Sunday, October 19, 2014

October 18, 2014 Minutes

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

Don was on a cemetery tour with the Botanical Garden so Dave gave the Treasurer's report, including checking and savings balances.

Bill's doing bright-work on a Challenger and would probably rather be here.

We approved last month's minutes.

Randy and Michelle Scroeder came to visit. They're the recent RV-12 buyers. Right now the project takes up half of their garage, and Michelle is encouraging Randy to finish it quickly so she can get her car back under cover.

Cary and Dale Fletcher are also visiting, Cary flies a Rans Coyote based at Spirit.

Lee Lawson is a member from long ago who hasn't visited in a while. He hasn't been active for about 12 years and currently works as a Stress analyst with Boeing in St. Charles. He's jumping back in now, having visited Rans, Zenith, and a recent airport event in Illinois.

Bob Kraemer just got back from visiting a number of D-Day sites in France, and then crossed the channel to Scotland. He got to see a many preserved WWII aircraft including a Bristol Beaufighter, a B-26, and a DC-3 painted in invasion stripes, and also got to tour a Concorde.

We cancelled our last Young Eagles event of the year due to dire weather forecasts and scheduling concerns. Rick reports 158 kids flown this year over 108 flights. So far the YE program as a whole has flown around 1.9 million. We'll start up again in April 2015, second Saturday of the month. Dave Doherty mentioned an accident near Buffalo, New York that resulted in 2 fatalities. It emphasizes the need for vigilance. We discussed radio communications, namely broadcasting your position, versus the problem of too much communication: monopolizing the radio and not looking around.

Fresh water update: the airport is rehabbing the main building and is putting in a new well. The well will be close to the pole to the southeast of the ARC. We'll get to tap into treated fresh water, though we'll need to dig a trench from the administration building to ours. Installing the actual line will be done by plumbers so it can be approved by the city. A contractor will dig the trench, this makes sense as it needs to be fairly deep to avoid freezing. The existing well needs to be shut down, DNR has requirements for how this must be done to avoid contaminating the aquifer. We also need to consider flushing our existing pipes. Dave asked for a motion to allow the executive committee leeway to spend money on the project. Motion was approved and seconded. Membership voted and approved.

We're looking at a Corvair engine and instruments for the Fly Baby.

Dave's still playing phone tag with Rod Hightower about his RV-12 project.

Friday, December 12, will be our annual Holiday banquet. We'll send invitations by mail, $25 per person. Alan Frazier will give the presentation.

On 11/8 there's an aviation trivia night at CBC. If anybody's interested in being a member of our group let Dave Doherty know.

10/25 is the Smartt Field Open House, including the annual pumpkin drop. CAF will be open and selling rides on the B-25 or TBM. We'll have an ARC open house as well and sell food. We need some volunteers from around 9 am on and would like to have some airplanes parked outside. We'll add to the security detail as well: last year we had people walking around randomly. We'd like to get the floors cleaned up before the Open House, bathrooms, and bugs on the floors in the conference room. Dave will be out Friday working on this if you'd like to help. Note that the movie is also on the 25th. Dave mistakenly advertised the 27th, looking at the December calendar page. The movie will be The Hunters.

Dave brought an old TV to replace the dead one in the conference room.

Today is election day for President and Secretary. Dave passed out ballots and will include a ballot in the next newsletter.

Chubb Wheeler is 103, he flew DC-3's in WWII and instructed in Stearmans. Bob Kraemer mentioned a barbecue at the St. Louis Air and Space museum 10/19 at Parks at noon.

Ron has food coupons, Dierberg's and Shop & Save.

Jim Hann is trying to get his airplane wings painted and wants to know of paint booths that support water-based. Jim also told us about some Canadian airplane museums he's had the chance to visit.

Dave asked what we'd like to do next year as a chapter. Jim suggested that we have another camping compound . Rick suggests we be more proactive on Young Eagles participation and stronger recruiting new members.

The Hangar 7 lock is waiting on a locksmith.

Life memberships are $450. We've approved funds for jackets for existing members.

Motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.