09/06/07 SSA FOUNDATION, US TEAM COMMITTEE AGREE ON TRUSTS The SSA Foundation, US Team Committee have agreeded on Robertson/ Woods Trust Funding. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated January 1, 2006 was created by the US Team Committee and the SSA Foundation to document the procedures by which earnings on Robertson and Woods trusts can be utilized by the US Team Committee for purposes of supporting international competition. Under the MOU, funds in the two trusts are designated as either Restricted from use or Available to the Committee.  At each year end, based on a request from the Team Committee, the Foundation Trustees vote on what proportion on the income from the trusts should be designated as Available.  For the past several years that figure has been 5% per annum, an amount more than exceeded by actual earnings on trust investments.  Any such Available funds not spent in a particular year by the Team Committee remain in the trust and accumulate for future use.  The Team Committee Treasurer and the SSA Treasurer are required to produce an annual report certifying the calculation.  Now that the 2006 SSA audit has been completed, the required report has been certified by both Doug Jacobs and Phil Umphres. See more on the Team Committee page under Robertson/Woods or the Robertson/Woods web site.

02/10/07 - US TEAM COMMITTEE MEETS AT SSA CONVENTION, WEB UPDATE
The SSA's US Team Committee held their annual meeting at the SSA convention in Memphis on Saturday, February 10. The minutes from this meeting are now posted here along team Committee Chairman Doug Jacobs 2007 report the SSA Board of Directors, year end financial reporting, See the listing of reports to the right.

12/2/06 - NEW TEAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
After a very close election long time soaring pilot and frequent team member Rick Walters will be replacing John Seaborn on the U.S. Team Committee. Rick has been racing sailplanes since 1985, participated in three world championships and is on the current 08 team in the 18-Meter Class to Germany. Rick will work for increased competitiveness at the WGC level through adaptation of WGC scoring formulas at our nationals, growth of team flying skills, and fostering the very talented young pilots that are currently winning US nationals. Congratulations to Rick.

11/01/06 - US TEAM COMMITTEE ELECTION, SSA MEMBERS VOTE NOW!
The US Team Committee election has begun! All SSA members are encouraged to go to log in with their name and SSA number, and vote for the candidate of their choice to this three year post. The election period will be open until November 30, results announced shortly thereafter, and winner will take office at year end. Don’t miss your chance to help shape the future of US Soaring Teams. Vote online HERE.

08/20/06 - TEAM COMMITTEE ELECTIONS
The US Team Committee will be accepting nominations from Regional Directors for a three year term as member of Committee, which consists of three elected members and three appointed members. The Committee is responsible for the Team selection, organization, and promotion of all aspects of our participation in international soaring competition. For more information on the US Team Committee, its mission and activities, please see the link below. We encourage all interested parties to contact their Regional Director in pursuit of a nomination. The deadline for nominations is October 30, 2006, and an election will be held during the month of November.

08/10/06 US TEAM COMMITTEE TO HOLD TELECONFERENCE MEETING
Ahead of the SSA Board meeting the US Team Committee will hold a teleconference meeting on August 28. Agenda items include Kees Musters Award, Club Class Team Selection,  Review of 06 team spending, 06 Merchandise Review, Fundraising Discussion,
Replacing Seaborn on the committee, 2008 Team Selections, Junior Team for 2007, Team Captains for Junior 07, Germany and Italy 08, Camps for 2007.

02/10/06 - US TEAM COMMITTEE MEETS AT SSA CONVENTION, WEB UPDATE
The SSA's US Team Committee held their annual meeting at the SSA convention in Arlington on Saturday, February 3. The minutes from this meeting are now posted here along team Committee Chairman Doug Jacobs 2006 report the SSA Board of Directors, year end financial reporting, Grand Prix selection update, minutes from a recent team committee conference call, Robertson and Woods Trust memorandum of understanding with the SSA Trustees and an updated Team Policy Manual. See the listing of reports to the right.

12/01/05 - TEAM COMMITTEE MEETING
The next US Team Committee Meeting will be held in conjunction with the upcoming 2006 SSA Soaring Convention February 2-4, 2006 Wyndham Arlington DFW Airport South Hotel. On the agenda are FAI rankings, Grand Prix racing and team police revisions, Financial update, team financials and reporting, team fundraising, team camps, team eBulletins, selection issues 2005 Junior Team debrief, and funding flow from sanction fees.

10/20/05 - CONGRATULATIONS TO DAN COLE!
Dan Cole has taken over for Dianne Black Nixon on the team committee. See his bio at the end of this page.

09/26/05 - REPORTING POSTED
The Team's report to the SSA Board of Directors has been posted along with year-to-date financials, the Junior Team report and expenses from the UK and meeting minutes from 2005. 

08/15/05 - TEAM COMMITTEE ELECTIONS
The US Team Committee will be accepting nominations from Regional Directors for a three year term as member of Committee, which consists of three elected members and three appointed members. The Committee is responsible for the Team selection, organization, and promotion of all aspects of our participation in international soaring competition. For more information on the US Team Committee, its mission and activities, please see the link below. We encourage all interested parties to contact their Regional Director in pursuit of a nomination. The deadline for nominations is October 30, 2005, and an election will be held during the month of November. Special thanks to Dianne Black Nixon as a founding member of the US Team Committee and for her undying support and hard work on team matters over the last several years.

08/10/05 - TEAM COMMITTEE MEETING
The US Team Committee was planning to meet in the first week of October in coordination with the Fall SSA meeting of the Board or Directors. The 15 Meter Nationals in Uvalde provided a rest day so, with the consent of all committee members, Ken Sorenson, Tim Welles, John Seaborn and Doug Jacobs held the Fall meeting. On the agenda are several items including, a financial review of income and expense, progress of team bank account, review of team funding and 2005/2006 fundraising effort, establish defined benefit for 2006 teams, review of Junior Team fundraising and spending, selection of Team Captains for 2006, response to IGC proposal for a new 20M two place class, finalize 2006/2007 team selection, filling the 2006 team committee seat and the fate of team resource box to name a few. See the full minutes in the reporting at right under Committee Reporting.

04/01/05 - TEAM FUNDRAISING PROGRAM
The main focus of team fundraising over the last several years has been wine and cheese events and team merchandise sales primarily at contests. This program, while successful, has gotten a little long in the tooth and will be eliminated for the 2005/2006 seasons. There will be a team representative at many contests but no push for contributions. The 2005/2006 program will be a more general fundraising effort which will include direct mail and direct response in the pages of Soaring magazine. The U.S. Team Committee has personally pledged matching funds up to a $13,000 limit. The team program has made a good deal of progress over the last several years and with a busy 2005 and 2006 World Championship schedule we hope you will help when the time comes.

03/07/05 - IGC NOTES
International Gliding Committee (IGC) 1st Vice-President Eric Mozer has provided an excellent set of notes on the latest meeting. Highlights include clarification of the maximum gross weights in the open class, consideration of a 20-Meter two place class, review items for world records, WGC site selection and many other topics. See Eric's full set of notes at the bottom right under "IGC Reporting"

02/03/05 - 2004 TEAM ACCOUNTING POSTED
Thanks to Doug Jacobs and Alan Gleason the U.S. Team 2004 financials are now online. This is the forth year that team financials have been publicly posted online See the link at right or click here...

12/20/04 - NEW TEAM CAMP WEB PAGE STARTED
The US Team sponsors several training and performance camps for all pilots including juniors. Now all the team camp information can be found in one place. See the new team page here...

12/14/04 - SANCTION FEES AND TEAM NAA CHARGES RESOLVED
In late October the US Team Committee published an open letter to the soaring community to inform you of the controversy surrounding NAA fees which have been charged to the US Team finances. More on the Team Committee News page here.

12/07/04 - TEAM COMMITTEE ELECTION CLOSE
No nominations were received by the deadline for the 2004 open seat on the U.S. Team Committee now filled by Tim Welles. Since Tim was running for a second term he will continue in his capacity on the Team Committee. All SSA members are eligible and encouraged to apply for nomination with their SSA Regional Director.

12/14/04 - SANCTION FEES AND TEAM NAA CHARGES RESOLVED
In late October the US Team Committee published an open letter to the soaring community to inform you of the controversy surrounding NAA fees which have been charged to the US Team finances. The letter is available below.

The Committee accepts the judgment of the SSA Board that these fees, unfair and uneconomic as they may be, are properly not the responsibility of the SSA membership at large. On the other hand, the amounts are sufficiently large that asking individual pilots to bear the full cost would make their participation even more costly than it already is, and further disincent Team participation. Therefore, in cooperation with the Rules Committee and with their support, a proposal was made to the SSA Executive Committee at its December meeting that the sanction fee for participation in Regional Competition would be raised $10 per pilot, and $20 per pilot for Nationals. These incremental funds would be dedicated to repaying the US Team for NAA charges incurred during the past two years as well as future such charges. The proposal was approved and will be implemented for the 2005 season.

The US competition community is that sector of our sport that should feel most strongly about supporting the US Team. There are no good solutions to the NAA fee issue short of direct membership in the FAI, which the SSA intends to pursue, but which may take a long time to resolve and ultimately be unsuccessful. Therefore we hope you will recognize this as the best of a set of bad choices and urge you to support the fee increase.

Feel free to contact us for more information
For the US Team Committee

Doug Jacobs
Chairman

Juniors Get Attention of Team Committee
Taking a page from the hugely successful Junior program developed in the United Kingdom, the U.S. Team Committee, largely through the leadership of committee member Tim Welles, has begun to make headway in strengthening the Junior Team and to develop opportunities for Junior pilots interested in cross country and competition soaring.

The Team Committee, assisted by the SSA, has developed a Junior Pilots mailing list with online signup capability. Soaring pilots under age twenty six are invited to add their name and contact information to this list which will be used to communicate cross country, camp, competition and team related soaring opportunities for Junior pilots through the teams Junior News bulletin. To sign up for the Junior News click here. Please take a moment to see the overall Junior Team Development Program in Adobe PDF click here.

Draft of updated U.S. Team Policies & Procedures Manual available for review
The U.S. Team Committee (USTC) will be proposing to the SSA Board of Directors an updated and revised Team Policy & Procedures Manual as part of the Committee's resource development program. The Team Committee invites your input and comments before making a formal proposal to the SSA Board.

Building on the excellent original created in 1996 by then Team Committee Chairman Mark Huffstutler, the Team Policy and Procedures Manual is the authoritative manual for the governance of U.S. Soaring Teams. A DRAFT copy of the updated manual is posted below for review and comment. Click the link below to download the document in Adobe PDF format.

210 USST Policy & Procedures Manual
Ver.15 02/09/04 Click Here PDF (423Kb) 

The USTC considers this update necessary based on the changes that have occurred since the original team manual was written back in 1996. The public comment period will end on August 1, 2004. Please send your comments by e-mail to Committee Document Manager John Seaborn here... Comments will be forwarded to the entire Team Committee for review unless otherwise requested. Please contact John if you have problems downloading or to request a written copy by mail.

Resource Development Project
The U.S. Team Task Force project was charged to review how our soaring teams operate, identify areas of improvement and develop solutions. After a lengthy review the Task Force identified the inability of U.S. Soaring Teams to develop long term organizational knowledge and transfer this knowledge to future teams as a major obstacle to success. The Team Committee developed the Resource and Document program to address this challenge and facilitate the transfer of organizational knowledge and resources between teams. With more Championship events, classes and Team Captains, the transfer of this hard won knowledge has become even more critical to positioning team pilots to win at the world level. 

The Team Resource and Document Binder is a collection of resource documents that draw on the most successful practices and lessons learned by prior Team Pilots, Crews and Captains. This project is essentially complete and has been sent to the 2004 Club Class Team in DRAFT form for initial review. The master document listing for this resource has been made available for your review.

Click here to review the Team Task Force project

11/15/04 - TEAM COMMITTEE REWORKS eBULLETIN , NOW AVAILABLE
After three years and fifteen editions US Team eBulletins have a new look and added functionality. Created to bring members of the soaring community the latest news on US soaring teams and international championships, eBulletins go out to nearly two hundred subscribers on an occasional basis. The original team eBulletins were sent out via e-mail to subscribers who had opted onto a list maintained by the Soaring Society of America. Over the last few years sending e-mail to lists has grown more complex with new laws intended to curtail the torrent of spam and other unsolicited email we all receive. Recently the team committee took over the management of the eBulletins to help comply with the new e-mail requirements. The result has been a new look to the team's eBulletins with new functionality that meet the email requirements including unsubscribe and account management features. Team management hopes you will enjoy the new format of the teams eBulletins. You are invited to sign up today... Click here

11/09/04 - JUNIOR SOARING CAMP IN 2005
Harris Hill Soaring Corporation and the US Soaring Team Committee Announce a Junior Cross Country Soaring Development Camp The Harris Hill Soaring Corporation (HHSC) will host a Junior Cross Country Development Camp July 6 – 9, 2005 at Harris Hill, Elmira, NY. Ground and flying cross-country instruction will be offered to Junior soaring pilots who are ready to begin, or in the initial stages of, cross country soaring. Instruction will be available both in two seater gliders, and in single seat gliders (lead and follow). Camp instructors have extensive experience in cross country soaring and competition at the regional and national level. Applicants must be age 25 or less and have completed their glider solo flight. Preference will be given to those holding the Private Glider license and the Silver Duration and Altitude Badges.

NAA FEES TAKE CENTER STAGE - 10/25/04
As many of you may know, the SSA is represented to the FAI/IGC only through our “national aero club”, the NAA in Washington, which represents all US air sports.  Unfortunately, the NAA plays no active role to assist us in any way, and requires substantial annual dues payments while providing no added value.  This has been a long-standing issue of contention at the SSA Board. The Team Committee and the SSA are working to address these fees. Expect progress in this area.

US TEAM COMMITTEE ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED - 10/01/04
Nominations for an open seat on the U.S. Team Committee were announced. All SSA members are eligible and encouraged to apply for nomination with their SSA Regional Director. The U.S. Team Committee oversees the affairs of the Soaring Society of America with respect to its representation at Federation Aéronautique International (FAI) approved World Gliding Championships. The six-member committee includes the Contest Committee Chairman, the U.S. Team Chairman, the SSA Executive Director, plus three members elected by the members of the Soaring Society of America (SSA) each serving a three year term. Note that current member Tim Welles’ term is expiring and he plans to run again.

Deadline to receive Team Committee Nominations from the Regional Directors is November 1, 2004. The Team Committee election will run from November 15 to December 31 and the elected committee member will take office on January 1.

US TEAM COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN POSTS 2004 REPORT - 09/28/04
US Team Committee Chairman, Doug Jacobs, has posted the 2004 US Team Report and year-to-date financials on the Team Committee's web page. In addition the information was sent to US Competition Chairman Ken Sorenson for inclusion in the SSA Board of Directors "Blue Book" in preparation for the SSA Board meeting to be held in mid October. 

US TEAM COMMITTEE TO MEET IN DENVER - 09/22/04
The US Team Committee members Dianne Black-Nixon, Doug Jacobs, Tim Welles, Ken Sorenson, John Seaborn and SSA Executive Director Dennis Wright will be meeting in conjunction with the SSA Board of Directors meeting in Denver, Colorado the weekend of October 16, 2004. Agenda items include discussion of the 2005 Junior Team, financial review, fundraising for the 2006 campaigns (Multi-Class, Club, World), team selection, committee elections, 2005 SSA Convention and several other items.

SSA MEMBERS ELIGIBLE AND ENCOURAGED TO RUN FOR TEAM COMMITTEE - 07/26/04
Nominations for an open seat on the U.S. Team Committee are now being solicited. All SSA members are eligible and encouraged to apply for nomination with their SSA Regional Director. The U.S. Team Committee oversees the affairs of the Soaring Society of America with respect to its representation at Federation Aéronautique International (FAI) approved World Gliding Championships. The six-member committee includes the Contest Committee Chairman, the U.S. Team Chairman, the SSA Executive Director, plus three members elected by the members of the Soaring Society of America (SSA).

TEAM COMMITTEE MAKES HEADWAY WITH JUNIOR PROGRAMS - 04/29/04
The Team Committee outlined several action items necessary to build the Junior Team organization and help support Junior pilots interested in cross country and competition soaring in the USA. First the Team Committee, working with the SSA has developed a Junior Pilots mailing list and online signup capability. See the Junior signup here. Second, two training camps have been organized by U.S. Team members and others build interest and support junior pilots. See the team news page for more on these camps. Third the overall Junior program has been better defined largely through the leadership of Junior Team Strategist Tim Welles. See the details on the junior program here.

NEW TEAM POLICY AND PROCEDURES POSTED - 02/09/04
The U.S. Team Committee (USTC) will be proposing to the SSA Board of Directors an updated and revised Team Policy & Procedures Manual as part of the Committee's resource development program. Building on the excellent original created in 1996 by then Team Committee Chairman Mark Huffstutler, the Team Policy and Procedures Manual is the authoritative manual for the governance of U.S. Soaring Teams. A DRAFT copy of the updated manual is posted below for review and comment. Click the link below to download the document in Adobe PDF format.

210 USST Policy & Procedures Manual
Ver.15 02/09/04 Click Here PDF (423Kb) 

The USTC considers this update necessary based on the changes that have occurred since the original team manual was written back in 1996. There was a public commemnt period which ended on August 1, 2004.

UPDATED TEAM SELECTION POLICY GAINS SSA BOARD APPROVAL - 02/07/04
After a good deal of healthy discussion and a lively public comment period the changes to the team selection policy recommended by the U.S. Team Committee were approved by the SSA Board of Directors during their meeting in Atlanta. The new selection policy contains several minor updates but places additional importance on attending Pre-Worlds. All U.S. Soaring Team contenders and those interested should read the new selection policy, 710 USTC available in Adobe PDF below. Special thanks to John Leibacher for his hard work on this effort.

710 USTC Team Selection Policy 2.0, Rev 10 Final
   Click Here PDF (229Kb) 

720 USTC Discussion of Selection Changes
   Click Here PDF (100kb)

TEAM COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 2004 MEETING MINUTES - 02/12/04
In keeping with the Team and Committee's commitment to operate in an accountable and operationally transparent manner the minutes from the 02/06/04 Team Committee are available in Adobe PDF format here or see Committee Reporting in the Reports block at right for a link.

TEAM RESOURCE BINDER NOW AVAILABLE - 02/12/04
The U.S. Team Task Force project was charged to review how our soaring teams operate, identify areas of improvement and develop solutions. After a lengthy review the Task Force identified the inability of U.S. Soaring Teams to develop long term organizational knowledge and transfer this knowledge to future teams as a major obstacle to success. The Team Committee developed the Resource and Document program to address this challenge and facilitate the transfer of organizational knowledge and resources between teams. With more Championship events, classes and Team Captains, the transfer of this hard won knowledge has become even more critical to positioning team pilots to win at the world level. The Team Resource and Document Binder is a collection of resource documents that draw on the most successful practices and lessons learned by prior Team Pilots, Crews and Captains.

TEAM COMMITTEE TO MEET IN ATLANTA - 01/18/04
The U.S. Team Committee will be meeting in conjunction with the SSA Convention in Atlanta. The agenda includes discussion of team selection policy changes, financial review, 04 WGC season, Junior Team & Youth, 04 fundraising, rules committee review, team policies and procedures and the team document program.

2003 USA Soaring Team Committee News

TEAM COMMITTEE SOLICITS INPUT BY 12/31/03
Selection to the U.S. Soaring team is both an honor and the opportunity to compete against the best soaring pilots in the world. The selection procedures have evolved from the early 1950’s through the voting system of the 1970’s to the formula approach of the mid 1990’s. In light of the recent expansion in the number of FAI classes it has become clear that current team selection procedures are in need of refinement once again.

U.S. TEAM COMMITTEE REPORTING
In keeping with the U.S. Teams and the Team Committees ongoing commitment to operate in an accountable and operationally transparent manner appropriate for a contribution based program the critical U.S. Team reports are available on the team committee web page here in Adobe PDF format for review by the soaring community. Sections include Team Reporting (annual), Financial, Event, Committee, Special and IGC.

TEAM COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 2003 MEETING MINUTES
The new U.S. Team Committee's initial meeting was very productive. In keeping with the U.S. Team and U.S. Team Committee's commitment to operate in an accountable and operationally transparent manner the minutes from this meeting are available in Adobe PDF format. Additional disclosure includes the final financial statements from the recently concluded World Championships in Poland and the Slovak Republic, Team Chairman Doug Jacobs report to the SSA Board of Directors and the August U.S. Team Financial statement. 

TEAM COMMITTEE TO MEET IN SEPTEMBER 2003
U.S. Team Committee members, Dianne Black-Nixon, Doug Jacobs, Tim Welles, Ken Sorenson, John Seaborn and SSA Executive Director Dennis Wright will be meeting on Friday, September 12th in Dallas. This is just before the SSA fall board meeting. Agenda items include team funding, fundraising programs, junior team management, team documents and the annual policy and procedure review to name a few. No team funds will be used for this annual meeting.

TEAM COMMITTEE ELECTIONS 2003
On April 2, U.S. Contest Chairman Ken Sorenson, announced the results of the recently concluded U.S. Team Committee elections. Running unopposed were Dianne Black Nixon, Tim Welles and John Seaborn. Seaborn was selected for the three year term, Black-Nixon for the two year term and Welles for the one year term. Rounding out the U.S. Team Committee are appointed members Doug Jacobs, U.S. Team Chairman, Ken Sorenson, U.S. Contest Chairman, and a yet to be named member in the post of SSA President.