Those of you getting tired of reading all these emails and unhappy
with EOC and newsletter need to read paragraph 2 & 5.
A happy member,
Dan
On Jan 4, 2008, at 8:19 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
EOC REPLIES
I just finished reading the 100th post regarding the EOC. I have
not replied because I wanted to get everyone’s opinion before I
answered. As with any thing it is very easy to criticize and very
difficult to be a team player and work within an organizations
framework to effect change. Those of you that are members of the
EOC I have noted your remarks and they will be addressed. Those
that are not members BUZZ OFF! You are like the fellows in the
barber shop that are always criticizing the elected officials but
when asked if they voted they reply no, so if you aren’t a member
keep quiet!
1) One of the members asked what is the mission statement of the
EOC? As stated in the corporate by laws, Purpose. The following is
the purposes for which this organization has been organized: As an
educational corporation to further and promote Ercoupe Aircraft
through a mutual exchange of ideas.
2) EOC does not work with the FAA like the AOPA. How quickly we
forget! Do you remember the wing inspection AD that was to require
an expensive borascope to comply with. Well thanks to the work with
Univair and the FAA regional office we were able to get it amended
to borascope or much cheaper wing removal. And more recently when
Univair issued the Mandatory Service Bulletin we were able to
submit enough information from our members to keep this from
becoming an AD. And the next time an issue with the airframe arises
be sure that the EOC will take action. This not only helps members
save money but NON MEMBERS ALSO!
3) Membership has received quite a lot of discussion so let me help
you understand this also! All clubs, service organizations,
religious organizations, ham radio, car clubs, the boy scouts and
the EOC are suffering from a decline in membership. Also we have a
declining membership base. When I founded the EOC there were about
3000 registered coupes. I do not know what the number is today but
I would expect that it is less than 2000. The EAA has had a steady
membership decline for the past several years (read the publishers
statement required by law and printed in an issue during the year.
Usually sandwiched in some out of the way location in the
magazine). How many of you have asked another Coupe owner to join?
A few years ago we got Mitch to send us a list of all registered
Coupe owners in the US. We then mailed to them asking them to join
and did not get enough new members to pay for printing and postage.
One fellow said that he had never received an invitation to join…
possibly if the FAA label said registration pending we did not try
to mail to them. One time we printed some business cards that had a
place for you to write your name and address on one side and on the
back asking them to join EOC. I just threw the greatest majority of
them away!
4) Several of you have commented on the Web Site so let me tell you
what is going on there. Several months ago I became Mitche’s
assistant on the web site. In fact I am posting the classifieds,
calendar, newsletter and keeping up the members only list. I have
added some things but it is a big job that I am resolving one step
at the time. Last year we moved the web to a commercial web server
from Tom Laird’s server. This was the time that Ed had to move his
list. We now have more space than we will ever need and can
continue to build the site and remove some of the old outdated
material that is there. We have also made arrangements to have
PayPal accept credit cards for new members and renewals. This
should be up and running by mid February. You will notice that
there is a last posted date on the home page so that you can be
sure the site is up to date before logging on. We had thought about
adding a forum to the web site but see no need for that as Ed has
his site and I see no need for two. Someone asked about a link to
the forum, I don’t think that is a valid suggestion as non-members
run the forum, also the forum does not link to us. In most cases we
link to those that link to us. Some said that they could not get on
the member’s only site. I am sorry that you are having trouble but
if you will contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] I will see that you are
granted access. I even got two fellows on during Christmas. I will
also add my address to the sign up page.
5) The newsletter seems to have gotten the lions share of
criticism. The main problem with the newsletter is that YOU DO NOT
SEND IN ANY MATERIAL! I am still trying to get a report on the 2007
Sun N Fun and Oshkosh fly ins still no info. Why don’t we take
information from the forum and print it in the newsletter? Well
folks in the first place that would be plagiarism and I will not do
that! In the old days you sent in your questions and problems and
if I couldn’t answer it we printed it in the newsletter and asked
for answers. This worked very well but with the forum is a moot
point when you can get a barrel full of answers to any question,
some valid some not. Some months we have to wait until we can get
some information or resort to going to old issues and reprinting
some old hints and or tips. The lack of material has become of
epidemic proportions! Almost nothing coming in, but members are
wanting information, do you have an answer? I don’t I am not going
to write the entire newsletter. I may occasionally write about
something that catches my eye, like the door coupe. Want your plane
to be published, then send it in with a photo and I guarantee we
will print it. Maybe it is time that we stop publishing Coupe
Capers and put it on the web page. Sure would save a bunch of
money. Printing a more expensive newsletter would have little or no
effect on membership. The content is what is wanted not an
expensive slick color newsletter. I will say here that look for
some color in future issues.
6) Dues were mentioned so I will address that also. At the EOC
convention in Mason Michigan Regional Director Russ Jensen moved
that we increase the dues with an eye to increasing costs. What a
visionary! We have had several postage increases printing cost
increases and we are still able to have money and be solvent! In
fact we have a savings account and a legal defense fund which is in
high yield CDs. We also have a healthy bank account. Ed told me
many times that he would join again if we reduced the dues, Ed
don’t think that will happen unless we go to an electronic
newsletter which will exclude about 1/3 of our members. At this
time I see no need to increase dues. Wonder how long before EAA and
AOPA have an increase? Bet it won’t be long, as the new postal
rates are really high. Also the new postal program has expedited
delivery of the snail mail with Arizona getting theirs in 3 or 4 days!
7) This club was founded as a president, secretary and treasury
club but after a few years it was decided that the fairest method
was to have regions and regional directors to govern the club. This
has proven to be a fair and equitable way to run the organization.
If you do not like the way that things are going then sign up to be
a regional director or wing leader then come to the national and
make your wishes known, what could be fairer. 13 regional directors
govern us not one man! I serve at the pleasure of the board and
members I can be removed from office with a simple vote and will
gladly step down! Just remember that there are always a few that
have a hidden agenda that they want to promote, or someone or
something that they want to bring down. Before you cast anymore
stones stop and ask who started this and what it is all about! I
must say that this is the most activity I have seen on this forum
to date. If you are a member and have any comments or suggestions I
will welcome them.
Skip Carden
Executive Director EOC
Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.
