Proposed Changes in Foundation's Mission

[barnstmr]

FOUNDATION - Proposal for change in purpose.

The current purpose statement (or mission statement whatever it is called) is as follows. I propose to add the information in bold text.

The Taylorcraft Foundation

The Taylorcraft Foundation is exclusively organized in unified effort and voicefor charitable, educational & scientific activities and is intended to preserve, generate, develop, and distribute among its membership and to the FAA the history and technical information of Taylorcraft organisations and the airplanes they produced. This Foundation is a chartered Ohio Corporation and has been granted USA IRS 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit, tax exempt, organization.

My reasoning for this proposal is that the recent Strut AD fiasco initiated by a corrupt TC holder (and fostered by the FAA) has dictated to us all an inappropriate means of addressing a real airworthiness concern. The membership of this foundation has demonstrated that it has far-reaching resources that can serve to appropriately develop technical data and to educate the FAA in the appropriate means to care for these airplanes and ensure their continued airworthiness and operational safety. But this has been the most disorganized mess of useful information I have ever seen. We are close to having a GREAT response to this FAA thing if we could just tie it all together in a common way. As it stands, the foundation membership is running umpteen projects in parallel and does not seem to have a central focus. If we do not join together in a unified strong voice with the FAA, we will continually be subject to whatever the TC holder and FAA dream up in dictating the way we have to maintain our airplanes.

For this or any change in purpose, though, the membership needs to become more involved and the leadership needs to be willing to listen, communicate, unify, and inspire us all into a common effort.

Is it possible for this foundation to do more and better? YES

Is it wanted by the members and leaders? PLEASE COMMENT

[Jim Herpst]

Re: Proposed Changes in Foundation's Mission

Terry ,

For the FIRST time I just read this post. Cannot agree more. I do believe it is up to each of us when the passion so takes us to unite the tribe on whatever the issue. The strut fiasco is just one of many .

IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD SAYING "AUTHORITY IS NOT GRANTED IT IS TAKEN "

That said I believe with this site WE (as in each of us) have the power to help the cause. sooo when the need arises sound off all and get us in line !

[ROllerton]

Re: Proposed Changes in Foundation's Mission

This will make it a real job for the president and board members.

So you need to add:

1. Their expenses are paid; meetings, attending flyins.
2. They get paid for their time,
3. Their liability insurance is paid for (mine is $950 a year).

[Buell Powell]

Re: Proposed Changes in Foundation's Mission

Terry,
I totaly agree with what you have posted about needing to be united in a strong voice to the FAA.You have a way of stating what needs to be said. So would you be interested in sending comments while there is still a chance on the new proposed strut AD? I know there are things that can help make the AD better for some and some problems the FAA would be interested in hearing about. but except for 2 of us there just does not seem to be anyone else interested. We have this one last chance to "educate" the FAA and voice our opinions and ideas. The FAA granted us this opportunity and we are just letting it go without even showing that we have any interest or ideas. I believe the FAA may actually be looking for information from us this time and there are people on this forum that can provide this much better than I can but for some reason no one else has sent any comments and we only have a few days left. I know there are those that have ideas and information and hope they will let the FAA know we are interested enough to offer our input -even those that have already taken care or there own planes. If we don't voice our opinions then it's our fault that "we are subject to whatever the TC holder and FAA dream up."

[Jim Herpst]

Re: Proposed Changes in Foundation's Mission

Bob,

I cannot speak for Terry but I what I was thinking was more for the individual member who feels so empasioned about an item take the bull by the horns to unite the tribe on what evere issue it is that so moves him or her.

My point is this forum is a good place for this to begin. That is ,all the work is done the forum is here alive and well/. Kudo's to you for the fine Forum !

Best

Jim

[Buell Powell]

Re: Proposed Changes in Foundation's Mission

Personally I think the Forum is doing a really fine job. I suspect that Forrest and the other leaders did a lot more than we know in comunicating with the FAA about our concerns on the strut issue and probably were mostly responsible for what we were able to get from the FAA as far as the strut AD improvements so far and are also still working on what we are asking for. I do think that we should do our part too. That is why I have been ranting (probably more than I should) about sending comments. I have noticed that we have gone from 2 comments to 8 today and they are all very good.

[Bojambles]

Re: Proposed Changes in Foundation's Mission

you guys can count me in for what ever support I can provide
A&P/IA ATP/CFI
Taylorcraft owner since 1976

[VictorBravo]

Re: Proposed Changes in Foundation's Mission

I see very little in Terry's original suggestion (the bold text he added to the existing mission statement) that would make running this foundation any less or more of a "Real job" than it was/is before Terry's proposed changes. Running any charitable organization is quite a job, to be sure. But adding text like "unified voice" and "distribute among its membership" do not strike me as a valid turning point between a volunteer position and a professional position.

If Terry had proposed something like "operate an engineering and certification office to combat hostile government and private industry forces of darkness" then THAT would certainly be justification for a more professional position.

This is my opinion only, and volunteer or otherwise I think that the Foundation board has done a very good job so far.

Bill

This will make it a real job for the president and board members.

So you need to add:

1. Their expenses are paid; meetings, attending flyins.
2. They get paid for their time,
3. Their liability insurance is paid for (mine is $950 a year).