Wow.....I just read almost the whole thread and was amazed. Lots of good observations. Our club here in Northern VT has been here for 21 years. Our membership is now about 75 people, we started with 5 people in 1988. In those years we have had periods of growth and periods of decline. About 4 years ago we got on the wagon and joined the AMA's Intro pilot instructor program with three instructors. We have added between 4 and 5 new members a year for the last 4 years. Intro pilot has really worked for us but there are some other components that need to be in the front seat for any club looking to grow. 1st the club has to have a desire to increase its membership. If the drive isnt there, you are wasting your time. 2nd, as with any club there needs to be "do-ers". Those are the folks who are willing to lean into the plate and take one for the club. They are the folks who are the "magic" in your organization. Not the guys who talk about it but never get in there and do it, these folks donate time to training and look for ways to finance it. Our club charges ZERO for training and we have come up with ways to 100% finance our training program. We provide the equipment, the fuel and the time. This is key to bringing in new members. 3rd I would say is exposure. Trust me there are people in your area who would love to fly model airplanes but have no idea your club even exists or that you are taking new members. We put bi-weekly write ups in the local paper about our club. This takes time and is another one of those "do-er" positions that is key. The AMA has provided tools for us to increase membership. Clubs will have to learn how to use those tools and then put them to use. Two clubs around us died last year and didnt even keep their charter. They didnt have any "do-ers". What they did have were members who were focused on their own world and in both cases failed to see the bigger picture. They were more worried about their tree than the health of the forrest around them. In our case we figure you need about 5 members who are real go getters, thats what seems to have worked out in our case anyway. Each year we try to get some of the new members who show promise as "do-ers" involved as a club officer. For the most part its worked. If it doesnt then you need to stand up again, dust yourself off and try it all over again. Keep trying and keep working towards your goal............

103/17