Membership

[Lspav8r]

How many members are there in the PRA at this time?

[mark treidel]

Not sure.....but I just sent in my renewal check yesterday for another year inspite of its problems.....I still feel the organization needs our financial support more than ever.

[dragonflyerthom]

I will pay for next year when I register for Mentone. The PRA is us so we either support us or we will not prevail. Hope to see you at Mentone Jim. I will probably be around Steve at the Canadian Embassy. I saw that Murry is already there helping with the set up.

[Lspav8r]

How many members are there in the PRA at this time?

Trying again for an answer.:rant:

[StanFoster]

Jim- Before the convention...we had just gone above 1400.

I think we picked up around 50 more.


We were down below 1200 at Bensen Days.

Hope this helps...I had never seen your question till now.


Stan

[StanFoster]

Jim- Either you don't see your questions answered, or you fail to acknowledge receiving the answers. You put a lot of emphasis on wanting to know the membership numbers. If you are just now reading this, I posted yesterday your answer and am repeating it here. I will keep repeating the answer you are seeking until I know you have received it. We have just gone over 1400 members. It was less than 1200 at Bensen Days. Stan

[choppergabor]

Stan it's no use! The ******* doesn't know how to say thank you. You are wasting your precious time and energy.

[Exterminator]

I will pay for next year when I register for Mentone. The PRA is us so we either support us or we will not prevail. Hope to see you at Mentone Jim. I will probably be around Steve at the Canadian Embassy. I saw that Murry is already there helping with the set up.

Well Said, The PRA is us, and your support is needed and appreciated. We are in the process of creating some great new programs that I know will help all of it's members.. Stay Tune details are coming shortly...

SL

[Exterminator]

How many members are there in the PRA at this time?
Jim, for that information please call Jennifer at the PRA her Number is (574) 353-7227

Also, if any one want's accurate information(facts) at any time please call Jennifer at anytime, thats what were here for.

SL

[Exterminator]

Stan it's no use! The ******* doesn't know how to say thank you. You are wasting your precious time and energy.

Gabor I'm surprised, Why the BASH?

[matt]

I'm a life member. I wish I would of never did that. Their was talk one time about making the life member's start paying something again. It must not of went anywhere though. If they do ever do that then they will be less this member.

[Exterminator]

Matt, Are you going negative on us again????

You want facts, as I said in my previous post call Jennifer.. Please stop throwing a negative Spin on the PRA were on your side...

Scott Lewis

[Lspav8r]

The question has been answered, and thank you Stan for the answer to my questioin. And I did renew my membership to help promote the PRA after talking with Scott and learning of some ideas that are going to be implimented to make it a better PRA then ever. To all who I have managed to turn against me, I am sorry for having been what seems to be a stick in the mud, and I hope to improve myself. Its not easy training an old dog new tricks, but I will try and make the adjustments necessary to become a more likeable guy to all who I have offended.

Again Im Sorry

Jim

[matt]

Matt, Are you going negative on us again????

You want facts, as I said in my previous post call Jennifer.. Please stop throwing a negative Spin on the PRA were on your side...

Scott Lewis

I'm sorry. I'm I being negative. I never used to be this way. Must be ten year's of hanging around negative sower PRA people it's rubbering off on to me. Everybody seem's to put up with it so I don't see what the big deal is. I should fit right in with the group.

[PW_Plack]

"Sour PRA people" will soon be an oxymoron. Those who've spent the last ten years betting on the PRA to die instead of working to fix it are going to have to find a new sport.

Life's too short to spend ten years in a gossip circle. If you're hanging out with people who are putting your life in a downward spiral, they're not your friends. Find new ones.

[xenon_covet]

"Sour PRA people" will soon be an oxymoron. Those who've spent the last ten years betting on the PRA to die instead of working to fix it are going to have to find a new sport.

Life's too short to spend ten years in a gossip circle. If you're hanging out with people who are putting your life in a downward spiral, they're not your friends. Find new ones.

Now you're talkin'
Round 'em up
Move 'em out
Rawhide
:laser:

[Lspav8r]

Sorry for the confusion. I was assuming that this was a thread that was dedicated for communication directly with the PRA office, and the reason for the second post was it looked like I wasnt getting any response from the PRA but rather from forum personel other than who I naturally assumed would be PRA Officers or BOD members or the Office itself (Jennifer).

I in no way meant disrespect to anyone in any way and I should have given a response to Stan for his answer. From this point on I will use the email direct to the PRA office and remove any possibility of making anyone angry with me.

Again, please accept my appologies to anyone that feels disrespected through my actions thus far.

[gyrogreg]

I'm a life member. I wish I would of never did that. Their was talk one time about making the life member's start paying something again. It must not of went anywhere though. If they do ever do that then they will be less this member.

The PRA currently has 191 Life Members - non-paying (or "prepaid"?) I believe that is today's number, but it does keep dropping!!!! But, these members are getting magazines for free (non-recoverable expense to cash flow), and the total income to the PRA would then not be the full 1400+ times the dues! More like 1200 times the dues. Just a clarification in case you are working the numbers.

A suggestion: I'm not on the Board or an officer of the PRA. So, I can float this thought without bringing bashing to the PRA! - I hope. How many Life Members would not mind voluntarily paying their way for the magazine? Perhaps $25 per year. If half of the Life Members voluntarily donated $25 each year, that would be over $2000 that would help pay for magazines and keeping the PRA alive.

If this is voluntary, you don't have to do it. If we lose a Life Member or two - no loss, plus some gain - financially, anyway!)

Life Members - let's start a count of those willing to help keep the PRA as we know it alive. Let the Board know if this would be a reasonable request of Life Members:

I'll start the count as number 1 - Greg G.

[Dean_Dolph]

Life Members - let's start a count of those willing to help keep the PRA as we know it alive. Let the Board know if this would be a reasonable request of Life Members:

I'll start the count as number 1 - Greg G.You are late to the party! I started paying dues again as a donation a couple of years ago and I don't think I'm the only life member to do so. In fact I think that donations over the years has been quite common but are not publicized. I know one guy handed Scott a $100 bill at the life members meeting. Rather than ask this question of life members on the Forum maybe the question should be sent to them directly. Not all of them visit here.

[Dean_Dolph]

Sorry for the confusion. I was assuming that this was a thread that was dedicated for communication directly with the PRA office, and the reason for the second post was it looked like I wasnt getting any response from the PRA but rather from forum personel other than who I naturally assumed would be PRA Officers or BOD members or the Office itself (Jennifer)........Jim, it is a little confusing since the Forum isn't an official PRA web site. But since some PRA members do visit here and ask PRA related questions then it seems logical to have this particular forum. And since we now have board members who visit on a regular basis (hasn't always been the norm!) then the questions get harvested for a answer.

The best place, and most efficient, to get PRA questions answered is still by contacting Jennifer in Mentone.

[WHY]

What did a life membership cost when they were purchased ??

Tony

[Lspav8r]

Jim, it is a little confusing since the Forum isn't an official PRA web site. But since some PRA members do visit here and ask PRA related questions then it seems logical to have this particular forum. And since we now have board members who visit on a regular basis (hasn't always been the norm!) then the questions get harvested for a answer.

The best place, and most efficient, to get PRA questions answered is still by contacting Jennifer in Mentone.

My bad. I thought it was the way to communicate with the PRA since it was PRA Q&A. Thanks for the explanation, and from now on I will contact them direct for sure.
Thanks

Jim Skelly

[Dean_Dolph]

What did a life membership cost when they were purchased ??

TonyTony, I didn't become a life member until 2001 after joining in 1967 but when I became a life member I believe it was $400. I know it had gone up over the years. I suspect that if one of us 'ole' timers would go dig out one of the ole mags that we could find out what it cost back then.

[Kevin_Richey]

Tony, I didn't become a life member until 2001 after joining in 1967 but when I became a life member I believe it was $400. I know it had gone up over the years. I suspect that if one of us 'ole' timers would go dig out one of the ole mags that we could find out what it cost back then.

It was $300 when I became a Life Member in 1989, after joining in 1988 as a regular member. Annual dues were then $18, and it had been announced they were going to $22.

[Kevin_Richey]

You are late to the party! I started paying dues again as a donation a couple of years ago and I don't think I'm the only life member to do so. In fact I think that donations over the years has been quite common but are not publicized. I know one guy handed Scott a $100 bill at the life members meeting. Rather than ask this question of life members on the Forum maybe the question should be sent to them directly. Not all of them visit here.

This is true about donations over the years not being publicized. When I went to Mentone in 2003 for my first time, I also donated $ for two separate portions of the PRA, asking it not be publicized. It wasn't (until I did just now). The amount donated was close to what I paid for a Life Membership.

**I do know that Glenn Bundy and Gary Goldsberry have, and probably many others who have served in the PRA for years, have given not only a lot of their time, but dug into their wallets as well, to chip in to bolster PRA funds, without expecting nor receiving reimbursement.

For those who like to criticize that Life Members get the magazine for free: Think about someone putting up a big chunk of money for a Life Membership, and the PRA has those funds to use up front, instead of waiting for 15+ years for it to trickle in through annual payments...

Think about annual payments that take PRA office personnel time to process. Forgotten-to-renew members calling to ask why they haven't been receiving ROTORCRAFT magazine. More time spent searching records by PRA office personnel. Then, getting back to unpaid members explaining why PRA ROTORCRAFT magazine hasn't been arriving, etc.

If added all together, the time spent by PRA office personnel to process, research, return emails or phone calls for annual renewals that have complications would surely be more expense than any Life Members surviving long enough to get the magazine past those 15 years they paid for upfront.

The time savings of not having to deal with the annual renewals and having the money upfront for the PRA operating budget should be strongly considered for bringing back into the PRA, IMOHO.

And, becoming a Life Member ALSO is a member for life, caring about the organization enough to put in investment capital, so to speak, into the PRA, without thinking of, nor receiving a profit on it, unless you think receiving a magazine is a profit.

I believe if we could know all about what Life Members have done for the PRA, it would astound us!

I believe that at least the majority Life Members have done more for the PRA than just plunk down more than 15 years worth of dues all at once and then left it at that...

[WHY]

Kevin

I think you are "spot on" with your comments about unpublished contributions, I know of times when they reached into the thousands and usually from the "good ole boys" that have sometimes been berrated by late newcomers (less than 10 yrs membership) but now is the time to push hard for the future, thanks for you comments

Tony

[Brent Drake]

I was ask to become a life member a few years ago before it was over. I never did it because I could see the PRA needed money. I plan to be in this sport many years and I did not want our PRA to be financially bound with all of my free subscriptions. I have even purchased several memberships for friends just to look at our magazine. So I can keep mine.

[Kevin_Richey]

Haven't I seen Marilyn's and Tony's name in ROTORCRAFT magazine's contributors section as financial supporters, Tony?

[WHY]

Hi Kevin

Not to worry, still support as always, just pick our projects. Would like to see some "new" names on that list, it is wide open to anyone who would like to "walk their talk"

Tony

[gyroplanes]

I recently certified a gyro for a guy. He told me about man who passed away and gave his gyros away. The guy was a big PRA supporter and probably could have cured our financial problems had he given the gyros to the PRA.
Someone ought to write a magazine article about charitable donations and bequeathments.

[Exterminator]

Good idea Tom, How about that someone be you?

SL

[Kevin_Richey]

Hi Kevin

Not to worry, still support as always, just pick our projects. Would like to see some "new" names on that list, it is wide open to anyone who would like to "walk their talk"

Tony

I meant by posting about Tony and Marilyn that they most likely have gone unnoticed by the majority of PRA members as financial supporters, as have many others. I suspect most board members, past and present, have done the same.

[WHY]

Hi Kevin

I think it is that way with about any organization, a lot of "support" in many varaious forms goes in under the radar, often at the desire of the contributor. But it is always the same, have gotten many times more back than we put in, got a education that could not be obtained anywhere else or at any price, got to meet ledgends an pioneers that could not be met anywhere else and probably learned enough to still be alive because of someone's advice or experience that was given to me at NOT COSTS. Now how can you beat a deal like that !!!!!!!!!

Tony

[dragonflyerthom]

Every once in a while a thread comes up that just meanders around all kinds of subjects. This is one that is also informative. I had the privilege of working the flight line at Mentone this year. It was important and also a privilege to donate a few hours of my visit this year. I received a shirt and volunteer patch. I camped at the airport and really enjoyed myself. I am thinking I will do this again next year.

The point I really want to make is that we need to be there for our PRA. Physically and Monetarily. The choice is yours. I know I came away with a lot more than I gave. Yes I did renew my dues when I registered.

[ScoutPilot]

I find it really disappointing that after all the effort the Minnesota Rotorcraft Club/PRA Chapter 17 put into promoting the PRA at Oshkosh that not one call or e-mail was sent to me regarding our experience at EAA AirVenture 2010 from the PRA Board.

Chapter 17 went to Oshkosh with one mission in mind and that was to promote our organization, the PRA. We were told by many at Oshkosh that we did an excellent job. I sent two messages via PM and e-mail to John Rountree with no response and Scott Lewis our PRA Pres. knew we were going but still no follow-up?

This question is directed to the PRA President and BOD; How do you expect to get chapters excited about promoting the PRA when you can't even follow up with the folks that are working hard to help you promote the PRA???

The big question at our monthly meeting last Saturday was what the PRA President and BOD thought of our efforts and sadly I had to inform them that I was never contacted! Needless to say this was not well received by the 12 members of Chapter 17 that took off an entire week to help support the PRA.

Regards,

Chuck Freese
President
Minnesota Rotorcraft Club/PRA Chapter 17

[barnstorm2]

I find it really disappointing that after all the effort the Minnesota Rotorcraft Club/PRA Chapter 17 put into promoting the PRA at Oshkosh that not one call or e-mail was sent to me regarding our experience at EAA AirVenture 2010 from the PRA Board.

What do you call this Chuck?

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22371&page=6&highlight=oshkosh+airventure


Fantastic!!! Thank you!

.

Chuck, I want to thank you and your friends for taking up the cause. I don't know what to say about Geoff. I hope he has had a genuine change of heart.
Oshkosh is not to be taken lightly as you know, it takes a ton of planning and co-ordination.
If the EAA management catches us selling anything without a vendor "booth" we will be ejected. To have a legitimate operation at EAA, we need to rent a spot and do it proper. Thanks again for your work.



Since you missed the one I posted in the Oshkosh 2010 thread, I will say it again here and now that I am home from Osh and Mentone I can expound.


THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

I am looking forward to helping with the ideas that have been put forth for 2011.

Who is your regional rep to the PRA??

If you will be so kind as let your membership of Chapter 17 know that the VP Tim O'Connor & BOD member Tom Milton (on 08-02-2010) did indeed post a thank you, but you missed it, I would personally appreciate it.

Also, sometimes the thanks is slow in coming, as at Mentone we all worked our butts off. Some people putting in long hours 2 weeks before the convention. The PRA Office is still processing the paperwork from the convention and I know I am still backed up from my 2 weeks off work and away from home.

We have LOTS of people we also need to thank that put in time for the convention also.

If anyone wants to volunteer for for a volunteer appreciation position let me know, I will keep you busy!

At the convention I gave the office coupons for any volunteers that worked a full day or more at the convention for a free gyro ride at my expense. Only 4 people had time to take me up on the offer!



.

[Exterminator]

Chuck,

All I can I'm sorry. As you know we had are own convention going on and we have been busy every night with PRA business sense than.. The PRA is going through some major changes and that has truly taken up all my time.. I will give more details on that as the facts become available..

Your efforts are truly appreciated and we certainty need all the help we can get. I do realize how important our chapters are and I apologize if I seem insensitive to your efforts.. In the future if you have any questions or any doubt about me or the PRA please call me directly.

Like you, myself and the entire PRA BOD are volunteers and speaking for myself and several others I devote all my spare time to the PRA . Once again I apologize for not recognizing Chapter 17 efforts..

Scott Lewis

[WHY]

Chuck, I personally posted a thank you, and although I am not the BOD, AS A MEMBER OF PRA ,I AM THE PRA and I take personal offense at your post. If you volunteer to help , you succeded greatly, if you volunteered for fame and glroy your in the wrong place.

Tony Stiles

PRA #17081

[Lspav8r]

I dont think Chuck was looking for praise as much as he was wondering why the whole thing kinda fizzled out so quickly.

I think that those of us that did do anything at Oshkosh no matter what level of participation it entailed were succesful in what we set out to do even in the face of adversity with things not going as we planned but things worked out for the good regardless.

We have a whole year to plan the next event at Oshkosh and I am sure that we will be much more effective than this year with what we now know. Besides if you didnt go to Oshkosh you would not believe how messed up the whole thing was with all the standing water they had to deal with. man it was an absolute mess. We couldnt even get our campers in till tuesday and then it was a crapshoot that you wouldnt get stuck somewhere before you got in to your campsite.

All in all it was a good time and it worked out in the end.

We who took part know we did a good job but with no communications from the PRA leadership, it kinda looks like it wasnt a big step for the group to make for the PRA thats all Chuck is saying.

To those who thanked the participants, thank you for noticing the effort.

Jim

[barnstorm2]

I dont think Chuck was looking for praise as much as he was wondering why the whole thing kinda fizzled out so quickly.

What? that is not what I read.

It fizzeled out because Oshkosh is over, the convention started and now that is over.


We who took part know we did a good job but with no communications from the PRA leadership, it kinda looks like it wasnt a big step for the group to make for the PRA thats all Chuck is saying.


What again? The post is right here to read, that is not what he communicated so far as I can see. It looks to me like he came down like a ton-o-bricks when what he should have done was due diligence. Worse yet, he passed it on to his whole chapter!

As far as communication from PRA leadership did you not read the very thread you were posting in? John Rountree PRA- Webmaster and Volunteer Coordinator made like every 4th post, if not more, as well as Tom Milton, myself and 2 BOD regional representatives.

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22371&highlight=oshkosh+airventure&page=6

You and Chuck might need look into getting some better fact checkers before you post ;)


.

[gyroplanes]

When I chaired the Mentone convention in 1996, everywhere I went I saw this fast moving man-on-a-mission, he hardly had time to say "HI" because he was always doing something.
This year, I noticed most of the forums went unannounced and the speaker system had a very annoying static crackle ............... Tony Stiles, you are missed.

In '96 I asked a guy if he would handle the trash and garbage pickup all around the convention. I never heard from him again, after he said yes.
He ordered the dumpsters, made a cart to pull behind his quad runner and recruited every kid he could find. That number grew bigger every day. I saw a great job was being done, so I flagged them down to thank them and asked what his secret was to recruiting help.
It turns out that Bob Clupper was taking the kids to Dairy Queen and letting them swim in his pool everyday!
After the convention, I asked for a receipt for the dumpsters, Bob said "I got it" and wouldn't take any money for any of his supplies.
Bob (who lived in the house on the field) also hosted Ken Wallis and a few other foreign visitors. Bob's central air was lacking, so he went out and bought window units for his guests. In '96 we had fireworks, and Bob invited all the neighbors to a cookout and a view to the fireworks show from his lawn.
Bob passed away last year we miss him a bunch too.

I have thanked these people over the years. There were many more that contributed time & money to make 1996 a big success.......... they came back to help in '97 too.

[ScoutPilot]

My comments were not directed at PRA members as I feel there were many kind words regarding Chapter 17's accomplishments at Oshkosh and as posted I did thank all of you for your kind words and once again want to thank you again.

Gentleman this is not intended to create a fire storm rather bring to light that there is more to PRA's success than just Mentone as evident by our significant decline in membership. I understand how much work was put into the convention and want to thank all who helped support the PRA Convention this year and years past.

Chapter 17 spent a great deal of time to put together a narrative of Oshkosh AirVenture 2010 for PRA to review and hopefully learn from. There were 12 chapter members and a full weeks worth of promoting and interviewing people on what the general perception was of PRA and what they needed to do to effect positive change. This should be of great interest to the Scott and his board of directors. I know that Scott and the BOD did not realize we were working on this but a simple follow up from the PRA Staff inquiring to the outcome of those who supported PRA at Oshkosh would have been better received.

PRA needs to establish better proactive communication with all of its chapters on a regular basis, by creating better communication from the top this should promote a better open dialog between the chapters and PRA staff. I am going to suggest that moving forward that the PRA President and BOD review and discuss all chapter supported activities that help promote PRA and request a report or narrative from each chapter or chapters who support recruiting activities for PRA. This will serve as an excellent tool to learn more about each chapters capabilities and success, while hopefully contributing to the efforts to grow PRA's membership.

Again I do not have all the answers to PRA's issues or claim to but I do have some insight that I thought was worth posting. I do think it is important to be respectful when it is done and I see no disrespect in my post just straight facts. After all the success and future of PRA is up to all of our members and not just the President and BOD!

Best regards,

Chuck Freese
President
Minnesota Rotorcraft Club/PRA Chapter 17

[Lspav8r]

What? that is not what I read.

It fizzeled out because Oshkosh is over, the convention started and now that is over.




What again? The post is right here to read, that is not what he communicated so far as I can see. It looks to me like he came down like a ton-o-bricks when what he should have done was due diligence. Worse yet, he passed it on to his whole chapter!

As far as communication from PRA leadership did you not read the very thread you were posting in? John Rountree PRA- Webmaster and Volunteer Coordinator made like every 4th post, if not more, as well as Tom Milton, myself and 2 BOD regional representatives.

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22371&highlight=oshkosh+airventure&page=6

You and Chuck might need look into getting some better fact checkers before you post ;)


.

Your missing the whole point Tim. We dont want praise. What we want is to see some action NOW and untill the next Oshkosh so we can make all the right moves next year.

You yourself know that preperation is the name of the game, and we need to start preparing NOW. We dont need to be kissing each others A**'S about what we did, we need to be working" TOGETHER "from this day forward to make next years event even better than last years. PARTICIPATION, not praise.

Im sure you guys at the PRA are already preparing for next years Convention right? Well thats all we are asking for the Oshkosh event as well.

Sorry, I get carried away sometimes:der:

PS. About Chucks passing it on. You are, as the VP of PRA in the hot seat all the time arent you? Well Chuck is the PRES of his chapter so he catches it from his people too. They want answers from him and he cant give them, cause he didnt have any input from the Parent Group.(PRA)

[barnstorm2]

Im sure you guys at the PRA are already preparing for next years Convention right? Well thats all we are asking for the Oshkosh event as well.

Start a new Thread and if I can help I will jump in!

I have not heard from John (All-IN) lately so I think he is working on a project.

Did the arrangement for the volenteers to get patches work out or is that still progressing?



PS. About Chucks passing it on. You are, as the VP of PRA in the hot seat all the time arent you? Well Chuck is the PRES of his chapter so he catches it from his people too. They want answers from him and he cant give them, cause he didnt have any input from the Parent Group.(PRA)

That is why I asked him who his Regional Representive is. The RR program was created to facilitate exactly what you are talking about.

As I already posted, Chuck did get input from the previously mentioned thread.

The PRA is working as fast as our means allow to setup better online communication systems (yes more than one) so that we don't have to rely on public forum threads to conduct event coordination.

.

[Lspav8r]

Your participation in this will be a breath of fresh air Tim, believe me. I am not the guy that should be doing this as my background as well as my personality do not lend themselves to a good outcome on this but I am sure Chuck is better suited for this job, and I guess I should get with him to see if he is up to the task since I seem to draw the wrong kind of attention to things:)

Again thank you for your input and your commitment to help make this thing fly, get it? FLY! I couldnt have dont that again if I tried.

[StanFoster]

Jim and Chuck- I dont read but a fraction of the threads here on the forum. I kind of "major" in watching the build threads...and the helicopter stuff. I hadnt really paid much attention to what was going on at OshKosh. I want to make this belated thank you directed at you two and everyone else for the effort you all put in at OshKosh. We all are the PRA and any effort to promote it helps us all.


Once our website is up and running....getting the word out will be more organized. Many people incorrectly think this is the PRA site, just because a few board members, officers and president are frequently on here.

Its hard to organize any kind of get together...and my experience is that its easier to hurd stray cats. Thanks again for your efforts at this years OshKosh....and next year should have more nationwide input as we all get connected better.

Stan Foster

[gyroplanes]

1) Chapter 17 spent a great deal of time to put together a narrative of Oshkosh AirVenture 2010 for PRA to review and hopefully learn from.

2) PRA needs to establish better proactive communication with all of its chapters on a regular basis,

3) I am going to suggest that moving forward that the PRA President and BOD review and discuss all chapter supported activities that help promote PRA and request a report or narrative from each chapter or chapters who support recruiting activities for PRA. This will serve as an excellent tool to learn more about each chapters capabilities and success, while hopefully contributing to the efforts to grow PRA's membership.



Chuck,
1) I would recommend debriefing all those that helped at OSHKOSH, write the narrative and e-mail it to all of the BOD and the chapter coordinator. It makes more sense for you guys to disseminate the information to us, than for each of us to individually ask for a copy.
We are frying other fish right now.

2) The PRA has done about all it can do to establish communication channels with the chapters. We have the newly instituted Regional Representative Program. Sadly, there appears to be only ONE active participant. The Midwest region is still open. We need Reps to make the system work. Contact Dave Bacon, chapter coordinator if you have anyone willing to serve from the midwest.

3) The harsh reality is that there are only a few active PRA Chapters. Of those few chapters, fewer of them have the time and man power to help support the national organization, let alone their own.
We have always wanted the PRA to be grass roots driven, what we almost always get from the "grass roots" is "What does the PRA do for me?"

I also belong to a very strong PRA chapter, I believe Chapter 18 lead the nation in membership and aircraft in a poll taken a few years ago, but our chapter weakens at times and it's often difficult to muster a showing at a pancake breakfast at our own airport.

It takes organization and planning to build a strong chapter and a strong PRA. It's going to take all of us, pulling in the same direction.

I plan to join you at Oshkosh next year with the sole purpose of helping promote the PRA & Sport Rotorcraft.

[PW_Plack]

...There were 12 chapter members and a full weeks worth of promoting and interviewing people on what the general perception was of PRA and what they needed to do to effect positive change. This should be of great interest to the Scott and his board of directors...

Chuck, if Scott and the board didn't know about this initiative, how would they know to ask for a report?

...PRA needs to establish better proactive communication with all of its chapters on a regular basis, by creating better communication from the top this should promote a better open dialog between the chapters and PRA staff...

With the convention and all the changes to be dealt with, the directors haven't exactly been loafing. It's a crazy time, and Mentone was the week after Airventure. The Regional Rep program was created almost a year ago to provide this communication link, and the midwest chapters still haven't filled the position. If you find someone willing to do the job, call the other chapters in your region, get a consensus nomination, and that person can start without even holding a formal election.

To be fair, there is still no official job description for the reps, so it might not be fair to call any of them inactive. It's also harder to recruit when there's no job description to share with prospects. Hopefully the board can get this on the agenda soon.

I represent the NW/Mtn Region chapters, and just made some assumptions about how the job should work. I started by staying in regular touch with my chapters by e-mail, and offering a brief column for the chapter newsletter editors to use at their discretion. It's kinda blossomed from there, and we ended up with a regional newsletter pool, but it doesn't need to get that fancy.

There's been only one board meeting of which I'm aware (April 2010) in which the reps have been included, but I've found that e-mail and the telephone work great to get regional concerns addressed. Scott and the other directors always take my calls.

It probably a novelty for them to get any calls.

Chuck, I don't want this to come off negative. I was amazed at what you guys were able to muster at Oshkosh on fairly short notice, and appreciate your work a great deal. It's a great basis for the future. Thank you!

Being on the PRA board right now must be a little like the guy hanging onto a tree branch on the edge of a cliff. He knows he should call his wife, but can't reach for his cellphone at the moment.

[ScoutPilot]

Guys it sounds like John Rountree our PRA Volunteer Coordinator is preoccupied and not able to communicate with the BOD at this time. John has been very good at getting back to me so I hope all is well with him. I did try three times in the last week to reach him via PM and e-mail with not luck however Scott Lewis and I did converse before I left for Oshkosh and I did tell him I would have a detailed re-cap of events that took place at Oshkosh. So in my defense I did initiate the communication our chapter just thought they would be more anxious to find out how things went.

The Minnesota Rotorcraft Club/PRA Chapter 17 has gone from 15 members to 48 in less than a year and we continue to grow. We also require our members to Join PRA as well. At current count we have eight flying gyro's and another 13 gyro's under construction.We are only asking to be heard by the BOD and President so we can help effect the positive change needed within the PRA umbrella. Nothing more nothing less... I was not aware of the Regional Rep Program how can we help with that? What is involved? Paul if you get any more info on the Regional Rep please let me know.

Have a good weekend and fly safe, our chapter will be at the Forest Lake Airport Fly-In this weekend to promote PRA and our sport.

Best regards,

Chuck Freese
President
Minnesota Rotorcraft Club/PRA Chapter 17

[GyroDoug]

... I was not aware of the Regional Rep Program how can we help with that? What is involved? Paul if you get any more info on the Regional Rep please let me know.
Chuck Freese
President
Minnesota Rotorcraft Club/PRA Chapter 17

Chuck,

Dave Bacon is the Chapter Coordinator and I believe is the person responsible for the Regional Rep. program. You can e-mail him at davesconcretepumping@msn.com get more details and to get someone nominated for your area.

Also be aware that as a Chapter President you should have access to the special forum designed just for Chapter Presidents to communicate with one another. Go to the forums page and scroll down to the bottom and click on special forums. Then you should see a forum titled "Chapter Presidents" If you have not been set up to have access to this forum, contact the forum administrators and they can get you hooked up.

Doug Barker

[barnstorm2]

The Minnesota Rotorcraft Club/PRA Chapter 17 has gone from 15 members to 48 in less than a year and we continue to grow. We also require our members to Join PRA as well. At current count we have eight flying gyro's and another 13 gyro's under construction.We are only asking to be heard by the BOD and President so we can help effect the positive change needed within the PRA umbrella. Nothing more nothing less... I was not aware of the Regional Rep Program how can we help with that? What is involved? Paul if you get any more info on the Regional Rep please let me know.

Have a good weekend and fly safe, our chapter will be at the Forest Lake Airport Fly-In this weekend to promote PRA and our sport.

Best regards,

Chuck Freese
President
Minnesota Rotorcraft Club/PRA Chapter 17

You are kicking butt Chuck! Thanks!

Scott is VERY VERY busy and has so many PRA projects at hand he is certainly neglecting family and business right now.

The rest of the BOD and officers can help you.

If you would like, write up your report, questions, suggestions and results and I will personally submit it as part of the discussion agenda for the September online PRA BOD meeting.

That way you will have direct communication with the full BOD not just the president.

Let me know and CONGRATULATIONS!

.

[StanFoster]

Chuck- I want to chime in with Tim also and give you and your chapter 17 a big slap on the back. Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm, and your club has reached critical mass. Guys like Tim and many others here don't need prodding to get enthused. I personally can't figure out why anyone exposed to gyros or helis would not get enthused. I still get goosebumps about rotorcraft, building and flying them. Just sitting and studying the aerodynamics of rotorcraft keeps me content. I wish everyone shared the enthusiasm that I see at Mentone and Bensen Days. Keep up the good work Chuck, and maybe more here can reach critical mass. Stan

[ScoutPilot]

Doug,
Thanks for the heads-up on the special forum for Chapter Presidents, I was not aware of this thank you.

Also thanks to everyone for the kudos on Chapter 17's recent success. I feel honored to be able to represent such a great group of members. Our Vice President Tom Patterson has been a huge help with getting Chapter 17 reinstated and running so thanks to all the Chapter 17 members who continue to step up and help support the PRA and our sport.

Tim and Tom FYI I will forward the Oshkosh narrative to you once I get the final ok from all members who attended Oshkosh. I completed the narrative a couple weeks ago and we discussed it at our August meeting. I want to make sure everyone from our chapter gets the opportunity to amend or modify the narrative that spent time supporting our organization.

Attention PRA Chapter Presidents and Members, I can't over emphasize how important it is to attend your local fly-ins or aviation sponsored events. Our chapter has had tremendous success at these events. Last week our chapter members attended a local fly-in and once again the gyro was the hit and conversation of the fly-in. Our members spent a lot of time explaining gyro aerodynamics 101 and why the gyro is so fun to fly. It appears we will have several new guest and hopefully a few more new PRA and Club members joining at our up coming meeting.

Fly safe everyone,

Chuck Freese
President
Minnesota Rotorcraft Club/PRA Chapter17

[gyroplanes]

A ROTAX SERVICE CENTER and flight school owner has an open house every year. Many powered parachutes, trikes, PPGs and ULs show up. This year, John Salz (SP?) flew in with his Xenon and stole the show. We need positive exposure.

[WHY]

HI Tom

You have touched on a very important point that is coming about slowly but surely as we now have really good gyros in larger numbers and that is gyro's that "FLY" into events at locations other than there own airport, gives a good impression that they do go cross country as so many got the impression they were just "pattern queens".

Tony