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Vol. 11, No. 5 - May 2009
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:
Calendar of
Events
:
Speakers
Bureau
: Chapter
Locator
: Resource
Forms
: Labels
and Lists
: Promotional
Materials
: Reference
Papers
: Online
Insurance Form |
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Email chapters@eaa.org
: Phone 920-426-4876
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Sept. 18-20, 2009
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Oct. 16-18, 2009
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Jan, 22-24, 2010
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Feb. 26-28, 2010
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March 26-28, 2010
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For reservations or more
information: chapters@eaa.org
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May 2-3 2009
Alberta, Canada
Topics:
Sheet
Metal Construction, Electrical
Systems and Avionics, Annual
Inspections of AB Aircraft
For detailed information
on SportAir Workshops, including cost, course
descriptions and how to register, go to the web at: www.sportair.com/schedule.html
or call 800-967-5746.
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I may have been a bit
optimistic last month when I wrote, "Spring was in
the air!" This month, however, I feel much more
confident of warmer days ahead. First, this is Sun 'n Fun
week, which is a sure sign of the flying season. Also, the
kids in the neighborhood have reappeared, without heavy
coats and boots; and my annual feud with the robins that
want to nest on my deck has begun.
More importantly, activity
on the AirVenture site is beginning to pick up. We are now
less than 100 days from opening day. Steve Taylor and his
crew are hard at work preparing the site for your arrival
in July. Keep up with the latest news on Steve's
Blog.
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The line-up of attractions for
this summer's fly-in convention is outstanding; from the
forums and workshops, to featured aircraft and the evening
programs at Theater in the Woods. It won't be long now
before we see tents start popping and volunteers arriving
to their summer residences. Have you made your plans for
Oshkosh?
This month's Chapter e-Gram
has some exciting announcements surrounding the Young
Eagles program, plans for an EAA pancake grill, two
featured newsletters, links to chapters in the news, a
heartfelt "thank you," and a call for
assistance. Hope you enjoy reading it.
Fly safe,
- Steve Buss,
Manager, EAA
Chapters
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SPORTY'S PILOT SHOPS STEPS
UP TO SUPPORT YOUNG EAGLES
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Yesterday, Hal Shevers,
founder and chairman of Sporty's Pilot Shop, announced
Sporty's new partnership with EAA Young Eagles. Hal has
always been an advocate for involving children in
aviation, and he has generously offered to help EAA create
a "next step" pathway for Young Eagles.
Beginning May 1, Sporty's will provide a custom Young
Eagles logbook for each child who participates in the
program. More importantly, the logbook will contain a
special code that will allow Young Eagles to access
Sporty's online Complete Pilot Training Course, free of
charge. The beauty of this generous offer is that two of
the barriers to flight training have been removed. First,
a Young Eagle can complete the training on their time
schedule and at home. Second, because it is free and no
other materials are necessary to complete the course, the
cost hurdle has been removed.
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This is a major enhancement to
the Young Eagles program, so there are sure to be
questions. For more information, click
here.
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| YOUNG
EAGLE CREDITS ALSO ENHANCED
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| The
Young Eagle credits have been mailed to chapter
coordinators. The mailing is later than usual because of
a change in the program. In previous years, the credits
had a value of $1 and could only be used to send a young
person to an EAA Air Academy session.
This year, because of the
tremendous donor support at last summer's Gathering of
Eagles, the value has been raised to $5 per credit and
can be used for more than just Air Academy tuition.
While we certainly encourage your chapter to send kids
to camp, we also realize there are other costs
associated with the program. The credits can be used to
enhance your local Young Eagle program.
Congratulations to EAA
Chapter 92, of Orange County, California, for being the
first chapter to take advantage of the new credit
structure. Please visit our FAQ
page for more details on how to use your chapter's
credits.
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BUILD YOUR OWN PANCAKE
GRILL
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If there is one thing EAA
Chapters seem to have in common, aside from airplanes, is
an enjoyment of food. Specifically, the pancake breakfast.
At one of the Chapter Leaders Academy sessions, the topic
of pancake grills came up. Many chapters have fashioned
their own grills, but others borrow or improvise. Thanks
to EAA member Bill Rewey (EAA# 42474), plans
are now available. The self-contained gas grill uses
four burners and a rotating griddle. Your chapter should
be able to build one for $1,000 or less. Locally, EAA
Chapter 252 is planning to build a model and we'll
document the process to help future builders. If you
decide to build one, we'd like to get your ideas on the
design, too.
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THANKS, PATTI |
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During the past year, Patti
Arthur of EAA's Legal Advisory Council has been busy
assisting chapters with 501 (c) 3 and IRS form 990
questions. Patti is always quick to help a chapter in
need, a fact illustrated by a recent e-mail we received
from EAA Chapter 227.
"I just wanted to let
you know that I had contacted Patti Arthur of the EAA
Legal Advisory Council today to get help in filing a 990-N
form for our chapter. Patti was extremely helpful in
walking me through the process, and easing my mind. Even
though I am the treasurer of EAA Chapter 227 in Waterloo,
Iowa, I am not an 'accountant,' so the filing of an
e-postcard that is rife with obstacles is intimidating to
me. When I couple that with the responsibility of watching
over our chapter's funds and dealing with the government…that
can be overwhelming when I don't know what I am doing.
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So, thank you for providing a
place for us to turn to. I do hope others take advantage
of this resource." Linda Peacock, Treasurer, EAA
Chapter 227 (Waterloo, Iowa)
If you need assistance,
drop us a line at chapters@eaa.org,
and we'll help you connect with Patti. |
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EAA SPEAKERS BUREAU REACHES
500
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The revised EAA Speakers
Bureau was launched about 18 months ago as an online
resource for chapters to find interesting presentations
for meetings and banquets. We are pleased to announce that
the bureau now lists more than 500 registered speakers!
The depth of knowledge is
truly impressive. You'll find aircraft manufacturers,
military pilots, homebuilders, flight instructors,
aviation attorneys, AMEs, and all the members of EAA's
Board of Directors. The Speakers Bureau is a single
resource that brings together an outstanding collection of
aviation knowledge. All the speakers registered are
volunteers, but your chapter may want to consider offering
to assist with travel expenses.
We have received positive feedback from the chapters that
have taken advantage of the resource. Has your chapter
used the Speakers Bureau yet? If not, why not?
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The first step is to log onto
the website, www.eaa.org/apps/speakers/default.aspx.
Then search for the speaker based on location, topic area,
or simply by name. Finally, contact the speaker via e-mail
or phone and make the invitation.
Make your chapter programs
entertaining and informative with a presenter listed in
the EAA Speakers Bureau. We also ask that you help keep
the bureau vibrant and growing by encouraging those who
have spoken at your chapter to register
online.
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SUN 'N FUN ICE CREAM SOCIAL |
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200 Chapter members joined Tom and Paul Poberezny for an
ice cream social this past Tuesday evening at Sun 'n
Fun. Thanks to all who had a chance to drop in, enjoy
some strawberry shortcake, and find out the latest news
from EAA. We also thank Sun 'n Fun for their generous
$5,000 contribution to the new Founders' Wing. The new
area of the EAA AirVenture Museum will be ready for your
inspection during AirVenture 2009. In case you missed
the fun in Lakeland, here are a few photos
taken at the event. |
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"GONE WEST"
ONLINE OBITUARIES AVAILABLE |
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Do you know of a chapter
member or friend who has "Gone West?" EAA's Gone
West Online obituaries provides a way for you to share the
memory of a fallen friend or family member. Following each
entry is a memorial guest book for others to add their own
memories and honor a loved one. If you would like to
submit an obituary for a member of the aviation community
who has "Gone West," visit the
EAA website.
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| LOOKING
FOR HELP
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Jack Hilditch, newsletter
editor for EAA Chapter 166, Hartford, Connecticut, sent
this note our way. Maybe you can help?
"(EAA Homebuilt
Council member) Joe Gauthier asked me to spread the word
about Tony Janco's call for assistance. Tony works at
FAA and has volunteered for EAA at Oshkosh over the past
bunch of years, usually at the KidVenture activities and
other places in support of youth in aviation.
Tony is looking for some
unserviceable (worn/busted/damaged) RV-6 parts that can
be used at Oshkosh this year for the KidVenture
preflight booth. He is looking for things that would be
discovered as part of a preflight inspection, i.e.
cracked spinner, navigation light with cracked lens,
worn seat belt, or any external item that would be
discovered as part of pre-flight that wouldn't require
disassembling the aircraft to change out.
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EAA gives the KidVenture
booth an RV-6 to use, but it's in pretty good shape. In
the past, Tony has plugged pitot tubes, loosened cowl
screws, flattened tires, etc, to simulate 'gotchas' but
some real examples would be better if we can find them.
If anyone happens to have such an item that could be
donated for a good cause, please contact Tony directly.
Tony can be reached by
email at: anthony.janco@faa.gov,
or by phone at 781-238-7229. Thanks very much."
And a thanks you to you,
Jack, for passing this along.
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| "MEETING
IN A BOX" DVD ON ITS WAY
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Last month, we broke the
news that the "meeting in a box" was just
about ready to be shipped. Since then, thanks to some
speedy work from our video team and the crew at our
Print and Mail Center, the DVDs are on their way; in
fact, many Chapter presidents should have received them
by now. Please take a look at the programs and feel free
to share them at an upcoming meeting. We tried to
include a variety of topics, so there should be
something of interest to every chapter member. Because
this is our first try at a program like this, we'd
appreciate any feedback or ideas for future topics.
Thanks in advance and we look forward to hearing from
you at chapters@eaa.org.
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| EAA
CHAPTER AND YOUNG EAGLES AWARD NOMINATIONS
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| Chapter
presidents have received an information packet for the
2009 Chapter and Young Eagles Award Nominations. This is
an excellent opportunity to nominate those chapter
members who have gone the extra mile and beyond
throughout the year for the betterment of the chapter,
EAA, and the recreational aviation community. EAA
encourages your chapter to submit nominations to
recognize these important members. Recipients selected
for the awards will be honored at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
this summer.
The packet includes an
overview of the awards, instructions, and nomination
forms for the following awards:
- EAA Major Achievement
Award
- EAA Newsletter Editor
Award
- EAA Web Editor Award
- EAA Young Eagles
Awards
Please note that the
Newsletter Editor Award nomination requires copies of
the March, April, and May newsletters to be submitted
along with the nomination form. The forms can also be
downloaded from the web here.
So don't wait - nominations are due May 31 - get your
chapter's nominations in today!
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| FEATURED
NEWSLETTERS
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| This
month we feature two chapter newsletters: The
Grapevine
from EAA Chapter 59 (Waco, TX) and The
Corben Courier
from EAA Chapter 93 (Madison, WI). Chapter 59 is
celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend, by the
way. Congratulations! If you read carefully, vice
president Brad Moffett has offered to shave his head if
the chapter can sign up 50 new members. (Editor's note:
I'm thinking about joining, just to see that!) But the
newsletter also has some great photos from several
projects under construction.
Chapter 93's newsletter
features a different format than the
"traditional" layout. Take a look and see how
they do it. It might not work for you, but maybe it will
inspire your creative side to try something new in your
newsletter.
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| STILL
TIME TO INCLUDE YOUR CHAPTER IN THE FOUNDERS' WING
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| As
mentioned earlier, the new EAA Founders' Wing will be
open in time for AirVenture this summer. Final
inspections are currently underway and soon, we will
begin the work of adding display materials, which
chronicle EAA's history and culture. Since EAA chapters
have played such an important role in the organization's
growth and development, we are inviting all chapters to
donate items that can be used to create the EAA Chapters
Display in the Founders' Wing. Suggested items include
patches (historic or current), pins, small
posters/flyers, or photos. (Please identify people shown
on submitted photos.)
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should be relatively flat and measure no larger than
11x17 inches. Submitted items will be considered for
display, and anything not used will become part of the
permanent collection. (Note: items cannot be returned.)
Please send your
contributions to Ron Twellman, P. O. Box 3086, Oshkosh,
WI 54903-3086. If you have questions about what types of
items might be appropriate, please contact Ron at rtwellman@eaa.org.
Deadline for submissions is June 1, 2009. The Founders'
Wing will host the Chapter Leader's Breakfast during
AirVenture, on Saturday, August 1. Learn
more about the Founders' Wing project.
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| EAA
CHAPTERS IN THE NEWS
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| CHAPTER
INSURANCE FORM ONLINE |
| Set
aside the FAX machine and save the stamp. Your chapter
can now complete the event notice form online! Visit www.eaa.org/apps/insurance
and enter in all the details for your planned event. In
addition to putting the form online, we also eliminated
some of the information previously required. This should
help make the process even easier!
EAA's Risk Management
Office will contact you directly if any additional
information is required, but the vast majority of events
are quickly approved. The new system will also allow you
the opportunity to print a copy for your records and
submit information regarding the planned event to the EAA
Calendar of Events.
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