter what they fly, celebrate our volunteers, and treat our employees fairly” (Thank you fleffler for providing the information from Facebook.) I'd like to know more about the "treat employee's fairly" thing. This should be in the open. Rumors thrive in environments of secrecy.

[stummers]

Sorry but I have tried to become active in three different chapters and have not found success. My experience has been the folks at these gatherings were snobbish or more interested in the lunch than airplanes. I've had more fun hanging out with the locals at the little strip where I keep my plane. Some of them belong to EAA but have no local chapter. WTH, maybe it's me!

We as a group are never snobbish, but sometimes a grill full of food overides airplanes.

[steveinindy]

We as a group are never snobbish, but sometimes a grill full of food overides airplanes.

....is there something wrong with that? Some of the best cooks I know are EAA members.

[Frank Giger]

Chapters depend a lot on chemistry....we've had people visit that thought we were yahoos making dangerous contraptions ("excuse me, did you say Volkswagon bug as an engine choice?) to ultra high techies discussing trim control actuator arms and display options in the cockpit.

In the latter I usually get glassy eyed and mutter "wrist pin" when it gets into deep territory. Never fails to get a laugh.

That and we're very polite and welcoming super type A pilot/builders, which means we will include and ignore participants in conversations in a minute-by-minute fashion. I fit right in, but I can see how it could be off-putting to many.

[crusty old aviator]

My EAA chapter experience was always that they were welcoming to newcomers and visitors...until I moved to Santa Barbara and was basically ignored. I joined anyway and later became chapter president, and I personally greeted every newcomer and visitor and explained to them that the onus was on them to break the ice with the members, because that was the only way they'd be included. Unfortunately, not every chapter like Santa Barbara's has someone like me. The SB chapter may not be like this anymore, but it's really up to the new guy on the hangar row to break the ice with whatever community he moves in to.

[Lindberg]

Meanwhile, I'm starting to like Jack Pelton. At least his commentaries each months Sport Aviation sound good. "Our mission at EAA is to promote all types of personal flying in any aircraft for whatever reasons you may have." Right on Jack!:thumbsup: This is what I joined EAA for 30 years ago.

[anngray]

Sorry but I have tried to become active in three different chapters and have not found success. My experience has been the folks at these gatherings were snobbish or more interested in the lunch than airplanes. I've had more fun hanging out with the locals at the little strip where I keep my plane. Some of them belong to EAA but have no local chapter. WTH, maybe it's me!

Yep, same here. I don't belong to the local chapter. The programs, over and over, are some WW2 guys so proud that they bombed Germany. Boring, because in the first place somehow I doubt their memory. I am not preparing food for that bunch who usually bring a quart of store bought potato salad. We left the greatest chapter going, 790, to come to this.....Forget it.

[Turbomallard]

Yep, same here. I don't belong to the local chapter. The programs, over and over, are some WW2 guys so proud that they bombed Germany. Boring, because in the first place somehow I doubt their memory. I am not preparing food for that bunch who usually bring a quart of store bought potato salad. We left the greatest chapter going, 790, to come to this.....Forget it.


I must admit I find this puzzling, especially the remarks about the "WW2 guys." Whatever your feelings about EAA, of which some chapters are more effective than others... The WWII vets put it ALL on the line many times for us. They had their lives interrupted, damaged, and destroyed. They saw friends in their early years of adulthood get killed in front of them. They saw the destruction their bombings did and knew there were people on the ground dying as well. For those who are left, they are in their final years, not in their prime, and I think can be forgiven for not having a perfect memory (and actually many I have talked to DO have a good memory of those events). Even if you do not believe in their cause or respect them for their efforts, you could at least be grateful that they came and spent time with you. At that age, going out and speaking takes a lot of effort.

Try this... there are plenty of short and reasonably good single volume histories out there on the personal experiences of air combat crews. Since you would appear to have some spare time in that you're not attending chapter functions now, you might read one and then have be able to draw more enlightened conclusions, whatever they are. Maybe you'll change your mind. Maybe not.

Miller, Donald L. Masters of the Air. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2006.

ISBN-10: 0743235452
ISBN-13: 978-0743235457


If you want something shorter and easier to read try

Ambrose, Stephen E. The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2001.

ISBN 0-7432-0339-9


If you do not wish to purchase these, your local public library may have them, and if they don't copies are available through interlibrary loan that they can obtain for you.

If for whatever reasons that won't work, let me know... I'm a librarian and can get copies for you to read.


Jim Cunningham

[Lindberg]

Yep, same here. I don't belong to the local chapter. The programs, over and over, are some WW2 guys so proud that they bombed Germany. Boring, because in the first place somehow I doubt their memory. I am not preparing food for that bunch who usually bring a quart of store bought potato salad. We left the greatest chapter going, 790, to come to this.....Forget it.

All right...........what's the punch line? Maybe if you search high and low (very low) you will find others who share your opinions about WW II pilots and form your own chapter. Perhaps you can then attend AirVenture and carry signs of protest in the Warbirds area. I would advise against it.

[Victor Bravo]

Some EAA chapters get old and stale because the older guys don't put in the effort to get new people involved. This is common in volunteer fraternal organizations.

Each chapter has its own personality, strengths and weaknesses.

The common thread is that people complain about the shortcomings, but don't step up and be part of the change, or be part of alternatives to the things that are old and stale.

So do like I did in my chapter, and create discussions, or promote new ideas, or in all fairness just help create alternatives. Although I personally have a greater reverence for (and interest in) WW2 vets than others such as anngray, I still had to face the fact that old and stale ideas were starting to drag my chapter "out to pasture". So rather than demanding that we turn away from old gray haired speakers, we simply added other alternatives.

This way, there is something for everyone.

In out chapter, I managed to get a few aircraft projects and wrecks donated. We "parted out" a totaled Comanche 400 I got donated, which put over nine thousand dollars in the kitty. I convinced an EAA widow to donate her late husband's 3/4 built project, and now we have a chapter project for people to work on and gain experience. Our chapter built a successful Young Eagles program (5000+ kids flown). These various activities attract different people for different reasons. The win-win is that the old gray haired folks can listen to stories about WW2 combat, the younger guys who are bored with WW2 can work on a chapter project, and everyone can come together to fly Young Eagles.

So my admittedly chastising admonition is instead of bemoaning the problem or complaining... get of your duff and make activities so there's something for everyone.

[rleffler]

Some EAA chapters get old and stale because the older guys don't put in the effort to get new people involved. This is common in volunteer fraternal organizations.

Each chapter has its own personality, strengths and weaknesses.

The common thread is that people complain about the shortcomings, but don't step up and be part of the change, or be part of alternatives to the things that are old and stale.

I think you hit the nail on the head. The other scenario are those with the vision and desire to effect change, but don't have the time available due to being active in their own builds and need to get their projects completed or their personal commitments don't give them enough discretionary time to devote to chapter activities.

[anngray]

Did I say I don't like veterans? NO. We have veterans in our family. My husband is a veteran. Did I say I don't like warbirds? NO. We belong to Amvets where we here amazing stories told in the correct setting. EAA is about homebuilts, about Vintage, about Sport Planes and ultralights. A part is Warbirds but only a part. And thanks for your help. I am a librarian myself and have read the books you suggest. Seems this subject is a little too sensitive. Can't have a criticism; people get so defensive and decide what kind of person one is based on their interests. Sure does reinforce my belief, and that of others, that I can take my aviation activities elsewhere while still paying the annual dues to EAA. I am a member same as you apparently are, Mr. Cunningham, and I very much resent your remarks. I have to go to the Ft. Sam National Cemetery to visit our family WW2 vets; you don't appreciate that with your quick judgment and insulting remarks.

[anngray]

All right...........what's the punch line? Maybe if you search high and low (very low) you will find others who share your opinions about WW II pilots and form your own chapter. Perhaps you can then attend AirVenture and carry signs of protest in the Warbirds area. I would advise against it.
My response is below.

[Lindberg]

My response is below.

My response stands as it was based on your original post. Perhaps you were having a bad day when you insulted WWII pilots. Nevertheless, my heart is gladdened to hear that you are such a patriot. Still, I confess that I am at loss to your comment about potato (or is it potatoe) salad

[miemsed]

EAA is about homebuilts, about Vintage, about Sport Planes and ultralights.

I am a member of EAA and I have no primary interest in what you listed. I do enjoy looking at some of those at Airventure but I fly a piper challenger. EAA use to be about just home builds but has evolved over the years as it should have. I do not mind reading an article about homebuilts from time to time but I think EAA has room for more interest than homebuilts

[Victor Bravo]

Anngray, I think you might be falling victim to a very common problem on internet discussion forums, which is that many people cannot write out their "tone" or emotions. So it becomes very easy to misjudge someone's underlying meaning. Also, on the internet, people write stuff before they fully think about it. Text is sometimes very difficult to read between the lines and "sense" whether someone is really being rude, or they just aren't very detailed in their writing.

I'm not saying that the other fellow was being rude, or polite, or right/wrong. I'm saying (from hard-knocks experience) that internet chatroom discussions require a different set of skills than airport hangar discussions, and people frequently wind up thinking, or saying, the wrong thing. Please trust me, I've been the good, the bad and the ugly on several of these aviation forums! I've made some serious mistakes in this area, and have paid the price for my errors and the errors of others.

On balance, and in fairness, the exact words you used to describe some of the speakers at the EAA meetings does make it sound like you were looking down your nose at them a little. Whether someone on this forum over-reacted, or misunderstood, does not change how it "sounded".

As usual, it turns out that everyone was right about one thing or another. EAA meetings can get boring, or stray far away from the original purposes of EAA, and some of the chapter members can be stand-off-ish or rude. But WW2 vets talking about air combat from first-hand experience is a treasure for younger generations, and this treasure won't be around much longer. So many chapters will go out of their way to take advantage of such a speaker whenever possible, and I don't think they're wrong for it.

The bottom line is that you (and I) have to be the agent of change in local chapters, not just be annoyed at the (obvious and plentiful) problems that chapters have.

Any time that you are looking to blast someone with both barrels (and the Derringer), feel free to point your keyboard square at me, I've been known to keep angry hordes of up to 10-12 internet pugilists at bay simultaneously:rollseyes:

[Kyle Boatright]

I am a member of EAA and I have no primary interest in what you listed. I do enjoy looking at some of those at Airventure but I fly a piper challenger. EAA use to be about just home builds but has evolved over the years as it should have. I do not mind reading an article about homebuilts from time to time but I think EAA has room for more interest than homebuilts

As a long time member, I completely disagree. This is one of the challenges EAA faces. EAA used to have a core mission with everything else in the background. Today, it has become all things to all people, which is a losing proposition. The magazine is a duplicate of Flying or AOPA, so the content is largely redundant. At that point, why bother?

[miemsed]

As a long time member, I completely disagree. This is one of the challenges EAA faces. EAA used to have a core mission with everything else in the background. Today, it has become all things to all people, which is a losing proposition. The magazine is a duplicate of Flying or AOPA, so the content is largely redundant. At that point, why bother?

And there is the problem. Long time members who believe there is no room at EAA for anything but homebuilts. So,the only answer to that would be to ask all new members who do not have that passion to leave. I get what you mean I am just not sure it is the answer for EAA. Perhaps you are correct and we should leave but is that really in the best interest of EAA. I have to admit I do not have the answer for that question. I do respect your passion for homebuilts but I do not share that passion. I hope there is room for both of us at EAA.

[Kyle Boatright]

And there is the problem. Long time members who believe there is no room at EAA for anything but homebuilts. So,the only answer to that would be to ask all new members who do not have that passion to leave. I get what you mean I am just not sure it is the answer for EAA. Perhaps you are correct and we should leave but is that really in the best interest of EAA. I have to admit I do not have the answer for that question. I do respect your passion for homebuilts but I do not share that passion. I hope there is room for both of us at EAA.

Nobody said leave. My thoughts are that others are attracted to EAA because of what EAA is about. The other aviation groups and magazines are primarily focused on production aircraft, so why dilute what is special about EAA and blur the lines between it and AOPA or blur the lines between Sport Aviation and Flying magazines?

As I've posted previously, you go to football games to see football. The halftime show is a break in the action. You wouldn't expect the priorities to reverse at a ball game, nor should it happen with EAA.

[miemsed]

Nobody said leave. My thoughts are that others are attracted to EAA because of what EAA is about. The other aviation groups and magazines are primarily focused on production aircraft, so why dilute what is special about EAA and blur the lines between it and AOPA or blur the lines between Sport Aviation and Flying magazines?

As I've posted previously, you go to football games to see football. The halftime show is a break in the action. You wouldn't expect the priorities to reverse at a ball game, nor should it happen with EAA.

I can see this conversion will not get us anywhere. The football analogy makes no,sense. I originally stated I felt that EAA has evolved and,there is room at EAA for more than homebuilts. You stated as a long time member you disagree. If there is no room at EAA for anything but homebuilts then who would be a member of EAA if that was not their passion. I think the EAA magazine is much better than flying mag. I no longer even get flying. The EAA mag has different content than AOPA but is just as good and I enjoy them both. My point was and is there is,room at,EAA for a broader interest and I respect that you disagree. Perhaps we will run into each other at Airventure someday, my wife and I attend every year, and we can talk about the different passions that keep us flying as I think that is the most important aspect,of,this discussion.

I do value your input as a long time EAA member as I have only been a member since 2005. You have a history with the organization that I do not have. That in my opinion is also important to EAA. I guess it is a fine balance and I believe EAA will find that balance.

[Victor Bravo]

EAA can indeed be all things to all people in aviation, and it is positioned to do just that. That's great, because we really need a large powerful organization to advocate for all of our interests, from warbirds to homebuilts to Cherokees. All that it would take, as I mentioned, is to have different branches of the same tree, for the different people with different specific interests. The one and only thing that needs to be prioritized is that the original founding purpose of EAA (homebuilding and light aircraft technical ingenuity/creativity) stays the root and trunk of that tree, and is given some measure of seniority, and not pushed aside. That's all. This is the same principle as having earned seniority at a job, or letting a grandparent sit at the head of the table out of respect.

Think of it like a big swap meet. Everyone goes to find something different, and there are hundreds of people who have no interest in what the other people are there for.. But the old guy with the tools for sale always gets the first booth at the entrance, because he's been there the longest and because it started out as a handyman's swap meet. Now it's grown to include antique dealers, knitting needle manufacturers, and stamp collectors. But it stays true to its roots and doesn't push the old tool guy into the back row.

[martymayes]

EAA can indeed be all things to all people in aviation, and it is positioned to do just that.


This is where being in touch with your membership pays dividends. Is that what the majority of members want? If so, by all means, proceed. I think the organization as a whole will suffer as resources are diluted to cover all bases. They can't grow large and powerful if they don't have members and you can ask AOPA how those membership drives are working out for them. Despite their efforts to become more diverse and appeal to a larger audience, their membership continues to shrink.

[crusty old aviator]

EAA's mission is to embrace ALL of the aviation community: if you fly, you are welcome. However, you may not be able to participate.

A member named Jen, a proud driver/owner of an immaculately maintained Bonanza, wonders on another thread why EAA doesn't extend the opportunity to have their aircraft judged at AirDisney, while parked in the N40, to members with relatively "modern" production built aircraft. She suggests that EAA create a "modern" aircraft division, but her email to EAA, proposing it, has yet to be responded to. The idea of a "modern" division makes sense to me, since the majority of EAA members fly "modern" aircraft and that's the majority of the aircraft we see displayed in the commercial displays area at the convention.

Heck, why not have a "transport" division, too? It would attract a lot of current and retired bus drivers, and inspire those young, starving CFI's who are building enough time to make it into the regionals. They could start local chapters and acquire retired airliners to restore and display to the public as part of our aviation heritage. Jeff Skiles would make a good "transport" division president, and he's already on staff.

[anngray]

I started reading the forums to find out about Chad Jensen, whom I have never met. I have been an EAA member for 35 years, I fly a production airplane which is not an antique. I am finished with these forums, not because people have disagreed with my position when I responded to someone who posted how meaningless chapter meetings are to him, but because this is a waste of time. Did a quick investigation of a person who was insulting and was not surprised at what I found. Goodbye forums, you guys have fun tearing each other apart. I'll keep paying my EAA dues, may go back to Oshkosh (volunteered for 24 years) will read Sport Av and Experimenter and Flying and AOPA and Air and Space and will let all of you fight it out over EAA's real mission. Good luck and CAUV to all. I pretty much love all airplanes.

[Lindberg]

I started reading the forums to find out about Chad Jensen, whom I have never met. I have been an EAA member for 35 years, I fly a production airplane which is not an antique. I am finished with these forums, not because people have disagreed with my position when I responded to someone who posted how meaningless chapter meetings are to him, but because this is a waste of time. Did a quick investigation of a person who was insulting and was not surprised at what I found. Goodbye forums, you guys have fun tearing each other apart. I'll keep paying my EAA dues, may go back to Oshkosh (volunteered for 24 years) will read Sport Av and Experimenter and Flying and AOPA and Air and Space and will let all of you fight it out over EAA's real mission. Good luck and CAUV to all. I pretty much love all airplanes.


A "quick investigation" Wow! Those people at the Witness Protection Agency have been slacking off. Let that be a lesson. Don't insult a volunteer or you will be investigated.
Good Luck! See you at the Acee Duecee.