Re: [aus-soaring] Fwd: Winners - 3rd FAI World Junior Gliding Championship

[rolf a. buelter]

In part the german success is based on ancient history. Up to the 70s 
significant subsidies could be obtained by clubs having an active youth 
group. It reequired to have a structure within the club that had, at the 
very least on paper, a quite autonomous youth group. The youth group for 
example could own a glider financed by state and federal subsidies. The 
glider could be flown by all Club members. The culture still persists, 
evnthough somewhat weaker. The German Aeroclub continues to try and promote 
the youth group concept. (Most) Australian clubs dont cater for students in 
the 15 to 25 age bracket. The rule are offitth's and I don't mean that 
disrespctfull, am one myself I guess. A kid of 18 or so feels awfully out of 
place on most aerodromes and I don't believe the GFA could or should adress 
that, it is up to the Clubs to create an atmosphere which caters for the 
youngsters. With most of the membership above 40 that is close to 
impossible. Solutions? Gues Andrew's example is a good one. Go into the 
schools, into the universities. Most of the successfull German pilots come 
out of that environment.
Rolf - WQF

From: "Jason Armistead" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [aus-soaring] Fwd: Winners - 3rd FAI World Junior Gliding 
Championship
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 11:51:12 +1000

Peter

I'm sure we'd all love to know the secret of the British and German 
successes
in promoting junior soaring.  If anyone finds out what they do so right, 
let
us all know !

Probably a lot of it comes down to accessibility.

Take Sydney with just over 4.2 million people.

To get to Camden by CAR for many of that number it takes between an hour 
and
an hour and a half (for major population centres on the North side, Eastern
Suburbs, Parammatta, Penrith, etc.

Train journeys are problematic because the closest station is Campbelltown
(allow for a 1 hour journey from Nth/East/Central suburbs, and up to double
that for Western or Southern lines where you must change trains).  Then
there's a 15-20 minute taxi ride (read $$$) or an infrequent bus network
(once an hour on weekends) and then you still need to get from the bus stop
in Camden to the airport (more hassles)
In the UK, there's 60 million people sharing a land area of circa 241,000 
sq
kms.  There are around 100 clubs in a tiny little area (compared to even 
NSW).

I'm sure Germany is similar to the UK in terms of population, land area, 
and
proximity to gliding clubs.

Now Australia has only 19.6 million people sharing a land area of 7.6 
MILLION
square kms.  There's just 88 gliding clubs covering this great land of ours
(and doing a quick estimation or two says that the average number of 
members
is less than 30).

I think we'll never be able to match the UK or Germany for this reason.

On the subject of statistics, demographics and all that jazz, a quick look 
at
my club membership database shows me that:

We have just 4 student members (17, 17, 19 and 21)

For Full Flying and still flying Life members (NOT including students shown
above)
We have just 4 under-30s
Then 10 between 30-39
Then 29 between 40 and 49
Then 26 between 50 and 59
Then 22 between 60 and 69
Then 8 aged over 70
In other words, we have an enormous difficulty attracting (and more
importantly keeping) members in the younger age bracket, even though our
current probationary membership figures shows that 75% of them are aged
between 25 and 45.
Comments / comparisons anyone ?

Cheers

Jason Armistead
Southern Cross Gliding Club
Camden, NSW
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