Gary - The SPA is full of contradictions, so I know where you are coming from. I've been pattern flying for only three years and have had so much fun and met so many interesting people that will surely be my friends till I am gone that I tend to overlook all the 'ducks' we have in SPA. Through odd circumstance I've wound up on the BOD's and have spent countless hours thinking about what the SPA is and what we should or could be, then I realize that we are "just what we are". Our board has diverse opinion and nobody knows how much we care for this group of men and how we anguish over the business of our association.
Anyway - I ment no disparage in my comment, and I know that people - who for the most part - veiw us from afar sometimes may scratch their head or arse and wonder what we are doing! Well, we are having fun and enjoying ourselves! I'm mighty proud of our members, even the ones I disagree with! Make sense?
Mike