• Help EAA Win $25,000 Endowment: Vote Online Through October 25
• Upcoming Free EAA Webinars Focused on Chapters
• Young Eagles Heavily Featured in Airplanista Magazine
• Final Chapter Leaders Academy of 2011 a Hit
• Deadline Extended for B-17, Tri-Motor Tour Stop Applications
• E-MAG Grass Roots Project Benefits EAA Chapters

Busy Week at NBAA Convention
The first half of last week was a hectic one at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas. EAA had a significant presence there with an exhibit and also in participation in numerous activities. On Monday afternoon, we announced the Cessna would continue as the presenting sponsor of the Gathering of Eagles fundraiser during AirVenture, and officially kicked off the 2012 EAA Aircraft Sweepstakes that will feature a vintage Piper Cub as the grand prize. On Monday evening we hosted a reception at the EAA exhibit, with a breakfast for advertisers and business partners on Tuesday morning. Also on Tuesday, I joined a half-dozen other GA association leaders in a roundtable discussion on issues facing aviation now and into the immediate future. Throughout the event, EAA representatives had the opportunity to meet with many of our current business partners and also discuss opportunities with potential advertisers, sponsors, and AirVenture exhibitors.

Reducing Homebuilt Accidents Remains Goal
The FAA's fiscal year concluded September 30, and with it the agency's annual count of fatal GA accidents. EAA has been working with FAA, NTSB, and others on finding accurate methodology for tracking amateur-built aircraft accidents and ways to improve safety in those areas. For the past 12 months, there were 51 fatal accidents in homebuilt aircraft – four more than over the previous 12 months. While this is a relatively small number of fatal accidents compared to the many causes of accidental deaths in the U.S., we are continuing to aim at reducing this accident total.

Anti-User Fees Petition Draws Thousands of Signers
An example of where new technology is helping galvanize aviator participation is a new White House website where citizens can petition the Obama administration on various issues. The administration has promised to review those with at least 5,000 online signatures in 30 days, and provide a response. One aviator began a petition urging that GA user-fee proposals be "taken off the table." With visibility provided by EAA and other groups, the petition already has more than 8,100 signatures before the October 23 deadline, putting it among the top 15 percent of all petitions. Click here to view and sign the anti-user fees petition.

Remote Chapter Finds 'Fun' Way to Bring Aviators Together
Located in remote Bowstring, Minnesota, EAA Chapter 1446 struggled to recruit new members and bring in current members for chapter activities. That is, until the small chapter found a "fun" way to make their events a destination that you had to be at. Read more

Next issue of ChapterGram will be delivered on Tuesday, November 1.