Crestline Soaring Society

It's the time of year to re-elect our CSS officers. For most CSS members it's something that just comes and goes and doesn't really affect them very much. And for those few that have volunteered to hold an office it's a time to wonder, why am I doing this?

Getting new blood into the CSS officer list is a good thing. The more we have members that have held an office and see the workings of how we perpetuate and grow the site the more strength the CSS has. But also, it is good to not make too many changes all at once. If we had all new officers in the same year, there would be a fair amount of reinventing the wheel as the new group tries to take hold of important items like keeping the site insurance up, having our tax returns done, paying our bills, processing new members dues and cards, etc.

I've been a CSS member since 1979, and an officer for all but about 4 of those years. This year I am stepping down as CSS President to be again a CSS member without an office. But I want to take this time to continue to work at the site, in effect to show that one doesn't need to be an officer to contribute time to our site and club.

The CSS ballot is in the mail as of the afternoon of Jan 28th. Like most years we have each office listed with one name running. Plus a slot to do write-ins. Some things never change. If you would like to hold an office, please contact any of the officers, or me, in which case I'll forward the information to the CSS. Even if it's not for this year, we are always looking for responsible members to step up to the plate for a year, or 2, or 3, or.

I am very proud to be involved with such a great group of pilots. We have gotten to where we are through the efforts of many members over many years, whether holding offices or not.

We have a great future and must continue to be proactive in holding on to what we've got as well as to work toward an improved future. An example of future work is to do our best to annex the cross country ranch adjacent to the LZ on its north side. We have been given a bit of time to do something beneficial to the site with the ranch property. We all need to herald a huge thanks to Len and Owen for this opportunity. So far improvements include a cleaner approach which has effectively enlarged the field and a lot more water allowing expansion of the grass. It has also provided for more training and training hill options. To help keep the ranch available we need to do our best to get the ranch out of the red and into the black. Current efforts include completing the grading to open up an RV area with services that could generate camping income to the ranch. And does anyone know of a good candidate who might want to rent the ranch house? Let me, or any officer know and you will be directed to the ranch owners to learn about costs and other related items.

An item of note on the ballot is a proposal to add a membership type, the "Lifetime" membership. It is proposed not as a means to encourage pilots to save money in the long run, but rather to provide a means for those wanting to help the CSS financially and to receive a small pat on the back for it. The proposal is to define the life membership as a cost equal to 50 years of current general membership dues. At this time it would be a $5000 purchase cost. If it passes, I plan on being in the line of those becoming "lifers" the first year it's offered. I challenge those that can offord it to join me!

In the immediate future we have a work party planned for the weekend of Feb 2nd and 3rd. 9 AM to noon each day. The plan is to install another 20 or more sprinklers to further expand the grass. I'll post any weather related changes to the party on the flytandem forecast page.