Designing a Pro-active Landowner/Community Relations Program

Let’s begin by assuming that thanks to this Special Report and other educational materials about landowner relations you are now well aware of the many selfish reasons, for ourselves and the sport of ballooning, to protect and maintain good community relations.

Let us also assume that no one reading this article wants to be a pain in society’s side. The base line to good relations is to realize that our activities should always be subordinated to the rights of those around us. Those points made, where do we start to design a pro-active landowner relations program?

For the purposes of this discussion, a pro-active landowner relations program is one whereby we avoid problems before they ever happen. A main element is to forever do away with the misconception that it is easier to beg forgiveness than to ask for permission. Nothing could be further from the facts.

Looking at an individual balloon operation and individual landowners we can exercise some good judgement as follows, but remember, the principles that follow can be just as easily applied to a group of operators, a professional association, or a regional balloon club.

When we first pick a launch site we know that our "cuteness" will quickly wear off if we start our inflator fans near someone’s house every Saturday and Sunday at dawn. We also know which way the wind is likely to go, and if there are people sleeping directly downwind before we can reach 2,000 or 3,000 feet AGL, then they are likely to wake up cranky. Equally we know on average how far we will go during our flights and in turn, approximately where we are going to land. Now, remember that forever done away with misconception? Here we get to the heart of the matter-Map it out! Find out who owns what. Leave your balloon at home and visit the landowners at a time most appropriate for them, not you, and ask for their permission to use their land.

This need not be a traumatic experience for you or the property owner. Here’s a brief sketch of how the conversation might proceed: "Hi, my name is Richard Ripline and I live over on Ascension Drive. I’m a balloon pilot and I’ve gotten permission from Mr. & Mrs. Basketweaver who live about 14 miles north of here to launch from their property. While I may never get near your place when it’s time to land, I wanted to know how you’d feel about it if I did?" (Wait for and answer.) "If I should happen to need to land here is there any particular section/season that is better than others? Would you like my crew to come to the door each time or just go in without disturbing you? Is there a way in that you would prefer we use? Would you rather that we link our own lock on the gate (go slowly in proposing this idea)?"

Whether the answer is yes or no, you’re miles ahead. Even with a no the word will spread that you are responsible and are trying to be a good neighbor. Besides there is no reason not to include known red areas in your program. Remember, we want to avoid problems before they occur. Chances are you’ll get far more yeas than nays. Be sure to ask the willing folks for their opinions of other nice people in the area.

There is one other piece of information you should know by heart and have a copy with you. In virtually every state there is a law that releases landowners from liability of people getting hurt on their property. In California it is C.C. Section 846. The aim of these laws is to provide relief for landowners of liability with three exceptions: (1) if they charge admission, (2) invite the party for a specific time and purpose and (3) willful and malicious, i.e. dig a pit and cover it with straw.

Now that you have all the individuals in your flight path sorted out_ it’s time to address the community as a whole. Rule Number One is to become involved with your community. This is important_ to be accepted by landowners and public officials you must be trusted by them. This trust goes way beyond the issues of theft. They have to trust that you hold their interests above your own and trust in your judgement to make sure having you around won’t cause them a problem one day. You cannot buy this kind of trust with a hardy handshake, a big grin and a bottle of champagne. They must get to know you or at least know someone who does.

The very first segment of the community you must become involved with is the other balloon pilots. That’s right! There must be complete co-operation between balloonists with regard to landowner relations. You must always defend each other to outsiders. You must never pass the buck or point the finger. Everything must be handled internally. Now I know, after all these years and visiting as many "neighborhoods" as I have, everybody thinks somebody is a jerk and every jerk thinks it’s somebody else. Think of it as the U.N., or going to the dentist’s office, but get together with these people for the sole purpose of better landowner relations. You may very well find out that there are some practical benefits too.

When we formed the Professional Balloon Pilots Association of Napa County we agreed with the County Administrator to provide a vehicle for landowners and regulatory agencies to reach us. We want very much to provide a service to the various agencies as a way for them to eliminate the need to "chase" complaints or false alarms. We pay to maintain a telephone secretary (human) and place ads in the local newspaper so the public can reach us easily. The net result is that is people have a concern about balloon operations they are referred directly to our association. What keeps it working is that we respond immediately and make sure that any matter is resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, every time. The association maintains current satellite photo maps that are updated every two weeks.

Our association has a standard policy with regards to charity rides. We pool them on a rotational basis. That way we can do more, avoid duplication and get more bang for the basket. During the winter we send each charity a letter asking them for a written response if our donation helped their cause and for our planning purposes would they be asking for another next year. We also ask them for a frank opinion about their view of ballooning in the Napa Valley. We give away a lot of rides. We also work just as hard for the odd pilot or two who do not belong to our association.

Having accomplished that in just two paragraphs, let’s move on. The other segments of the community includes service oriented groups i.e. Rotary, churches, hospitals, schools, the Sierra Club, etc., etc. Another is citizen planning groups. These include the Chamber of Commerce, Revitalizing Downtown, Save the River, etc. And there is the public sector, the Parks and Recreation Dept., City Council, County Board of Supervisors, the Agricultural Commission and so on. For lack of space we’ll stop here but rest assured there are others which you will be asked to join or support.

Why become involved with these groups? The reason is that this is how people get to know you and you them. Besides, you may realize a great deal of self satisfaction in helping your community. Most of the time what you will be doing will have absolutely nothing to do with ballooning. You will learn a great deal about how things really work and how things get done, develop new skills and most importantly, you will create a channel of communication to learn where any problems may be developing with regards to ballooning. After a while you will become comfortable with calling the Mayor every couple of months and asking, "How are we doing? Anything we need to know about?" Now that’s pro-active!

This article is certainly not an exhaustive treatment of the question at hand. However, if the reader takes away the notion that you must be resolved to a long term, everyday program_ that it takes co-operation, lots and lots of time and effort and some money_ things will fall into place. The goal is not to trick anyone into liking the sport of ballooning, rather it is to become the asset to your neighbors and the community that you can be.

Mr. Foster’s article originally appeared in the September 1991 issue of Balloon Life. Editor