Seattle Skydivers

In Attendance: Carrie Holmes, Lysa, Doug Fairleigh, Justin Humpke, Marni Campbell, Valinda Mitchell, John Mitchell, Erin Effmann, Heather Skoda, Charlie Markin, Aude-Marianne Bertuchi, Dave Patterson, Krisanne Combs, Chris Erickson, Deb Correia, Dave Correia, Pennie Craig, Kelly Craig, Keith Ragusa, Chris Wolfe, Steve Splatt, Amanda, Scott Wagner, Nick Constantine

Called to order: 7:26pm, Carrie Holmes

• Increase membership, improve atmosphere: Going to other dropzones; there are no benefits; are members willing to help?
• Mission statement is to promote skydiving, community and safety.
• Lysa asked where dues and funding is going, since everyone contributes and doesn't get a benefit, where is this going? There are no current dropzones that are supporting SSD to be a perk. Events would become members only or charge more for non-members (and be enforced now whereas it never really has before
• Splatt mentioned that events that were put on by SSD, if you became a member, the discount you would get was the same difference as paying for the event to begin with. This should be brought into effect again. Events and benefits need to be worthwhile for everyone.
• Nick asked how do we raise membership, should this become a non-paying club, and become more of a social society? Every year this is brought up. Should this end now, or do we want to continue the way things are? If we can promote safety and allows all people to feel that they can travel to other dropzones and feel safe no matter where they are.
• Could benefits travel with you to tunnels so weekend trips can benefit? This is what Escape was, but is not so much anymore.
• Chris Wolfe asked if you could incorporate membership into static line courses, or wingsuit weekends with free training, etc. As long as the dropzone's are friendly to be apart of it.
• The social aspect is what draws people, especially for people that haven't jumped in awhile, or are new to the group, or new to the area, there needs to be something that draws everyone: financial benefit, drunkfest, social gathering, etc.
• Sponsorships? Have businesses be sponsors, get a discount, get their logos on shirts and whatnot? Maybe even have non-skydiving businesses be sponsors so that while the weather is bad, we're doing something else.
• Support Kapowsin during their Helicopter event on June 22nd
• Present the idea, especially now that the relations are good with Kapowsin, so that there ARE benefits. Once a month, or every other month, SSD has a BBQ that's $5 for non-members or $2 for members -or something- but Kpow knows that there will be a group of reliable skydivers other than their normal group every once in awhile. Same with presenting this idea to Mt. Vernon or Snohomish.
• July: SSD going to Lost Prairie, working out deals. SSD only skyvan load, etc. Brewery load
• Mt. Vernon and Ritzville are both having fourth of July weekends
• Leap for Lupus in August: POPS sign up at LFL. Wingsuit, CRW, something for everyone. Amazing raffle; 50% off two wings containers, 50% off Infinity rig; 50% Aerodyne rig and reserve; all kinds of donations for the raffle on Saturday night -9th. Valinda suit also -including dinner and pie and suit. $25 registration fee for the boogie which includes dinner and a t-shirt. Instead of paying the $25 fee, you can take a donation sheet 501c also, so paperwork can provide that so that companies can match. Meili Meldini will be organizing freefly world records and jumping. Tim Weible will be at Kpow two weekends in June and July for the POPS record also.
• September is up in the air- wingsuit weekend or accuracy meet
• October -Our Ten
• October 11th: Film festival at Kpow, 3 minutes videos: theme, discipline and skydiving
• November : Educational night /video night? Promote safety and skydiving
• December: Holiday party
• Membership dues fee change to $26 before July 1-31 or $30 August 1-31 of 2009. Free t-shirt with membership? By-laws state that dues should be $40 per year, determent by the Board if so deemed by the rest of the club. Valinda asked why to change the dues? To create a benefit and have a re-growth year and get memberships. We don't want to cheapen the membership. In a society where people determine prices by "that's one jump, that's two jumps" we should make it more affordable. SSD has always been known as a Snohomish club.
• 1967 joining the club was $30 with a free t-shirt. Took away the t-shirt and changed it to $40. Logo needs to be changed. If we lower the membership dues down to $26 are we going to get any more real members? Probably not. Trying to change it being known as a Snohomish club, and started traveling last year. Is this decrease in membership looking for the right kind of members? Or do we want to keep the price at $40 so that it could benefit the club in some way since they can afford to get the word out, or help with sponsorship. True growth needs to include people that want to be a part of this, and truly grow, not just numbers.
• Keep the internet as your networking friend: Myspace, skydivers network, facebook, are all promoting and working as getting the word out. Keith suggested SSD condoms. Get's the word out there. And lube.
• Motion to leave dues as is by Deb Correia, seconded by Keith Ragusa and Dave Patterson.
• SAFETY: Recalls on Cypres2's requiring pulls tonight. Misfires when they shouldn't be firing. They'll send you $70 for the repack. Aug06-dec06 contact your local rigger or Charlie.
• Where should we go with ideas? Dropbox, email, websites, talk to your local board member.
• Meeting adjourned: motioned and seconded by Krisanne, 8:24pm