TIC170A membership, it's more than maintaining a 170
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:42 pm
Over the last 10 years I've been a member of the International Cessna 170 Association. I joined before buying my 170 as I wanted all the information I could find on this aircraft to help me make a better buying decision. Then after purchase there was always a pool of experts to ask about maintaining my 170. A few years past and a convention was held close enough to my location that I decided to attend and meet some of these crazy 170 people I'd been communicating with. That is when my relationship with this organization changed and more importantly my relationship with the people who make up this organization.
I know call all the members, specially those I've meet and or communicate with on a regular bases at the forum, friends. I would do anything I can to help anyone and even though I may only see them but once a year or other year at a convention, I know they will do what they can for me if I ask. The bottom line is my circle of friends that I can call on grew substantially the year I got involved and attended an association function.
As regular forum participants might know, recently I was out of work due to the lack of a medical. The short story is I require an exemption for a medical and that process is as of this date is backed up 60 to 90 days. Compound that with joining a new company and subsequently losing short term disability and all at the holiday day season. Well, can you say pressure. Oh yes then my 170 gets damaged by high winds. What would be next, no medical, that would be career ending.
Well I want to thank all the folks who gave me encouragement here publicly and quite a few privately. At just the right time I got a phone call from one who encouraged me to call the members we have who may have contacts in places that can help or at least find out what is going on. Getting information out of the FAA can be well, exhausting.
Out of the blue I called one such contact that I hadn't talked to in two years. Despite him leaving on a trip he took the time to listen and make phone calls to, at the very least, gather information on my behalf. His effort may not have speed my case along but it sure helped ease the mental pressure as I felt I was doing all I could do.
The TIC170A is an organization of GREAT FOLKS. It is much more than a membership card and a news letter if you let it be. All you have to do is participate, meet the members, and ask when you need help. I encourage everyone who has not been to an association meeting, most notably the annual convention, to consider attending. Like a long lost cousin you will be sucked in to the family fold and you will then truly reap the rewards of membership.
I can't thank everyone enough.
I know call all the members, specially those I've meet and or communicate with on a regular bases at the forum, friends. I would do anything I can to help anyone and even though I may only see them but once a year or other year at a convention, I know they will do what they can for me if I ask. The bottom line is my circle of friends that I can call on grew substantially the year I got involved and attended an association function.
As regular forum participants might know, recently I was out of work due to the lack of a medical. The short story is I require an exemption for a medical and that process is as of this date is backed up 60 to 90 days. Compound that with joining a new company and subsequently losing short term disability and all at the holiday day season. Well, can you say pressure. Oh yes then my 170 gets damaged by high winds. What would be next, no medical, that would be career ending.
Well I want to thank all the folks who gave me encouragement here publicly and quite a few privately. At just the right time I got a phone call from one who encouraged me to call the members we have who may have contacts in places that can help or at least find out what is going on. Getting information out of the FAA can be well, exhausting.
Out of the blue I called one such contact that I hadn't talked to in two years. Despite him leaving on a trip he took the time to listen and make phone calls to, at the very least, gather information on my behalf. His effort may not have speed my case along but it sure helped ease the mental pressure as I felt I was doing all I could do.
The TIC170A is an organization of GREAT FOLKS. It is much more than a membership card and a news letter if you let it be. All you have to do is participate, meet the members, and ask when you need help. I encourage everyone who has not been to an association meeting, most notably the annual convention, to consider attending. Like a long lost cousin you will be sucked in to the family fold and you will then truly reap the rewards of membership.
I can't thank everyone enough.