ORIGINAL: Hossfly
Well, maybe things will again get interesting here. So tedster, you are POed. Hey, that really breaks my heart.
The club's bylaws limit visits to THREE (3) prior to joining the club. The club OWNS the flying field and it is for the members and limited guests. Makes no difference as I have no intention of helping those that have no intention of joining the club. Five - six hours a day of my personal time and three gallons of fuel to drive back and forth for nothing returned is no longer my idea of a 'nice day'.
And we too own our land. That doesn't mean we chase off the new guy. Our instructor puts on a smile and gives him his three visits. Stipulation- catch him when you can when he is at the field instructing. If you plan on or have already joined, he will work very hard to schedule training sessions for the new guy.
I get no particular *enjoyment* out of instructing per se. I like to see new people come into the sport, however it is no longer any perceived notion in my mind that they should be entitled to some free ride. Like it or lump it as I have paid my dues many times over.
Seems that instructing is more of a bother than anything else. Is there another club instructor to share the load? If not, Kudos to you for giving up your time.
Thank you for saying that the hobby needs people upfront and honest with their intentions as that is exactly what I did. Of course when you went to the local golf course, lessons were provided without any charges by the local "Pro", no member fees and/or no green fees were expected because you were just learning.[>:] Wake up and smell the real world.
I don't play golf and never will. As far as I'm concerned, this is Apples and Oranges.
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You're in the Houston area so if you wish to compare what I have given back to this model aviation sport / hobby on a one on one basis, just let me know. A meeting could very possibly be arranged. [:-]
I am very well aware of your involvment in the hobby. I also don't believe anything was taken away from you. Only the way in which you treated this young man. Indeed you were honest and upfront. So was he.
We can meet. Odds are, I'll be at your next fun fly event. I like going home with other clubs prizes!!
I was club secretary, I didn't have the free time need to do the job and the secretary position is almost a full time job itself. I declined running again. I now enjoy the hobby again. I volunteer where I can and have even used personal vaction time from work to help out the club.
EDITED to add: This morning I and three other Jetero Instructors plus a number of members entertaind some 40 5th graders from Splendora Grade School. Each received 4 - 6 minutes of hands-on flight time under the one time rule using an airplane not belonging to the student. 6 adults each received flight time. I made eight (8) 15 min. flights stopping only to refuel and go again until time to recharge. 1.5 hours of flight time and 2.5 hours actual time, not including set-up time etc. Yep, we don't really promote the sport 'roud these here parts, nohow. [&:] Oh, not to forget thanks to the club's kitchen crew, our guests and we enjoyed a Jetero donated lunch of chili-dogs, chips and soft drinks.
Congraulations!
If they all showed up with their own planes, said they wouldn't be able to join the JETERO club any time soon and still wanted a free lesson from HC himself , then what?