November 2013 Meeting Minutes

November 2013's meeting began with the Pledge, Dave Doherty presiding.

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

We had a visitor, Dennis Wiss, our new KSET airport manager. Dave asked about the possibility of a grass strip and offered volunteer labor. Dennis says there are no current plans but that he can run it by the engineers.

Old Business: Don reports that Al Jones made a donation last month of books and DVD's. By the end of the meeting the box was about a quarter full. If you borrowed anything please bring it back. We're missing Microsoft Flight Simulator software, RV-4 plans and manuals in plastic binders, plans for another plane, and some books on composites.

Al taught a TIG-welding class on the 10th. We had 5 attendees. This is about the limit for class size since we only have one welder and have to take turns. Get hold of Don Doherty if you're interested in coming in to get some practice.

Tom Crosby has left his spot in the hangar. We've already got a possible tenant.

We're working on an agreement for chapter hangar tenants to lay out some guidelines. Gale's working on this, and then we'll get it checked for legal business.

Life memberships are still available at $450. We're still considering what merchandise gift we'll include, probably a jacket. Method of payment is still in planning; installments are a possibility. Ron Wright, who's been pushing this, is ready to buy the first one, President Dave says he'll buy the next one.

This is election month. A show of hands reinstated the existing members, so all the faces are staying the same. Dave noted Don's work in particular, as our books were in disarray when the current regime stepped in.

The Blue Angels are coming to St. Louis in May 2014, we're planning to be a part of this. We'll put together a committee since it's not too early to start working on this event. We'll have some of our planes there for static display and will invite other local organizations to do the same. Bill reports that they stopped in recently to TAC Air and he fueled #4 and Fat Albert.

Our Christmas Banquet is coming up on December 14, tickets for sale in advance. We need at least 50 people to break even and only have 8 signed up so far. We'll do a gift exchange, 50/50 raffle, and a guest speaker: Libby Younger, a member of the 99's, who will speak on women in aviation. Rick May suggests that, since we'll have a laptop and projector there for the presentation we could make a slide show of 2013. Forward any good pics to Rick (rmay5154 AT aol.com).

Tonight is Trivia Night at CBC High School, 5 are going from EAA32 and there's space for 3 more. Doors open at 6 and trivia starts at 7. Beverages are provided, bring your own snacks.

We replacing the EAA32 numbers and letters on the back of the ARC and will add a set to the front. The gutters need stripping and painting as well.

Welding classes started last Sunday. The schedule for further courses have not been set yet. Dave's also thinking about wood construction and fabric covering, starting in January. We'll start with building some structures, covering them later in February, and by March we'd be ready to set up a spray booth and do some painting. When the weather warms up we can think about a composites class.

Dennis Wiss addressed the chapter, starting with a bit of personal history: He's from St. Louis and went to Afton High. His introduction to aviation came in the Marines as a helicopter mechanic. He got his undergrad at Parks and his Masters from Embry Riddle. He worked at Lambert for 5 years then at other locations across the country. He was an airport director in a high-elevation airport in Arizona where he got snowed in several times. Dennis and his wife made their way back to St. Louis to be near family and friends, then the KSET opportunity came up. Currently there's a Terminal Rehabilitation project which will include a well upgrade, possibly next summer. He's noticed a lack of signage and feels that would be a good project. It would be a federal project and has to wait for allocation, probably beginning in 2015. He's working on learning St. Charles politics and making a new master plan for the airport.

2014 Dues: you can start paying any time.

Vince Morris: George Stephenson used to fly the eagle counting flights for about ten years but has stopped for health reasons. The Missouri Conservation Department is looking for a new volunteer.

Tom Sparr: new preferred broker for EAA insurance is Falcon (in Texas). Tom's renewal came up this year with an increase in premium and found out that AOPA membership dropped it down to where it was.

Don Doherty: refilled propane tank at around $800. They noted that the tank needs to be relevelled and we'll need a group for that.

Dave Doherty: Missouri Aviation Historical Society: Christmas dinner 12/8 @ $13. Contact Dave for more information.

Bill Doherty: Has food cards. (Ron Burnett is in Venezuela.)