SSA Member
Resource Book
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The Collegiate Soaring Association, Inc.
In late 1985, the Collegiate Soaring Association was formed to foster and promote the amateur sports of gliding and soaring in the context of Colleges and Universities, on a National, non-profit basis. More specifically, CSA exists to:
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i) | Sanction inter-collegiate soaring contests (for teams and individuals). |
| ii) | Maintain regular communication between existing college soaring organizations. | |
| iii) | Act as a clearing-house of information towards the formation of new college soaring organizations. | |
| iv) | Act as a central publicizing and fund-raising body for soaring by young people in school. |
CSA has parallels with the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) and the Soaring Society of America (SSA), as well as with any number of University Sports Associations. Unlike NIFA, CSA focuses more on the sporting aspects of flying than the career aspects. Unlike SSA, CSA membership is by group and not by individual.
CSA recognizes three categories of member ($10/year dues):
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i) | CLUBS. Officially-recognized student organizations of a host Academic institution. (e.g. Soaring Society of Princeton U.) |
| ii) | SCHOOLS. Wherein gliding or soaring is part of the regular curriculum of a host Academic institution. (e.g. USAF Academy 94th ATS/DOS). | |
| iii) | ASSOCIATES. Soaring groups with a significant composition (per CSA determination) of full-time students (e.g. Academic Soaring Club). |
Since its formation, CSA has performed a survey of college soaring clubs, appeared at the SSA annual convention as speaker and exhibitor, published newsletters, written some short pieces for SOARING Magazine, sanctioned one intercollegiate contest and motivated the start-up of two new college soaring clubs. In regards to the purposes of the first paragraph, CSA offers:
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i) | Rules, guides and awards for competition. |
| ii) | A quarterly newsletter, "College Soaring", free to existing and potential members, $8/yr. to others. | |
| iii) | Sample bylaws, operation manuals, surveys, and hints for starting new clubs. | |
| iv) | Published recognition of achievements, dissemination of CSA membership/contact lists to potential donors, and awards, scholarships and grants as the CSA budget and IRS codes allow. |
CSA is a "non-profit amateur sports organization", tax-exempt under IRS 501(c)3. CSA may distribute donations to those of its members that are also 501(c)3 organizations, or CSA may use funds or the proceeds of equipment sales for contest awards or educational trusts. By charter, no CSA assets can inure to any of its Directors or other private persons. Should CSA dissolve, any remaining assets would be donated to its tax-exempt members or to SSA.
The CSA bylaws provide for administration by up to 6 elected Directors, of which 3 must be from voting (not associate) members. The founding and current President is John H. Campbell, who soloed in sailplanes at age 16 while a member of Civil Air Patrol. He has also directed the Michigan and Princeton soaring clubs.
For more information, visit the Collegiate Soaring Association web site at: http://www.mscd.edu/~campbelj/csa.htm
