I've ranted on about this at length in prior e-mails. Many different factors are at play, and I'll take a minute and re-cap my feelings. I don't feel that EOC is a first class owners' club. But, I understand the economics of running a club, and understand that the money isn't there, under the present structure, to make it one. While I'm a champion of capitalism, the problem is, IMHO, that someone is trying to make a living running the club. So a major portion of club income has to be devoted to owner profit, salary, or whatever you want to call it. The best examples of type clubs that I've been involved with are the following: Short Wing Piper Club (SWPC); International Comanche Society; and International Cessna 170 Association. All of these clubs are not profit motivated, and no one is making a living from ownership of them. Each of these groups produces first class magazines or newsletters, usually in color. However, the numbers of members may be much larger than EOC. I haven't done any research into that issue, but my guess is that SWPC has many more potential members, since it serves owners of all of the short wing Pipers, such asTripacers, Colts, Vagabonds, Clippers, etc. ICS has many more members, since it serves all of the single and twin Comanche owners world-wide. Maybe there just aren't enough Ercoupe owners to support a first class club. However, if any of you out there are truly interested, I've offered before to take some time and try to research these questions and communicate with those interested what my feelings would then be about whether a new and better club could be formed. For sure, it would cost more. But, I could see trying to get a group endorsed insurance deal, appointing a tech rep for the group who truly knows the coupe and the FARs, having conventions at really nice places, etc. All of these benefits are available to other type clubs - it just takes a reasonalbe dues structure to support them, and volunteer efforts on the part of the club officers to run it. Maybe the truth is, and no insult is intended to anyone, that Coupes appeal to folks who don't want to spend more money on their planes, and who don't want to pay higher dues to a better club. Maybe most are satisfied with the status quo. Who's willing to try? Communicate your feelings. Jerry Eichenberger Columbus, Ohio N2906H
! !
<<attachment: winmail.dat>>
