AOPA Australia last week sent a letter to past and present members recounting its history of advocacy as it strives to rebuild its membership base.
The letter, sent under the name of president Shawn Kelly, also admitted the association had sacrificed its magazine AOPA Pilot to focus on advocacy.
"Although we have faced a number of hurdles over the past years, including having our membership base devastated by Covid, AOPA Australia has achieved monumental successes," the letter states.
"This has all been done on a shoestring budget and has been achieved almost entirely through the efforts of our CEO, Ben Morgan, who has advocated fiercely and tirelessly for our industry."
Among the achievements AOPA Australia lists in the letter are:
- changing the Civil Aviation Act, revising its wording to consider the cost and sustainability of regulations
- repealing the NSW State Government's Warnervale Airport Restrictions Act
- establishing critical relationships with leading politicians across various parties
- advocating for State Government Airports and Aviation Strategy Planning
- launching an online LIVE broadcast for member interaction with political figures
- hosting Senator Rex Patrick for the annual May Day Address
- becoming a founding partner of both the Australian General Aviation Alliance (AGAA) and the Australian Indigenous Aviation Foundation
- successfully advocating for the creation of the Aviation Friends of Parliament.
At the AGM in November last year, the association reported an operating loss of $18K, and a membership base of only 1300 compared to 2098 in 2020.
"The time has come ... to rebuild our member base, and we’re doing that now." Kelly says. "We have recently added a new membership services specialist, Shane Kelly, who will be contacting each member individually by phone to ensure that our database is up to date and to inform members of their current membership status.
"I urge you to support him as he does this important but time consuming task."
Kelly attributes the downturn in membership to AOPA's decision not to call for renewals and to stop publishing AOPA Pilot.
"Because so many of our members were doing it tough through Covid, the decision was made to not pursue members for renewal, which led to a reduction of benefits, most notably our magazine.
"We were literally faced with the choice of publishing a magazine or continuing to advocate for our members.
"We chose advocacy, and Ben succeeded in spectacular fashion."