TALESPINNERS - May, 2002

EAA Chapter 174
Chartered since 1966

TALESPINNERS
May, 2002


Chapter member Terry Taylor and his newly painted Cardinal

From the President

We have spent so much time lately at meetings as well as outside meetings working on our chapter corporate business, that I feel we are missing out on the fun part of chapter life. So I'm not going to discuss those issues here, even though the saga continues. Instead I'm going to use my space here to VENT!!!! Not about chapter business...this is personal. What I need to vent about is me and my overwhelming drive to finish my airplane. On the way home from a trip last night about midnight I figured out that I really love my job. And I think I'm good at it. Maybe nobody else does, but I do. Why then for the last year or two have I made such a big effort to fly as little as possible? It's because I need to spend more time finishing my airplane. The effort I have put towards this project in a large part has been at the expense of my family, my home, and my job, and I'm sick of it. I'm a senior captain at Delta and I can fly good trips on the days I want. I'm also a line check airman and I can make extra money on my off days at an obscene rate of pay and I've been avoiding that too. I used to love to work around my house and yard and I have a new (to us) house and it needs me. And the real tragedy is that the time I've missed with my family is irreplaceable. I'm getting older....fast.

This is what I've learned: If you want to have an airplane to fly, buy, rent, borrow or steal one and fly it. If you want to build and airplane then build one...just don't ever plan on finishing it. Take your time and don't miss out on what is important in your life. If you finish it, then sell it to someone who wants to fly and build another. I have at least $15,000.00 remaining to spend on my RV-6. This will end up being at least twice what I originally thought it would cost and the time spent will be double as well. It took Don 11 years to build his. Why did I think I could do it in 2? Why can't Van's Aircraft write a decent builders manual? It would save builders hundreds of hours. He does finally have a cost estimator on his website, probably put there because of some pressure that gives a realistic estimate of the cost of building one of his planes. It may have made a difference in my decision to build in the beginning.

You may have heard about marathoners 'hitting the wall' about 20 miles into the run. Well, I've hit the wall on this project. It's about 90% done, I feel like I've got 90% to go, and it's for sale.  How much?  I'd be lucky to get the money out of it that I've put in it. I know my time is worthless. What should I do? I just wish people would quit asking me stupid questions like 'when will it be done?   How in the world would I know?!?

Scott Hersha

Minutes from the April Chapter Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 2:05 pm, Sunday, April 21st by president Scott Hersha.  The president informed the members of the need to keep the clubhouse clean, especially with regard to stacks of magazines left behind after meetings.  A call was made for help cleaning the library, scheduled early the day of the next fly-out.  (This was done and a major migration of trash to the dumpsters was achieved.)  All magazines outside of the library should be disposed of prior to locking up after each meeting.  Scott left after his report and turned the meeting over to vice president Tim Fry.

The treasurer’s report was given ($470.73 checking, $1392.74 savings, $6382.59 CD, total $8246.06).  Tech advisors Howard and Gary gave reports of their latest project inspections (Mark Neubauer’s Glastar, Bob Sultzbach’s RV-8A, Steve Gordon’s RV-9A and Peter Freeman’s Rans S12XL).

The web editor mentioned that the web site’s Young Eagles volunteer page is now active.  The hangar coordinator noted that Cal Bugbee is currently occupying the hangar with his Titan Tornado, for final assembly.

Paul Gould was congratulated for achieving Grand Champion at Sun ‘n Fun for his 1946 Aeronca Chief (5 yrs and 5500 hrs of reconstruction!).  Mike Franzago indicated that he would like to test the feasibility of a totally web-based newsletter by suggesting that the next 3 newsletters be obtained only via the web.

Prior to the Articles vote, Tim Fry mentioned discussions he had had with a person in S. Dakota about construction of a chapter hangar.  In that situation, 501(c)(3) recognition played a major role in the chapter’s ability to raise funds.

Bill Crawford addressed the members with concerns he had about 501(c)(3) recognition.  After brief discussion, a motion to table the vote was made and denied (at least in part for lack of time remaining to reopen our application with the IRS).  The vote to amend the Articles was held and passed by a vote of 63 for and 2 against.  Votes were tallied and verified by Norm Beaudette and Tim Fry.  (In the 3 days following the vote, 5 additional mail and email proxies were received, all 5 for the amendment, providing a total vote tally of 68 for and 2 against).

Due to poor weather, the Cincinnati AirCare helicopter and crew were not able to put on their presentation.  The rest of the afternoon was spent discussing events at Sun ‘n Fun.  Meeting adjourned at 3:34 pm.

Norm Beaudette, Chapter Secretary

Minutes from the April Board Meeting

The meeting was called to order by Scott Hersha at 1:08 pm, Sunday, April 21st.  The focus of the meeting was on relaying IRS follow-up about our application for 501(c)(3) recognition and on preparing for the upcoming vote to amend our articles of incorporation, as requested by the IRS.  It was determined from IRS discussions that a form 1120 (Income Tax on Corporations) would need to be filed if we did not proceed with 501(c)(3) recognition, although no tax would likely be due.

New chapter handbooks were distributed to board members by the secretary, who also informed the board that insurance forms were submitted and confirmed for all scheduled fly-outs and for the first Young Eagles rally.  Meeting adjourned at 1:48 pm.

Norm Beaudette, Chapter Secretary