ALASKA AIRMEN'S ASSOCIATION FORUMS

The new building would double our space, accommodate 100 people and provide a world-class site for events and meetings.

To find out more visit

http://alaskaairmen.org/capital_campaign/

I'm a current Association member but am seriously considering non-renewal because even after reading all of the previously written information, this building project appears to me to still have serious flaws.

For starters, your brochure states the new building would accommodate 100 people in a "world-class" site for events and meetings. Just exactly where will these 100 people park their vehicles? Everyone knows the parking for the existing building is already inadequate and I haven't heard nor read anything in all of the advertising that even discusses this issue. Without adequate parking, how can you advertise "world-class"?

Your advertising says the proposed location is "perfectly located." How can you say that when there isn't any parking available?

A "Private/Neutral site for meetings." With consideration to the many and varied Association interests in Alaskan aviation, it's doubtful aviation organizations other than non-profits, will consider the site to be truly "neutral".

The BP Energy Center is already in existence and has been now for several years. The BP Center is available for non-profit groups free-of-charge with one large room able to accommodate well over 100 and also has an additional five smaller meeting rooms. The BP Center also has PowerPoint projection capabilities available. The BP Center also has plenty of parking. Will this new Airmen's Association Lake Hood building be available to non-profits free-of-charge also? I believe your advertising also stated the "new facility will also be a source of revenue through special event rental . . . . " Will the non-profits be charged for use of the new building?

Association advertising also states the proposed building will be a "community center". First of all, the Anchorage Municipality already makes several "community centers" available throughout the metro area. The Spenard Community Center is located only a few blocks East of Lake Hood and is available for similar types of events and, like the BP Center, has plenty of parking.

"Pilot Information Clearinghouse" is another advertising claim. The best "clearing house" for information these days is called the internet and you don't need a 2,200 square foot building to disseminate electronic information.

Why are you making the claim the existing building ". . . lacks . . . insulation."? According to Pan Abode, the manufacturer of the existing structure, the 4" by 6" solid cedar logs used for the outside walls have an equivalent insulation value of R-21. If the insulation is "inadequate", shouldn't you be advertising it as "inadequate" rather than "none" at all? Aren't you misleading potential contributors with this choice of words?

The "inadequate" insulation and the lack of plumbing in the current building should have been a consideration when it was first purchased. How much did the Association spend on the current building? Is it going to be sold and moved or is the current building going to be demolished and the money spent to purchase it and to demolish it lost as a result?

Finally, according to the Association's By-Laws, the mission of the organization is, "To Promote General Aviation in Alaska." This building proposal is really pushing the limits on the stated mission. It isn't necessary to have a half-million dollar building to accomplish the Association's mission. This building idea is a bad idea and needs to be reconsidered with the above questions and statements in mind.

Please consider the following in lieu of the new building proposal. With the full permission of those who have already contributed, use the money already collected to improve the "inadequate" insulation and add plumbing to the current building. But don't go forward with what is obviously an idea with too many flaws to be successful.

I'm one of the members who has already contributed to this building fund and it's become obvious to me now that it's a bad idea. I would, however, support the idea of improving the existing building.

Thank you.

To anyone wanting more info about why we need a new building, please stop by the existing building, or talk to the staff who works there (myself included)... Some may feel that the building we'd like to replace the current one is too extravagant, but I assure you that as a Board Member we are doing everything within our power to keep costs down without sacrificing quality and durability. The fact that we have so many excellent businesses supporting our campaign with in-kind donations tells us that we may even be able to do it for less than proposed. We would be foolhearty if we began the project without the capital needed already in the bank, so we will not be breaking ground until we are sure that we can build the headquarters "out-of-pocket". I look forward to seeing this project through to its completion. Thank you to all of the generous contributors who have faith in our organization. We will not disappoint you.