The Summer 2001 SSA Executive Committee meeting was at the Greensboro Airport Marriott from 8 AM until 5:19 PM on June 16. The entire EXCOM (Welles, Short, Reid, Northcraft, and Payne) and Larry Sanderson attended. Northcraft’s parents hosted an excellent BBQ for the EXCOM after the meeting.

The EXCOM devoted considerable time to discussions of the SSA budget. We agreed on several cost cutting items such as not paying for any Director expenses (as approved last year) and a new method of Director elections (with ballots in Soaring to save mailing costs).

The SSA is concerned that it is becoming more difficult to get volunteers. For instance, some states are having troubles with the SSA Governor/record keeper position. The Chair was tasked to set up a task force to look into the options for fixing the state record keeper and governor problems.

As reported in the Spring, the Board may soon face the most important policy decision in the SSA’s history. This is the decision on how to respond to the FAA’s now delayed effort to privatize aircraft airworthiness certification and pilot certification. If this happens, we may see a situation where an organization such as SSA, AOPA, or EAA may be an Organized Designated Airworthiness Representative (ODAR). The EXCOM and the Board will watch the situation closely in order to not be surprised and will attempt to do what is in the best interest of the sport.

During the current election cycle, no one in Region 11 was nominated for a position on the Board. The EXCOM approved extending the nomination period until July 1 to give the Region 11 folks the opportunity to nominate someone.

For the election, the ballots will be included in Soaring which will save over $3,000 per election cycle.

John Seaborn offered a proposal to market the Robertson Fund for fundraising. The proposal was accepted by the EXCOM and John was appointed Trust Campaign Manager.

The EXCOM discussed whether the SSA should solicit a bid for the 2006 World Championships. We agreed that we need to propose a process at the Fall Board meeting for soliciting bids and choosing one, if any, to forward to the IGC.

The Fall Board meeting is in Denver on September 8.

Soar safe, have fun, go fast and far,

JP