Membership Information for Saratoga Soaring Association, Inc.
GIFT CERTIFICATES ($55): Give a gift certificate for
an introductory ride. Make out a check to Saratoga Soaring Association, Inc. with
a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail to: Saratoga Soaring Association,
Inc., c/o Fred Woll, 3 Turnberry Lane, Clifton Park, NY 12065-1104
GET
AQUAINTED PACKAGE ($500): This is an introductory offer which covers the cost of approximately
15 aerotows in the Schweizer 2-33 sailplane at club member rates, no-fee
instruction by club instructors, non-voting club membership (with no membership
fee and no dues), and the $64 annual membership for one year in the national
Soaring Society of America which includes its monthly magazine SOARING. This is
a very good deal. The package is good for 12 months from date of purchase.
Limit of one package per family. No refund of unused credit.(Packages for
school organizations may differ slightly.)
SHAREHOLDER
MEMBERSHIP ($1,400): A shareholder has part ownership in the Grob-103 high-performance
sailplane and other club assets, and
is entitled to full voting rights and no-fee instruction by club
instructors. If the shareholder resigns
from the club, $1,200 of share price is refundable, as per the club Refund
Policy. The remaining $200 is used by the club to cover equipment usage and
replacement costs. A new Shareholder
may join the club and begin flying by making a down payment on their share of $500.
The remaining balance of the share price must be paid within 2 years, at
a rate of no less than $450 per year.
FULL
MEMBERSHIP ($400, non-refundable): This is an extremely affordable way to join our
club! This is a non-shareholding membership. Full members enjoy all of the
benefits afforded shareholders, except that they may not fly solo, receive
instruction, or act as pilot-in-command in the high-performance Grob 103
sailplane. Full members may only
perform these operations in the Schweizer 2-33 trainer or the Schweizer 1-26
single-seat sailplane. A Full member may upgrade his/her membership to
Shareholder ($1,400) at any time for an additional $1,000. This may be made in
3 payments, with an initial lump-sum payment of $ 300 followed by additional
payments of $350 in each of the
following two years. Upon making the
initial upgrade payment, flight privileges in the Grob sailplane will be
granted.
FAMILY
MEMBERSHIP ($200 non-refundable): Family members are non-shareholders but otherwise
have the same privileges as full members.
This is limited to one family membership in a family that has one
full-or-shareholder membership.
CLUB
DUES: All
active members pay monthly club dues, which cover insurance, maintenance, other
club expenses and membership in the Soaring Society of America (which includes
the monthly magazine Soaring).
Dues vary each year depending on club expenses and the number of
members, but usually run between $35 and $40 per month.
TOW
FEES for
each flight depend on altitude. Tows currently cost $7 plus $ 10 per 1,000 feet. For example, a 2,000 foot tow costs
$ 27. Pattern tows cost $ 15. Members
are billed for tows on a monthly basis.
NORTON
YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP: The Youth Scholarship Program was established in the April 2000, by
James Norton, a long-time soaring enthusiast and club member. The goal of the program is to provide
financial aid to young pilots who wish to learn the sport of soaring. Contingent on availability of funds,
recipients of Youth Scholarships become Full Members of the Saratoga Soaring
Association, receive instruction and tows at no charge, and are granted use of
the Schweizer 2-33 sailplane. Youth
Scholars pay only annual club dues.
Recipients are expected to be exceptionally participative and helpful
club members. Revenues for the program
are provided strictly through member donations. More information about this
program is available upon request.
INACTIVE
MEMBER: An
active member may change his/her membership status to inactive whenever that
member anticipates a period of time greater than 12 months during which he/she
will not be participating in club operations.
Inactive members do not pay the annual club dues and are not expected to
perform normal member duties, and consequently are not entitled to use club
equipment, the club's tow service, or have any other club privileges. If
requested, the club will pay the national SSA dues ($64) and bill the inactive
member in order to continue “Soaring” magazine. To go inactive, a member must
inform the Board in writing. To re-activate,
a member must contact the treasurer, and pay any current fees or dues (not back
dues).
CLUB REFUND POLICY
(Passed 11/99): A
Shareholder who resigns from the club is entitled to a refund of $1,200 of the
original membership fee. A Shareholder
who joined prior to January 1, 1997 will be refunded $ 1,413, in accordance
with the agreement in effect at that time.
Shareholders are the only members entitled to a refund upon resignation. There will be no interest paid on the
original share price. Any outstanding
balances owed the club will be deducted from the refund. Money for refunds is made available as new
members join and purchase shares. Each new shareholder makes available $1,200
for refund. Refunds are paid only when there are 25 or more dues-paying members
in the club. If there is more than one person awaiting a refund, the refunds
will be paid in the order that the resignation letters were received. Note that, given the above constraints, it
could two or three years for a former Shareholder to receive his/her
refund.
For
further information:
Website for Saratoga Soaring Association - - www.SaratogaSoaring.com
Website for the Soaring Society of America - - www.ssa.org
Ken Helm Fred
Woll Bob DeFabio Jim Pospisil Mike McCarron
President Vice
President Treasurer Secretary Operations Officer
518-462-9659 518-877-0416 518-877-6072 518-664-6758 518-587-1957