Numerous problems could be avoided if your club owned its own flying site. Unfortunately, most clubs do not have this luxury and they are responsible to another owner. The owner could be a private individual, some governmental agency or department, a corporation or public park or airport. The list goes on and on. In any case, it is in the club’s best interest to be acquainted with the owner and vice versa.

If you do not know the owner, go find out who it is. It may be a municipality. Go introduce yourself if you have not already. Attend a city council meeting while wearing your club colors. If a development company owns the property, make it a point to go visit the homeowners association and invite them and their kids for hot dogs and a buddy box session. If you are in a park, invite maintenance folks or the enforcement agency over to fly at the field and have a good time. It is in your best interests to initiate the proper introductions.

Be a good citizen for the community. Participate in mall shows. Put on flying demonstrations at the field and at the schools in the area. Give your some club some visibility. Volunteer the club to pick up part of a highway. Pick a charity and do volunteer work for it. Politicians take notice of such activities. It may pay a good dividend for your club down the road sometime.

In addition to being a good citizen, it is important that your landowner becomes aware of the good you bring to the community. Keep the owner advised of your activities. Invite the owner to a club meeting. Send a copy of your monthly newsletter.

Relationship building requires a good line of communication. Take that first step and ensure the owner looks at your club as a valued asset. You may be fixing a future problem before it even arises!