A Yahoo group was started several years ago to coordinate the Touring Motor Glider Fly-In at Minden, Nevada. From a start of only a few ships it has now grown to last year's 25 ships on the line. Certainly it now represents the largest gathering of TMGs in the country.
A few of us started to brainstorm about how we could improve the communication and draw TMGs into a combined force to promote our particular segment of soaring. That brainstorming culminated in creation of the Touring Motor Glider Association, and the all-new web site:
www.touringmotorgliders.org
We started officially rolling it out late last week and after just a few days the membership stands at 60+ and improves hourly...both from pilots here in the U.S. and abroad. The concept is to have an umbrella web site and organization with subsets for each TMG 'model', plus specific activities and general education and information exchanges. The new organization is not necessarily a replacement for some of the model-specific groups, but would be additive. For other groups - like the Fly-In Yahoo group - it would be a replacement. The key point is that the new web site - and it's flat-out gorgeous - is OUR site and we can be as creative with it as we want and can make it. Please check it out to see what I mean. Look at the map of where all the TMGs in the country are physically located and visualize the possibilities in flying to new areas and making friends. Look at all the data we're assembling dealing with all sorts of information about soaring and aviation. And the good news - it's just the beginning.
Please note: this is a totally volunteer undertaking and any and all help and advice will be appreciated.
The 2012 Fly-In is scheduled for July 12 through 15. The optional Parowan fly-out will be held before our event for those interested. We're starting the detailed planning for the Event and will keep you posted on the new website – events section. We will not be using the Yahoo site for coordination going forward.
Please sign up for the new TMGA as soon as possible, and let us know if you are thinking of attending this year. We're not looking for an absolute commitment, only for expressions of interest for planning purposes. Several of you have already found the new site and expressed interest in coming. I'm confident it will be a dynamite time.
As with the past events, everyone is welcome – TMG pilot/owner, TMG wannabe's, spectators, etc. Please talk it up among your friends.
If you have any questions, certainly feel free to call or email me:
Richard Pearl
pennyrich@aol.com
916.715.9666 (PST)