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[Title] EDITORIAL [Column 1] Since taking over the duties as your President, I have had the privilege of addressing you through this medium on future plans for the growth of the Society, a closer knit National organization and the necessity for stimulating greater interest in soaring to increase the membership of the Society. I would like now to say something about the Society and its operation. The Society was founded in 1932. Quoting from the Charter: "To form an association of members who are interested in building, operating, and the use of gliders and to conduct glider meets at various points to be selected from time to time by the Board of Directors; such meets being held for the purpose of testing various types of equipment and using it in contests, and to cover all activities which would naturally surround meetings of this sort." In 1937 the Charter was amended to reflect the Society as an educational organization as well as one for the promotion of gliding and soaring. This was done to permit donors to the Society to deduct such gifts on income tax returns. The affairs of the Society are conducted by a Board of Directors elected by the Members of the Society. In accordance with the By-Laws of the Society, this Board elects the Officers on whose shoulders the burden of operation rests. The Secretary and President share the major burden, as is proper, since the Society does not employ any managerial help. Only from 1937 through 1939 did the Society enjoy the luxury of a full-time paid manager. Your elected Directors customarily meet twice a year in various parts of the country and do so at the sacrifice of their time and at their own expense. They are sincerely interested in doing what you want them to do, interested in building a bigger, better and more useful organization, improving the publication and better serving the Members of the Society. Because of their sincere interest and their willingness to make the sacrifices to attend meetings, they are most frequently selected as Committee Chairmen. It is not that many of our Members are not capable and willing, but it is this kind of loyalty which makes it possible to conduct the affairs of the Society. It is the desire of the Officers and the Board to better serve the Members. Through the years the aim of the Society has continued to be that of promoting the art, sport [picture caption] Staff Photo Floyd J. Sweet, President of the Soaring Society of America, Inc. [Column 2] and science of motorless flight and to encourage youth to fly by this medium. Our publication, SOARING, is the mainstay for pursuing our course and it is intended primarily for the benefit of our membership. The fact that it is available on a subscription basis is a privilege extended to those who have shown a budding interest in soaring. We hope this interest will be nurtured and that all subscribers will soon become members. Through the years since 1940, the task of compiling and editing SOARING has been primarily on a volunteer basis. Those who have shouldered this task have found it interesting and rewarding but extremely time consuming. For the past four years this has been the effort of a small loyal group in Dallas and only recently have they had the luxury of a part time paid editor. I know you will all agree that SOARING is indeed a fine tribute to their efforts. You can best show your appreciation by answering their call for feature articles and news notes. This is your magazine, make the most of it, realizing the editors must be free to select the best material available for publication. You all have read the letters under "SOARING Readers Write." Some have been complimentary, some have been newsy, some have been critical of the magazine and the Society. These letters are all motivated by something our Members and readers have seen in SOARING, but one thing is clear, many of the writers and uninformed about the Society. It is hoped the above will give our readers a greater appreciation of the effort and sacrifice which makes it possible to have a National organization representing soaring in the U.S. Your letters are appreciated, keep them coming. We all can stand criticism, but remember that a true critic has a constructive suggestion to remedy that of which he is critical. [Bottom of page] VOL. 19 Robert C. Forbes, Editor NO. 2 SOARING Publication of The Soaring Society of America, Inc., and The Soaring Association of Canada. Editorial Offices, 3106 Fairmount St. Dallas, Texas. Address of the Society: P.O. Box 71, Elmira, New York. Membership of the Soaring Society of America is open to anyone interested in the art, the science, the sport of motorless flight. The Soaring Society of America, Inc., by agreement with the National Aeronautic Association, is the governing authority for motorless flight in the United States. SOARING is published bi-monthly; entered as second class matter at Dallas, Texas. Subscription, $3 per year. Printed by E. J. Storm Printing Co.,2230 San Jacinto St., Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. This issue, March-April, 1955, is Volume 19, No. 2.
