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Central Indiana Soaring Society Growth Notes
John Schlechte of the Central Indiana Soaring Society (CISS) was one of the architects of a growth plan which achieved spectacular results in Indianapolis in 1994 and 1995. The CISS invited me to do a Safety Seminar in Indianapolis and during my visit there I got a chance to pump John for information about the Indiana program. How in the world did they develop such an effective growth plan, I asked John. Here is the outline for growth that John gave to me. It is the best single document for soaring growth that I have ever seen. Note how it involves every member in the Club.Growth Notes
By John Schlechte, Central Indiana Soaring Society
1. There must be a genuine desire from existing Club members to increase Club membership- a. Club will be financially stronger
- b. Flying fees may be lower
- c. May be able to purchase more gliders
- d. Club volunteer work will be spread over more members
- e. New members bring enthusiasm and new ideas
- a. Immediately involve in conversation
- b. Explain membership fees and benefits
- c. Demonstrate gliders and explain what's going on
- a. CISS lowered its membership fee from $400 to $200
- b. Full-time students are $100
- a. Offer glider rides to reporters
- b. Submit press releases to "What's Happening This Weekend" newspaper sections
- c. Publicize Club contests
6. Offer free "Introduction To Soaring" seminars in April or May
- a. Saturday morning
- b. Two hour ground school session (with coffee, doughnuts)
- c. Introductory flights available that afternoon
- a. Reduced initiation and monthly fees
- b. Sponsor a "Youth Soaring Day" in June for junior/senior high
school students
- i. Publicize in newspaper
- ii. Work with high schools, Civil Air Patrol, Explorers
- iii. Two-hour ground & flight session for $15
- iv. Provide breakfast & lunch
- a. Grill hot dogs for lunch at least once a month
- b. Occasional family cookouts / beer
- c. Precision landing contests
- d. "Bomb drop" contests
- e. Crosscountry contests
- f. "Best costumed aviator" (near Halloween) wins free flight
- g. Have members bring doughnuts / chips to share
- h. Operate out of a different airport one or two weekends a year (brings in new members, too!)
- i. Winter projects like glider repainting
- j. Private / Commercial pilot ground school
- k. Sell club logo T-shirts, sweats, jackets, etc.
- l. Ask other members to fly with you when you are flying in the Club two-seaters
- a. Keep meetings to one hour
- b. Adjourn to the nearest restaurant for pizza, beer, etc.
11. Encourage public guest flights
- a. We just increased our price from $40 to $50 due to demand
- b. Might not get a lot of new members from guest flights, but we do get publicity
- c. Refund half of the $50 demo flight fee if they join the Club
- d. Sell gift certificates for guest rides
- a. Recognize all A,B,C, Bronze, Silver, Gold Badges
- b. Recognize towpilots, CFIGs, volunteers
14. Sponsor Safety Seminars
- a. FAA "Wings Program" qualified
- b. Make it applicable to power pilots too
- a. Make sure you charge enough for the additional wear & tear
- b. Don't let add-on program interfere with normal member flights
- i. Limit to weekdays
17. Have the Club maintain an inventory of popular soaring books, log books, bumper stickers, etc.
18. Put Club literature in prominent places in other airports
19. Prepare an annual Club Calendar with soaring events of all types listed
20. Give student pilot flights priority over other flights during morning hours
21. Encourage student pilots to take charge of organizing ground school and weekend flying
- a. CISS now flies every Friday afternoon due to students' initiative in organizing towpilots and CFIGs to be at the airfield
Sincerely,
John Schlechte
Indianapolis (CISS)
