August 2013 Meeting Minutes

August's meeting began with the Pledge, Dave Doherty presiding.

Don gave the Treasurer's report, including checking and savings balances.

We recognized new members in attendance: Todd, Hunter, and Jackie Malugen, also Tom Crocco. Visitors included Casey Boyer. Casey attended Oshkosh and bought plans for a Bearhawk. Greg Stengel met us at the VP fair and is interested in both flying and building. Jerry Hawkins, who is one of the original St. Louis police helicopter pilots, came to see Dr. Charles Miller's presentation after the meeting. His wife, Marlene, also attended.

Last month was Oshkosh, we got a show of hands of those who went. Laura and Jeff attended and usually volunteer at KidVenture. President Dave looked into Eagle Flights, hoping to get potential pilots who are past kid stage into flying. This will be more of a mentoring program versus a single flight. Art Zemon reported an interesting project on painting aircraft with latex paint. Don and Dave watched a presentation on building an RV-10.

Our EAA sign is deteriorating. Dave will be purchasing materials to build new signs for front and back. The east gutter needs to be stripped and painted. Project begins Wednesday if you're interesting in helping out.

We'd like to get started on some seminars as the weather cools down. Fabric covering is one topic, and we have a volunteer who can teach. We've got numerous items here in the ARC that we could cover. We've targeted October to begin. We'd like to have the Cozy Girls do a fiberglass workshop. Jim Baker has a small P-51 replica that he brings to various shows, but the plywood wings have begun to delaminate. Dave would like to build a set of fiberglass wings. We'd like to have this done by March.

Elections are coming up. Vice President and Treasurer will be one year terms this time around, and in the future the officer terms will be staggered. Jim Bower, Bob Kramer, and Don Doherty volunteered for the nominating committee.

Last week was Young Eagles. Rick May reports that we flew 42 kids plus 5 that Ron Burnett brought in that he'd flown on his own. Weather was very good. Guy Matson brought a Cub and is planning to join. Eve, Tom, Dave, Mark, Jeff, and Don all flew for us. September 14 is our last YE event for the year. Mr. Bill did a merit badge presentation. We're pushing our Air Academy scholarship program, looking for kids to select. Rick made up a document they can fill out explaining why they should be considered, including some background. The actual application for Air Academy is 4 or 5 pages long. Since the academy will be next year, we'd like to award one or two at our Christmas party.

Dave read a card we received thanking our chapter for last weekend.

This month's movie is "The Best Years of Our Lives", a story about a group of WWII veterans returning to civilization after the war. Next month will be Bat 21, and the last will be "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". Movies play on the last Saturday of the month.

September 7 St. Charles Flying Service are holding a spot landing and pre-flight competition, also a poker run. Women With Wings are having a plane wash on the same day.

September 21 Mr. Dave McGougan is presenting on the first people to fly a powered aircraft. There's a debate on whether or not the Wright brothers should get the credit.

October 26 will be St. Charles Flying Services annual Pumpkin Drop. They've asked us to help out by cooking food, and are expecting 300 to 400. We'd like to do an Open House in conjunction with this. We'll cook here and Flying Service will run a shuttle. Note that our monthly movie will play the same evening.

The Reno Air Races are taking place later this year. Bob notes that this may be the last year due to insurance costs.

Ron Burnett has food cards for Shop & Save and Dierberg's. He suggests that $25 cards make good gifts, as everyone can use foods.

We're looking for a chairperson for the holiday banquet. We have a tentative date and speaker, so it's a matter of finding the venue. Dave believes the same place may be available. Jeff Stephenson volunteered.

Motion made and seconded to close the meeting.

Dr. Charles Miller, a WWII veteran and retired AME, gave a presentation on his experiences flying cargo planes in the Pacific theater.