Although founded in 1932, it was not until 1937 that the first SOARING Magazine was printed and 1957 that the SSA hired its first full-time Executive Director. Between 1957 and 1983, the SSA staff grew to 15 full-time positions and operated from offices in Santa Monica, California. By the early 1980's, the SSA needed to take a good, hard look at how much it was costing to operate the organization. Like most organizations and certainly all businesses, the SSA needed to become more efficient and make special efforts to hold down costs in a period of substantial inflation.
By 1984, it was obvious that the SSA needed to move its office and staff out of the high cost environment of Southern California. SSA Directors implemented a plan, devised by then board member Sterling Starr, to move the office to a better location which would afford the opportunity to restructure operations. After an 18-month search which encompassed over 30 cities, the SSA moved its office to Hobbs, NM. Hobbs is a great gliding community that had served as host city for the 1983 World Soaring Championships.
The SSA is operating in a complex world. We operate in a regulated environment. Pilots have rules. Aircraft have rules. Airports have rules. Even the air has rules. Soaring has to co-exist with all forms of general aviation and an expanded commercial air transportation system which is the driving force behind a vast push for new operating rules and regulations at airports and in airspace all over the country.
In any given week, the SSA might find itself involved in working with a local airport commission in upstate Pennsylvania to open an airport which was closed to gliders. In that same week, the SSA might conduct a special FAA approved flight instructor clinic in Los Angeles. Later in the week, the SSA may be meeting with leaders of the Explorer Scouts in support of creating a new Explorer Aviation Post for gliding in Washington State. Or, as happens day in and day out, the SSA might be introducing some new person to their first sailplane experience at any of over three hundred gliding sites throughout the U.S.
SSA continues to focus resources and programs in order to maintain operating efficiency and increase its effectiveness. SSA programs focus on support for members and sites in dealings with all levels of government: federal, state and local. Through the Soaring Safety Foundation, the SSA continues efforts to research flight safety issues and expand distribution of information intended to make our sport safer.
The SSA performs a valuable function in providing educational materials and programs for glider pilots at all skill levels. More efforts are placed on the development of new training books, planning of new training seminars and in reporting new teaching programs and techniques. Finally, and most important, SSA is committed to positive, open communication throughout the membership and the aviation community.
SOARING Magazine is SSA's premier product. It is an excellent publication that is well respected throughout the world. It can always be better and the SSA leadership is dedicated to this continuing effort. The SSA leadership continues to work in partnership with the professional staff to evaluate all SSA programs. In fact, the Planning Committee meets regularly to continually refine SSA's Strategic Plan.
All SSA members are encouraged to contact their elected directors to provide input and suggestions. We intend to listen to each other, to represent the interests of soaring as best as possible and to continue our emphasis in membership growth and safety. SSA is not an imaginary friend, it is each and every one of us. Together, we can and do make a difference for our sport.
| Dr. Günther Eichhorn | Springer 233 Spring Street New York, NY 10013 USA, email me |