Dear Delegates
Two new items have been added to the website - the Membership Report, that was not available for the Plenary meeting, has now been completed and is attached for your review, and the results of the Plenary Meeting survey recently completed by our Secretary.
I share the concerns stated in the Membership Report about the accuracy of figures. If we are to measure what is happening in our sport we need data – this includes information like time in the sport and age so that we can build a true picture of the demographics of our gliding fraternity. We will look to find a better way to obtain these details in future, perhaps via a standard report on the website.
On the other hand, the response to the survey from our last Plenary meeting was fantastic. The results show that, while we are making the Plenary meeting more effective, there is room for improvement.
You will now be aware that the FAI Selection Panel awarded the 2009 World Air Games to Turin, Italy. This event will launch the FAI community down a new and challenging path. The Bureau has decided that the pilots who will compete in the Gliding event (using the Grand Prix race format) will be the World Champions from each of our classes and championships. Brian Spreckley has been appointed as the IGC Liaison Officer for the event with Jean-Marc Badan being the FAI Coordinator.
The Air Sport Commission President’s meeting was held in Lausanne on 2nd June. This meeting is proving to be an excellent opportunity for the Commissions and the FAI Executive Board to liaise and look at how the FAI (as a body) can work towards the development of air sports and how we can support each other.
Next month, July, sees the 4th FAI Women’s WGC being hosted by Romorantin in France and the 5th FAI Junior WGC being hosted by Rieti, Italy. My best wishes to competitors and organisers and all involved in these two Championship events.
We had originally looked at running a series of Qualifying Grand Prix races in 2007, but time has caught up with us. We are therefore now opening up bids for Qualifying Grand Prix races in 2008 and also for a Final in 2008. Please circulate this request to all your Clubs. These bids should have the support of your national body.
Finally, I would like to remind all Delegates that we will be selecting the hosts for the 2011 FAI Junior WGC and the 2011 FAI Women’s WGC at the Plenary meeting in Rome next year. Please advise your NACs of these bids.
If your NAC has any interest in hosting one of these events, please contact the IGC Bid representative, Eric Mozer (emozer@deltamold.com) for the bid form.
The deadline for submission for bids for the Junior and Women’s events is September 15th, 2007.
Best Regards and Safe Flying
Bob Henderson
President, IGC
June 30th, 2007