From: Fredmoreno@aol.com
Message-ID: <f31609d9.24c17f53@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 1999 02:40:19 EDT
Subject: Virtual EAA Chapter
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Mime-Version: 1.0

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	The EAA mission is the promotion of sport aviation.  The Internet 
improves the quality of the aircraft built (and the builders and pilots) by 
providing a fast, universally available means of exchanging information of 
particular interest to various classes of aircraft builders. I believe that 
by trying to wedge this type of meeting place/group into the Chapter 
structure, while interesting, may well be inappropriate for a number of the 
reasons stated.  However, to ignore the benefits provided and not try to 
improve the medium would be truly foolish.  

I would suggest that if EAA is to stay with the times, it needs to recognize 
the special characteristics and benefits of cyber space meeting groups, and 
create an appropriate form of supporting organizational structure.  Through 
Marv's excellent work, I expect our group just happens to be a bit ahead of 
other builder groups.  

The virtual chapter is a topic worthy of some in-depth discussion by the EAA 
management/staff, followed by some action or guidelines that can be used for 
cyber groups to organize and structure themselves and exchange ideas between 
virtual chapters with similar interests.  As it is I expect there is little 
knowledge that crosses between builder groups, and that is a shame.  Think of 
what we could be learning from others facing similar problems. 

I would suggest that calling the groups "cyber chapters" or "virtual 
chapters" would be fine as long as it is not an attempt to make cyber 
chapters something they cannot be -- like current EAA chapters.  Recognize 
that they are different, that they have special features and benefits, and 
organize and structure them appropriately  

With regard to insurance, I find the benefits of this forum infinitely 
superior in terms of what I learn and the quality of my aircraft construction 
than my activities attended an EAA Chapter 62 (San Jose) member, and we have 
a big, active chapter.  I believe that active participation or membership in 
a cyber chapter should be recognized as being as beneficial to the insurance 
carrier as the pilot/builder.  Better airplanes, builders, and pilots make 
for lower risks.

So, a suggestion: lets ventilate some ideas here for what we would like EAA 
to do with regard to this new medium, and then perhaps float a proposal or 
set of suggestions to EAA headquarters.  The world is rapidly changing, and 
EAA has to change with it and its members, and not get excessively stuck in 
tradition and the view backward.  Big organizations have a way of doing just 
that, and then they slowly become irrelevant.  We don't want that to happen.

Fred Moreno
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