The Day the Music Died

As some of you may have discovered by now, the new president is a little like the new kid on the block that seems to run up to the group of kids and shouts “Whatcha doin’? Can I play with you guys?” My enthusiasm for flying and flying machines makes me always interested in what’s happening and curious about what’s going on. One of the issues that seem to plague all organizations is dying memberships and lack of interest by new young prospective members. I have seen this occur in model airplane clubs, Rotary clubs and flying clubs. In fact, just about every organization in existence tends to go through this phase.

I remember discussions at just about every club on what to do to encourage new members. Sometimes it seems like those that are already club members are scared to recruit new members because it might change club dynamics to a direction that makes people uncomfortable. Change is inevitable and growth is nonstop. The question is: will the growth be positive or negative and remember negative growth leads to death. If we can agree that positive growth is better than death, then the next question is how do we foster growth.

That new kid (AKA President) being self-employed and semi-retired likes to stop by flying fields and facilities just to check out the activity as various stops. Recently I stopped at the Indus field and as I drove around some of the hangers, there was someone outside his hanger cutting up pallets to burn for heat in his pot-bellied stove. Though he was busy with a task he wanted to complete, he smiled and asked, “Are there any questions about the facility that I can answer for you?” I think this is the first time I have ever been invited to a conversation in such a positive manner in my life. “Are there any questions about the facility that I can answer for you?”

If we get blinded by the goal, we can sometimes forget about the simple easy things that we can all do to encourage new members. “Are there any questions about the field that I can answer for you.” It is such an easy way to start a conversation, yet warm and friendly. I have to ask what do you say when you see an unfamiliar person lurking around your flying site. We all get so wrapped up in our tasks that we all forget to take five minutes. Recently, on a flight to Linden I noted some of the local town’s folk engaging a couple of members in conversation. It occurred to me after that I was not as friendly and as engaging as I might have been. Maybe there was a prospective pilot in the group, and we did not do enough to encourage and foster the interest. As we all know, it is definitely more enjoyable flying when we share the experience. If new members are not recruited, then we may run out of fellow pilots to share the experience with. I challenge us all to be friendly and assertive about our hobby and share the excitement we all feel every time we meet someone that even gives us a hint of interest.

I was at a store in the line at customer service when my phone rang, and someone was enquiring about a plane I had for sale. I tried to excuse myself but the lady that was helping me said it was OK and she was interested in planes because she was a pilot. This was before I had access to the business cards that the club has. You can bet that I have since been back and given a business card to the young lady. (The club has business cards and if you want a few to carry with you. Ask any of the executive at the meeting and we will give you some.)

I think the bottom line is we are all part of the membership recruitment committee, and it is in our best interest to encourage others to join us. We all know that one of the target markets for our group is probably the empty nester. The family is grown and moved on and now they want to get back to flying. They may have tried it 25 or 30 years ago, but family and life got in the way and the dream was given up. Now that life has progressed, and the kids have moved on time may permit the dream to live. If you know of someone like that let’s encourage him or her to join our group. In closing if we do not want to have the MUSIC DIE, remember the line: “Are there any questions about the facility that I can answer for you?”

By the way, thank you Garret Komm for providing me with a positive way to engage people into a conversation.

Till next time as a golf fanatic and ultralight flyer I wish you: Good lies and Smooth Skies