Good post about team expenses. Much as I dislike the F3X events, I
support our teams and try to make a small donation. (Us retired
fliers don't have Gordys resources) I also think all donations
should be voluntary. Another problem for AMA is the increased
number of teams to be supported and the increased number of team
support people. As I remember, the team we sent to the first F3B
event in 1977 had the three fliers and a manager. How many does it
take now? Maybe Skip can provide a more accurate number for that
first team since he was there.
Chuck
At 05:35 PM 1/31/2008, you wrote:
I can contribute to this thread. The information is not secret, it is a
published document and applies to ALL AMA supported FAI teams and there are
quite a few of them, not just F3B/J AND we constitute some of the largest
teams. AMA contributes the following to the FAI teams:
- $400 to the team fund - this typically is allocated towards the airfare,
but can be for any team expense
- Entry Fees for all pilots, managers and support staff
- FAI registration fees
- Banquet costs for all team members
- If food is prepared and served on site by the organizers, it is paid for
- Lodging for the contest days and 1 day prior and after
(These expenses are supported as actual expenses up to 900 Swiss Francs
($832 USD) per team member - not counting the $400 for the airfare)
The US F3J team is comprised this year of 7 pilots (including Cody R. the
returning Junior WC) Junior and Senior Managers, and 4 tow people for an
entourage of 13 people. Last cycle the AMA approved funding for the Junior
team manager and 2 separate towers for the junior team, and this cycle they
waived their normal policy and are also funding the returning junior WC (who
competed in the team selections) so you can see that the AMA is INCREASING
their overall support for F3J in particular.
Unfortunately costs are very high for this trip. Airfares are nearly double
what the fares were to Martin last cycle, and since the flying site is quite
some distance from both the airport and the hotels we will have very high
ground transportation costs - we will need 3 large vans for all the people
and equipment.
The total budget for the trip looks like about $45K with AMA supporting
about $15K which is about the same as last cycle, so we have huge hill to
climb. In previous cycles the soaring community has been very generous and
we basically broke even on the last cycle. With the generosity of many
people we can hopefully raise enough funds to make the final accounting
minimally painful to the pilots and team managers (tower costs are fully
reimbursed by the team).
I also appreciate the offer of clubs adding a fee to their contests to
support the F3J team. However, as desperately as we need the funding, I am
not a fan of "taxing" pilots to support our goals. People need to support
the organizations and groups that they choose to support. I would prefer
that clubs solicit donations at their events to support the team. I am all
for specific fundraising events where pilots attend specifically to support
the team. I will be preparing a brochure that you can print and pass out for
raffle sales, merchandise sale and donations at your events, I hope to have
that done this weekend.
I am very optimistic that our supporters will again come through and help us
send a thoroughly prepared team to Turkey with nothing to worry about except
winning the golds!!!
Thanks to all of our sponsors and supporters again....
Jim Monaco
US F3J Team Manager 2008
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