Future of ICS

[Kristin Winter]

[jeffrey aryan]

[Scott Ducey]

[Dale Vandever]

Scott, your observations are very astute. I think that the problem is fairly obvious to most.

The "good news" is that the workers continue to contribute under these circumstances.

The "bad news" is that a very, very small minority of the membership express the negative views, and continue to make the 6:00 TV news on a daily basis.

Seems a car chase will always trump a story about good deeds.

As a "family" of Comanche owner's, we all profit when we all work together to a common goal.

Welcome, and we look forward to your contributions.

Dale

[Dave Fitzgerald]

"Thank You Scott and Dale"

Your remarks are like a breath of fresh air.

On one hand I don't think some of our members realize how dedicated and sincere most of out board and committee members are to maintaining and improving our society.
On the other hand I don't want any of our members to think that we are not open to good ideas, epically those ideas with solutions.
If anyone has a plan with a solution in mind, I would encourage you to bring it to the attention of your tribe rep. or any board member so these ideas can be shared and discussed. Some of the ideas members suggest turn out to be very practical and constructive. Some ideas are just not practical, feasible or achievable for our society.

Our mission, as stated in our By-Laws reads:

Section 1. Mission. The International Comanche Society exists to serve its membership by supplying information and know-how to support good maintenance, safety, and affordable flying of Comanche type aircraft. It serves as a knowledge bank and forum for technical and operational issues; and promotes and encourages social activities among its members.

Section 2. Vision. The goal of the International Comanche Society is to become an outstanding type club with maximum coverage of the Comanche population worldwide. Its members will be well served and take pride in their ICS affiliation. ICS will have strong representation with organizations like the FAA, AOPA, and EAA. Interaction and cooperation with other type clubs in pursuit of common goals is encouraged. Each member should be inspired with the feeling that belonging to the ICS is an integral part of owning and flying a Comanche, and that there are abundant benefits.

I believe that by working together in a positive way, keeping in mind that we are a volunteer organization, we can continue to fulfill the goals of our mission statement.

[criffus]

I have to pipe-up here and say that I feel this particular discussion, or at least this particular forum thread may be outstretching it's usefulness. Unfortunately the "Future" of ICS seems to have been lost in the shuffle.

The notion that things can be improved in the future does not imply that they are being done "wrong" today.

Nonetheless, I'll go ahead and share my own thoughts in the hope that someone will find some value in it.

The discourse here- is moving "off course". While I personally fail to see the finger pointing, the "criticism of others unpaid work", or similar "attacks" on those who graciously volunteer their time to keep the wheels turning at ICS, the fact that it's being implied at all is a sure sign that lines are being drawn and objectivity is becoming secondary.

While we unfortunately live with the reality that a simple "hello" is bound to rub someone the wrong way, we still have to speak up with what's on our minds in the interest of progress in most any endeavor. More importantly than that even, is our obligation to then listen.

I'm hearing that ICS is essentially "OK" and that most folks are relatively content.
I agree. It serves us well and meets most of our needs. I am as big a consumer of technical knowledge and similar resources as anyone in ICS. I go first to the ICS forum with many of my toughest tech/operations questions, and even ponied up for the bound addition of the tips manual.
The "family" nature of ICS is priceless. When I've had problems or issues with my plane, it's been a wonderful pleasure to accept the generous help, inspiration and invaluable insight of fellow ICS members. And, I as I may have stated my own position before, sixty-some-bucks-a-year is nothing in the context of owning and operating an airplane.

I think that there are parts of this forum thread that are of great value, and we should never be so narrow-minded as to throw the baby out with the bathwater... So hopefully we as members, and those who are driving the boat right now, can pick out that valuable content and use it wisely to keep ICS on the right track, and headed into the future well prepared.

**This a relatively open forum and topics like this one are bound to push the envelope of the very concept of a forum. We may tend to see our forum as more of a technical "Q&A" a lot of the time, and many of us prefer it that way. The tail goes with the hide I suppose...
It's a fact that the participants in this forum represent only a fraction of the ICS membership. While not the only "squeaky-wheels" in ICS, forum participants leave actual "tracks"! We should all take care to not turn segments of those tracks into "sound-bytes" to be offered up as political fodder, and try to see the big picture whenever we can.

-Chris R.

[Scott Ducey]

Thanks Chris. I don't think I disagree with anything you are saying, but my point was that (1) i have been happy with the service being provided (which I think you agree with), (2) that new idea's are great, but given that everyone is a volunteer, then an idea brought forward should be sheparded by the person with the idea, and (3) lastly it just seems the tenor of some of the notes (not necessarily in this thread) seems somewhat critical and judgmental of the current volunteers. I guess my point on this last items is similar to what I would say to others in business. If you disagree with someone, it is not always productive in communicating your point by doing it publicly. Generally people will go on the defensive. I have seen it in my own business, and normally what happens is people tend to get defensive, react negatively and the point you were trying to make now becomes a problem between two people. I don't want to speak for others, but I am sure there are people that are tribe chiefs or in other positions that would love to do less if more would step forward. If you feel strongly about changing ICS, just step forward. Thats really what I was trying to say. Like I mentioned already, my goal is not to prop anyone up or cut anyone down. I am new here, and frankly just giving my humble opinion of what I see as a new member. If it sounded like a sound bite or i was politicizing, my apologies, that was not my intent. Thanks for your response, and I look forward to meeting more of you all in the days and months ahead.

Scott