By (USUA #A86096)

Many of the newsletters we have received for this December's "Around the Patch" seem to have a common thread. That thread being one of a plaintive plea for folks to step forward to assume club officer positions for the coming year. It seems that assuming the responsibilities of a non-paying job within a club is not high on everyone's list of things to do for the next year. And this is understandable. What many of us want to do most is to fly, and to experience the joys of leaving the ground (and the greater joy of safely returning to the ground when we have had enough of soaring with the birds). Being responsible for planning a club's activities, recording its decisions, and accounting for its funds may seem to have very little to do with the fun of flying an airplane. Consequently, it should not come as a big surprise that many clubs have some difficulties at this time of the year in choosing someone to shoulder these responsibilities. And why do we even need club officers anyway? The short answer to that question is that without some leadership, very few groups accomplish anything. Someone has to be responsible for scheduling and planning meetings and events, figuring out how to pay for them, and keeping notes so that every time an event is scheduled it doesn't have to be re-invented. Without leadership of this kind, a club turns into a bunch of guys (like those hanging out during high school) that gets together periodically and the conversation goes something like, "What do you want to do?", "I donno, what do you want to do?", I donno, we should do something, What do you wanna do?", "I donno ......" et cetera, et cetera, and nothing ever gets done, except by accident.

But, we can take this discussion one step further. Why do we need a club anyway? Most of us fly single seat airplanes which results in a pretty solitary activity. We can do this all by ourselves and we frequently do, so why have a club? Why belong to a club?

In this month's newsletters, some answers to this very philosophical question appear. One article entitled "Birds of a Feather..." in the Canyon Country Ultralight Club of Tioga County, Pennsylvania tells us of their latest project. "Several members of the Canyon County Ultralight Club pooled their resources and purchased a Quicksilver MX. This MX is in need of some TLC but is extremely sound." Now the club plans to spend much of the winter months providing that TLC and launching a refurbished, club-owned airplane come spring.

In another article in the same newsletter we learn about a recently retired Methodist Minister who is on the verge of fulfilling a lifelong dream of flight. Members of the club offered moral support, and technical knowhow to help him through the 11 month odyssey of building his very own Hawk Ultra. It also appears that they helped him study for his Sport Pilot Knowledge Exam and helped him make contact with an instructor with a RANS S-12. When asked what role the Canyon County Club had in his journey toward flight, he said, "being part of the club was terrific motivation."

While the above articles point out two very good examples of things that can be accomplished by a group and not by an individual, there is another good reason to belong to a group. This same club is advertising tools that are available for use by club members on a "lending library" arrangement. This makes many expensive tools available to all club members at a price that is much less than if an individual was to purchase these tools. Clubs can share the cost, share the experience, share the help, and share the fun.

There is yet another aspect to club membership that comes to us from the Black Mesa Flyers of Prescot, Arizona. They report, "we celebrated a beautiful day on October 21st by staging a first for the Black Mesa Flyers - a flying competition." They held a small, "club only" competition with three events, a bomb drop, a spot landing event and a torpedo run. This proved an excellent way not only to improve piloting skills but to have some fun in friendly competition while doing it. Competitions are always enjoyed by both the participants and any audience they may attract.

Clubs offer another advantage that seems to be pretty common at this time of the year. Nearly all clubs announced their Christmas celebrations ranging all the way from a dinner at a local restaurant to more elaborate affairs including live entertainment, gift exchanges and group caroling. The hangar flying over dinner is available to a club, and far surpasses any meal available to the lone pilot flying in for a hamburger. These club functions provide a way for spouses to participate in the overall sport of ultralighting by trading stories and hearing about exploits..."You did WHAT??"

Belonging to a club also provides an excellent way of sharing experiences with others. Max Harth, of the Terre Haute Ultralight Club, tells us in the November Issue of "Tailwinds", about his nearly seven month trip down the road to his Sport Pilot Ticket. He started with a ground school in April, proceeded through registering his airplane with the FAA and getting the Air Worthiness Certificate issued, to completing his oral exam and check ride. Speaking of the Oral and Check ride he indicates that the toughest part of the oral was with airspace classifications. The toughest part of his practical was sweating out the preparation. The ride itself, including steep turns, stalls, "S" turns, turns around a point, emergency procedures, pattern work and a couple of landings and takeoffs, he said, was actually fun. He credits the professionalism, and personality of Jim Bair, DPE with making this anxiety producing experience not only survivable but enjoyable. Jim flies in Wisconsin so any of you looking for a DPE in that area, he comes well recommended.

The benefits of belonging to a club are many - camaraderie, sharing knowledge, social activities, borrowing tools, getting help with large projects, sharing experiences, friendly competition, club sponsored trips, and generation of new ideas and projects. They all add to the ultralight experience. There are very few activities that can rival getting on the radio and announcing "Ultralight 12GJR with a flight of four, five miles to the North for landing 28". All of these benefits are the result of good leadership. So when it comes your turn, please consider spending your "time in the barrel" for the benefit of all the members of your club. And if you are not now a member of a local club, consider finding one and joining. Club listings and contact information can be found on the USUA website.

Happy Holidays to all!