Being on the board is a volunteer position that comes with certain responsibilities. We get to see and experience the club in a much different light compared to those who simply come and fly. We get to see & deal with the good, the bad and the ugly. None of us want to create a toxic environment for anyone, including ourselves. We’re pilots like you, we’re there to have a good time and we want the place to keep going. This is supposed to be our happy place as much as anyone else’s. If some of you think we’ve dealt with this particular issue inappropriately, we encourage you to volunteer and experience it for yourselves.

Our goal is to adhere to our land lease and to make sure our insurance needs are met, so that the club can continue to exist for many years to come. My personal desire for an easy ride up does not overrule the safety of other pilots, safety of their gear, or the well-being of the club as a whole. I’ve taken countless rides up with Gene, known him for a few years now and have a soft spot for him. I appreciate him being nearby when it’s a slow week day and I badly want to go up. As much as I would LOVE to keep that going, unfortunately he did not take any of our very valid concerns seriously.

To be perfectly honest, I feel somewhat disrespected by him at this point, because I thought we were friends. When I was elected, he said to me something along the line of; “Don’t let those guys push you around. You just ask me and I’ll help you out.” Quite ironic now. I thought if we explained our position nicely, he’d understand. Sadly I was wrong.

We tried asking nicely several times, we tried asking sternly, and when that didn’t work, we tried to get a paper trail going to make it more official. We hand-delivered a detailed warning letter, which was completely disregarded only days later. We thought that if we spelled out some of the documented issues, it would be taken to heart and an attempt at compliance would be made. We were hopeful, but we were wrong. Taking his volunteer contributions and his driving services into account, he received countless passes on many past offenses. Nobody else would have been afforded this much flexibility. We are at the end of our rope and this is what that looks like.

The last letter (30 day/1 month ban) which was hand-delivered to both Gene and Nicole, was delivered not on the 10th, but on the 19th of October. We have proof of delivery. The letter clearly states that the ban goes into effect from date of delivery, not date of letter written. The letter also clearly spells out the consequences of violating that ban. How many warnings, conversations and letters does it take for someone to understand that certain actions are unacceptable and cannot continue?

I LOVE horses! They’ve been my favorite animal since childhood. I loved seeing them enjoy the grass when nobody was around. Unfortunately these big animals leave a mess, the owners did not come clean that mess up in a timely manner even after being asked and warned, and they were at the LZ unattended, chased by their dog, during busy landing times when students are just learning obstacle avoidance. It’s a huge air park insurance liability. If you can’t see that, you’re choosing to be blind.

We want the club to keep getting better for everyone, and to make sure that pilots feel safe not only landing on the field, but also being able to leave their gear in the packing area without the danger of an unattended repeat-offender pet peeing on their expensive gliders and harnesses. “Sorry” after the fact doesn’t really do it for some of them. How sorry can you really be if you keep letting it happen?

We get complaints from multiple members. When we get enough of them, we are then forced to take it more seriously and address it with the owner of that pet. When that owner is asked to please keep that specific pet leashed at all times at the LZ and the owner ignores the request, it’s disheartening. What does that say to you? It says to me that the owner doesn’t care how many gliders and harnesses get destroyed, because it’s more important to them to not have to control that pet. If the pet doesn’t respond to its name when it is called, a leash is the only other option.

Also, if the pet is running around completely unattended by its owner and it defecates in the landing zone, the owner can’t see it to pick it up. How many of you enjoy stepping into, or putting your gliders down into fresh poo, whether it comes from horses or dogs? If our dogs are running around, I keep an eye on them. I pick up a shovel and I’ll shovel other people’s dog poo in addition to whatever our dogs left behind, because I’m a pilot with expensive gear and I wouldn’t want that for anyone, including myself.

A very long story short, the documented repeat-offenses and complete disregard for club safety and harmony have reached a boiling point. That boiling point (at least for me) is far more serious than getting a ride up. As much as I wish that it didn’t have to go this way, how many offenses should any club member be afforded before a drastic measure has to take place? Is that member more important than the safety of other pilots, their gear, or the existence of the club?

I don’t think the current CSS board is making any unreasonable demands that simply couldn’t be followed. I think this person(s) chose not to follow them, because it’s easier not to. I think they believed they were above any consequence to their actions. It’s easier to blame the board for the ban than it is to take personal responsibility for their actions.

Stranger danger!!! 🔪🩸😂

Jelly of all your nice weekday flights. I had to work, so I just enjoyed my late afternoon local 52 minute sledder. 😑😄

Good news everyone! Luke, Tim and Owen got Gracie running again! 🤘😎 Thanks guys!!!

John & Iaroslav, thank you for volunteering your help. We may need it in the future. If any of you have any expertise in repairing and driving heavy machinery and you’re willing to volunteer your time once in a while, please get in touch with Luke. He posted his phone number in this thread. We really do need more people who know what they’re doing, volunteering to fix the roads. 🙏🏻

Rob, thank you for posting that! It should be in our club library, if it isn’t already. 🙏😎

Billie, I’m talking about the dirt piles that were brought in by countless trucks, ordered by someone who had no authority to allow such things, which then had to be spread out, so that more could be brought in against the board’s wishes.

Looking into it. Hopefully we can figure it out and get it resolved.